Douglas Deploys Microsoft Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 Enterprisewide to Enhance...

Douglas Deploys Microsoft Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 Enterprisewide to
Enhance Customer Service and Improve Business Efficiencies
Leading European fragrance and cosmetics retailer turns to Microsoft's next-
generation POS platform to deliver a richer customer experience and meet
present and future business needs.

NEW YORK, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, at the National Retail
Federation (NRF) Annual Convention & Expo, Microsoft Corp. announced that
Douglas, Europe's largest fragrance and cosmetics retailer, is migrating its
point of service (POS) systems in 23 countries around the world to Windows
Embedded POSReady 2009, the next generation of Windows Embedded for Point of
Service.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
Built by Wincor Nixdorf, a Windows Embedded partner, and powered by
Windows Embedded POSReady 2009, Douglas' next-generation POS platform meets
current needs for richer customer experiences and greater security. The system
also addresses longer-term needs for the retailer such as streamlining
technical requirements and reducing total cost of ownership.
"We will roll out the Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 platform in our newer
stores first," said Jeroen Timmer, director of IT at Douglas. "The new
platform is easy to deploy and offers a convenient, easy-to-use touch-screen
interface that helps us deliver better customer service."
"The Windows Embedded team is committed to providing our partners and
customers with an innovative POS operating system that enhances POS function
and enables retailers to offer a differentiated user experience," said Ilya
Bukshteyn, senior director of Windows Embedded Marketing at Microsoft. "Using
familiar Windows technologies, Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 enables a
connected, rich experience at the checkout counter, which leads to meeting and
exceeding shopper expectations and driving customer loyalty."
For Douglas, using Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 delivers multiple
benefits: -- Connectivity. Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 supports the
Microsoft
.NET Framework 3.5 for building robust Web-enabled applications and
services, and offers standards-based plug-and-play support for easy
connectivity to peripherals, servers and services.
-- Confidence. The next-generation platform provides security updates
available through security and management technologies in Windows XP
Professional Service Pack 3.
-- Flexibility. Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 enables customization of
the operating system image to align with Douglas' computing environment
and business needs.

"The new POS platform provides us with a viable solution for meeting
present and future business needs," Timmer said. "As we look to move toward
diskless hardware platforms, we saw a long-term opportunity with Windows
Embedded POSReady 2009, which supports flash and other data storage
technologies. With fewer moving hardware parts, we expect higher levels of
reliability and longer system life cycles, which will save us money over
time."
Douglas POS Systems and Microsoft Technology at NRF Annual Convention &
Expo
Attendees of the NRF Annual Convention & Expo taking place Jan. 12-14 at
the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York can learn more and see a
demonstration of the Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 technology during
Microsoft's BIG !dea session "Competing at the Point-of-Service: A Recipe for
Success," hosted by Bukshteyn and Timmer. More information and demonstrations
by Douglas and the Windows Embedded team will be available at the Microsoft
Booth (No. 637).
More information on Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 is available at
http://www.POSReady.com.
About the DOUGLAS Group
The DOUGLAS Group is one of Europe's leading retail organizations with
outstanding service, first-class product ranges, an enjoyable and stimulating
shopping ambiance and the friendliest employees. Customer satisfaction is the
paramount corporate objective. Douglas' desire is to make customers' lives
more enjoyable. Douglas is "retail with heart and mind."
The DOUGLAS Group operates more than 1,900 specialty stores throughout
Europe, employs 24,000 men and women and generated sales of 3.1 billion euros
(in the fiscal year 2007/2008, October 1st, 2007 - September 30th, 2008).
The DOUGLAS group stands for "Excellence in Retailing." The divisions -
Perfumeries, Books, Jewellery, Fashion and Confectionery - set the standards
in their respective segments. A consequent customer orientation is given the
highest priority. Decisions are therefore being made close to customer needs,
always following the principle "as much decentralization as possible, as much
centralization as needed."
These principles go along with the company's objectives: value oriented
growth, continued global expansion of the Perfumery Division and above all
strengthening the leadership position in quality and service. Stepping in new
markets, the Douglas retail concept recognizes the trends in customer
behaviour and needs and responds to them in excellent concepts, offers and
services.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

pr.mspx./ /CONTACT: Michael Rotermund of DOUGLAS Group, +49 2331 690-226, fax,
+49 2331 690-7103, m.rotermund@douglas.de; Michelle Gryder of Weber Shandwick,
+1-212-445-8181, mgryder@webershandwick.com, for Microsoft