TIO Networks Corp., a provider of expedited bill-payment processing, has announced transaction revenue results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2010, ended October 31.

According to a news release, TIO processed $4.7 million in bill-payment transactions, with revenue increasing 11 percent over Q1 2009 and one percent over Q4 2009.

We had a strong year of growth, having achieved substantial improvements on both the top and bottom line of the company. Most importantly, we found a way to grow the company’s revenue while reducing capital expenditures to record lows, demonstrating a substantial strengthening of our business model. Although we continue to operate in a difficult economic climate, TIO’s last-minute bill payment processing services continue to be in high demand. The company expects to continue to grow revenues and is working hard to accelerate its growth with a very strong line-up of opportunities and initiatives.

At Cox, our focus is always on the customer. The ability of customers to pay their bills at TIO retail locations and self-service kiosks is one more way that our customers can conveniently do business with Cox.

It is an exciting development in the evolution of Nexxo to be able to offer more services on our Cajeros. Customers can now benefit even more from being a Nexxo Financial customer with the convenience and ease of paying their bills in addition to conducting money wire transactions.

BURNABY, British Columbia — TIO Networks Corp., a multichannel expedited bill-payment processor, has announced that Budget PrePay Inc., one of the United States’ largest networks for marketing prepaid products, will process TIO bill payments at more than 5,000 of its locations in 45 states.

According to a news release, Budget PrePay will leverage TIO’s transactional billpay interface to gain access to TIO’s expedited bill-payment processing capabilities, which include wireless, utility and cable bill issuers.

With TIO’s processing capabilities, cash-preferred customers will be able to pay their wireless, utility and cable bills at Budget PrePay stores throughout the country. Customers will pay a service fee to use the expedited payment services.

The parties expect to activate the locations on the TIO network this summer and implement a marketing campaign to create greater awareness for the new services amongst Budget PrePay’s customer base and build transaction volumes.

BURNABY, British Columbia — TIO Networks Corp. has announced unaudited third quarter and nine-month financial results for the period ended April 30.
 
During Q3, TIO reported a net loss of $650,585, up from the $1.26 million net loss reported in Q3 2008.
 
But revenue was up 63 percent, totaling $5.7 million, during the quarter, and operating expenses were reduced by $162,995 from the previous year. According to a news release, the earnings make Q3 TIO's 27th consecutive quarter of transaction growth, and the company's network transaction endpoints also have increased and now total 12,959. TIO ended the quarter with a positive EBITDA of $180,000.
 
"Our base of recurring revenue continues to grow, as does our business-development pipeline," said Hamed Shahbazi, chairman and chief executive of TIO Networks. "We are confident that our current and new business opportunities will increase transactions and continue to drive strong revenue growth in the quarters and years ahead."

TIO will host a conference call today at 2 p.m. EDT to review the Q3 financial results. The toll-free dial-in number is 1-800-733-7571, and callers should request the TIO Networks conference.
 
TIO is a multichannel, expedited bill-payment processor, serving telecom, wireless, cable and utility bill issuers in North America.

BURNABY, British Columbia — Self-service bill-payment provider TIO Networks Corp. will report its third-quarter 2009 financial results June 24. A conference call for investors and analysts will be held the same day at 2 p.m. EDT. Complete financial results will be available prior to the call at www.sedar.com.

Hamed Shahbazi, TIO’s chairman and chief executive, and Derek Lai, acting chief financial officer, will review the quarter and provide a corporate update.

To participate in the conference call, dial 1-800-733-7571. Callers should request the TIO Networks conference.

OSLO, Norway — BBS, a leading provider of electronic security, payment and information services for retailers and financial institutions in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, has acquired Sagem Denmark A/S and Sagem Manison Finland from Ingenico Group. The acquisition is pending required approval from The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway.

Sagem Denmark is a worldwide supplier of encrypting PIN pads for use in ATMs, kiosks and other unattended payment solutions. As a result of the acquisition, BBS is likely to strengthen its position in the Nordics through the addition of 150 qualified employees and a large portfolio of customers in the region.

