News

Info Touch, IPP America form pact to expand bill-payment services

March 31, 2004

BURNABY, BC--Info Touch Technologies Corp. is teaming up with IPP America Inc. in a big push to expand bill payment services through the Info Touch kiosk network.

The strategic alliance means Info Touch links up with more than 750 billers and vendors. For its part, IPP of America gains an entirely new kiosk-based sales channel to build consumer awareness and access to its bill payment services, according to a press release.

IPP's nationwide network encompasses over 2,800 locations in 27 states.

The partnership will provide cash-paying customers with a convenient way to pay bills from a broad range of product and service providers, including large wireless and wireline Telco's, cable and utility companies as well as large retailers.

Info Touch and IPP of America will share transactional revenues from per-transaction convenience fees paid by consumers.

"Accepting payment from over 750 vendors significantly expands Info Touch's capacity to serve a wider customer profile across the United States and drive greater bottom line benefits to its retail partner locations," said Hamed Shahbazi, Info Touch chairman and CEO.

"We are excited to partner with Info Touch and their retail convenience store partners in empowering consumers across the U.S. with unprecedented convenience, ease of use and accessibility in paying monthly bills and accessing cash-based automated services," said Marvin Morris, IPP president and CEO.

According to a recent Federal Reserve bulletin, at least 28 percent of the U.S. population has no banking affiliation or is underserved by banks. These consumers tend to pay monthly utility and other household bills in cash, and American consumers generally are increasingly adopting the technology in conveniently located areas such as shopping malls, convenience stores and service stations.

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