ACCESSVIA ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SYMBOL TO DEVELOP WIRELESS SOLUTIONS
FOR MULTI-CHANNEL RETAIL
Companies jointly demonstrate wireless technologies at National Retail
Federation Show
New York, January 14, 2002 - AccessVia today announced a partnership with Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL) to jointly develop new wireless handheld and kiosk solutions for multi-channel retailers. The companies are demonstrating the integration of AccessVia Print, Kiosk, M-Commerce and E-Commerce software with Symbol's wireless infrastructure and device management architecture at the National Retail Federation 91st Annual Convention & Expo.
"This partnership brings together the leader in mobile data management systems and services with the leading developer of customer-facing visual management tools," said Dean A. Sleeper, AccessVia CEO. "With Symbol, we're taking our leadership in the design and print category and extending it to kiosk, wireless and handheld platforms to deliver visual and rich price and product information wherever the customer is facing."
The joint demonstration includes AccessVia M-Commerce software running on Symbol PPT 2800 PocketPC-based mobile computers-color handheld wireless devices used for both employee-facing and customer-facing applications. The demonstration is deployed in a fully functional coffee shop and operating within the AccessVia and Symbol booths. Show attendees, acting as store customers, order coffee and drinks using handheld devices. The demo also includes kiosks from IBM and NCR.
"Retailers are continually looking for ways to improve customer service and enhance the customer experience," said Steve Mathers, Vice President of Marketing, Integration Systems, Symbol. "AccessVia has developed solutions using the most advanced mobile and wireless technologies from Symbol, that provide retailers' customers with convenient access to information and ordering from anywhere in the store, in real time."
Industry growth
The wireless retail category is growing rapidly. Research firm Strategy
Analytics estimates there will be 130 million mobile customers engaged
in mobile e-commerce by 2004. The users will generate almost 14 billion
transactions, yielding $200 billion in revenue. Use of wireless devices
is already proliferating among retailers, with systems operating among
AccessVia customers such as Target Corporation, Walgreens, and Bed, Bath
& Beyond.
"We're working with Symbol to solve interoperability issues and help speed adoption among retailers," explained Sleeper. "AccessVia and Symbol are highly involved in the NRF's Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS), developing IX Retail XML standards that provide interoperability among vendors and retailers."
Both the AccessVia Print and AccessVia M-Commerce suites allow retailers to deliver efficiencies to store personnel and provide enhanced customer service. The software integrates with the retailer's existing POS systems and is used to deliver in-aisle price updating, sign and label printing for store employees and transmit product catalogs and ordering applications to customers. The Symbol PPT 2800 is a Pocket PC-based handheld device with bar code reading capabilities, providing real-time wireless connectivity for the mobile worker.
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About Symbol
Symbol Technologies, Inc., is a global leader in mobile data transaction
systems, providing innovative customer solutions based on wireless local
area networking for data and voice, application-specific mobile computing
and bar code data capture. Symbol's wireless information appliances connect
the physical world of people on the move, packages, paper and shipping
pallets, to information systems and the Internet. Today, some 10 million
Symbol bar code scanners, mobile computers and wireless LANs are utilized
worldwide in markets ranging from retailing to transportation and distribution
logistics, manufacturing, parcel and postal delivery, government, healthcare
and education. Symbol's systems and products are used to increase productivity
from the factory floor to the retail store, to the enterprise and out
to the home. Information about Symbol is available at www.symbol.com
About AccessVia, Inc.
AccessVia takes retailers beyond price point to a place where they can truly connect with customers at the moment of choice. Smart consumers expect more than flashing lights and red type. The new consumer requires new messaging.
AccessVia Consumer Messaging Optimization Services help you to envision that future and make it happen. Seasoned retail professionals, armed with best practices, industry benchmarks and new ideas, work with your team to transform your consumer messaging effectiveness and efficiency. AccessVia Publishing Platform solutions provide the software tools to extend your retail brand promise to the Last Mile – where the customer chooses to browse or buy.
Create new business processes for the future then manage your publishing systems with software being used today by Global 500 companies in over 40,000 retail stores. Take your customers beyond price point with AccessVia.
For more information contact:
Gaylene C. Meyer
Public Relations Manager, AccessVia
206.285.4994 x150
