Card, mobile credential, payment and security
Users of the Blackboard Commerce Suite now have available two new point-of-sale registers from NCR featuring large touch screen monitors and more memory that will lower campus transaction time. By eliminating the need for ancillary equipment, the new embedded technology in the NCR devices will also help to conserve valuable counter space at the point of sale.
RealPOS70 and New RealPOS21 Offer Enhanced Features
Washington, DC– Blackboard Inc. announced the general availability of the new RealPOS21™ and RealPOS70™ point-of-sale registers from NCR® for use with the Blackboard Commerce Suite™. The large touch screen monitors and increased memory space of these new registers will increase the speed and efficiency of campus transactions.
Hundreds of academic institutions rely on the Blackboard Commerce Suite to facilitate campus service needs, such as providing secure door access to buildings and residence halls, cashless payment on and off-campus, access to laundry services, parking and copy services.
Specific improvements to the new NCR registers include:
RealPOS21 Features:
–Larger 15” screen versus existing 12.1” on the previous RealPOS20 model
–Higher resolution resistive 1024X768 XGA touch screen monitor
–1.3 GHz processing speed versus previous 733 MHz speed
–768 MB of memory versus previous 384 MB
RealPOS70 Features:
–Larger 15” screen versus existing 12.1” on the previous RealPOS70 model
–Higher resolution capacitive 1024X768 XGA touch screen monitor
–2.5 GHz processing speed versus previous 2 GHz speed
–768 MB of memory versus previous 256 MB
–Standard 40 MB hard drive
The industry-leading NCR devices provide universities with unique capabilities based on new embedded technology, tool-free serviceability and maximum configuration flexibility. By eliminating the need for ancillary equipment, the new embedded technology in NCR devices helps to conserve valuable counter space at the point of sale.
Tool-free serviceability improves a university’s ability to perform regular service on equipment in a quick and efficient manner. By providing maximum configuration flexibility, NCR devices allow for unique and creative configurations based on any number of customer demographics.
Ideal for locations where space is at a minimum, the NCR RealPOS21 is an affordable, feature-rich solution supported by certified NCR peripherals and applications. This compact terminal is designed for high availability and maximum return on investment. Universities can increase productivity and customer service levels with this easy-to-learn terminal backed by the strong relationship between Blackboard and NCR.
In high-volume retailing environments, the NCR RealPOS70 delivers exceptional value, performance and functionality in a modular solution. In addition to support for several NCR-built printers, keyboards, displays and cash drawers, new technologies such as biometrics and support for numerous operating systems are also available.
About Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard Inc. is a leading provider of enterprise software applications and related services to the education industry. Founded in 1997, Blackboard enables educational innovations everywhere by connecting people and technology. Millions of people use Blackboard everyday at academic institutions around the globe, including colleges, universities, K-12 schools and other education providers, as well as textbook publishers and student-focused merchants that serve education providers and their students. Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. www.blackboard.com.
University of Illinois students will now have access to more banking services, including three branch locations, ATMs, free checking with no minimum balance and more, thanks to the university’s recently-announced agreement with TCF Bank.
Burr Ridge, Illinois – TCF Bank and the University of Illinois announced their exclusive campus banking relationship that will bring convenient banking services to University of Illinois students. TCF Bank, “Open 7 Days a Week,” will offer University students “Totally Free Student Checking” with no minimum balance requirements and no monthly service fees. Starting in the summer of 2007, University students at the Chicago and Urbana campuses will have the opportunity to link their i-card to their TCF Bank checking account to use as an ATM or debit card.
“This is a natural partnership for both TCF Bank and University of Illinois,” said Mark Rohde, President of TCF Bank-Lakeshore. “TCF Bank is an industry leader in campus card banking programs. We believe in providing college students the ability to conveniently open a bank account, access their funds on campus, and to easily ask banking questions of our campus branch staff. Our extensive network of branches throughout the Chicagoland area will bring added convenience to parents of University students who may want to make deposits into their student’s account.”
As part of the agreement, TCF will:
–Open and staff three campus branch locations: at the Urbana campus and the East side of the Chicago and West side of the Chicago campuses.
–Provide an annual donation to a University of Illinois scholarship fund.