“One of our ambitions is to become the leading provider of merchant solutions in the Nordics. With the purchase of Sagem Denmark and the subsidiary Sagem Manison Finland, this ambition will be achieved," said Ola Forberg, CEO of BBS. "Today we are the one and only Nordic supplier that can meet the demands of the retailers to have one common payment solution across the Nordic region. This position has been further strengthened through the acquisition."

“We are very pleased with the disposal of Sagem Denmark and Manison Finland to BBS, along with the strategic partnership for terminal distribution in Nordic countries,” said Philippe Lazare, CEO of Ingenico Group. “This is a great opportunity to reinforce our commercial position in this region, thanks to BBS leadership in these countries.”

Sagem Denmark already is positioned in the Danish market, and, according to a news release, the company has produced and sold the most frequently used payment terminals in Denmark since 1984. Sagem’s customer portfolio includes several Nordic retail chains and fits well with BBS’ existing operations in the Danish market.

“This is a new business area for BBS, which we, together with the employees of Sagem Denmark, will develop further. We believe encrypting PIN pads can become a strong global business area,” said Forberg.

“I believe that the alliance with BBS will create value for both Sagem Denmark and our customers, who will be working with the leading player on the Nordic market,” said Kaj Christiansen, CEO of Sagem Denmark. “At the same time, it allows Sagem Denmark to further expand our global business of payment security products.”

According to the release, Sagem Manison is a substantial player in the Finnish market and the fastest growing payment solutions company in the Nordic countries.

“Already today, we have several customers who request one Nordic solution with adjustments for the Finnish market,” said Forberg. “The solutions provided by Sagem Manison will fulfill this requirement, compliment our Nordic focus and establish us with local presence in Finland.”

NORCROSS, Ga. — Postilion, a division of S1 Corporation and a leading global provider of integrated solutions for self-service banking and payment processing, today announced that North Dallas Bank & Trust Co. has chosen Postilion to provide an integrated, multichannel solution supporting all of the bank's self-service and EFT channels on a single platform.
 
A customer for more than 10 years, North Dallas Bank has deployed Postilion Voice Banking and will upgrade its heritage solutions for retail Internet banking and business Internet banking. In addition, the bank will implement Postilion ATM driving and debit card issuance applications on the Postilion platform, enabling cross-channel integration and a single customer view.
 
"We are very excited to move to the new solutions and have already received positive feedback on the new look and functionality," said Greg Niemeyer, executive vice president of marketing and operations for North Dallas Bank. "As a community bank with a strong focus on the customer relationship, it is critical for our bank to directly manage those relationships consistently across multiple customer interaction points, regardless of whether that is at the ATM, via the Internet or through voice banking. Our partnership with Postilion enables us to deliver the latest in technology from a single vendor and maintain the same hometown trust and service our customers have come to expect."
 
Postilion's self-service banking solutions empower community banks and credit unions to deliver innovative customer touchpoint solutions that level the playing field with larger financial institutions. Postilion represents the next generation of integrated solutions for self-service banking, offering a comprehensive suite of tools. Financial institutions that initially license a single channel can leverage their original investment by enabling additional channel applications on a single platform. The multichannel-ready system ensures a consistent customer experience across all self-service channels, including ATM, card, business Internet banking, retail Internet banking, voice and mobile.
 
"We are pleased to partner with North Dallas Bank to deploy a best-of-breed multichannel solution. As the demands on financial institutions for a more integrated self-service experience grow, Postilion is uniquely positioned to support our customers with deeper cross-channel integration and streamlined back-office operations," said Pierre Naude, president of Postilion Banking. "With these tools, community banks like North Dallas Bank are well positioned to deliver the right mix of personal attention and customer self-service."

SAN DIEGO — EMN8 Inc., a developer of consumer self-service order and payment systems for quick-service restaurants, has installed self-order kiosks at a Tulsa, Okla.-based Arby’s franchise, United States Beef Corp. (U.S. Beef). EMN8’s solution brings an interactive ordering experience to the consumer and integrates with the operator’s POS system for real-time, high-volume order processing.

