Infographic: The Order and Chaos of Mobile POS
With the wide range of options for a Point of Sale System these days it can be a bit daunting to figure out which type will meet all your needs. Especially with the adoption of tablets and mobile devices as substitutes for a traditional computer, sometimes price may not be the driving factor in your decision.
Making sure you can process all the types of payments your customers will use, integration to other software systems, and transaction security are some of the key concerns when figuring out what type of system will work for your business. This infographic is a great primer and comparison of mobile vs traditional POS Systems to get you started on your decision. As any questions come up, feel free to contact one of our POS specialists at Barcodes, Inc for further assistance.
Star’s New Mobile SM-L200 Printer
‘Always Leading-Always Innovating’ in cutting-edge technology, Star is proud to announce its SM-L200 two-inch Bluetooth low energy portable printer for the mobile point of sale industry. The SM-L200 supports BLE technology for all iOS mobile devices such as the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Its compact and lightweight design make this two-inch portable printer perfect for a wide range of applications from queue busting in retail and hospitality to home delivery 58mm wide invoicing.
The SM-L200 is the first portable printer currently on the market which offers the ability to connect any Apple, iOS BLE compatible device without having to pair to it. With no limitation on the number of devices connected, BLE is the perfect solution for BYOD (bring your own device) environments that does not require any certification or prior authorization from your iOS operating system. In addition to the BLE feature for iOS, the SM-L200 is Bluetooth (3.0/ 4.0) compatible with all operating systems (Windows, Android, and iOS).
Point of Sale Tablet Comparison Made Easy
Finding the right tablet for your point of sale application is key to ensuring you get the best performance and value from your investment. With a host of options available for each model, getting a clear overview of what each tablet can do is challenging when looking at individual specification sheets.
This convenient chart breaks down the main features of some of the most common POS tablets. From point of sale transactions to on-site applications there’s a tablet to meet whatever your requirements are. For additional assistance finding the right tablet, contact one of our mobility specialists at Barcodes Inc.
Manufacturer | ELO | Panasonic | Panasonic | Pioneer | Pioneer |
Model | ETT10 | Tough Pad FZ-G1 | Tough Pad FZ-A1 | Dash | Dash 7 |
WLAN Radio | 802.11 b/g/n | 802.11 a/b/g/n | 802.11 a/b/g/n | 802.11 b/g/n | 802.11 b/g/n |
WWAN Radio | None | Optional 4G LTE | Optional 4G LTE | Sold Separately | Optional 4G LTE |
GPS | None | Optional | Optional | Sold Separately | Optional |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
Operating System | Win 7e or No O/S | Win 8 Pro 64-bit | Android 4.0 ICS | Win 7e | Win 8.1 |
Scanner | 2D Imager | None | None | 2D Imager Option | 2D Imager Option |
Camera | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Optional (factory add |
Number of Keys | None | 7 Keys | 5 Keys | 5 Keys | None |
Display Type | 10.1″ Color/Touch | 10.1″ Color/Touch | 10.1″ Color/Touch | 10.1″ Color/Touch | 7″ Color/Touch |
RAM/Flash Memory | 2GB/32GB SSD | 4 or 8GB/128 or 256GB SSD | 1GB/16GB | 2GB/32GB SSD | 2GB/64GB |
Accessible Micro SD | None | microSD | microSD | None | microSD |
MSR | Yes | None | None | Yes | Yes (field add-on) |
IP Rating | IP54 | IP65 | IP65 | IP54 | IP54 |
Drop Spec | 3′ drop to concrete | 4′ drop to concrete | 4′ drop to concrete | 4′ drop to concrete | 4′ drop to concrete |
Processor | Intel Atom N2600 1.6GHz | Intel i5-3437U vPro | PXA2128 1.2GHz | Intel OakTrail Atom 1.5GHz | Intel Z2760 1.8GHz |
USB Ports | 1 | 1 | 1 x MicroUSB | 2 | 2 (plus 1 Serial) |
Audio Ports | 1 x 3.5mm | 1 x 3.5mm | 1 x 3.5mm | 1 x 3.5mm | 1 x 3.5mm |
MSRP | $1,525/$1,640 | $2,599/$3,719 | $1,379/$1,929 | $2462 | $1899 |
Epson Teams with Touch Dynamic for Mobile POS Solution
Epson has announced a partnership with Touch Dynamic to address the growing importance of mobile POS as the overall mobile expansion in retail and hospitality continues. By bundling Epson’s new ultra-compact Mobilink P20 receipt printer with Touch Dynamic’s new 7″ and 10″ Quest Tablets specifically designed for mobile POS, merchants can increase sales and improve customer service.