–Install and maintain up to 12 campus TCF ATM machines.
“The University believes students will be excited about the TCF Bank partnership,” added Peter Newman, University Director for Treasury Operations. “This partnership offers a convenient payment mechanism for students who link their i-card to a student checking account. The checking account will feature robust internet banking and bill payment capabilities. Parents will also enjoy the convenience of transferring funds electronically to provide for student expenditures. This is a milestone in the evolution of i-card programs for students at the University of Illinois.”
In addition to the University of Illinois, TCF Bank partners with other universities and colleges with similar campus banking programs. Other relationships include Northern Illinois University, DeKalb; DePaul University and Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee Area Technical College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; University of Michigan and Northern Michigan University in Michigan; University of Minnesota, St. Cloud State University and Minnesota State University – Mankato in Minnesota.
The University of Illinois, which educates 70,000 students on its campuses in Chicago, Springfield and Urbana-Champaign, awards 17,000 degrees each year, employs 24,000 faculty and staff and has more than 550,000 alumni.
TCF Bank is a subsidiary of TCF Financial Corporation, a $14.7 billion Minnesota-based financial holding company. TCF Bank – Open 7 Days – offers convenient deposit products, lending and business banking services at 235 full-service locations in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas, including branches inside most Jewel-Osco stores.
For more information about TCF Bank or its products, call 1-800-TCF-BANK or visit the TCF Web site at www.tcfbank.com.
An integration of CBORD’s CS Gold campus card system with NiceVision’s digital video recording technology can provide live video playback of security events. The new system provides campuses with real-time intelligent video analysis that can alert operators to security threats as they occur.
Ithaca, New York–The CBORD Group, Inc. recently announced a new integration between its CS Gold campus card system and NICE Systems’ NiceVision digital video recording technology. The systems work together to provide video capture of events detected by security features in CS Gold, as well as playback and monitoring of those events within the CS Gold user interface.
Integration is accomplished through a SDK (software development kit) which runs in Microsoft Windows and communicates to the DVR through an IP connection. When an alarm occurs, CS Gold’s alarm configuration interface allows for the selection of alarm events to be sent to the NiceVision DVR. It also provides a list of the triggers in the DVR to trip for the selected alarm. IP notification of the alarm events is then sent to the DVR.
The CS Gold alarm monitor log window indicates alarms with video capture. Double-clicking one of these indicators activates the playback window for the selected alarm. Live video may be displayed within the CS Gold access and alarm monitors, and video playback may be displayed from within the access monitor (CS Gold version 5 only).
“This integration between CS Gold and NiceVision leverages the strengths of each product to provide a full-featured security solution,” says Bruce Lane, Executive Vice President and COO of The CBORD Group. “NICE’s expertise in the closed-circuit television and digital video recording arena is unparalleled, and the ability for a campus to tie these advanced features to the alarms module of CS Gold really gives the security system an edge.”
“NiceVision combines advanced Enterprise Level Video solutions with real-time intelligent video analysis to alert operators to security threats as they occur,” says Imran Rahmani, CPP, North Central Regional Sales Manager, North America for NICE Systems. “CS Gold’s advanced alarm monitoring features perfectly complement this functionality, allowing users to share critical data to provide a total security solution.”
About The CBORD Group, Inc.
The CBORD Group serves colleges and universities, corporations, healthcare facilities, chain restaurants, supermarkets, and a host of other market segments. CBORD’s products are used in electronic security, access control, campus ID card privilege control, housing services, cashless dining, online ordering, foodservice, catering, nutrition services, and other institution-wide activities. The CBORD Group serves more than 5,000 clients in the U.S., Canada, Europe, South Africa, the Middle East, New Zealand, and Australia.
The CBORD Group was founded in 1975. Today it employs more than 450 professionals. To learn more about CBORD, visit www.cbord.com.
About NICE Systems, Inc.
NICE Systems (NASDAQ: NICE) is the leading provider of Insight from InteractionsT solutions, based on advanced analytics of unstructured multimedia content - from telephony, web, radio and video communications. NICE is revolutionizing VoIP interactions management with state-of-the-art solutions for IP contact centers, branches, and command and control centers. NICE’s solutions are changing the way organizations make decisions, helping them improve business and operational performance, address security threats, and be proactive. NICE has over 24,000 customers in 100 countries, including over 75 of the Fortune 100 companies. More information is available at www.nice.com.