“One of U.S. Beef’s key strategies is providing a superior customer experience,” said Jeff Turner, U.S. Beef’s senior director of information technology. “The EMN8 kiosk delivers on this strategy through an engaging customer self-service option. An additional technical aspect to our decision is a solution that fully integrates with our existing Radiant POS. EMN8’s experience, technology, and focus on integration ensured success in delivering an exceptional customer self-service experience."

BURNABY, British Columbia — TIO Networks Corp. has announced an agreement to offer expedited bill payment and financial services terminals in 10 Family Dollar locations in El Paso, Texas. The kiosks enable cash-preferred customers to make expedited bill payments on their wireless, utility and other accounts. As part of this limited test, customers will also be able to purchase prepaid products and services, transfer money to family and friends around the world, and reload prepaid debit cards.

TIO bill payment is a secure way to access accounts and view balances on select billers without the need for account numbers to be present. Payments are made by feeding cash directly into the TIO terminal’s note acceptor. Once the cash is accepted, TIO uses an Internet link to ensure timely posting of the payment. Family Dollar customers can navigate through TIO applications in either English or Spanish and complete financial transactions by either printing or emailing their receipts.

“We are privileged to partner with Family Dollar, to offer expedited bill payment and non-banked financial services,” said Hamed Shahbazi, chairman and chief executive of TIO Networks. “Cash-strapped consumers can utilize this service to confidently make last minute payments and avoid late fees.”

WAKEFIELD, Mass. — The PCI Security Standards Council, a global, open industry standards body providing management of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), PCI PIN Entry Device (PED) Security Requirements and the Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS), has expanded its PIN Entry Device Security Requirements program to cover two new types of devices; unattended payment terminals (UPTs) and hardware security modules (HSMs).

Unattended payment terminals are an increasingly popular form of conducting payment transactions and are used in a variety of scenarios such as museum and concert ticketing, kiosks, automated fuel dispensers and car parking facilities. Hardware security modules are non-user facing devices used in PIN translation, payment card personalization, data protection and e-commerce.

Both UPT and HSM hardware devices can now undergo a rigorous testing and approval process by Council labs to ensure they comply with the industry standards for securing sensitive cardholder account data at all points in the transaction process. The evaluation process includes the logical and physical security of each product. The Council will also provide a list of approved devices on its Web site, provide documentation and training for labs evaluating these devices and be the single source of information for device vendors and their customers.

"The Council advocates a multi layered approach to security, based on PCI Standards," said Bob Russo, general manager, PCI Security Standards Council. "The evolution of our PED Security Requirements Program incorporates a comprehensive testing process for UPTs and HSMs so that all components of these devices will now be tested. We are addressing the industry need among vendors and merchants to protect cardholder data in all point-of-sale environments."

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Nextel has signed with NCR Corp. for a self-service bill-payment solution that allows Nextel customers to pay their bills at service centers throughout Mexico.

The solution, based on the NCR SelfServ 32 ATM platform, is designed to enhance service by allowing Nextel customers to quickly pay their bills using cash, credit cards or debit cards.

According to a news release, Nextel customers can still make payments at the bank in the usual manner. But the self-service solution is touted for its ability to improve operational efficiency for Nextel by allowing service center employees to focus more of their attention on revenue-generating activities on the sales floor and on helping customers who have questions about Nextel services or products.

Nextel de Mexico began installing the self-service solution in March 2008, and the rollout to more than 100 locations is scheduled for completion by the end of 2009.

The NCR SelfServ ATMs are installed at Nextel Customer Services Centers in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexicali, with plans to install the machines in 24 other major cities throughout Mexico.

“NCR provided a tailor-made solution that improves cash administration and helps make transactions faster and easier for our customers," said Juan Enrich, chief financial officer for Nextel in Mexico. "We handle 60 percent cash payments and the rest with credit or debit cards at a low operational cost. With this technology, we eventually will be able to provide service 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

The NCR billpay solution for Nextel includes a managed-services agreement that provides hardware and software service, remote system monitoring and 24/7 help desk support. NCR services are designed to help businesses enhance customer interactions, reduce costs and improve the effectiveness of the self-service channel through increased availability.

