Wireless System automates in-flight transactions.
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Press Release Summary:
Designed for in-flight passenger cabin sales by airlines, caterers, and onboard retailers, SkyBuy(SM) combines Abanco LLC's MDT In-Flight(TM) sales application with proprietary wireless Mobile Communications Gateway (MCG) and global support. It solves all logistical problems of in-flight sales by keeping sales devices on plane and even provides USB ports for charging them. System downloads all sales data and uploads all inventories wirelessly and automatically at each airport.
Original Press Release:
ARINC Announces SkyBuysm-a Giant Leap Forward for Airline Onboard Sales
Annapolis, Maryland, USA, September 8, 2007-ARINC Incorporated today introduced SkyBuysm, the first complete in-flight payment and inventory control system designed for passenger cabin sales by airlines, caterers, and onboard retailers.
SkyBuy combines the market-leading MDT In-Flight(TM) sales application of Abanco LLC with breakthrough wireless technology and global support from ARINC. SkyBuy wirelessly automates retail sales while it streamlines inventory tracking. ARINC and Abanco are demonstrating SkyBuy September 8-10 at the International Flight Services Association Exposition (IFSA 2007) in Houston, Texas.
Unlike partial solutions, SkyBuy solves all the logistical problems of in-flight sales by keeping sales devices on the plane. With SkyBuy, sales data is downloaded-and inventories are uploaded-wirelessly and automatically. SkyBuy eliminates much tedious paperwork and minimizes chances for inventory shrinkage.
"SkyBuy delivers all the elements of a complete onboard retail solution-the devices, the communications, the training, and the global support," states Rolf Stefani, ARINC Senior Director, Technical Innovation Center. "It is the only comprehensive offering available."
Wireless communication is the key to the SkyBuy system. The ARINC Mobile Communications Gateway (MCG) collects the sales data on board and wirelessly downloads data at each airport. Sales devices remain safely on board while the airline achieves virtual real-time inventory tracking. The MCG provides USB charging ports to keep airline sales devices fully charged without replacing batteries. It also adds future
wireless flexibility. "The MCG high-speed connection can support other airline applications as well-such as maintenance and crew devices-for an even better return on investment in the future," added Kemmetmueller.
SkyBuy is built on the proven Abanco MDT In-Flight sales platform, used for years on leading airlines. Passengers can make payments with cash, credit cards, debit cards, frequent-flyer miles, prepaid cards, and even promotional coupons. The complete SkyBuy system is sold and supported only by ARINC, a leading communications provider to the airline industry. For more details, see www.arinc.com/skybuy.
Abanco, LLC, headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., delivers highly customized, vertical market specific solutions to meet the needs of industries such as healthcare, airline, golf and others. These innovative solutions leverage Abanco's core data transaction processing infrastructure, resulting in unique applications such as an airline carrier's "Food for Sale" in-flight retail environment. Abanco, LLC is privately held. Company and product information are available at abanco.com.
ARINC Incorporated is a world leader in transportation communications and systems engineering. The company develops and operates communications and information processing systems and provides systems engineering and integration solutions to eight key industries: airports, aviation, aerospace and defense, government, healthcare, networks, security, and transportation. Founded to provide reliable and efficient radio communications for the airlines, ARINC is headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, and maintains regional offices in London and Singapore, with over 3,200 employees worldwide. ARINC is ISO 9001:2000 certified. For more information, visit the ARINC web site at www.arinc.com.
