News

Computer retailer using kiosks to sell software

December 15, 2003

DALLAS -- Computer retail giant CompUSA has begun offering an ATM-like service that dispenses software like candy from a vending machine.

According to a news release, the system, called SoftwareToGo, could profoundly change the way software is sold and distributed. It also may offer an alternative to software downloads, which have been hampered by slow Internet access and security concerns.

The service is already running in some stores in San Francisco, Dallas and Seattle and includes 1,200 software programs, including some from Microsoft.

How it works: A kiosk with touchscreen lets CompUSA consumers shop for software by choosing an operating system and from categories like business, education and games.They are presented a list of titles, with description and price.

Once a title is picked, an order ticket spits out. The consumer presents the order ticket to a sales rep and pays for the software. The rep then enters information into a second machine, called an order-fulfillment station. It burns the software onto a CD. The rep packages the CD and instructions in a box.

The process takes three to four minutes, said Bruce Newman, chief executive officer of Protocall Technologies, the software-distribution company that developed SoftwareToGo. CompUSA plans to have the system in its 228 stores by May. An average CompUSA carries 1,700 softwaretitles.