The following are news announcements made during the week of Feb. 7.
Dexit Releases Device to Streamline Contactless Payment Terminal
Dexit, the Toronto-based provider of contactless payment systems for small transactions at places such as coffeehouses or quick-service restaurants, announced the availability of a new point-of-sale (POS) terminal solution designed to let merchants complete transactions more efficiently. The original version of the Dexit system included a Dexit RFID reader and a standalone terminal. Because Dexit’s standalone terminal did not link with merchant POS systems, clerks were forced to key in the type of transaction, the amount and an ID number into both the standalone terminal and main POS. The new solution, called Dexit Integration Device, was designed with hardware partner ExaDigm and links the Dexit RFID reader with the merchant’s POS terminal, reducing the overall transaction time by eliminating the need for the merchant to key in the transaction twice. The new solution uses existing Dexit readers, so merchants do not need to invest in new readers. The integrated solutions also can be configured to process Dexit transactions over cellular or Wi-Fi networks as a backup system should the merchant’s primary network fail. Most merchants’ existing point-of-sale equipment can be easily integrated with the Dexit Reader using a published application programming interface (API) to perform Dexit transactions. In addition, the Dexit Integration Device enables the display of the consumer’s balance on the Dexit Reader, at the consumer’s request.
Xterprise Receives $2 Million Investment
Xterprise, a Dallas-based systems integrator to Wal-Mart and Target suppliers, announced it has received $2 million in investment funding from LogiSpring, a Swiss firm that funds companies with technologies, services and solutions for supply chains. Xterprise says the money will be used to expand the Xterprise sales force, deepen its support organization, expand its programs and further develop the company’s solution offerings. This is the second round of funding from LogiSpring, which invested $1 million in Xterprise in November 2003. Frans van Schaik, managing partner for LogiSpring, said in a statement that the investment firm is impressed with Xterprise’s “ability to develop and execute a business that has reached profitability so quickly.” Xterprise was founded in 2002.
Agility and eXI Sign Agreement
Agility Healthcare Solutions, a Denver-based subsidiary of Trenstar that provides RFID-enabled asset management solutions, has an agreement with eXI Wireless, a Richmond, British Columbia, company that makes RFID asset management and security systems, to incorporate eXI’s RFID infrastructure, tags and software into AgileTrac, Agility’s Web-based, RFID-enabled equipment management solution (see Hospitals Get Healthy Dose of RFID). Under the agreement, AgileTrac will be branded “Powered by eXI,” referring to eXI’s recently announced e-Tegra software platform (see EXI Broadens Its RTLS Platform.) Agility will also use a range of eXI’s 433 MHz and 125 KHz RFID tags and readers. The companies say the partnership will strengthen Agility’s services to optimize asset utilization, reduce operating costs and improve quality of care within healthcare facilities. They claim that the combined solution is the first truly integrated, flexible healthcare resource management product to tie medical equipment tracking to financial and process/workflow decisions made within healthcare facilities. Agility also announced this week that it was selected by Legacy Health System in Portland, Ore., to equip the new Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital in Clark County, Wash., with AgileTrac.
Psion Teklogix and GlobeRanger Partner for Government Contracts
Psion Teklogix, a Canadian maker of mobile computing devices for wireless data-collection and RFID systems, and GlobeRanger, an RFID solutions provider based in Richardson, Texas, announced a partnership in which Psion Teklogix will resell GlobeRanger’s iMotion Edgeware platform, software that supports multiple auto-id technologies and integrates multiple RFID protocols on one application. Because Psion Teklogix has a General Services Administration (GSA) schedule, the agreement will allow government agencies and suppliers to purchase the GlobeRanger software through Psion. The two companies plan to partner on solutions for the suppliers looking to RFID-enable shipments to the U.S. government and Department of Defense.