News

Circle K program brings company to kiosk mix

February 20, 2002

PLANO, Texas - Computer Automation Systems Inc. (OTCBB:CASX) formally announced its entry into the kiosk manufacturing business on Dec. 6. The company has received an order to manufacture 41 kiosks for Global Access Alliance Inc. as part of Circle K convenience store's ZapLink kiosk trial program.

The kiosks, which retail for about $10,000 apiece, will be deployed in the Philadelphia area and in selected truck stops in the southeast. They will offer Internet access, local news and information, maps, directions, advertising, and the capacity to download music and other files.

"We expect a follow on order of approximately 500 kiosks for this account in the first quarter (of 2002)," Mike Cherry, Computer Automation Systems president and chief executive officer, said in a news release. "The potential for this customer is over 3,000 kiosks and the market globally could be tens of thousands."

Circle K launched the kiosk trial program this fall in partnership with Global Access Alliance and Info Touch Technologies Inc. (IFT:CDNX), which has installed about 35 kiosks in the Phoenix area (See story: Ten gallons of unleaded, ten minutes of kiosk access). Phillips 66 Co., Circle K's parent company, is considering deploying about 1,200 kiosks nationally next year.

Computer Automation Systems's core business is the manufacture of customized flat-panel displays and communications systems.

[Editor's note: Info Touch Technologies became Tio Networks in April 2006.]