NEW YORK, New York, January 17, 2005 -- Staples, the world's largest office-products retailer, is providing shoppers and staff with secure wireless network connections, based on Cisco Systems® technology, in all 1,200 of its U.S.-based retail stores to help enhance the customer shopping experience, reduce operations costs, and improve staff productivity.

By taking advantage of the Cisco® Intelligent Network Retail solution, Staples can now provide shoppers with access to in-store kiosks where they can order products that are not readily available in the store and employees can access detailed information on products. Employees use mobile printers to print price labels and hand-held devices to perform inventory look up and restocking counts

The Cisco Intelligent Retail Network solutions suite is comprised of Cisco foundation technologies, including routing and switching, and Cisco advanced technologies such as wireless, telephony and security product features. The solution is specifically designed by Cisco to help the retail industry meet business-critical objectives and maximize the effectiveness of the network for increased productivity and an enhanced customer shopping experience.

"We implemented the Cisco solution for several reasons," said Scott Floeck, Staples' chief information officer. "We were looking for a technology solution that would support a high-speed network in a secure and managed environment that could grow with our needs. The Cisco Intelligent Retail Network solution helps us get information closer to our customers' point of purchase and enables store associates to be more productive, allowing them to focus on our customers."

"The Cisco network supports advanced data, voice, video and mobile capabilities-allowing stores to manage their entire business, from supply chain to customer support, using information provided in real time, at the right time," said Mohsen Moazami, vice president, Internet Business Solutions Group, Cisco Systems. "Based on this single, integrated technology, the result is an agile, service-centric retail operation."

Staples chose several Cisco products for the solution. The equipment includes Cisco Aironet® 1100 Series access points, Cisco Catalyst® 2950T switches, and the Cisco 2811 Intelligent Services Router. For more information about the Cisco Intelligent Retail Network, go to www.cisco.com/go/retail.