Big Blue to market, support California company’s kiosks
Announcement today that EMN8 is turning over the manufacture of its food ordering kiosk over to IBM. EMN8 had some positive news a few months ago with installation into Hardee's. The fast food kiosk has yet to realize it's promise. Maybe this is more IBM not allowing NCR to continue with it's free run thru self-service verticals.
IBM has reached an agreement with San Diego-based EMN8 to jointly manufacture, market and support EMN8’s self-service order and pay kiosks, the companies announced Monday.
Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM (NYSE: IBM) designs, tests and builds pay kiosks at its Retail Innovations Center in Research Triangle Park. EMN8’s kiosks are designed for use in fast casual and quick service restaurants (QSRs), a market in which IBM has established a presence. Under the agreement, EMN8 will transition production of its kiosk hardware platform to IBM.
“IBM’s 20-plus years in the kiosk marketplace and experience working with QSRs enables us to provide EMN8 with tested technology and services that will help them to achieve greater scalability and reach,” Brenda Harvey, vice president of Integrated Technology Services, part of IBM’s Global Technology Services, said in a statement.
The companies said the agreement was signed in the second quarter. Under the deal, IBM sales representatives will be able to market EMN8’s kiosks and future generations of kiosk products jointly developed by both companies. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
IBM employs about 10,500 in RTP.
Posted by staff at August 17, 2009 03:37 PM