News

TravelCenters of America Upgrades Nationwide Kiosk Network to Accept Cash

160 RoadKing Club loyalty kiosks retrofitted with MEI cash acceptors as part of an extensive in-field feature upgrade

December 2, 2004

WEST CHESTER, Pa., 25 September, 2002 - MEI, the world's leading developer of electronic cash payment systems, announced that its AE2600 cash acceptor was recently integrated into TravelCenters of America's (TA) nationwide network of 160 RoadMile Marker™ kiosks, as part of an extensive in-field feature upgrade.

The RoadMile Marker loyalty kiosks were originally deployed in TA travel centers nationwide in September of 2000, and since then have successfully provided convenient, automated services to truck drivers. These kiosk services include membership sign-up to the RoadKing Club - a loyalty program that gives truck drivers non-cash awards for diesel gallons purchased - and redemption of awards for free showers, restaurant meals, c-store purchases, truck repair and maintenance services.

The newly-upgraded RoadMile Marker kiosks enable RoadKing Club members or non-members to pay for showers at the kiosk with club credits or cash instead of standing in line at the service desk - a significant time saver. An Automatic Shower software system keeps track of shower usage, queues drivers that are waiting to shower, approximates wait time, and dispenses automatic shower entry codes.

Accepting cash was critical for the RoadMile Marker program because cash is a truck drivers' primary means of payment, and because the cost of the service is under $10. TA selected an MEI AE2600 cash acceptor based on its proven performance record in other retail kiosk applications.

"Our members already like using the kiosks because it is so easy to reap the benefits of club membership. We started realizing a return-on-investment almost immediately after deployment," said Steve Brown, TA's manager of loyalty program development. "Now that the kiosks accept cash and offer more features, we see even more usage, shower revenue, customer satisfaction and ROI. With these functions automated, our service personnel can focus their attention on customers who need one-on-one attention."

In addition to integrating the MEI cash acceptor, TA integrated a Magtek magnetic stripe reader, additional memory and a PCI serial port card. TA sent a kit to each location containing the new peripherals along with new upper and lower kiosk doors provisioned with mounting locations for the peripherals. The TA site manager at each location installed the hardware in his/her kiosk(s) with the assistance of an installation guide. Apunix Computer Services, the kiosk OEM, remotely monitored each site as the upgrade occurred and verify that all components were installed correctly. After the hardware was successfully upgraded, Apunix then remotely installed new software to support the new peripherals and kiosk features.

"TA and Apunix's remote integration of our AE2600 cash acceptor is unique," said Gail Samota, national sales manager, petroleum for MEI. "By writing its own Java driver for the AE2600, Apunix has added the capability to monitor it. Apunix's software keeps track of the amount of cash received, can detect jams and if returned money has not been taken from the bill acceptor. In the unlikely event of a jam, Apunix will automatically print a refund voucher for any amount that has been previously collected. Once a jam is cleared the kiosk automatically begins to accept cash for showers."

TravelCenters of America, based in Westlake, Ohio, is the largest travelcenter network in the United States with over 375,000 active RoadKing Club members enrolled. Visitwww.tatravelcenters.com <http://www.tatravelcenters.com>.

Apunix Computer Services, founded in 1981, Apunix has focused on develop leading edge software, hardware, and cross-platform solutions. Apunix kiosk technology is a culmination of years of experience in developing software in the areas of GUI and database interfaces, imaging and multimedia under the UNIX™ platform. As one of the earliest users of Java™ technology, Apunix's kiosk engine is the only truly platform independent solution that can run on any system and take advantage of the inherent reliability of UNIX™ and Linux based platforms. Visitwww.apunix.com <http://www.apunix.com>.

MEIis one of the world's leading manufacturers of electronic bill acceptors, coin mechanisms, and other electronic payment systems. The company developed the world's first electronic coin validator in the late 1960s and today, has the largest, worldwide installed base of unattended payment mechanisms. Current innovations include MEI EASITRAX™vending management solutions. This leading-edge technology and software system supports every aspect of a vending operator's business from data collection and analysis to business management.

For more information on MEI and its products, visitwww.meiglobal.com/kiosks <http://www.meiglobal.com/kiosks>or call 1-800-345-8215 x2510.