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 Channel Futures

Sales & Marketing


Will Apple Enter Point of Sale Market?

  • Written by The VAR Guy 1
  • November 24, 2009
For quite a long time Apple Stores depended on Windows CE-based point of sale (POS) devices from Motorola's Symbol Technologies business.

121056-easypay_scanner For quite a long time Apple Stores depended on Windows CE-based point of sale (POS) devices from Motorola’s Symbol Technologies business. But in November 2009, Apple Stores started to replace those wireless point of sale devices with fancy new iPod Touches wearing a veritable suit of armor. It begs the question: Will Apple ever promote and sell its own POS handhelds to third-party retail stores?

First, a bit about Apple’s own iPod Touch POS approach. A rubberized jacket holds the iPod Touch and contains a barcode scanner and a magnetic card reader. Also included is a special pen that enables a customer to sign their name on the iPod touch’s capacitance touch screen.

The software is named “EasyPay Touch” and Apple has built it with shortcuts, momentum-scrolling lists, and the ability to even make returns. Word on the net is that the new Microsoft retail stores use a similar device, but it’s made by Samsung. It’s also been reported that not only is it four times larger, but it’s five times heavier. This is a brilliant strategy for Apple. Although it’s not really known how much R&D has been dumped into the POS jacket and software development, Apple has created a solution in-house, and as a result, now have one less thing to outsource or worry about. It’s a solution that’ll last and be upgraded at the whim of Apple, not some 3rd party they’re forced to work with.

But it also means Apple has the potential to compete in the POS arena. And while it seems like this isn’t a technology that is going to be shared anytime soon, it’s interesting to consider none the less.

Follow The VAR Guy via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; Twitter; and via his Newsletter; Webcasts and Resource Center. Plus, check out more channel voices at www.vartweet.com.

Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Sales & Marketing Specialty Practices

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6 comments

  1. Avatar HurdyGurdy November 24, 2009 @ 10:38 pm
    Reply

    Apple? Do they have a reseller program? If they do it must not be any good, as I haven’t heard about it.

    (I am now raising my right hand)

    I will never sell the iPhone or the iTouch, and if I ever win one of these things, I will give it away to someone else.

    My daughter had expressed an interest in the iPod, but daddy refused to buy her an iPod and even mommy had to intervene. I think it hit home because she told my 9 year old: ‘Daddy doesn’t make any money when we buy Apple products, but daddy makes money when we buy Microsoft products.’ Afterwards, my daughter approached me with the model of Zune she wanted, I ordered it from disti and we had it the next day. She is very happy with her Zune.

  2. Avatar The VAR Guy November 24, 2009 @ 11:08 pm
    Reply

    HurdyGurdy: The VAR Guy is pleased to know that you take a strong stand. But our resident blogger must concede: He’s addicted to several Apple products and will be watching Apple.com on Black Friday… …

  3. Avatar MacnScott December 1, 2009 @ 9:01 pm
    Reply

    HurdyGurdy: There has been an Apple Authorized Reseller program for 30+ years. Where have you been? I would hope that you are proficient at using Google searches to your advantage. 😉

    http://www.apple.com/contact/

    Look at the 6th item under “Sales amp; Product Inquiries”.

  4. Avatar The VAR Guy December 1, 2009 @ 10:02 pm
    Reply

    MacnScott: The VAR Guy would like to learn more… Are you a VAR? Solutions provider? Mac guru? Our resident blogger welcomes your thoughts and readership.

  5. Avatar Capretail December 3, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
    Reply

    Apple is considering their new iPod touch-based point-of-sale system commercially. Originally developed for internal use at their own retail locations, Apple’s new POS system combines the shell of an iPod touch with a credit card reader and a dedicated POS app

  6. Avatar The VAR Guy December 3, 2009 @ 1:57 pm
    Reply

    Capretail: Um, thanks for recapping The VAR Guy’s original article. The story has now gone mainstream on http://www.ifoapplestore.com and other Apple websites. Alas, none of those sites bothered to credit The VAR Guy. But our resident blogger is enjoying all the speculation he started…

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