St. Paul, MN - CRS, Inc. is now shipping an Integrated Payment ECR System (IPECRS) sales kit to ECR/POS resellers evaluating opportunities in this emerging market. The IPECRS kit, shipped at no charge, contains product information and pricing, introduces revenue opportunities available through payment processing and leasing partners, and streamlines the startup processes for dealers offering integrated payment systems for the first time.

Now available with low-cost SAM4s ECRs, payment integration is an alternative for small merchants currently using standalone credit terminals or for those not currently accepting credit payments. By integrating the credit terminal with a low-cost ECR, merchants enjoy cheaper and faster transaction processing, eliminate redundant standalone credit terminals and printers, and help prevent employee mistakes, fraud and theft. Offered with low, monthly lease payments, integrated systems are price competitive with standalone credit terminals.

To receive an IPECRS kit, contact a CRS Open Line or CRS Dealer Line Representative at 1-800-333-4949. New dealer inquiries are welcome; opportunities are available in many markets.

St. Paul, MN - CRS, Inc. announced a strategic alliance with Mercury Payment Systems (MPS), a Durango, Colorado based Merchant Services Processing Company. By establishing a relationship with MPS, CRS dealers can now offer merchants complete integrated payment solutions based upon either low-cost SAM4s ECRs or CRS System products, and can earn residual income based upon the merchants credit volume.

"CRS chose to partner with MPS because they are committed to the ECR/POS channel - marketing products exclusively through ECR/POS Resellers - and because MPS's values of quality, support and long-term relationships are consistent with those of successful ECR/POS dealers" said Bruce Mann, CRS' VP of Marketing.

By simply referring customers to Mercury Payment Systems' Reseller Support Representatives, CRS dealers will earn 50% of all processing profits generated by each referral for the life of the account. Mercury Payment Systems will perform all sales and administrative functions such as price negotiations, application completion and new account set up. With value-added services like free customized dealership trainings and marketing collateral, Mercury Payment Systems aims to increase CRS dealers' residual income and the sale of CRS ECRs. "We are excited to be working with CRS in offering Mercury Payment Systems' integrated payment solution. We look forward to building strong relationships with CRS resellers and merchants," said Jeffrey Katz, CEO of Mercury Payment Systems.

About Mercury Payment Systems
Mercury Payment Systems is a credit/debit/gift card Merchant Services Processing Company created to enhance point of sale systems. Mercury's integrated Dial Up or Internet Protocol (IP) processing solutions are fast, reliable and inexpensive. Retailers can finally leverage the reliability and enhanced efficiency of integrated payment processing to increase productivity and customer satisfaction. Above all, Mercury Payment Systems helps Resellers increase their opportunities with Reseller support and superior technology.

St. Paul, MN - CRS is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with MBF Leasing, LLC, a Chicago based micro-ticket lease finance company focused on serving independent sales organizations (ISOs) providing POS credit card authorization equipment. MBF is well positioned to help ECR/POS dealers provide financing for low-cost equipment, particularly low-cost ECR-based integrated payment systems.

Leasing enhances the ability of dealers to close low-cost sales, particularly in the credit authorization market where leasing is commonplace. Leasing allows small merchants to preserve cash for other needs, while system savings can easily justify low monthly lease payments.

After evaluating several micro-ticket leasing opportunities, CRS has identified MBF for its distinct advantages. MBF accepts leases of all sizes, is willing to accept a high percentage of low-quality leases, will lease regardless of credit processing arrangements, will lease ECR/POS hardware with or without payment processing equipment, and provides fast convenient lease services

St. Paul, MN - CRS is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Sterling Payment Technologies, a Tampa, Florida based provider of merchant payment solutions. Sterling serves customers in retail, restaurant, supermarket, QSR, parking, petroleum, hospitality, mail and telephone order, auto rental, medical, government, Internet and non-profit markets with dial-up or IP authorizations, web-based reporting, and easy-to-read statements.

