Honeywell announces two advancements in the Dolphin 9900 product line: the availability of Windows Mobile 6.1 for all models in the Dolphin 9900 series, and the new Dolphin 9951 mobile computer with support for long-range bar code scanning. 

Microsoft's mobile operating system, Windows Mobile 6.1, is now available for all Dolphin 9900 models. The second enhancement to the Dolphin product line is the release of the Dolphin 9951 mobile computer. The new device incorporates three long-range laser options - High Performance, Long Range and Advanced Long Range - to provide scanning functions from five up to 30 feet.

The rugged design of the 9951 includes the following features:

- An ergonomic pistol grip to facilitate comfortable single-handed data collection that is easy to hold over extended shifts;

- Shift-PLUS power management technology that ensures uninterrupted battery performance for 10 or more hours, eliminating the need to replace batteries during most work shifts;

- Three keypad configurations designed to match a variety of end user scenarios, including: 

- A 35-key numeric keypad with shifted alphabetical functions for basic retail use;

- A 43-key alphabetical keypad with shifted numeric functions;

- A 56-key full alphanumeric keypad for warehouse and distribution environments.

Epicor Software announces that its Retail Software as a Service (SaaS) hosted solution has been awarded compliance status with the Payment Card Industry-Data Security Standard version 1.1 (PCI DSS). Epicor is now on the VISA Global List of PCI DSS Validated Service Providers.

The certification was achieved after an extensive independent audit of Epicor Retail's hosted infrastructure operations and processes conducted by Trustwave, a third-party qualified security assessor from the PCI Security Standards Council.
The PCI assessment process focuses solely on the security of cardholder data, whether Epicor has effectively implemented information security policies and processes, and if there are adequate security measures to comply with the requirements to protect cardholder data within the hosted environment. Additionally, the assessment reviewed whether Epicor is employing payment industry best-practices and provides recommendations for remediation of any non-compliant policies, processes, procedures, system configurations or vulnerabilities.

Nordstrom selects Oracle Retail Size Profile Optimization to help align merchandise in the right sizes to meet customer demand. Nordstrom plans to use the Oracle Retail planning application to more effectively analyze historical sales data to create unique store size profiles for its apparel merchandise. These analytically determined size profiles are expected to help the retailer better align purchase order quantity details with customer demand.

"We have always viewed our technology efforts as customer service initiatives to improve our merchandise offering and the way we serve customers," says Jan Walsh, vice president and business information officer, Nordstrom. "We believe the Oracle Retail Size Profile Optimization application will help us improve how we assort merchandise for our customers, helping to ensure we have the right merchandise at the right time for customers."

Nordstrom also will use the system to improve insight into the right amount of each size to order and the optimal amount needed in each store location. By helping to ensure that inventory is aligned to customer demand using appropriate size profiles, Nordstrom can achieve cost savings through reduced markdowns and inventory levels. The profiles that Oracle Retail Size Profile Optimization creates can also be used to inform assortment planning and allocation systems.