News

Infrared capability added to Circle K kiosks

February 24, 2002

MILPITAS, Calif. - The long awaited rollout of self-service kiosks in 35 Circle K convenience stores in the Phoenix area has taken place with an added bonus for owners of personal digital assistants - the ability to download information off the Internet onto their PDAs.

Wireless infrared technology company Clarinet Systems Inc. has teamed with kiosk technology company Info Touch Technologies (IFT:CDNX) to include PDA downloading capabilities to Circle K's ZapLink kiosks using Clarinet's EthIR STAR wireless connectivity system. The kiosks provide Internet access, telecommunications, local news, and banking functions.

To use the service, PDA owners point the device's infrared port at a beam located in the kiosk. The kiosk can transmit e-mail, stock quotes and news directly to the PDA.

"This fits perfectly within Info Touch's strategy of utilizing the kiosk as a base station or gateway to wirelessly connect and empower PDA users," Hamed Shabazi, Info Touch chairman and chief executive officer, said in a news release.

The Phoenix area kiosks are part of a pilot program launched this fall by petroleum company Phillips 66 Co. (See story: Ten gallons of unleaded, ten minutes of kiosk access). Global Access Alliance Inc.has installed 40 ZapLink kiosks at Circle K stores in Philadelphia and selected truck stops in the southeast. If the test program is a success, Phillips plans to deploy about 1,200 kiosks nationally.

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