STAR DEALS WINNING CARD TO THE PACK

New Visual Card System Launched at CeBIT

Emphasising its policy for product choice, POS solutions manufacturer, Star Micronics, is using CeBIT 2001 (22nd – 28th March, Hanover, Germany) as a platform from which to launch a new ‘communicating’ visual card system, extending the range available to three very different solutions.

New to the Star Micronics range is the TCP100 thermochomic PET card-based system. The system’s card features a 48 character/three line display panel on the front which enables the card supplier to communicate messages to the card carrier, and which is re-writable up to 500 times at the point of sale.

New to market, Star Micronics’ TCP2000 thermal PET system will also be on show. A low cost visual card system, the TCP2000 utilises a card with a large display area, offering full graphics capability for logos, promotional images and photographs as well as text. Also re-writable up to 500 times, the TCP2000 has, says Star Micronics, opened the floodgates for loyalty schemes, membership and appointment cards as well as security access and ID applications. Because its ‘virtually throwaway card cost’ enables adoption by the smallest of organisation and its graphics capability offer a distinction, previously unattainable, the TCP2000 attracts considerable interest from a diversity of industries and market sectors.

Unaffected by magnets, the TCP2000 can be easily integrated into existing EPOS systems or used as a standalone unit with the optional MCD2000 intelligent keypad, negating the need for a PC.

Also on show, will be Star Micronics’ flagship MCP Series of visual smart cards. Like the TCP100, the MCP Series features a 29 character/three line display on the front of the card, but in this instance it is re-writable up to 10,000 times for long-term applications. Two versions are available, the MCP200, with a magnetic stripe on the cards’ reverse, replaced by an IC chip in the MCP300 model. In both cases, as well as in the TCP100, the information conveyed in the display panel remains quite distinct from the personal/secure details retained in the magnetic stripe or IC chip. A further ‘mechanism’ version of the MCP300 system has also been developed, providing the ability to instantly dispense as well as collect cards. The key advantage of the kiosk version is that the cards do not have a “value” before being issued.

Annette Tarlton, marketing manager EMEA, for Star Micronics, commented, “The potential markets for good quality visual card systems are multiplying on an almost daily basis. But users want to access information retained in their cards, like next appointments, special offers, loyalty points accrued, or renewal dates at anytime, rather than being restricted to the times when they physically visit the card issuer’s premises. It is this ‘communicating’ feature that draws the line of distinction between the choice of Star Micronics systems and anyone else’s, across all product areas.

Also on Star Micronics’ stand B07, Hall 7, will be a number of new POS printers, designed to set new standards in the industry, multimedia information/Internet kiosk/terminal printers. In addition, the company will be demonstrating many examples from its established range of POS printers and OEM mechanisms, further emphasising Star Micronics’ breadth of choice.