Fixed Mobile Convergence

Aruba Networks recently made an announcement regarding its smartphone and tablet-based point-of-sale (PoS) solution. This new venture is intended to facilitate retail migration from static to mobile PoS.  The solution came about as the result of a partnership between Infinite Peripherals (News - Alert) and LightSpeed.

In a survey conducted over the end of last year, Aruba found that of the 130 retail IT leaders questioned, 56 percent confirmed that upgradation to WiFi (News - Alert) in the store was on the cards for them this year. This move has been primarily to provide support to advanced applications like the mobile PoS. 56 percent also confirmed that they would be bringing in Apple (News - Alert) iPads and another 38 percent confirmed that staff would be equipped with iPhones. All this is being done as part of the solutions for the store in 2012.

In a release, Sahir Anand, Vice President and Research Group Director for retail and banking at Aberdeen (News - Alert) Research, said, "Mobile PoS systems built around smartphones and tablets are changing the way people shop, and offer retailers a number of benefits, including higher volume, an improved customer experience and more usable floor space at their locations. In the not-too-distant future, shoppers and retailers will both see smartphone- and tablet-based PoS as the working standard and long checkout lines and crowded aisles will be a distant memory."

This new solution brings together Infinite Peripherals' Linea-Pro and Lightspeed mobile. The first is mix of a barcode scanner/credit card swipe reader and the second is a mobile PoS application meant for the iGeneration. This has support from all Aruba access networks that are functioning on the Aruba Mobile Virtual Enterprise (MOVE) architecture.

Manish Rai, Head of Industry and Solutions Marketing at Aruba, said, "Apple revolutionized the retail industry with the introduction of smartphone-based point-of-sale systems in its stores," said. Having tested the waters there, consumers are increasingly demanding the same experience from other stores where they shop. This solution is designed to ensure that retailers of all types can provide that high level of customer experience and the associated sales uplift."

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