Wal-Mart looks to Web 2.0

Wal-Mart hopes several new Web 2.0 projects will secure what could become an increasingly illusive consumer, reports Network World.

Technology to lure customers to stores, either physical or online, can be a differentiator, says Katie Delahaye Paine, CEO of KDPaine & Partners, a Web measurement consulting company.

Wal-Mart is pushing into Web 2.0 territory with several initiatives that mix service and marketing under the theme of stretching consumer dollars. Several retailers are stepping up their use of Web technology to make shopping easier or build communities online.

The US Postal Service (USPS) has selected NCR Corporation as the exclusive provider of retail point-of-service hardware, reports FOX Business.

The USPS will install NCR RealPOS 80XRT workstations at larger, high-traffic post office locations currently using the NCR POS ONE postal software solution.

This is designed to deliver improved operational efficiencies and to streamline customer service. NCR will also provide services, including help-desk, project management and maintenance.

Orderman has announced its sale to Radiant Systems, a US market leader in POS solutions for the hospitality industry, reports FOX Business.

Orderman is an Austrian company that develops wireless, handheld point-of-sale devices deployed in a variety of hospitality venues.

"We view Orderman's reseller network as a strategic asset that will accelerate Radiant's growth in Europe," said John Heyman, CEO of Radiant Systems.