|
18-JAN-2005, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TDS Recon Handheld Computers Help Reduce Concession Lines, Boost Sales at British Arts Venue
Food service workers use Recon handhelds with mobile printers and card readers to take drink orders at Birmingham Hippodrome
CORVALLIS, Ore.—January 18, 2005—Arts patrons attending shows at the Birmingham Hippodrome in Birmingham, England are enjoying a new way to avoid long lines for drinks during intermission-and they're buying more beverages as a result. That's because Hippodrome waiters equipped with Recon™ handheld computers from Tripod Data Systems™ can take their drink orders before the show so that beverages are already prepared for them at intermission.
Waiters use the TDS Recon before the show begins to take orders, process payments and print out receipts from a mobile printer. Concessionaires prepare the drinks during the first act, and at intermission customers simply bring their receipts and pick up their drinks. The new system eliminates long lines, allowing more guests to order drinks. It also gives them more time during intermission to order a second drink from the traditional bar, which continues to operate.
Comtrex Systems Corporation, which provides electronic point-of-sale (POS) systems for the hospitality industry, developed the innovative order-taking system as part of a £35 million redevelopment project at the Birmingham Hippodrome. According to Comtrex president Jeff Rice, Comtrex chose the TDS Recon handheld computer for its Windows® compatibility, long battery life-and, most importantly, its ruggedness.
"Because the Recon runs the Windows Mobile™ operating system, it was easy to integrate with our POS software," Rice said. "We also knew the handheld would likely be accidentally dropped-perhaps several times in one evening. With the Recon's rugged construction, we can count on it to continue working."
The new service has proven popular since it was launched in Fall of 2004. Mike Bradford, the Hippodrome's head of technical services, reports that interval order sales are up, which should provide a return on investment for the handheld technology in less than 12 months.
"One of the biggest benefits to this service is that our guests don't have to wait in line," Bradford said. "And because it's so convenient, we believe more guests are likely to order drinks, generating sales we would have missed out on otherwise."
"Our customers continue to find new ways to use the Recon to solve a problem, improve a process or provide a service," said Bill Martin, TDS president. "Using the Recon at the Birmingham Hippodrome shows how its versatility can be creatively applied in diverse applications. The possibilities are virtually endless."
The Recon is designed for all-day operation in extreme outdoor and industrial environments. It meets MIL-STD-810F military standards for drops, vibration and temperature extremes. It also has an IP67 rating, meaning it's impervious to water and dust.
The Recon's rugged construction makes it ideal for public safety, field service, utility, military and other outdoor or service-related applications. It weighs just 17 ounces, and its rounded edges provide a comfortable grip. Large, widely spaced buttons are easy to use, and its reflective color TFT display is bright and clear in sunlight.
The Recon comes with a 200- or 400-MHz Intel XScale processor, 64 MB of SDRAM and up to 128 MB of internal nonvolatile Flash storage. It also features two CompactFlash slots, plus a standard 9-pin serial port and a high-speed USB port for connecting to a PC. The standard PowerBoot Module™ features a 15-hour rechargeable NiMH battery.
Tripod Data Systems (TDS) designs and manufactures hardware and software for mobile computing applications. TDS handheld computers are designed for extreme outdoor and industrial environments. With the rugged Ranger™, TDS was the first manufacturer to create Windows CE-based handheld computers meeting military specifications for drops, vibration, immersion and both high and low temperature operation. In 2003, the company developed the Recon, a Windows Mobile-based handheld built to the same rugged specifications.
TDS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Trimble. The company is headquartered in Corvallis, Ore., and was founded in 1987. For more information about TDS, visit www.tdsway.com/handhelds, e-mail handhelds@tdsway.com or call 541-752-9000.
# # #
Tripod Data Systems, Ranger, Recon and PowerBoot Module are trademarks of Tripod Data Systems. Windows and the Windows logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
|
