Apple Store Uses Windows CE for Mobile Checkout

After running a pilot program at its retail stores this past holiday shopping season, Apple Computer has deemed its EasyPay checkout systems a “big success” and plans to further integrate the devices into its retail experience . . . . began deploying the wireless, paperless credit card scanners at its retail stores earlier this year as part of its iPod Express checkout experience. Apple Geniuses equipped with an EasyPay system can process purchases from customers anywhere on the showroom floor effectively bringing the checkout counter to the customer rather than the other way around. . . . The customer’s card is swiped through a scanner attached to a Symbol Technologies PPT8800 wireless handheld device and an email receipt is dispatched and delivered “within an hour.”

The Symbol PPT8800 is running Windows CE and even shows a “Pocket PC” branding on it’s face. I wonder if they applied one of those Apple-style themes.

I remember seeing people try to scan cards at Macworld years ago with a big Newton. Then just last year they were still using Handspring PDAs, which wouldn’t work at all. The poor girl kept swipping our cards over and over trying to get it to scan. Maybe that’s partially why the Apple store is using these Windows CE devices.

Originally published on Pocketnow on January 26, 2006. More Smartphone News articles from the Pocketnow archive.