USA Technologies to showcase new technology for kiosks, vending and wireless

CHICAGO - USA Technologies will demonstrate its next generation of intelligent vending technology at the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) National Expo in Chicago this week, according to a press release.

"This will be our strongest ever offering of technology that's not only going to change the vending industry, but influence and simplify the way the world does business and communicates," said George R. Jensen, chairman of the board and CEO of USA Technologies. "We also are going to be showing entirely new concepts in vending and kiosk technology that we believe will one day be pervasive worldwide, allowing consumers the ability to purchase just about any product or service, wherever they may be, using a variety of transaction modes, from cash through credit cards and wireless operated PDA's and cellular phone technology."

Among the technology on display will be a Motorola vending machine that vends cellular phone accessories, as well as the Sony PictureStation that develops digital photos and uses USA Technologies' cashless transaction software to allow credit/debit card payment.

MEI will promote its licensing of USA Technologies' intellectual property to bring a turnkey cash and credit card payment system to the vending market. Under the agreement, MEI licensed USA Technologies' intellectual property so operators can connect to USALive, USA Technologies' network for services and credit card transaction capability.

MEI and USA Technologies together will offer customers a new payment method and greater convenience to improve the consumers' vending experience. The new combined product incorporates the MEI series 2000 combo acceptor consisting of the MEI series 2000 bill acceptor with a swipe-style credit card reader. Credit card transactions and communications to USALive will be handled by the MEI EASITRAX remote data port.

AT&T will also be represented. The company recently announced that USA Technologies will provide nationwide availability of its e-Port wireless credit card processing and non-cash transaction services via the AT&T Wireless GSM/GPRS Network. The partnership between USA Technologies and AT&T means vending companies and kiosk operators will have a viable way to accept a variety of electronic payments without a dedicated telephone line. Businesses will have greater flexibility in where they place their machines, and end-user customers will have the convenience of an assortment of payment options.