|
|
NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION |
For Immediate Release
Contact: Scott Krugman
or Kathy Grannis (202) 783-7971
Email: krugmans@nrf.com or
grannisk@nrf.com
ARTS Announces UnifiedPOS Release 1.10 and New Leadership
Washington D.C., January 16, 2006 – The Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) today announced the release of Unified Point of Service (UnifiedPOS) 1.10, the international POS device connectivity standard. This very significant new release, that for the first time contains support for biometrics and electronic journal devices, is available for review and comment at www.nrf-arts.com. Release 1.10 has implementation reference appendices for JavaPOS, OLE for POS (OPOS), and the new addition supporting POS for .Net.
This is the sixth new version of UnifiedPOS since November of 1998 when the original specification to coordinate both OPOS and JavaPOS was released.
“The industry owes a big thank you to the UnifiedPOS Technical Committee who maintains and continually enhances this 1,300+ page specification,” said Richard Mader Executive Director of ARTS. “The companies represented on this committee, BearingPoint, Fujitsu Transaction Solutions, IBM, Microsoft, NCR, OPOS-J, PSC, Seiko Epson, Sun Microsystems, TPG Printers, Ultimate Technology and Wincor Nixdorf, volunteer hundreds of hours each year.”
In a recent change, Harry McKinlay of Fujitsu Transaction Solutions, who has long served as the specification editor, was elected chair of the UnifiedPOS Technical Committee. Harry follows Boyd Dimmock of IBM who has led the committee for more than five years and will continue to serve as IBM’s representative.
"Over the past several years the UnifiedPOS Technical Committee has advanced a significant standards specification for technology relevant to the retail store,” said Dimmock. “Open standards are critically important for retailers to unleash the potential of emerging new retail technologies. IBM is committed to supporting UnifiedPOS' mission to create worldwide standards for the Retail industry."
“A great deal has been accomplished by the UnifiedPOS Technical Committee over the last seven years, and we plan to continue to extend the specifications to provide support in areas such as Web Access POS, RFID Readers, etc., as well as enhance the currently defined POS devices,” said Harry McKinlay, Fujitsu Transaction Solutions.
“Fujitsu appreciates the opportunity to continue to contribute to improving retail standards and will continue to demonstrate that commitment to the retail community,” said Larry Fandel, Director Solutions Management, Fujitsu Transaction Solutions.
The UnifiedPOS Technical Committee is already working on release 2.0 expected for release in 2006. It is anticipated that this next release will include web access of POS, WAMPOS.
The National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet, independent stores, chain restaurants and grocery stores as well as the industry's key trading partners of retail goods and services. NRF represents an industry with more than 1.4 million U.S. retail establishments, more than 23 million employees - about one in five American workers - and 2004 sales of $4.1 trillion. As the industry umbrella group, NRF also represents more than 100 state, national and international retail associations. www.nrf.com.
###