Many ECR/POS dealers have already discovered the benefits of representing payment-processing providers. Dealers are on the front lines with merchants and develop stable long-term customer relationships. Dealers can offer competitive payment processing services to both new and existing accounts, developing an entirely new revenue stream and providing a product that fits naturally with ECR/POS equipment.

Sterling offers both Referral Agent and Independent Sales Contractor programs for ECR/POS dealers. CRS chose to partner with Sterling Payment Systems because Sterling is committed to this channel, offers programs that allow dealers to participate based upon individual preference and most of all because Sterling is committed to provide training, service and support to dealers that ensures success.

St. Paul, MN - St. Paul, MN - New, low-cost SAM4s M-Class ECRs are now available with Datacap's proven payment authorization technology.

Payment integration provides cheaper and faster transaction processing, eliminates redundant standalone credit terminals and printers, and helps prevent employee mistakes, fraud and theft. The ER-380M, and the ER-5200M series (including the ER-5215M, ER-5240M and ER-5200M) are designed to provide all the benefits of integration at prices attractive to smaller retailers currently using standalone credit authorization terminals (CATs).

SAM4s M-Class ECRs feature fast built-in thermal printers, multi-line displays and multiple communication ports. When integrated with Datacap's DataTran E-payment appliance, payments are initiated by pressing a credit payment key on the SAM4s ECR. The register display prompts the operator to slide the card, and the payment process is completed on the register. The SAM4s ECR prints both the credit voucher and the customer receipt. CRS is currently delivering systems processing credit and non-PIN debit payments. PIN-debit, gift card and pre-paid card transaction processing will be released in the near future.

By establishing strategic partnerships with leasing and credit processors, CRS resellers are positioned to provide a complete payment processing solution for as low as $49 per month, including equipment and payment processing services.

St. St. Paul, MN - CRS has completed upgrades to the popular low-cost SAM4s ER-5200 series Electronic Cash Registers (ECRs). Designated the ER-5215M, ER-5240M and ER-5200M, the enhanced ECRs now include 2-line alphanumeric LCD displays, two RS-232C ports, memory expansion options allowing PLU files up to 10,000 items, and can be combined with optional DataTran integrated payment appliances to a create powerful integrated payment ECR system. All three new M-Class models are now being delivered.

With the alphanumeric display, operators can view the item description as well as the price as items are registered; previously the operator could only view the price. In addition, errors and messages are now displayed in plain language, easing training and improving productivity. Popular peripherals, such as printers, scales, scanners, and coin dispensers can be connected to the RS-232C ports, providing significant POS capability at a low ECR price point. All models in the series feature integral a high-speed drop and print thermal receipt and journal printers. The ER-5200M series consists of three models: the ER-5215M with 15 PLU category keys, the ER-5240M with up to 40 PLU category keys and the ER-5200M with a large, flat spill-resistant keyboard for food service applications.

St. Paul, Minnesota - CRS is accepting dealer applications for the all-new NEC RSenCounter 5000, an integrated POS Solution for Quick Service Restaurants. The RSenCounter 5000 is the fifth generation of POS technology from NEC, an outcome of over 12 years experience. Over the years, CRS/NEC dealers have found success with franchise operators of many national accounts, including A&W, Arby's, KFC, Dairy Queen, Krispy Kreme, Burger King, Wendy's, Hardee's and others. The RSenCounter 5000 will open doors to many franchise accounts preferring a touch solution.

The RSenCounter 5000 is compact, retail hardened, and features a 12.1" LCD touch screen. "We have assembled a unique set of hardware, designed for the rigors of quick service restaurants" states Troy Lachinski, CRS Product Manager. He added, "Significantly, we have abandoned the traditional polling model for data communications, instead providing FTP file push technology. FTP is faster, with fewer points of failure, uses industry standard technology and allows easy integration to the POS dashboard of your choice." The RSenCounter 5000 uses Windows XP embedded operating system and is bundled with flexible, proven quick service software.

Previewed at the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York this spring, the RSenCounter 5000 won the New Product Showcase award for "Best Equipment/Services". Also shown at this year's NRA show, the RSenCounter 5000 was selected as one of the industry's "Hot New Products".

