The past few months have seen the forming of a number of major new vendor partnerships at Maxa Technologies, (Maxatec). In January, the company was appointed as a distributor for Arbor Technology, a designer and manufacturer of rugged tablet computers based in Taiwan. Arbor has evolved in recent years as one of the major players within the rugged tablet PC market space. Established in 1993, and with a firm foothold in the embedded and network computing sector, the release of its range of rugged tablet computers in 2010 marked a significant step in Arbor’s strategic product roadmap. Maxatec director Steve Berry commented that Arbor’s product offerings fit well with Maxatec’s expanding mobile computing product set. “The quality and performance of the company’s Gladius range is superb,” he said, “and we have been delighted with the all-round support offered to us from Arbor UK and its HQ in Taiwan as we have been gearing up to release the products to our channel. It is essential for us to select supportive partners with high-quality products, and Arbor fits this remit exceptionally well. We have already seen significant interest from resellers in some of our key market areas, and this is a really encouraging start to our partnership.”

The Gladius range of rugged tablet PC’s from Arbor consist of 7″, 8″ and 10″ options. It features a fanless design and the dual li-ion battery packs provide about 8 hours of running time. The G0720 and G0820 both have sunlight readable touchscreens and a range of industry specifications including IP54 and MIL-STD-810F, making the products suitable for outdoor use. In addition to the Gladius range, Arbor also offers a range of tablets for the medical and healthcare markets. Design features include: anti-vibration and shock specifications, biometric fingerprint validation, safety requirements for medical electrical systems, radio disturbance and immunity characteristics and much more.

Business on the move

Other news released this January was Maxatec’s UK distributor agreement with Bulgarian EPoS solutions supplier, Datecs, for the Datecs MPED-400 mobile pin-entry device (PED). The MPED-400 is a PCI EMV and Common Criteria-approved device. With a host of connectivity options including Bluetooth, USB and Serial, the PED can be used for a wide range of payment applications; from fixed point of sale to payments taken in the field. The ergonomic and Arbor’s Gladius G1056 tablet lightweight design means the MPED-400 is well-suited to business on the move. Berry commented that with the ‘Handpoint Headstart’ payment application and the Handpoint payment gateway, a wide range of new opportunities are opened up to mobile chip and pin. He added that the PCI and Merchant Bank approved gateway allows payments to be processed efficiently and Hoeft & Wessel’s skeye.e-motion rugged IP54-rated tablet securely through an internet connection. The platforms which the solution can work upon are Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Windows PC, Android and IoS.

These announcements followed hot on the heels of a deal signed between Maxatec and Hoeft & Wessel last December for the distribution of Hoeft & Wessel’s Skeye handhelds. Berry comments that Hoeft & Wessel’s primary focus is on quality and innovation, expertise and reliability, offering a wide range of products for the wholesale & retail and logistics sectors. The quality, German-designed and engineered products include the Skeye.Dart, a robust top-of-the-line PDA, the Skeye.e-Motion, a rugged IP54 rated tablet and the Skeye.POS, a versatile mobile or stationary POS Datecs’ MPED-400 mobile pin entry terminal. Maxatec will be distributing the full Hoeft & Wessel mobile product portfolio which, in addition to the products mentioned earlier, includes the Skeye.Integral mobile rugged handheld device, the Skeye.Allegro, a flexible rugged mobile device with IP65 rating, and the Skeye.Pad, a high performance tablet for a wide range of applications in the field service and logistics sectors.

Complementary portfolio

Berry commented that Hoeft & Wessel’s Skye handheld products perfectly complement Maxatec’s existing portfolio in the UK. He added that Maxatec will be working closely with Hoeft & Wessel’s UK sales manager, Paul Carrington, to develop the reseller base and focus on specific target market areas, while also driving leads and sales back into the channel. “Hoeft & Wessel have grown in the domestic market in Germany in the German-speaking territories by manufacturing in some cases very customer-specific solutions,” Berry pointed out. “They are very close to the retail market and offer some products that are quite unique and very focused at specific challenges in retail. At Maxatec we were very attracted by that because it fits with our own history in this vertical sector. We were also attracted to the unique differences Hoeft & Wessel’s solutions can offer the UK market. They are not your average set of handhelds and their range also moves into some quite retail-specific small tablets that don’t overlap with the range provided by Arbor.”

