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Unipin
Please read the following Unipin Brochure PDF document for more information
Powervend Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals
There are two options available for point-of-sale vending: a fixed line PSTN (Powervend II) terminal; or mobile GPRS
(Powervend IIG) Terminal. Powervend II operates in and on-line mode via dial-up whereas Powervend IIG is a mobile POS device designed
for use over GPRS wireless communication networks. Both units utilise the e-Vond protocol to provide on-line vending via a utility's Cashpower
Suprima e-Vend server middleware. Very little training is required to operate either of them. Powervend IIG is very attractive as the
e-Vend protocol is a highly data-efficient XML (extended mark-up language) vending protocol. Powervend IIG enables a utility to set up flexible
vending points that are fully mobile and cost-effective. Introducing cellular technology means a utility can broaden their vending
services inexpensively as well as set up a non-fixed emergency vending point, enabling then to continue to vend electricity should their
network go down. Powervend II consists of an external power supply, an integrated PSTN modem, thermal printer, swipe card reader,
and is designed for stationary use in a shop or similar environment.
Scratch Power Scratch Card Solution
Sleep Africa's Scratch Power scratch card system uses cellphone communication to vend electricity thereby enabling utilities to
make the purchase of electricity more convenient for consumers. For the utility it reduces the cost of making prepayment
vending facilities available to the consumer and for the vendor no computer hardware or point-of-sales devices are required.
This system also empowers the utility to sub-distribute electricity scratch card tokens to approved retailers. Scratch Power interfaces
to the utility's existing Suprima system via the e-Vend server with the management taking place via a web browser interface, enabling personnel
to easily manage the system via the LAN/WAN. SMS services can be made use of on the Internet as well as via locally-connected
GSM modems. Scratch Power provides a prepayment vending solution for areas with GSM coverage, where no on-line vending points are available. The
consumer;s cellphone communicates with the Scrath Power server via the GSM network, which in turn communicates with the e-Vend
server to genrate the credit transfer number which is then communicated to the consumer's via SMS.
Third Party Vending
Sleep Africa has entered into agreements with other companies to provide further vending opportunities for the convenience
of consumers. An example is a cellphone-based solution designed to make it possible for vendors to use their cellphones
to vend electricity to users without bank accounts. This system interfaces to the Suprima e-Vend server for token-generation.
Other vending capabilities through third party arrangements include unattended vending terminals which enable 24-hour vending and kiosks which are
similar to automatic teller machines. All these systems interface to Suprima.
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