St. Paul, MN - CRS has announced significant upgrades to the popular low-cost SAM4s ER-5200 series Electronic Cash Registers (ECRs). Designated the ER-5200M series, the enhanced ECRs provides a new 2-line alphanumeric LCD display, two standard RS-232C ports, and a memory expansion option allowing PLU files up to 10,000 items.

With the alphanumeric display, operators can view the item description as well as the price as items are registered; previously the operator could only view the price. In addition, errors and messages are now displayed in plain language, easing training and improving productivity. Popular peripherals, such as printers, scales, scanners, and coin dispensers can be connected to the standard RS-232C ports, providing significant POS capability at a low ECR price point. The ER-5200M features integral a high-speed drop and print thermal receipt and journal printers. The ER-5200M series consists of three models: the ER-5215M with 15 PLU category keys, the ER-5240M with up to 40 PLU category keys and the ER-5200M with a large flat spill-resistant keyboard for food service applications.

St. Paul, MN - The CRS Dealer Line Product Division has announced the release of the SAM4s SER-7000 high capacity point of sale terminal. The SER-7000 delivers advanced point of sale technology in a traditional electronic cash register package. Flexible, built-in firmware allows the SER-7000 to be configured for a wide range of retail and food service applications.

The SER-7000 features a backlit, multi-line, LCD operator display and a 160 key, programmable, flat, spill-resistant keyboard. Also available for retail applications, the SER-7040 features up to 90 traditional raised-key locations. Standard Ethernet communications allow up to 32 terminals to be linked. Four 4 RS-232C peripheral ports support POS options, including: UPC scanning, magnetic card reader, Datatran integrated credit system, kitchen printer or video, poll display, coin dispenser, scale, liquor dispensing systems, video surveillance systems, and PC polling.

St. Paul, MN - CRS and TVS have announced the completion of the interface for the TVS Video Text Inserter and the SAM4s/Samsung ER-5200 series Electronic Cash Register (ECRs). The ER-5200 series features high-speed ribbonless thermal receipt and journal printers. The interface is the first between popular new thermal printing ECRs and TVS.

With the TVS system, all transactions are superimposed onto the corresponding video of the cashier, customer, and cash register. The system enables pinpointing of questionable activity such as "sweetheart discounts" and flagged transactions including voids and no sales.

About TVS
Transaction Verifications Systems (TVS), a subsidiary of Honeywell Video Systems pioneered the Video Text Inserter for its surveillance systems. For more information about TVS, contact Honeywell Video Systems at 1-800-221-1560, ext.117 or visit www.tvs-inc.com.

About SAM4s/Samsung
Sam4s (formerly Samsung) brand ECRs are manufactured by Shin Heung Precision Co., Ltd. of Korea and are imported exclusively in North America by CRS, Inc.

NEC POS Wins International Restaurant & Foodservice Show Award

The all-new NEC RSenCounter 5000 from CRS, an integrated POS Solution for Quick Service Restaurants won the New Product Showcase award for "Best Equipment/Services" at the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, March 16 at Javits Center, N.Y., N.Y.

Currently in the final stages of beta testing and due for commercial release this spring, the NEC 5000 is the fifth generation of POS technology from NEC, an outcome of over 12 years experience. "We have assembled a unique set of hardware, designed for the rigors of quick service restaurants" states Troy Lachinski, CRS Product Manager. He added, "Significantly, we have abandoned the traditional polling model for data communications, instead providing FTP file push technology. FTP is faster, with fewer points of failure, uses industry standard technology and allows easy integration to the POS dashboard of your choice." The NEC 5000 uses the Windows XP operating system embedded in compact flash memory, and is bundled with flexible, proven quick service software.

CRS, North America's exclusive importing distributor of Samsung/SAM4s electronic cash registers and POS equipment and their dealer, CRC Systems of Tampa, Florida, were presented with the "Circle of Excellence Outstanding Service" award as Haagen-Dazs leading equipment supplier at the Haagen-Dazs Shops National Meeting, March 14-16 in Orlando Florida.

