HORIZONS 23
EW MOBILE WORLD
up dialogues as two of many reasons. There are also issues with reliability, as the solutions tend to be totally based on whom the system is connected to and, indeed, how it is connected. And fi nally, there are the usual internet issues with security. Star Micronics technical support has already made Star printers work with many iOS solutions – AirPrint is reportedly tricky and six months away but, in the meantime, the Star technical team can usually overcome the issues and already has customer-based working solutions for AirPrint (Star Alpha version ready) in the fi eld. Besides being on the international standard WS-POS committee, Star is actively working with OEMs such as Google and Apple, with more plans for HTML5 within a couple of months so connecting mobile devices, iOS, Windows or Android, to professional PoS printers is becoming more easily achievable as less investment is often required.
Making sense of IT complexity Making it work is not so much the problem, but informing retailers of all sizes of all the opportunities open to them is more complex. Just mention Mobile PoS and many think literally a mobile printer is required or a PoS solution is being run in some form of transport from delivery vans to petrol tankers. It would be intimidating to nearly any retailer to consider replacing the desktop PoS printers sitting on their counters for many years with mobile printers. Investments would be required for all new hardware and training cashiers how
to do their jobs in a different way. Luckily, Star has endeavoured to preserve the use of desktop PoS printers for retailers who prefer to maintain the comfort of the printer upon the counter, even when the PoS software is run on a mobile device.
This also begs the question why use a desktop receipt printer rather than a mobile printer? The answer is all down to output – mobile printers do not normally include a cutter in order to keep the weight down and sizes small, so torn off receipts do not necessarily present the image a retailer wants to leave with a customer. Mobile printers also have a limited paper load capacity of 38 to 50mm depending on the model. Star’s TSP700II can hold a paper roll with an outside diameter of 100mm, which
holds 124 metres of standard receipt paper. Traditional models such as Epson’s TM-T88V and Star’s TSP100 futurePRNT™ usually hold 80mm paper rolls with 74m of paper. Paper change times are also increased if a retailer prefers heavier weight or thicker paper for their receipts. Mobile PoS solutions are indeed able to use all types of receipt printers if the printer manufacturer is ready with the appropriate support. Once again, Star is fully confi dent that it will see increased market share over the next 12 months due to the investment already made with its sophisticated technical support for retailers of all sizes.
To fi nd out more, visit:
www.star-emea.com
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 RETAIL TECHNOLOGY
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