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IBM and SuSE Linux AG are hoping to make more cash registers ring this year, and on Thursday will announce a new SuSE Linux-based point-of-sale solution that includes a complete operating system and management solution.
Known as the IBM Retail Environment for SuSe Linux, this new solution will be available by the middle of this year and will combine the Linux platform for retailers with IBM middleware, SurePOS and eServer.
The new solution features simplified installation and configuration via four optimized Linux operating system images for point-of-sale (POS) terminals, and an infrastructure for centralized management and distribution of the software.
The solution can be tailored from a small console-based system to a feature-rich Java and browser-capable system depending on the needs of the retailer. It also offers investment protection for retailers already running IBM POS systems, as it can be deployed on some existing IBM terminals.
Pricing for the IBM Retail Environment for SuSe Linux was not immediately available.
“This solution should be particularly attractive for retailers who are currently using older DOS operating systems and need the ability to add new applications and services that require a new operating system platform,” said Tom Peterson, general manager for IBM retail store solutions.
Juergen Geck, chief technology officer for SuSE Linux, said IBM and SuSE worked closely during the design and the piloting stages of the product, bringing the stability, security and cost effectiveness of Linux to customers.
Retailers of all sizes are investigating the use of Linux on POS systems to provide some flexibility in their software deployments and lower operating costs by avoiding licensing fees. Cost savings is crucial in the world of retail, where life is lived on razor-thin margins. Discuss This in the eWEEK Forum