Channel incentives

With all these recent new partnerships, Berry believes Maxatec will continue to attract an ever wider reseller base, incentivised by both compelling product offerings and Maxatec’s own dedicated service and support expertise. “We continue to adopt a more long-term channel approach in that we set out to offer good product with reliable technical backup,” he said. “With this strategy in place we are recruiting resellers that aren’t merely attracted by short-term incentives. Partners come to us because of the support and technical expertise we offer as well as the quality of the product we supply. Our products might be lesser-known brands but they are selected for quality and saleability first and foremost. These products haven’t become commoditised in the way that, say, a laptop PC has become, so there remain many communication, battery management and mounting issues etc. This scenario can provide attractive revenue opportunities for the channel. The stack them high and sell them cheap model doesn’t work for us or our vendor and reseller partners.”

www.itrportal.com

The DLXi combines the CognitiveTPG reputation for ease of use, rugged design and exceptional reliability with best-in-class first label out performance and print speed. The DLXI also ships standard with several popular firmware emulations for ease of integration into legacy printer applications.

“The old Blaster and Advantage LX printers are true workhorses. We still see operational units in the field, some even after 10 or 15 years. However there comes a time when a customer realizes the importance of upgrading to the most recent communication interfaces, higher energy efficiency, faster print speed, and more memory. The DLXi offers a direct migration for our legacy customers and a field-proven thermal printer for new customers,” said Jay Elwood, Director of International Sales for CognitiveTPG.

Unlike its competitors in this segment, the DLXi is engineered with a metal frame and metal print mechanism for exceptional reliability and durability, and is backed by a 2-year warranty. The DLXi also incorporates the latest electronic and firmware design to offer superior performance across every important printer function. However, it is the communication connector combinations that set this unit apart. The 4-inch print width model offers the most communication interfaces offered on a desktop printer platform (Serial, Parallel, Ethernet, USB-B and USB-A host).

Andrea Percival, Director at Maxa Technologies said: “Having been a distributor for CognitiveTPG since 1994, we are all too familiar with the rugged reliability of this desktop printer line. We have installed thousands of this printer line over the years and their reliability really is second to none. The new DLXi is designed to provide a direct upgrade option for the legacy printers, offering USB communication, faster print speed, increased memory and higher energy efficiency, and of course, the printer line continues to boast best-in-class first label out performance.”

Percival continued: “Maxatec will be offering all the usual support services for the latest product release – including technical support, service and repair, integration assistance and much more. We are very well placed and familiar with the product line from CognitiveTPG and are proud to be able to offer an extremely high service level for the CognitveTPG portfolio, and indeed all of our product lines.”

The DLXi has new standard industry interfaces, multiple communication interfaces, Cognitive Programming Language as well as popular programming language emulations resident on the printer (EcPL and ZcPL) for additional application options, a print speed of up to 5 inches per second, 8MB Flash and 16 MB SDRAM memory as well as updated firmware to offer a direct migration path for legacy Blaster and Advantage printers (CPL).

About Maxatec
Maxatec is an ISO 9001:2008 certified Value Added Supplier of Specialist IT Hardware, Software and Services to the Mobile, AIDC and EPOS market sectors. Maxatec supplies CognitiveTPG receipt and barcode printers, TSC barcode printers, Bluebird Pidion mobile computing devices, Smart Terminals mobile computing devices, Hoeft & Wessel Skeye brand of mobile computing devices, Arbor rugged tablet PC’s, NCR POS terminals, Longshine POS terminals, Datamax-O’Neil mobile receipt and label printers, as well as a range of barcode scanners, touchscreen monitors, other peripheral devices, and own-branded products. Maxatec also offers software, professional services, and a wide range of media, spare parts and in-house and on-site service capabilities. The Maxatec brand is synonymous with high standards of service as well as high performance, high quality products. (www.maxatec-europe.com)

About CognitiveTPG
CognitiveTPG is a leading provider of on-demand barcode and transaction printers to the retail, healthcare, manufacturing, service and financial sectors worldwide. For over 35 years, CognitiveTPG has provided its customers with compact, economical and ultra-reliable printing solutions that have significant returns on investment. Visit www.CognitiveTPG.com

However, there is a positive news story for retail: although employment is down in many sectors, there has been a 0.4% jobs rise in the retail industry.

Perhaps it is retailers’ efforts to innovate and enhance the shopping experience that is giving them a boost despite the recently announced double-dip recession. Marks and Spencer’s latest scheme could also prove successful with environmentally aware markets: their ‘Shwopping’ clothes swap drive aims to reduce the amount of clothes that are sent to landfill. A bold and innovative initiative that can see the British public raising millions of pounds for the world’s poorest people.

There’s more positive news for retail: according to Reuters, spending has increased, bucking the trend of the recession. With somewhat mixed messages from the retail industry it is hard to predict the future of consumer confidence. The mood of British consumers may however warm up as summer is approaching with exciting events and, we hope, brighter weather.

