At “Retail Tech JAPAN 2024” (March 12-15, 2023, Tokyo Big Sight), Sharp and NTT Data showcased jointly developed cashless payment terminals and remote management systems at their respective exhibition booths. The collaboration combines Sharp’s technological expertise accumulated through the development of the “AQUOS” smartphone with NTT Data’s know-how in operating the largest cashless payment comprehensive platform, “CAFIS.” The market launch is planned for autumn 2024. While Sharp has been offering products for the retail sector such as POS terminals, this marks its first entry into the cashless payment terminal market.
The developed cashless payment terminal is a separate type, divided into two terminals: one for store staff to perform various operations and management, and the other for customers to insert cards, read electronic money, and input PINs.
The staff-side terminal features a compact body with a 6-inch large display, allowing for flexible installation in limited spaces while ensuring high visibility and comfortable operation.
The dimensions of the staff-side terminal are width 94 x depth 161 x height 87mm, similar to the aspect ratio of a typical smartphone. In contrast, the dimensions of the customer-side terminal are width 117 x depth 82 x height 49mm, making it horizontally elongated. According to a Sharp spokesperson, “We decided that the horizontal shape would be best to balance compactness for improved installation of the customer-side terminal and high operability, such as reading 2D codes/barcodes using a camera and entering PINs.” Although swiping magnetic cards horizontally may be less convenient than vertically, the spokesperson added, “The opportunities to use magnetic cards on the customer-side terminal are almost non-existent, so the compact horizontal terminal will prove advantageous in most situations.”
Source: Monoist
https://monoist.itmedia.co.jp/mn/articles/2403/15/news098.html
