The main factor here is probably not the technology of Windows XP (which certainly is up-to-par for the problem at hand), but the possibilities of vendors to absolutely custom-tailor a computer OS, stripped down to the bare minimum of running the ATM, and, if necessary provide all the service needed, down to the kernel.<p>And currently it's pretty easy to do this, with build-scripts and infrastructure in place. Maybe even using a tailored Android?<p>But then I somehow doubt that the industry would take that opportunity: I've seem my share of "embedded" devices (signage, control-room-displays) where the vendor just slapped their proprietary .exe in Autostart and left the Vendor supplied Win-XP + Nagware + never-updated-virus-scanner + ... intact.<p>Why? Because people in industry are lazy (they should be, maximizing their ROI, doing as little own work), and so going the same route, but with an 8 year old Ubuntu will not gain anything.
They should just go straight to Android - nice touchscreen drivers, 3G, that Dalvik thing - what more is needed apart from a few device drivers to spit the money out?
The news should be about anyone serious still running Windows (XP!) in ATMs. Why hasn't everyone switched to Linux or BSD 10 years ago is a wonder.<p>I've seen last year an ATM stuck in a reboot loop of some kind running OS/2. Was the first time in my life I saw this OS and probably the last.
Some banks would have liked to migrate a long time ago but some ATMs vendors are not very cooperative : their XFS [1] interfaces were not compatible with new versions of Windows .... That's the problem when you are stuck with a locked down plateform.<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CEN/XFS" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CEN/XFS</a>
Unless they established new Linux distro, say ATMLinux, where most ATM operators pays to maintain and contribute, it's going to be interesting how it will work.<p>I assume each operator paying to different opensource-shop of their choice is going to be more problematic than all of them paying to only Microsoft.
So are ATM machines monolithic devices where you have to scrap the entire thing if you want to upgrade the OS? Or do you open a door in the side, remove the old computer and hook up a new one, and as long as you have the drivers that same cash dispensing and receipt printing hardware will continue working?
Seriously? This is happening now?! ATMs are supposed to be secure, then why the hell are they running one of the most security loop-hole OSes even now?<p>That too Windows XP, which has been deemed as the most unsecure OS in the world!.
It's long time for them to switch to Linux!
I saw a Windows 95 blue screen on an Siemens Nixdorf ATM with a CRT monitor two years ago.<p>The operators (Germany, Austria) say they are not connected to the "internet". I wonder if they use a separate telephone-line-network or just use VPN/firewall.
I still know of one ATM (Bank of the West - Walnut Creek) whose ATM runs Microsoft Network OS 2.01. (or maybe 2.1?)<p>I think that's OS/2 - it looks like DOS with tcp/ip. The copyright on the screen states 1992.