Maxa Technologies (Maxatec), specialist supplier of hardware and services to the Mobile Enterprise, Automatic Identification and EPOS market sectors, today announced it has been appointed as a Distributor for the CATCHWELL range of mobile computers. The agreement covers Europe, Middle East and Africa.

CATCHWELL is a well established Korean designer, developer and manufacturer of mobile computing products. Established in 1999, CATCHWELL has been delivering high performance mobile computing products to the market since 2002. With nearly 50% of its workforce having a technical bias, CATCHWELL has made significant strides to position itself as one of the leading mobile computing companies in Korea.

Jun Kwon, Overseas Business Manager, said: “The CATCHWELL brand is well known in Korea and we have been hugely successful in recent years in closing large contracts with significant names including the Korea Post, LG and Hyundai. Whilst we are also successful internationally, it is our strategy to specifically develop our market share in the EMEA territory by partnering with key players in the mobile enterprise world.”

Kwon continued, “Maxatec is an ideal partner for us with a sound and stable business based in the UK, but with a network of strong, loyal partners across EMEA. CATCHWELL products are high performance and very competitive, giving local country distributors and resellers an opportunity to differentiate against the leading brands and deliver improved margin opportunities. We are really delighted to be working with Maxatec.”

CATCHWELL leads with two products, the CATCHWELL CW20 is a rugged handheld device with an IP65 rating. The urethane dual-walled housing protects the device in harsh working environments, and the design incorporates a convenient universal 20-pin port for charging and communication. Powerful processing is achieved via a PXA320 (806MHz) CPU, as well as excellent operating time with a single charge of the 3300 mAH battery. The CATCHWELL CW30 is an IP54 rated device with one of the broadest suites of advanced data capture capabilities, including 1D and 2D barcode scanning, digital image capture and intelligent signature capture allowing users to increase work efficiency and customer service quality.

Andrea Percival, Managing Director at Maxatec said : “The CATCHWELL relationship and product set are very important to us. We have a rapidly growing number of resellers focusing on mobility in the UK and a comprehensive portfolio of products is critical for our reseller base. Whilst it is not our strategy to have several over-lapping products, the fact that we can offer CATCHWELL to our UK customers and our strong partner network outside of the UK is very appealing.”

Percival continued: “This partnership sits perfectly with our plans and is the latest in a number of announcements in recent months. Each partnership has been selected on specific criteria and we are on course for some great results during 2012. Although very early days, we have already identified opportunities for the CATCHWELL products both in and outside of the UK.”

Maxatec, unlike most of its competitors, offers a limited range of mobile computing devices and mobile printers enabling the company to focus on a small number of product sets and position itself as a specialist distributor for each of its suppliers, delivering superior support and service to its customers.

About Maxatec
Maxatec is an ISO 9001:2008 certified, Value Added Supplier of Specialist IT Hardware and Services to the Auto ID, POS and Mobile markets. As well as offering own brand products, Maxatec’s product portfolio includes CognitiveTPG point of sale and bar code label printers, NCR POS terminals, Datamax-ONeil portable receipt printers, Sewoo portable label printers , TSC industrial label printers, Zebex bar code scanners, Bluebird ‘Pidion’ and SAMMI mobile computing devices, SKEYE mobile computing products and Arbor Rugged Tablet PC’s. Maxatec also offers software and services including NiceLabel label design package, and a wide range of consumables (paper, labels, ribbons), spare parts and in-house and on-site service capabilities. The Maxatec brand is synonymous with high standards of service as well as high performance, high quality products.

For more information about Maxatec
Tel: +44 (0) 161 942 7850
Fax +44 (0) 161 927 7664
info@maxatec-europe.com

About CATCHWELL
Established in 1999, CATCHWELL (formerly InnoTeletek) was founded by a number of key researchers from the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in Korea. ETRI successfully developed the world’s first mobile communication system (CDMA). The company has a strong background in design, development and manufacturing of mobile computing products and until recently positioned itself as an OEM manufacturer for some of the leading names in mobile computing. Today, the company is proud to have developed the CATCHWELL brand and ships several thousands of mobile products each year to global names including Samsung, Hyundai, LG and Johnson & Johnson. In addition to this, CATCHWELL will be shipping more than 7,000 units to the Korean Post during 2012.

For more information about CATCHWELL
Tel: +82 31 788 5364
Fax: +82 31 788 5222
junkwon@catchwell.com

Consumers are increasing the amount of interaction they have with retailers as technology opens up new channels of communications. Shopping experiences were described as increasingly ‘technology driven’ in a report produced by IBM after 28,500 respondents from 15 different countries were surveyed.

