Considerable Growth for WEPOS
Today Microsoft issued a Press Release formally announcing the WEPOS 1.1 Update. You can read the full announcement here: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/apr07/04-19POSUpdatePR.mspx.
With this announcement I'd like to call out the considerable growth that WEPOS has seen in the market. In February, IHL Research released its North American POS Unit Shipment report. The report indicated that WEPOS doubled its market share this past year to 7% of the total NA market. This represented 160% growth over the previous year. The report also highlighted the fact that "since launching Windows Embedded for Point of Service in May of 2005, Microsoft continues to reaffirm its commitment to the retail market. With product enhancements, and its expanding global partner network Microsoft is delivering retailers results."
In addition, the Store Systems Study released by IHL in January of this year found that the total number of Windows XP Embedded and Windows Embedded Point of Service users doubled over the last year from 13 percent to 27 percent. This is the first time in three years where the growth rate of Windows technologies grew at a rate greater than Linux. Furthermore, according to the survey results Windows XP Embedded and Windows Embedded Point of Service grew five times faster than Linux. What's more, the survey found approximately 84 percent of unique retailers are using some variant of Microsoft Windows. By comparison, the survey found that 6 percent are running Linux.
PARTNER GROWTH:
To date, more than 60 partners have developed Windows Embedded for Point of Service and/or POS for .NET compatible solutions. Additionally, we currently have over 50 partners working on new Windows Embedded for Point of Service / POS for .NET compatible solutions, giving customers a breadth of point of service solutions to choose from. This includes solutions from POS suppliers, peripheral suppliers and POS application vendors including 360Commerce, Citizen Systems, Dell, Epicor/CRS, Flytech, Fujitsu Transaction Solutions, Hand Held Products, HP, IBM, MICROS, M-Systems, NCR, NEC, Protech, Posiflex, Sorimachi, Sygate, Symbol, Seiko Epson, Star Micronics, Toshiba TEC, Sharp, Retalix, Wincor-Nixdorf and more.
WORLDWIDE CUSTOMER DEPLOYMENTS:
We have seen new deployments of WEPOS around the world. Customers around the world that have adopted WEPOS include; Virgin MegaStores, Brown Shoe, Hollywood Video, NorgesGruppen, Charles Vogel, Douglas Perfumeries, De Bijenkorf, Charlotte Rousse, Kitamura, Mandarin Oriental, Harrods, Kohl's, Wickes, ShopRite, Clicks, Saraiva, AMC Theatres, and more.
As evident by our recent increase in market share, greater partner support, and increased number of customer deployments, our hard work is starting to pay off!
- David