Star Announces Wi-Fi Capable DK-AirCash
Expanding the field for mobile point of sale solutions, Star introduced its DK-AirCash accessory for enabling secure cash payments in mPOS. Normally, cash drawers are manually operated or by a wired connection to a receipt printer. The DK-AirCash allows you to control a cash drawer directly through an Ethernet, Bluetooth, MFi certified Bluetooth, and now Wi-Fi connection. Star’s DK-AirCash makes “wireless” operation of an existing hard-wired cash drawer possible.
With Wi-Fi interface, Star’s DK-AirCash SAC10EW-24 US model is compatible with all devices running on Android, iOS, and Window platforms. The new Wi-Fi DK-Aircash will provide merchants the ability to use their cash drawer on a network without the hassle of running a cable to the cash drawer. This latest release of the DK-AirCash series will be another step forward in our cost effective way to upgrade your cash drawer’s compatibility for mPOS.
APG 2015 Cash Drawer Solutions Overview
As a leading global manufacturer and provider of cash drawers, APG has one of the most rigorous manufacturing processes to ensure their cash drawers are rugged enough to handle the challenges of daily use and beyond. With a wide range of models and options to choose from, APG has solutions to meet the needs of fixed, mobile, and tablet applications.
How to pair the Star TSP650II BTi receipt printer with an Apple iPad
One of the most common applications for iPads beyond general consumer use has been as a POS terminal. Their low cost and the host of POS applications available for them makes the iPad a perfect solution for many small business looking for an affordable option to process transactions.
Almost every iPad based POS system requires a dedicated printer to create receipts for each transaction. . Star’s TSP650II BTi is one of the most commonly purchased for iPad systems due to their easy integration and high quality print results. See how simple it is to get up and printing receipts on your iPad in the following video.
Zebra’s New ZQ110 Mobile Printer
Zebra has announced the release of their newest addition to their mobile receipt printer offering with the ZQ110. The ZQ110 mobile printer is designed for the price-conscious buyer who is always on the move. It weighs in at only .5lbs and is almost as small as a deck of playing cards.
The ZQ110 prints 2″ receipts at speeds up to 3.5 inches-per-second and is designed with “sleep mode” to conserve battery power. “Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad” (MFi) certified, the ZQ110 also supports Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity to a range of Apple, Android and Windows devices. With the additional option for an embedded Magnetic Stripe Reader (MSR), the ZQ110 is the perfect solution for any mobile receipt printing application.
Star Announces SMD2 Cash Drawers for Canada
Fueled by growing demand for mPOS solutions in Canada, Star is pleased to announce a new compact cash drawer configuration, as well as standard and full sized SMD2 cash drawers specifically designed to house Canadian currency.
Star’s SMD2 cash drawers provide retailers and hospitality providers a secure way to manage cash for mPOS. A smarter alternative to traditional cash boxes, cash registers and cash tills, Star’s SMD2 cash drawer is equipped with the ability to communicate via standard printer driven interface with included cable or Star’s DK-AirCash wireless communication option for Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.1 with Android and Windows support or Apple MFi certified Bluetooth with iOS support. Available in two convenient sizes with black or white color options, Star’s SMD2 cash drawers for Canada offer a stylish and reliable cash management option to complete any POS or mPOS system.
Socket Releases Updated SDK with Apple iOS 8 Support
Socket has released the latest version of their industry leading Cordless Hand Scanner (CHS) Software Developer Kit, SocketScan SDK version 10.1. The latest version includes many new feature and benefits and is also compatible with Apple’s latest iOS 8 operating system.
Advanced features in the SDK include data editing and Softscan (to use the iPhone and Android built in cameras as a scanner). Featured benefits of the SDK include allowing developers to build a scanner enabled application so all of the limitations of HID mode are removed. Other benefits include unlimited character set, end-to-end error checking, multiple cursor fields and program control for scan data placement.