"Automated Self-Serve Bill Payment and Financial services terminals now available in Circle K stores in greater El Paso, Texas"
Burnaby, BC, March 01, 2006 - Info Touch Technologies Corp. (TSX-V: IFT), owners of the TIO Network, today announced the deployment of 25 ZapLink kiosks at select Circle K convenience stores in El Paso, Texas. Through this expansion, Info Touch and Circle K now offer cash-preferred customers secure and convenience access to bill payment and financial transactions at self-service automated kiosks, 24-hours-a-day.
These kiosks enable cash preferred customers to securely access personal accounts and view balances on select billers without the need to have account number present. They can also pay a host of bills including wireless, utility and cable and update their accounts in real time.
Payments are made by inserting the cash directly into ZapLink kiosk`s bill acceptor. Once the cash is accepted, the payment is immediately posted through Info Touch`s TIO network. Circle K customers can navigate through bill pay and other TIO applications in either English or Spanish and complete financial transactions by either printing or emailing their receipt to an email address of their choice.
"Zaplink and the TIO Network is an important part of Circle K`s strategy to empower our customers with convenient and hassle-free ways to pay bills and manage personal finances", according to Dan Stiel, Manager of Financial Services for Circle K Stores, Inc. "Our customers in El Paso will discover our self-service Zaplink kiosks to be fast, friendly and reliable."
"El Paso, Texas is a growing Latino community and market research indicates that nearly half of the Hispanics are unbanked and more than 78% of El Paso`s population is Hispanic. This data confirms there is market demand for non-traditional financial solutions", said Hamed Shahbazi, Chairman and CEO of Info Touch Technologies. "By delivering convenient access to affordable financial services, we improve the quality of life for residents of El Paso, and execute on our recurring revenue transaction business"
Since September 2001, Info Touch and Circle K have deployed approximately 300 Zaplink kiosks in 6 states, including Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. Both companies` objective is to not only grow the number of locations but also the selection of billers and other financial services available.
About Circle K Stores Inc.
Circle K Stores Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., the leader in the Canadian convenience store industry.
In North America, Couche-Tard is the fourth largest convenience store operator and the second largest independent (not integrated with a petroleum company) convenience store operator. The Company currently operates a network of 4,898 convenience stores, 3,073 of which include motor fuel dispensing, located in eight large geographic markets, including three in Canada and five which cover 23 American states in the United States. Some 34,000 people work at Couche-Tard`s executive offices and throughout the network.
About Info Touch
Info Touch Technologies, a strategic investment of Hewlett Packard, is building the "TIO Network" the largest and most convenient national multi-retailer network of financial services kiosks for the non-banked consumer marketplace in North America. The company leverages its core competencies in self-service bill payment processing, financial services aggregation and automation to create financial viability for its network and its location partners. Info Touch`s Premiere (powered by Surfnet) is the preferred software platform for the delivery of automated services such as bill payment, money transfer, digital merchandising, PIN dispensing for pre-paid products and services, maps and directions, check cashing and electronic coupons. Info Touch clients include: Circle K, ExxonMobil, Alimentation Couche-Tard, Speedway SuperAmerica, Cricket Communications, COX Communications, Memphis Light Gas and Water (MLGW) and Qwest Communications.
About the TIO Network
With more than 700 locations and 6 top tier corporate owned convenience store chains participating, the "TIO Network" is the largest national multi-retailer network of self-service financial service kiosks in North America. The TIO brand symbolizes safe secure access to key financial services with `real time` updates for the cash preferred consumer.
For further information, please contact:
Behshad Hastibakhsh, Media Relations - Info Touch Technologies
Tel: 604-298-4636, Ext. 250
Toll Free: 888-679-3322
Email: pr@infotouch.net
John Lewis, Business Development - Info Touch Technologies
Tel: 416-364-2266
Toll Free: 877-600-6001
Email: jrlewis@infotouch.net
Dan Stiel - Circle K
Tel.: 602-728-3208
Email: dstiel@circlek.com
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