Global Telemedia Smart-e-card Program On Schedule for a Mid-May Launch; Company To Execute Final Manufacturing, Marketing and Distribution Agreements Within Two Weeks
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 25, 2000--Global TeleMedia International, Inc. (OTC: BB: GTMI) President, Jonathon Bentley-Stevens, announced today that the Company will execute the final agreements this month which will enable the Company to launch its revolutionary Smart-e-Card in mid May as planned.
The Company has selected Moore Business Communications Services (http://www.moore.com) based in Atlanta to manufacture its proprietary Smart-e-Card. In selecting Moore Business Communications, quotations from European and other manufacturers were considered and it was determined that Moore will give the Company the high quality, long service and security needed to enable the card to be sold internationally.
Moore Business Communications, one of the largest card manufacturers and suppliers in the world, has been in business since the late 1890's, which was a prime consideration in its selection to help launch the Company's international card. Moore is at the cutting edge of not only card manufacturing but also full service order fulfillment and marketing innovation which means expedient delivery from the screen to the consumer. The card will feature real-time re-valuing using equipment provided by its strategic partner and for which GTMI has sought an exclusive distributorship for the Pacific Rim Countries, China and Japan. GTMI's EPOS OCV (Online-Credit-Verification) real-time funds clearing platform, developed by BentleyTel.com Australia (http://www.octa4.net.au), has been in use for over six months completing "real-time" transactions in Australia. It is linked on-line via its EFTPOS secure network to large Australian banks such as ANZ and St George/BankSA.
The ability to re-value all credit cards through the "Smart Teller" in Real-time is unique and the company is preparing to market software to enable the larger chain stores such as K.Mart and Wal-Mart to be able to clear credit cards real-time and minimize or avoid credit card fraud or bad debts. The Company has already sent proposals to several companies and institutions that have very large employee/client base and can save millions of dollars in chasing bad debts, bad debt write-offs and credit card fraud. BentleyTel will realize a modest fee per transaction.
The Company is also finalizing marketing and distribution with several large marketing and promotion companies which have developed marketing strategies for the launch and distribution of the BentleyTel.com Smart-e-Card.
The Company plans to target multinational companies and offer a range of products revolving around the Smart-e-Card, including international real-time payroll remittances, real-time national and international e-transfer of funds 7 days a week 24 hours a day.
The Smart-e-Card will also have the MessagePilot(TM) capability. In addition, BentleyTel seeks to link up with a major travel provider, so that -- when the card is used for travel bookings -- the card holder automatically informs the unified integrated message platform that the holder will travel on certain dates and stay in a certain hotel. This means that all e-mails, voice-mail, faxes, cell phone and pager messages to the business or holiday destination will be forwarded and the system will automatically return to "normal" when the BentleyTel member returns.
The Company will earn a monthly fee which is a fraction of any comparable system currently available, as well as advertising revenue and profit sharing from its travel strategic partner and fees from real-time funds transfers, card re-value and transactions.
The BentleyTel.com Smart-e-Card is aimed to replace four traditional cards in the wallet of members worldwide. The international calling capability means the ability to access the MessagePilot(TM) system 24 hours a day from over 100 countries in English or local language.
Mr. Bentley-Stevens, said, "The marketing plan has received fantastic reception from all who have seen it. The card has been in development for over one year and recent strategic alliances and software advances have enabled the card to be market ready as soon as next month. The Company expects to see significant revenues during the month of May as we roll out in 3 states simultaneously. The BentleyTel.com card application web site is nearing completion and will feature an international membership page and up-to date transaction information regarding the national and international proliferation of the Smart-e-Card."
He continued, "BentleyTel.com and DataExchange are on target for a May 2000 Beta Test of MessagePilot(TM), and our software engineers in Australia are pleased with the progress that the two labs have made. We are finalizing an agreement with another "strategic partner" who will give our company ISP access in the USA. This will further accelerate the marketing of MessagePilot(TM) throughout the United States.
"We are now ready to expand via our national network to larger cities. EPOS OCV will be an added advantage for BentleyTel members and should be welcomed by all financial institutions. BentleyTel members using the "SmartTeller" can insert notes and revalue their cards in real time."
Mr. Bentley-Stevens concluded, "EPOS OCV (http://www.octa4.net.au/octa4/cps_oe.htm) is only one of our B2B and B2C products. It features multi-account crediting functionality and real-time transactions. Merchants can process transactions using EPOS OVC on a standard PC using Win95/98 or Windows NT via the ISP network. Businesses that are selling on the Internet can seamlessly interface their "Virtual Shopping Mall" to the EPOS OCV system. There is no additional hardware required and the system is ideal for all size businesses. The EPOS OCV server can be fully integrated into the call center and its payment gateway, and seamlessly provide real-time on-line credit card clearance.
"Developing high-income potential products like these, which earn recurring income, is the focus of our software engineers. For a one-time development cost, we attract millions of potential users as we expand this system throughout the Pacific Rim countries, as well as the other major cities throughout Australia and the USA."
Global TeleMedia International, Inc., located in Newport Beach, California, through its BentleyTel.com subsidiary (http://www.bentleytel.com), is a leading developer of interactive software for complex E-commerce solutions, multi-media and high speed Internet and wireless communication systems, including international & long distance Voice over IP, LAN VPN (Virtual Private Network), ISP, Virtual ISP, and PC-PC, PC-Phone transmission of data and voice. It also owns manufacturing and, telecom, ISP, and software development facilities in Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the risks detailed in Global TeleMedia's filings and reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such statements are only predictions and actual events or results may differ materially.
This release and prior releases are available on the KCSA Public Relations Worldwide Web site at kcsa.com.
CONTACT: KCSA
Robert Giordano/Daniel Stepanek
212/896-1289/1202
rgiordano@kcsa.com / dstepanek@kcsa.com
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