News

Info Touch, FatPort to offer wireless Internet access for c-stores

December 5, 2004

BURNABY, BC - Info Touch Technologies Corp. and FatPort announced a strategic agreement to offer (802.11b) wireless high-speed Internet across the ZapLink 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 PDAs can open a Web browser, enter credit card information, and obtain affordable wireless access to speeds of up to 11 Megabits per second, according to a news release.  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 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. 

"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."

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