GoPrint has released its new GS-4 print management system which can help libraries, computer centers, colleges and universities reduce print waste, recover costs and optimize printing. The system also supports the leading campus card systems and payment options.
San Ramon, California and Dallas, Texas - GoPrint Systems, Inc., the leading edge provider of multi-platform print cost recovery and network print management solutions for libraries, colleges and universities, is pleased to announce the introduction of the NEW GS-4; a full featured, highly enhanced, fully automated and scalable pay-for-print management solution equipped with a host of customer requested enhancements, plus a large list of unmatched leading edge advancements and features.
GoPrint’s GS-4 Solution helps campuses recover costs associated with excessive and wasteful network printing. The GoPrint Solution, which is server based and supported on Windows, Linux, Macintosh X, Novell, Sun Solaris, and Thin-Client platforms with a web enabled control center, also includes a host of unique features, some of which are listed below. GoPrint offers both a release station and non-resident client workstation popup option for easy release and or payment of print jobs. Implementation of GoPrint products frequently result in customer print cost reductions of 30% to 50% and more with full payback of each purchase almost always accomplished within the first year.
Key Features
GoPrint’s GS-4 is the most advanced and robust print management software available and still the easiest to use and manage. Now, with customizable features, each user or site can create their own look and feel to fit their particular interests. First shipments for new installations are presently scheduled to begin in February 2007, with upgrade shipments from GS-3 beginning in March. An easy, automated upgrade from GS-3 to GS-4 will be available to all sites under annual support.
About GoPrint Systems
Founded in 1987, GoPrint Systems, Inc. is a highly specialized software developer, systems integrator, and innovator in the development of self-service, multi-platform, pay-for-print, cost-recovery, printer management systems. GoPrint provides an array of customer options from software only to full service turnkey installations and sells direct to leading colleges, universities, libraries and computer centers across all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information visit our website at www.goprint.com.
QI Systems has announced support for HID Global’s iCLASS contactless smart card in university vending, laundry, parking and photocopying applications. QiWAVE’s iCLASS solution increases transaction speed and convenience for the user, reduces or eliminates cash handling, reduces machine maintenance and extends card life by eliminating mechanical contact between the card and the reader.
QI to provide payment solutions to AccessID’s clients
DALLAS, Texas–QI Systems Inc., a leading developer and integrator of contact and contactless card payment solutions, announced the launch of its new QiWAVE cashless vending system. The new product line, which incorporates HID Global Corporation’s iCLASS contactless smart card technology, is designed for use in university and corporate campus vending, laundry, parking and photocopying applications.
HID Global Corporation and one of its companies, AccessID, are supporting the launch of QiWAVE. HID’s iCLASS 13.56 MHz contactless smart cards are optimized to manage multiple applications in a secure, versatile and interoperable environment. Applications include physical and logical access, cashless vending and biometric authentication. AccessID adds further value to the iCLASS card through custom printing, anti-counterfeiting features such as holograms and UV inks and other value-added card services required in the campus environment.
QiWAVE’s contactless iCLASS solution increases transaction speed and convenience for the user, reduces or eliminates cash handling, reduces machine maintenance and extends card life by eliminating mechanical contact between the card and the reader.
QiWAVE was introduced to the public at the Campus of the Future Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii July 8-11. This first-of-its-kind joint conference brought together three leading trade associations: APPA (National Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers), NACUBO (National Association of College and University Business Officers) and SCUP (Society for College and University Planning). QiWAVE will be used in vending and parking equipment at the meeting as part of AccessID’s technical exhibit.
Stephen B. Riegel, QI Systems’ Vice President of Business Development commented, “Universities have told us they are looking for a means to get coins and cash handling out of their system. Unattended devices using cash are subject to theft and mechanical failure. Additionally, collecting and processing coins is time consuming and expensive. From the student’s perspective, they never seem to have the coins they need for laundry, vending, parking or photocopying. By using QiWAVE cashless vending, students can have the convenience and transactional speed they desire while the school administrators can reduce cash handling and machine maintenance. This now can all be accomplished with the most popular access control card in use today, HID’s secure iCLASS technology.”