According to IBM, customers in the UK said they were happy to use three or more technologies to shop and browse retailer offerings, and 82% of UK consumers believed social networks saved time shopping. 63% also expressed a desire to use mobile devices as a way of comparing prices, rising to 67% wanting to use their devices at check out.

On the high street, it was bad news for Game Group, who announced that it had been put into administration in what the Financial Times has called “the biggest failure since Woolworths in 2008.” Other major names have also been experiencing difficulties – clothing giant New Look has revealed its plans to try to arrange monthly rent payments with landlords to try to deal with over 1bn of debt. Monsoon, Accessorize, Clinton Cards and Sports Direct have also all been seeking monthly rents, as has Dreams, the beds retailer.

However things are looking much brighter for the catering industry: there is an increase in the number of people looking for a more rounded day-out experience when they visit shopping centres. A sociable, relaxed way of shopping is becoming the order of the day, contributing to rise in the number of food and drink outlets appearing in shopping centres. According to a report by www.catersearch.com, the percentage of floor space dedicated to food service provision has tripled in the last 10 years. Sales of food and drink in large shopping centres is on the rise, despite the difficult trading climate experienced by many retail outlets.

Maxatec’s retail news roundup will be back next month with more industry insights.

The 4 radios in one design also features Bluetooth, GPS and wireless WAN.  GSM/GPRS/EDGE, WCDMA (also known as UMTS) are featured ensuring a comprehensive level of enterprise connectivity and functionality.  In addition the device includes a 13.56 MHz RFID feature.

The CW30 works with Windows CE 5.0 or Windows Mobile and offers 256MB RAM/256MB ROM of working memory. Designed to maximise its battery life (4400mAh) through effective power management, the CW30 ensures extensive operation on a single charge. The device also features a high-speed, sensitive 2D laser scanner and 1D imager to make scanning easier and faster.

Altrincham, UK : 15 February 2011 : Maxa Technologies (Maxatec) is one of the first distributors to bring a mobile computing device with an Android operating system to market. The skeye.dart from Hoeft & Wessel is available with Android version 2.3.6 (commonly known as Gingerbread).

The arrival of a mobile computing device with an Android operating system in the enterprise market opens up a multitude of opportunities to businesses as the system is an open-source platform giving developers and OEMs flexibility for bespoke work and customisation. The GUI front end looks very user friendly and the apps are located easily.

The skeye.dart is also now available in an enhanced version with roughly one third improved computing power, RAM twice as high, and faster UMTS/HSPA mobile telephony connection. Optionally equipped with a numeric keypad or just a few input keys, the mobile computing device provides a future-proof platform for the most demanding applications.

Mike Ashcroft, Director of Technical Services at Maxatec, said: “Android has developed into a leading Smartphone operating system, and as such there is an extremely high level of acceptance with not only consumers, but also enterprise. The open-source system reduces the dependency on some of the key market players, allows software developers various programming options and the operating system provides a high degree of security which is paramount in the growing mobile market sector.”

Ashcroft added: “Hoeft & Wessel is a great company to work alongside. They are constantly looking at the future and demonstrate excellent leadership in the field of mobile computing technology.”
The skeye.dart is already in use working on an Android operating system – the Dutch navy deploys the skeye.dart as a part of its wireless communications system using both voice and data transmission via a single handheld device.

About Maxatec:
Maxatec is an ISO 9001:2008 certified Value Added Supplier of Specialist IT Hardware, Software and Services to the Mobile, AIDC and EPOS market sectors. Maxatec supplies CognitiveTPG receipt and barcode printers, TSC barcode printers, Bluebird Pidion mobile computing devices, Smart Terminals mobile computing devices, Hoeft & Wessel Skeye brand of mobile computing devices, Arbor rugged tablet PC’s, NCR POS terminals, Longshine POS terminals, Datamax-O’Neil mobile receipt and label printers, as well as a range of barcode scanners, touchscreen monitors, other peripheral devices, and own-branded products. Maxatec also offers software, professional services, and a wide range of media, spare parts and in-house and on-site service capabilities. The Maxatec brand is synonymous with high standards of service as well as high performance, high quality products. (www.maxatec-europe.com)

