Aruba Announces Smartphone- and Tablet-based Point-of-Sale Solution for Retailers

Aruba Networks (NASDAQ:ARUN) today announced a new smartphone- and tablet-based point-of-sale (PoS) solution, to support the retail migration from static to mobile PoS. The solution was developed in partnership with Infinite Peripherals and LightSpeed, and enables retail sales staff to execute sales transactions reliably and securely from any location in a store.

Infinite Peripherals' Linea-Pro 4 Linea-pro-4 allows mobile workers to convert their iPod touch and iPhone handset into a powerful point-of-sale solution. The Linea-pro 4 includes optional 1D or 2D barcode scanner, 3-tracks magnetic stripe reader, and a rechargeable battery extender in a very compact protective case. (Photo: Business Wire)

A December 2011-January 2012 survey conducted by Aruba of more than 130 retail IT leaders, 56 percent said that they were upgrading in-store WiFi in 2012 to support advanced applications such as mobile PoS. Fifty-six percent of respondents also said that they would be rolling out Apple iPads and 38 percent said they would be deploying iPhones to their staff as part of these solutions in 2012. A presentation featuring survey highlights is available here: http://www.arubanetworks.com/pdf/solutions/PPT_InStoreSurvey.pdf.

"Mobile PoS systems built around smartphones and tablets are changing the way people shop, and offer retailers a number of benefits, including higher volume, an improved customer experience and more usable floor space at their locations,” said Sahir Anand, vice president and research group director for retail and banking at Aberdeen Research. "In the not-too-distant future, shoppers and retailers will both see smartphone- and tablet-based PoS as the working standard and long checkout lines and crowded aisles will be a distant memory.”

The new solution combines Infinite Peripherals’ Linea-Pro, a combination barcode scanner/credit card swipe reader with LightSpeed Mobile, a mobile PoS application for the iGeneration, supported by Aruba access networks based on the Aruba Mobile Virtual Enterprise (MOVE) architecture.

The Aruba Wi-Fi solution for in-store POS consists of:

• Aruba Tablet- and Smartphone-Optimized In-Store Wi-Fi
  Access networks based on Aruba’s context-aware Mobile Virtual Enterprise (MOVE) architecture enables policy enforcement based on device-fingerprinting, application-fingerprinting and location. This enables retailers to prioritize mobile PoS applications over less critical traffic, to ensure a good customer experience. Aruba’s Mobile Device Admission Control (MDAC) helps ensure that smartphone and tablets can be shipped directly to stores for quick and easy self-provisioning by general sales staff.

• LightSpeed Mobile – A mobile PoS application for the iGeneration
  Collaboration between Aruba and its partner LightSpeed, an award-winning retail technology company, offers stores a true advantage over competitors with an alternative to traditional retail systems and long, impersonal line ups at the register. Retail sales staff can use LightSpeed Mobile to connect to a LightSpeed database and process sales anywhere in the store with an iPod touch or beyond the store at pop-up locations, trade shows and special events, using iPhone.
• Infinite Peripherals Magnetic Stripe Reader
  Infinite Peripherals’ Linea-pro allows mobile workers to convert their iPod touch and iPhone handset into a powerful point-of-sale solution. The Linea-pro includes optional 1D or 2D barcode scanners, 3-tracks magnetic stripe reader, and a rechargeable battery extender in a very compact protective case.

"Apple revolutionized the retail industry with the introduction of smartphone-based point-of-sale systems in its stores,” said Manish Rai, head of industry and solutions marketing at Aruba. "Having tested the waters there, consumers are increasingly demanding the same experience from other stores where they shop. This solution is designed to ensure that retailers of all types can provide that high level of customer experience and the associated sales uplift.”

For additional information about this solution, please visit us at NRF Retail's BIG Show booth #653 for a personalized, Aruba smartphone- and tablet-based Point-of-Sale solution demo.

About Aruba Networks, Inc.

Aruba Networks is a leading provider of next-generation network access solutions for the mobile enterprise. The company’s Mobile Virtual Enterprise (MOVE) architecture unifies wired and wireless network infrastructures into one seamless access solution for corporate headquarters, mobile business professionals, remote workers and guests. This unified approach to access networks dramatically improves productivity and lowers capital and operational costs.

Listed on the NASDAQ and Russell 2000® Index, Aruba is based in Sunnyvale, California, and has operations throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions. To learn more, visit Aruba at http://www.arubanetworks.com. For real-time news updates follow Aruba on Twitter and Facebook.

© 2012 Aruba Networks, Inc. Aruba Networks’ trademarks include the design mark for AirWave, Aruba Networks^®, Aruba Wireless Networks^®, the registered Aruba the Mobile Edge Company logo, the registered AirWave logo, Aruba Mobility Management System^®, Mobile Edge Architecture^®, People Move. Networks Must Follow^®, RFProtect^®, Green Island^®. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50133744&lang=en