“HID Global recognizes the importance of having contactless payment solutions available to our customers,” said Debra Spitler, HID Global’s Executive Vice President of HID Connect. “We are pleased that QI Systems is helping us to extend the use of iCLASS from the door to the contactless payment space.”
Dennis Caulley, Vice President of AccessID, further states that “QI Systems’ offering supports the concept of using a single iCLASS card for multiple applications throughout the campus. We are pleased to be able to work with them to support campus providers.”
About QI Systems
QI Systems Inc. develops and markets innovative contact and contactless chip-based card payment and tracking solutions for a number of industries as well as national, state and local government agencies. QI’s products and core competencies include smart-card and stored-value systems, security protocols, data communication software design and hardware manufacture. For more information about QI Systems Inc., visit www.qisystems.ca.
About HID Global
HID Global is a leading manufacturer in the access control industry, serving customers worldwide with proximity and contactless smart card technologies; central station managed access controllers; secure and custom card solutions; digital identity and photo card management software solutions; and RFID electromechanical cylinders. Headquartered in Irvine, California, HID Global operates international offices that support more than 100 countries and is an ASSA ABLOY Group member. To learn more, please visit www.hidcorp.com.
About AccessID
AccessID specializes in using the advanced technologies of HID, Indala, and other technology providers to provide custom, secure card solutions for the electronic identification market. AccessID can combine proximity, iCLASS(TM), barcode, Wiegand, magnetic stripe, and contact smart card technologies all on one card. Secure card solutions include high resolution, four-color lithography, and embedded anti-counterfeiting features such as holograms, custom logos, and ultra-violet fluorescent inks. For more information about AccessID, visit www.secureaccessid.com.
Campus smart card solutions provider CBORD has released a handheld terminal designed for its CS Gold card system that will handle debit, meal, and privilege verification transactions in both online, via a wireless network, and offline with a database downloaded to the reader.
Ithaca, New York–The CBORD Group, Inc. has announced the release of CS Pocket Reader, a new handheld terminal for the CS Gold campus card system.
CS Pocket Reader is designed for debit, meal, and privilege verification transactions in both online and offline environments.
When the CS Pocket Reader is online, transactions are processed in real-time using a site’s current wireless network. Offline, transactions are verified against a “snapshot” of the offline database which is downloaded to the pocket PC before the event.
CS Pocket Reader has been undergoing beta testing at James Madison University, the State University of New York at Albany, and the University of Texas at Arlington.
Here is what a few users think of the CS Pocket Reader:
“CS Pocket Reader is a great example of forward thinking,” says Nathan Gray, Systems Administrator at James Madison University. “It fills a niche that has been overlooked for a long time–a wireless, portable, small card reader … The uses are only limited by the imagination of the user.”
The State University of New York at Albany is also finding plenty of uses for the CS Pocket Reader. “We’re planning to use them for picnics, athletics, and other events,” says Ryan Webb, Assistant Manager of the SUNY Card. “The Pocket Reader is a good device, but what it really lets us do is expand access to CS Gold and the power that program provides.”
About The CBORD Group, Inc.
The CBORD Group serves colleges and universities, corporations, healthcare facilities, chain restaurants, supermarkets, and a host of other market segments. CBORD’s products are used in campus ID card privilege control, access and electronic security, cashless dining, housing services, foodservice, catering, nutrition services, online ordering, and other institution-wide activities. The CBORD Group serves more than 5,000 clients in the U.S., Canada, Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Australia. The CBORD Group was founded in 1975. Today it employs more than 450 professionals. To learn more about CBORD, visit www.cbord.com.
Campus card solutions provider Blackboard is getting into the laundry business. It has added the eSuds online laundry service to its product line, giving USA Technologies access to hundreds of Blackboard’s colleges and universities.
High Tech Laundry and Leading-edge Payment System Combine to Improve Laundry Experience
MALVERN, Pa–Blackboard Inc., the nation’s leading provider of software and services to the education industry, has become a reseller of USA Technologies’ e-Suds online laundry service.
