Microsoft previews retail software platform

Microsoft has lifted the lid on its forthcoming Windows Embedded for Point of Service, a software platform designed to power point-of-sale (POS) systems for the retail and hospitality sectors.

According to the software giant the offering, which is based on Windows XP Embedded with Service Pack 2, is the first industry-specific software platform to provide plug-and-play functionality that allows retail peripherals to be easily installed and managed.

Microsoft said it added this functionality in response to feedback which stated that integration and management of devices such as scanners, receipt printers, cash drawers and magnetic stripe readers is costly and time-consuming.

As part of Microsoft's early joint development programme, more than 30 retail and hospitality device makers and application vendors are working with the firm to develop customer systems built on Windows Embedded for Point of Service.

"Together with industry partners, we are forging new ground for the retail and hospitality industries by building integrated solutions on Windows Embedded for Point of Service," said Todd Warren, corporate vice president of the mobile and embedded devices division at Microsoft, in a statement.

"When available, these solutions will give our mutual customers even greater hardware flexibility through innovative plug-and-play technology as well as a manageable platform that enables emerging technologies like Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] or multimedia to enhance the customer experience and to increase the productivity of in-store and information technology personnel."

Microsoft said the platform provides support for the Unified Point of Service standard, compatibility with Win32-based applications, and support for the Microsoft .Net Framework to simplify the setup, use and management of POS systems. It also features stronger default security and the ability to integrate with multimedia technologies such as Windows Media Player.

The product has been engineered to support technologies such as RFID and biometrics, and communications technologies such as wireless networking.

Windows Embedded for Point of Service will be available to device makers and end-customers in the first half of 2005 through Windows Embedded partners.