About Hoeft & Wessel
Hoeft & Wessel is the leading IT and engineering technology Group for ticketing, parking and mobile solutions in Germany and Great Britain. Established in 1978 by the two entrepreneurs who gave the company its name, the enterprise has developed into a group of companies with sales revenues of nearly EUR 100 million and a workforce of 500 employees. Its main locations are Hannover, Germany, and Swindon, UK, to the west of London. According to the EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard, Hoeft & Wessel ranks amongst the top companies in Europe. As one of Europe’s largest manufacturers, Hoeft & Wessel provides with its Skeye brand a wide range of mobile terminals, e.g. for retail, logistics, field services, hospitality, as well as point-of-sale solutions. Hoeft & Wessel is the market leader in Germany’s retail sector. (http://www.hoeft-wessel.com/en/skeye/products)

For more information, contact:
Andrea.percival@maxatec-europe.com
Tel + 44 (0) 161 942 7850

The MPED-400 is a PCI EMV and Common Criteria approved mobile Pin Entry Device. With a host of connectivity options including Bluetooth, USB and Serial, the PED can be used for a large range of payment applications from fixed point of sale to payments taken in the field. The ergonomic and light weight design make the MPED-400 ideally suited to business on the move.

With the “handpoint Headstart” payment application and the handpoint payment gateway, a vast range of new opportunities are opened up to mobile chip and pin. The PCI and Merchant Bank approved gateway allows payments to be processed efficiently and securely through an internet connection. The platforms which the solution can work upon are Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Windows PC and Android. Early in 2012, IoS will also become available.

Michael Ashcroft, Director of Technical Services at Maxatec commented: “Tied with the MPED-400 and a handheld device, chip and pin payment can now be integrated easily into your mobile application. This tight integration allows PCI compliant chip and pin payments to be made, thereby increasing the cash flow in any business.”

Ashcroft continued, “The “handpoint Headstart” application runs on a multitude of operating systems including Windows Mobile, Windows CE and Android. This provides a simple integration platform for what was historically a complex payment mechanism. With Bluetooth communication and Triple Des encryption, the MPED-400 provides the highest security available for your customer’s confidence.”

The addition of mobile payment solutions to the Maxatec range, reinforces the company’s focus on the mobile market sector and the relationship with Datecs and handpoint typifies the continuing drive to engage with differentiated suppliers.

Jamal Maknin, Director at Datecs; “We are pleased to be working with Maxatec as the MPED-400 fits neatly into their product offering. Combined with the handpoint Headstart solution, we have a fully secure, certified managed solution which should enable us to gain real traction in the mobile payment sector. Mobile payment is new, exciting and an important area that can be delivered to a multitude of verticals and with the MPED-400, Maxatec and handpoint, we are coming to market at exactly the right time.”

Maknin added: “Maxatec has great expertise and experience in mobile products and applications. Their value added, technical approach make them a very important partner for Datecs to deliver product into the huge potential customer base.”

About Maxatec
Maxatec is an ISO 9001:2008 certified Value Added Supplier of Specialist IT Hardware, Software and Services to the Mobile, AIDC and EPOS market sectors. Maxatec supplies CognitiveTPG receipt and barcode printers, TSC barcode printers, Bluebird Pidion mobile computing devices, Smart Terminals mobile computing devices, NCR POS terminals, Longshine POS terminals, Datamax-O’Neil mobile receipt and label printers, as well as a range of barcode scanners, touchscreen monitors, other peripheral devices, and own-branded products. Maxatec also offers software, professional services, and a wide range of media, spare parts and in-house and on-site service capabilities. The Maxatec brand is synonymous with high standards of service as well as high performance, high quality products. (www.maxatec-europe.com)

About Datecs
Datecs was founded in 1990 in Bulgaria and specialises in the design and production of EPOS and mobile products. State of the art factory and distribution facilities teamed with technical excellence and global market knowledge, enables Datecs to design and produce the technologies of today and tomorrow. Datecs’ product range includes EPOS products (printers, ECRs, terminals, weighscales, pole displays) and mobile products (printers, scanners, card readers, payment devices, GPRS terminals) that are operable with consumer, industrial and enterprise products on a range of operating systems (Windows, iOS, Android, Palm, Blackberry). With distribution in over 70 countries and an expansion in local offices, Datecs is able to develop and support products locally for the global market. (www.datecs.co.uk)

About Handpoint
Handpoint was established 13 years ago, and specializes in mobile payments on Smartphones, Tablets and Handheld Devices, enabling merchants to accept all card payments (MSR, EMV and NFC) in a secure way and greatly reducing PCI costs. handpoint has a complete end-to-end payment solution covering mobiles, tablets and PC’s and a fully PCI-DSS certified payment Bureau (also known as a “gateway”), for both authorisations and settlements. (www.handpoint.com)

For more information contact
Andrea Percival
Maxa Technologies