Fujitsu Unveils Pervasive Retailing Framework at NRF 2006; Minimizes the Time, Cost and Risk of Making Real-time Retailing Interoperability a Reality.

NEW YORK -- Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. today announced its Pervasive Retailing(TM) Framework that enables companies to minimize the time, cost and risk of creating real-time interoperability between disparate applications and devices that support a multitude of retailing interactions.

Fujitsu foresees an explosion of consumer-facing devices in and out of the store creating a pervasive retailing environment, where consumers expect tailored interactions on the device of their choice anywhere, any time and every time. Meeting this demand is an enormous challenge for retailers, but it also creates the opportunity to differentiate the shopping experience, improve operations and drive increased sales.

"Realizing interoperability among numerous real-time devices and applications from multiple vendors can be a complex and daunting task, especially when integrating legacy systems," said Austen Mulinder, president and chief executive officer, Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. "Fujitsu's Pervasive Retailing Framework leverages prior investments in legacy systems while enabling retailers to take advantage of new opportunities to enrich and expedite the shopping experience. This significantly reduces their time-to-market for generating new business across multiple sales channels and increases the return on their overall technology investment."

Fujitsu's Pervasive Retailing Framework (PRF) is based on the same architectural foundation as Fujitsu's GlobalSTORE point-of-sale application. It leverages the GlobalSTORE application set, enabling execution of a service oriented architecture (SOA) for retailing store operations. This reduces the time, risk and cost of interoperability between disparate applications and devices from multiple vendors on multiple platforms.

The Pervasive Retailing Toolkit (PRT) includes each of the components of the framework, which are available discretely. PRT allows Fujitsu to quickly extend and integrate a wide range of applications -- from Fujitsu and others -- across multi-vendor retail technology environments. This same toolkit can be used to extend the life of legacy store systems by adding new functionality with less risk and at a much lower cost.

Fujitsu's Pervasive Retailing SOA is the open infrastructure built on the Microsoft .NET Framework, the programming model for building XML Web services and applications that makes the Pervasive Retailing Toolkit possible. It includes dynamic messaging and services to separate the functions, data and screen formats associated with interoperability in the store -- including interaction with other service-oriented platforms.

Retailers are clearly expressing the need for a solution to address the challenge of multi-vendor, multi-platform interoperability. For the past four years, Fujitsu has been developing the Pervasive Retailing Toolkit, with customers and partners, that enables this capability. All of the components of the toolkit are live and adding value in retailing environments today. These environments include: Nordstrom, OfficeMax, Danier Leather and Sonae.

Engineering Capabilities

The Pervasive Retailing Framework is as much about Fujitsu's breadth of execution capabilities as it is about architecture and tools. Realizing the promise of pervasive interoperability demands mastery of the full range of engineering disciplines (software, hardware, mobile devices, networking and managed services). Fujitsu's core competency in each of these disciplines is proven in reference clients across the retailing market.

Microsoft Smarter Retailing Benefits

Fujitsu's Pervasive Retailing vision is consistent with Microsoft's Smarter Retailing, an initiative designed to help retailers dramatically improve how they sell and operate through better access to customer and product information, further advancing the reality of smarter shopping, selling and operations in and out of the store. Microsoft's breakthrough approach closes the loop between a retailer's strategy, its in-store execution and familiar technologies already in the consumer's hands. Smarter Retailing empowers retailers -- and ultimately, shoppers -- providing the tools to significantly transform and differentiate the shopping experience. Learn more about Smarter Retailing at www.microsoft.com/smartretail.

"Fujitsu's Pervasive Retailing Framework is a natural compliment to Microsoft Smarter Retailing," said Brian Scott, vice president, Retail & Hospitality Industry Unit, Microsoft. "We have been working closely with Fujitsu on the realization of its Pervasive Retailing Framework. This is a significant step in the path to full interoperability in the retailing market."

Extending the benefits of Innovative Intel Technology

Intel has developed and continues to bring new innovations to market to meet the evolving needs of the retailing industry. These technologies are already paving the way for a new generation of cost-effective solutions that promise to transform the shopping experience, empower employees and streamline operations. Fujitsu's PRF will enable retailers to quickly realize the benefits of the broad range of innovative Intel(R) technology-based solutions throughout the "store system." Seamlessly connecting these technologies to multiple store and enterprise applications and devices accelerates adoption and the return on investment (ROI).

"Fujitsu's Pervasive Retailing Framework is an innovation that brings value today -- and into the future," said Jon Stine, global industry manager for Retail, Consumer Packaged Goods, Intel. "The reasons are many -- standards-based interoperability, an understanding of the breadth of functionality required by consumers and associates, and most of all, a services orientation within the foundational architecture that enables maximum flexibility and pervasive connectivity. This solution can help retailers reach out to customers and provide a seamless experience for shoppers using Intel processor-based platforms whether in the store, on the Internet or in the consumer's hand."

Proven Foundation

"As retailers create business processes to directly reach their customers, a platform for integrating and delivering information across a wide range of technologies is becoming critical," said Gary Cochran, senior principal at Kurt Salmon Associates. "Fujitsu's Pervasive Retailing Framework offers a proven foundation to help our clients create a new shopping experience that is more convenient, personal and informative for their customers."

"Every technology investment that a retailer makes from today forward should have the promise, and the challenge, of pervasive retailing interoperability as its context," added Fujitsu's Mulinder.

About Fujitsu Transaction Solutions

Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702), collaborates with retailing companies to relentlessly reduce their costs and facilitate consumer interactions that drive improved profitability for its customers. Fujitsu's Pervasive Retailing(TM) approach enables companies to minimize the time, cost and risk of creating interoperability between disparate applications and devices that support a multitude of consumer touch points. Fujitsu's offering includes solution software, point-of-sale store technology, U-Scan self-checkout systems, self-ordering systems and multi-vendor lifecycle services. Customers include Canadian Tire, Chevron Corporation, Hannaford Bros., H-E-B, Kroger, Loblaws, Nordstrom, Payless ShoeSource, Regal Cinema, Ross Dress for Less, Staples, Stop & Shop and The TJX Companies, among others. The company also has a 50/50 joint venture with Retalix Ltd. (Nasdaq:RTLX) in StoreNext Retail Technologies LLC, the No. 1 supplier of retail technology to independent grocers and regional chains. Web site: us.fujitsu.com/retailing.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For sales and product information call 1-800-340-4425.