Info Touch Technologies and FatPort Sign Strategic Agreement to Offer
Wireless Internet Access across Mac's Convenience Stores'
ZapLink Kiosk Network in Canada
Burnaby, BC - December 02, 2004 - Info Touch Technologies Corp. (TSX-V: IFT), North America's leading kiosk software and services solution company, and Fatport announced a strategic agreement to offer (802.11b) wireless high speed Internet across the ZapLink SM Kiosk network at 34 select Mac's convenience stores in greater Vancouver (BC).
Thanks to this new initiative, patrons with a Wi-Fi equipped tablet PCs, laptop or PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) can now open a web browser, enter credit card information, and obtain affordable wireless access to speeds of up to 11 Megabits per second. The users can choose between unlimited Wi-Fi daily service for $9.95 and monthly access for $34.95. The transaction occurs over a secure SSL connection between the users' device and the Wi-Fi access gateway. Mac's, Info Touch, and FatPort will share recurring transactional revenues from this wireless offering.
Powered by Info Touch's industry-leading Surfnet Premiere software, ZapLink SM Kiosks will be used as gateways or hubs to broadcast high speed wireless data to digital devices. In addition, ZapLink kiosks offer convenient public access to a host of electronic services, such as bill payment, maps and directions, couponing and will soon be offering prepaid mobile content (ring tones, graphics and games), prepaid wireless, long-distance, money order, and money transfer services, etc.
"Mac's, Info Touch, and FatPort share a common vision in leveraging the most convenient retail space in the retail industry to act as destination points for quality wireless access. This agreement marks the most significant Wi-Fi deployment to occur within the convenience retail industry in Canada to date", said Hamed Shahbazi, Chairman and CEO of Info Touch Technologies. "Eventually wireless will become as common place as ATMs for convenience stores. We are fortunate to work with visionary location partners such as Mac's who not only understand but also set such trends"
"This agreement represents a significant milestone both for our retail and wholesale customers," said FatPort's VP of Business Development Michael Kuhlmann. "Starting with the 34 stores in Vancouver, and potentially moving through 200 more sites across Western Canada, Mac's has a large percentage of the Canadian public walking through its doors on a daily basis. FatPort is looking forward to co-marketing services in these locations and to providing customers with high-speed wireless access. It will now be easier than ever to find a spot to check email or to make calls on a Voice over IP phone."
About Info Touch
Info Touch Technologies develops and deploys financial transaction software and consumer services in the self-service automated kiosk industry. Surfnet is Info Touch's trademarked technology for the secure and convenient delivery of e-services, including bill payment, maps and directions, money transfer, PIN dispensing for pre-paid products and services and electronic couponing. Clients include: Hewlett Packard, Exxon Mobil, Alimentation Couche-Tard, Cricket Communications US Military, MCI, Qwest Communications. For more information, visit www.infotouch.net.
About FatPort
FatPort is Canada's most extensive wireless Internet service provider (WISP) and provider of Wi-Fi (802.11b) turnkey solutions. FatPort's custom-built FatPoint wireless access point enables location owners to quickly establish a commercial FatZone. In each FatZone, anyone with a wireless-enabled laptop or PDA may access the Internet at speeds many times faster than cellular networks. FatPort is now offering Voice over IP through its newly formed division, mobitus. FatPort is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ignition Point Technologies Corporation (TSX-VEN: IPN). www.fatport.com
About Couche-Tard
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. is the fourth-largest convenience retailer in North America and the leader in the Canadian convenience store industry. The company operates a network of 4,672 convenience stores. These stores are located in three large geographic markets in Eastern, Central and Western Canada and in 23 states in the United States. Couche-Tard employs approximately 34,000 people at its head office and throughout its network of stores.
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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: 1-877-600-6001
Email: jrlewis@infotouch.net
Malcolm McDonald, Marketing Manager - Fatport
Tel: 604-837-4029
Toll Free 1-866-FAT PORT
Email: malcolm@fatport.com
Ron Thompson, Marketing Manager - Mac's Convenience Stores
Tel: 403-974-5400
Email: ron.thompson@macs.ca
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