USA Technologies announced that Blackboard had added e-Suds to its product line and would offer it to hundreds of academic institutions that use the Blackboard Transaction System.
e-Suds is the leading Internet connected laundry system that was recently featured on Fox National News for its innovativeness (click on the link to see the segment www.usatech.com/companyinfo/news/usa2006_05_24.php). With e-Suds students go online to check the availability of laundry washers and dryers through the Internet; they swipe their Blackboard transaction card to activate the laundry system, and are notified by email on their PC or receive a cellular phone text message when the laundry is done. The cost of the service is automatically deducted online from a student’s Blackboard account.
“The relationship leverages the best leading edge technology from both Blackboard and USA Technologies to bring a quality product to campuses nationwide,” said Wendy Jenkins, Vice President, Marketing, USA Technologies. “Blackboard has indicated to us that several universities and colleges are waiting on the reseller agreement, and it anticipates that these institutions will begin installations this coming summer.”
USA Technologies’ e-Suds online laundry system has already been installed at 15 universities and colleges, including Rutgers University, Goucher College, Case Western University, Temple University, and American University.
There are an estimated 1.3 million washers alone in America, with more than 700,000 located on college and university campuses. USAT’s e-Suds system already receives more than 50,000 hits a day from students.
Campus administrators praise e-Suds for generating new business and increasing customer satisfaction, while university students say it takes the drudgery out of doing laundry and frees them up to better utilize their time.
“We are excited to welcome Blackboard as a reseller, integrating their technologies with ours to bring students the most efficient, high-tech laundry service imaginable,” said Ms. Jenkins. “We believe that the Blackboard partnership is what many of our partners and potential customers have been waiting for.”
About USA Technologies
USA Technologies is a leader in the networking of wireless non-cash transactions, associated financial/network services and energy management. USA Technologies provides networked credit card and other non-cash systems in the vending, commercial laundry, hospitality and digital imaging industries. USA Technologies is an IBM Business Partner. The Company has marketing agreements with Cingular Wireless, Honeywell, Blackboard, and ZiLOG Corporation. For further information on USA Technologies, please visit www.usatech.com.
Tim Nyblom, formerly with the software company Ecora, has been added to ColorID’s sales team to help improve the company’s sales and service to its education customers.
ColorID brings aboard new addition to its Campus Card sales and service group
CORNELIUS, NC –ColorID, LLC announced it has added Tim Nyblom to its education market sales team. Tim’s previous business experience was with the software company Ecora in New Hampshire.
ColorID’s Executive VP, Danny Smith stated, “ColorID is constantly expanding its products and services in the education market and by adding Tim to our team, ColorID can improve the level of service we offer each of our customers. Tim’s technical sales and service background coupled with his enthusiasm will enhance ColorID’s ability to service our customers”.
Tim is a native of New Hampshire, and studied business administration while attending the University of New Hampshire.
ColorID is a leading identification system supplier to the card industry in the US and Europe. ColorID supplies a full line of security and access control card products, including ID printers, proximity & smart cards, pre-printed cards, blank cards, software, ribbons and supplies. Products supported include Fargo, Datacard, Eltron and Nisca printers and supplies. You can reach ColorID at 888-682-6567 or visit their web site at www.colorid.com.
A twenty-year veteran in the technology industry has joined campus card supplier The CBORD Group as its senior vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to joining CBORD, Randy Eckels had worked with Knowledge Planet, Sprint, and AT&T.
Ithaca, New York - Randy Eckels has joined The CBORD Group, Inc. as senior vice president of sales & marketing. Eckels brings over 20 years of sales and marketing experience with major technology companies including Knowledge Planet, Sprint, and AT&T.
Before joining CBORD, Eckels was Senior Vice President of Business Development & General Manager at Knowledge Planet in Mechanicsburg, PA. There, he created a highly successful sales program, as well as a national branding strategy for Knowledge Planet, a market segment leader. Eckels previously held numerous senior level positions at Sprint, including Director of Product Management and Director of Engineering and Network Planning. Throughout his time there, he significantly grew the company’s client base and implemented innovative product management strategies. Eckels led customer focus group processes that enabled Sprint to develop marketing, branding, pricing, and packaging strategies. His management career has also included Product Management and Sales & Marketing positions at GTE Corporation and AT&T.
