First Data Selects U.S. Wireless Data for Wireless Payment Solutions -
Synapse Provides Solution For Many Categories of Merchants -
MELVILLE, N.Y., Sep 18, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- First Data Merchant
Services, a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), electronic commerce and
payment services leader, today selected U.S. Wireless Data Inc. (USWD) (OTC
Bulletin Board: USWDA), the leader in wireless payment solutions, to power its
wireless credit card transactions. U.S. Wireless Data's Synapse(SM) platform
will be available to more than two million existing merchant locations serviced
by First Data's customers as well as new merchants in need of a wireless
solution.
Synapse, formerly known as Wireless Express Payment Service, provides a seamless
interface among wireless point-of-sale terminals, wireless carriers, and credit
card transaction processors. It enables credit, debit, and other card
transactions to be processed almost as fast as cash, without the cost and
inconvenience of being tethered to telephone lines or electricity. Synapse
provides both the speed and mobility needed to make card transactions practical
for merchants such as taxis and limousines, delivery services, quick service
restaurants, home maintenance and repair services, and outdoor facilities. It
will enable First Data, which processed over 6.4 billion transactions in 1999 to
expand its wireless offering in the U.S. and to provide new regions with
wireless solutions, such as Canada and the Caribbean. First Data will have the
option to provide Synapse's online real-time reporting capabilities to both
wireless and traditional landline customers, with reports customized for First
Data alliances. First Data Merchant Services will offer the Synapse solution
across all distribution channels, including banks, ISOs, and other merchant
acquirers.
"We chose U.S. Wireless Data because we want to expand our wireless presence and
continue to make it as simple as possible for merchants to accept electronic
payments. The Synapse solution offers access to multiple wireless carriers as
well as innovative, customized reporting," said Steve VanFleet, senior vice
president of product management and marketing, First Data Merchant Services.
"The Synapse solution opens new markets for FDMS and we are excited to add it,
along with new wireless data network providers, to our suite of products."
Through the arrangement with USWD, First Data Merchant Services will gain access
to the Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) and Motient networks. Motient
(http://www.motient.com) owns and operates an integrated terrestrial/satellite
data-only network and provides a wide range of two-way mobile and Internet
communications services principally to business-to-business customers and
enterprises. Motient serves a variety of markets including mobile professionals,
point of sale, telemetry, transportation, field service, and nationwide voice
dispatch offering coverage to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, and hundreds of miles of U.S. coastal waters.
"We are thrilled to be providing First Data with solutions that will enable
credit card acceptance in places people never imagined," said Dean M. Leavitt,
chairman and CEO of U.S. Wireless Data. "First Data's adoption of our Synapse
host as one of their wireless platforms is a clear validation of USWD's
state-of-the-art technology by one of the industry's leaders. We are also very
excited about First Data's large international presence and the various ways in
which this relationship will help us expand abroad."
About First Data
Atlanta-based First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) helps move the world's money. As the
leader in electronic commerce and payment services, First Data serves more than
two million merchant locations, 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers,
making it easier, faster and more secure for people and businesses to buy goods
and services using virtually any form of payment. With more than 30,000
employees worldwide, the company provides credit, debit and stored-value card
issuing and merchant transaction processing services; Internet commerce
solutions; money transfers and money orders; and check processing and
verification services throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Australia,
Mexico, Spain and Germany. In addition, its Western Union(R) network includes
approximately 90,000 agent locations with operations in 182 countries and
territories. For more information, please visit the company's Web site at
firstdata.com.
About U.S. Wireless Data, Inc.
U.S. Wireless Data, Inc. (http://www.uswirelessdata.com), founded in 1991, is
the leader in applying wireless technology to the payments industry through its
proprietary software, carrier relationships, front-end authorization/capture,
and real-time, online reporting capability. The company is changing the way
credit, debit, and other cards have traditionally been processed in both the
landline and wireless worlds. USWD's proprietary Synapse technology brings
together three large, rapidly growing industries -- transaction processing,
wireless data transport and the Internet -- to enable seamless wireless payment
processing. Synapse is the only neutral and universally compatible interface for
wireless point-of-sale terminals, wireless carriers, and credit card transaction
processors. USWD is headquartered in New York City.
Forward-Looking Statements: Except for historical information contained herein,
this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risk and
uncertainties. While the management of the Company believes that current
expectations reflect reasonable assumptions, actual results could vary
materially depending on risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to:
success of the Company's new business plan; market acceptance of the Company's
products; the Company's requirement for additional capital; the failure to
execute definitive agreement with potential strategic alliance partners;
technological change; system capacity constraints or system failures; the
ability of the Company to develop new distribution channels; or competition. The
Company assumes no obligation to update this information. The reports filed by
the Company pursuant to United States securities laws contain a detailed
discussion of these factors and certain other risks to which the Company is
subject. Management of the Company advises the reader to review these reports
(which are available from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's
EDGAR database at sec.gov and at various other reference facilities
in the United States).
SOURCE First Data Merchant Services
CONTACT: Maria Neder of First Data Merchant Services, 631-843-6239,
maria.neder@firstdata.com; or Phillippa Perkins for U.S. Wire
ess Data Media
Relations, 212.642-7747, phillippa_perkins@edelman.com; or Jo
n Nesbett for
U.S. Wireless Data Investor Relations, 212-838-3777, jgn@lhai
com
URL: firstdatacorp.com
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(C) 2000 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.
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KEYWORD: New York
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MLM
FIN
SUBJECT CODE: OTC
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