Haagen Dazs is currently using either the Samsung SPS-1000 POS terminal or the Samsung SER-6500II electronic cash register in their franchise locations. The SPS-1000 is a modular, self-contained point of sale terminal that features a large easy-to-read operator screen and connects to industry standard RS-232C peripherals. The SER-6500II is a traditional cash register with sophisticated features, including employee time-keeping and PC communications.

Minneapolis, Minnesota - The SAM4S ER-600 is the first low-cost modular POS workstation with a multi-line operator screen. Like the low-cost electronic cash registers it was designed to replace, the ER-600 is bundled with operating software and features "no single point of failure" reliability. The keyboard/display module is about the size of a PC keyboard for an extremely small footprint and low profile.

With flexible built-in software, the ER-600 can be configured to fit a wide range of hospitality and retail POS applications, including food concessions, kiosks, bars, taverns and small table service restaurants, liquor stores, tobacco stores, and gift shops. Features include networking, serial communications, optional integrated magnetic stripe reader and more.

The SAM4S ER-600 is a distributed ECR solution that allows a restaurant to choose only the peripherals needed to operate its business, potentially saving many dollars per workstation.

Minneapolis, Minnesota - SAM600 Inventory is a low-cost polling and inventory software solution now available for the new SAM4S ER-600 workstation. SAM600 Inventory gives the SAM4S ER-600 user true POS functionality by polling sales, automatically updating inventory records and providing convenient PLU file management at a personal computer.

As a low-cost food service solution, the SAM4S ER-600 is ideal for concession, kiosk and other quick service applications. With multi-store polling capability, SAM600 can poll by modem, allowing multi-location operators to easily access critical sales and financial data.

As a retail terminal, the SAM4S ER-600 fits small liquor, tobacco and gift shops. In these applications, SAM600 Inventory supports single location on-site inventory management. System features include inventory maintenance for stock addition, transfers in/out and promo/waste tracking. By-shelf and by-vendor inventory adjustment functions allow orders to be entered, printed and suspended. Suspended orders can be recalled, adjusted if necessary and sent into inventory when the product is received. SAM600 calculates margin of profit percentage, quantity on hand, average unit cost and total cost on hand using an average costing calculation method.

In applications where UPC scanners are used, SAM 600 Inventory can be used to print item or shelf bar-code labels. The new Samsung SRP-770 label printer is an ideal system accessory, producing direct thermal labels in widths from 1.5" to 4.1".

CRS Inc. announces the release of the Samsung ER-5200 series of Electronic Cash Registers (ECRs) consisting of three new models, the ER-5215, ER-5240 and ER-5200. All three models feature integral high-speed thermal printers and functions usually found in higher-cost POS equipment. By printing graphic images on wide 2-1/4" (58mm) receipts, retailers using low-cost equipment can for the first time use receipts as marketing tools - reinforcing brand exposure by printing logos, coupons and/or advertising messages.

Using flash ROM technology, each model in the ER-5200 series includes powerful embedded software. The keyboard can be customized and specific features activated that allow the registers to be used by a variety of retailers, including convenience stores, gas stations, bars, grills, taverns, restaurants, resorts, campgrounds, and small motels.

An optional scale, printer, coin dispenser, pole display, or PC can be connected using standard RS-232C communications. With the optional Sam52 for Windows, or the ER-5200 PC Utility, the register's program can be maintained, reports can be polled, and graphic images can be downloaded.

The ER-5215 keyboard features 5 to 15 PLU keyboard locations and is sold to distributors and dealers through the CRS Open Line Products Division. The ER-5240 features 15 to 40 PLU keyboard locations and the ER-5200 features a large, flat spill-resistant keyboard with 117 PLU keyboard locations for hospitality applications. Both models are available through the CRS Dealer Line Products Division.

Samsung brand ECRs are manufactured under license by Shin Heung Precision Co., Ltd. of Korea and are distributed exclusively in North America by CRS, Inc. CRS is the nation's largest independent importer and distributor of cash registers, POS terminals, peripherals and parts.