“Randy has significant experience in all of CBORD’s core markets–higher education, healthcare, business & industry, and hospitality,” says Tim Tighe, President & CEO of CBORD. “He has valuable technical as well as sales and marketing experience. His leadership will be invaluable to CBORD as we continue to grow and expand our customer-focused product and service offerings. Randy will oversee all of CBORD’s Sales & Marketing operations, and will sharpen our focus on positioning our innovative products and dedicated service to meet the needs of our growing community of customers.”
Eckels earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Penn State University, a Master of Business Administration from Lehigh University, and a Master of Science in Information Systems from Penn State University. He will be based in CBORD’s corporate headquarters in Ithaca, NY.
About The CBORD Group
The CBORD Group serves colleges and universities, corporations, healthcare facilities, chain restaurants, supermarkets, and a host of other market segments. CBORD’s products are used in foodservice, catering, nutrition services, campus ID card privilege control, access control, housing services, cashless dining, online ordering, and other institution-wide activities. The CBORD Group serves more than 5,000 organizations in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia. The CBORD Group was founded in 1975. Today it employs more than 450 professionals. Visit www.cbord.com for more information.
A California company has released a software peripheral called EzWriter that’s designed to read and write data to mag stripe cards used for access control, identification, loyalty and more. The encoding quality, according to ID TECH, exceeds the ISO 7811 standards for mag stripe cards.
CYPRESS, California–ID TECH, a leading manufacturer of automatic identification products, announces EzWriter, a personal computer peripheral designed for reading and writing data on magnetic stripe cards and similar media. Workshop is the Application Software provided with EzWriter. Learning to use Workshop & EzWriter is easy; only a few steps are needed for most reading & writing processes.
EzWriter is the ideal solution for card applications like identification, loyalty, hotel access, health, access control, and many other MagStripe card applications. The encoding quality exceeds the ISO 7811 standards for magnetic stripe cards. EzWriter’s high-end performance meets all card application requirements for data encoding.
Workshop is a Windows based PC software utility. Workshop operates in Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP operating systems. It provides all standard options and many custom options for reading and writing. All reading and writing operations are provided in a single Workshop window. For custom encoding, a set-up window provides individual track format selections and encoding parameter selections. Many custom formats are possible, like writing 210 BPI alphanumeric data on all three tracks. Database & card data file operations are supported. Workshop provides convenient features such as track erasing, card data comparisons, sequential data writing, and others.
The EzWriter is easy to operate. Cards are swiped through the card slot for each reading or writing operation. Data can be written on one, two, or all three of the card tracks. Written data is always verified (read & compared) in a single swipe. The EzWriter & Workshop support many data formats based on ISO Standards or User (custom) requirements. The User formats allow custom data arrangements, which can provide security for access control, event ticketing, and similar card uses. All formats use F/2F data bit encoding (writing). Each track is selectable for either 210 or 75 bits/inch data density.
The die cast metal enclosure provides durability and maximum stability during reading and writing operations. EzWriter provides over one million read/write operations on both High Coercivity and Low Coercivity (Hi-Co & Lo-Co) magnetic stripe cards. Double sprung heads provide a smooth and low resistance feel to the card swipe. The card tachometer has the industries highest resolution for maximum encoding precision. There are two available communication interfaces, either RS232 or USB. Included with EzWriter is a universal power adaptor, the full-feature Workshop Application Software on CD, sample cards, and complete instructions on using both EzWriter and Workshop.
About ID TECH
Founded in 1991, ID TECH employs more than 100 people at locations in California, Taiwan, and China. The company has built a reputation for technical excellence through research and outstanding design engineering. Building dependable, feature-rich products has made ID TECH a leading supplier of magnetic stripe, smart card, contactless card, and bar code reader products for OEMs, VARs, resellers, distributors, and major end users. ID TECH provides both standard and custom solutions to support customer requirements. ID TECH products are sold worldwide through direct sales, distributors, product representatives, and agents. Find more information about ID TECH at www.idtechproducts.com.