“Increased efficiency and growth take on a new meaning in the modern and competitive customer service environment,” said Agustin Guzman, NCR managing director in Mexico. “We were able to provide Nextel with a proven technology solution from the financial industry that offers improved service, security and friendly, intuitive usability, so they in turn can enhance service to their customers."

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BURNABY, B.C. — TIO Networks Corp., a North American multi-channel expedited bill payment processor, continues to experience substantial increases in transactions, payment volumes and transactional revenues, according to a news release. In August the company processed a record 558,000 transactions worth more than U.S. $45 million.
 
According to the news release, in the fourth quarter of TIO's fiscal year ended July 31, 2008, management undertook an in-depth review of its operations and reduced G&A expenses to reflect its new "processing-centric" business model. Strong growth in transactional revenue, gross margins, reduced G&A and reduced capital expenditures have positioned TIO to deliver positive EBITDA results in its current quarter of operations, Q1, 2009 and the best annual financial performance as a bill payment processor in the history of the company.
 
The company has identified a behavioral change in the bill paying habits of U.S. consumers in the face of the ailing U.S. economy. A growing demographic is paying at the last minute and using expedited payments as a tool to manage cash flow and steer clear of costly late fees. This behavioral change is leading to increasing consumer awareness and interest in TIO's premium priced expedited bill payment services. This growing interest has enabled the company to increase a number of its transaction rates, which has improved gross margins.
 
This consumer demand for expedited payments is creating business momentum for TIO's services within the payment industry and helping drive the rapid growth of The TIO Network. From April 30th to June 20th, the number location endpoints in TIO's processing network had grown 150 percent from approximately 4,000 to over 10,000 location end-points. Subsequent to June 20, 2008, the company added another 600 endpoints to its network.
 
The company continues to develop new opportunities to grow the network through third-party self-service and clerk-assisted networks. It is also working on further unlocking the value of its expedited bill payment relationships by processing to online and bank-based consumers.

DENVER — Nevada drivers can now pay for vehicle registrations and other fees at the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles using debit cards.
 
According to a news release, payment through the STAR Network is now featured on the DMV's self-service kiosks as well as at DMV counters. Twenty-six kiosks are available for drivers who use their debit cards to pay registration fees, driver history records and other fees. And the addition of PIN pads at counter POS terminals is making it possible for DMV customers to pay at more than 300 DMV payment windows across the state.
          
According to a recent study by First Data on consumer payments, nearly 87 percent of survey respondents used a debit card in the last 30 days, indicating a trend toward more debit card use. 
          
"The addition of the online bill payment option in 2006 and now the ability to accept debit cards at the payment counters and in the self-service kiosks gives drivers more convenience and more choices in how they pay," said Dennis Colling, chief of administration at the DMV.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Pay-Ease LLC, a self-service provider specializing in custom hardware and software for processing commerce transactions, will exhibit its multi-functional Automated Commerce Machine at the KioskCom Self Service Expo and Digital Signage Show in Las Vegas on April 16-17 at booth #351.
 
The Pay-Ease ACM provides local and state governments, utility and insurance companies, as well as retailers, the opportunity to offer citizens and consumers the benefit of paying bills, cashing checks, transferring money, purchasing prepaid cell, long distance cards and print on demand gift cards, DMV services and ATM functions via the ACM. 
 
Pay-Ease is showcasing the latest technology available in a state-of-the-art modularly designed kiosk which processes transactions via cash, check and debit/credit card.

BURNABY, British Columbia — TIO Networks Corp., a bill payment and financial services network, has announced that it has surpassed the one billion dollar milestone in the total value of payments processed through the TIO Network. Since the spring of 2002, TIO has processed approximately 14.5 million transactions and the network has grown to more than 3,600 retail locations primarily in the United States.
 
The vast majority of the bill payments occurred on TIO's automated kiosk network where customers use self-service Web-enabled kiosks and hybrid ATM devices to safely and securely pay bills, purchase prepaid products and conduct other services. TIO has a model where a number of bill payment options in categories such as wireless, utilities and cable are offered on the same terminal.
 
TIO also has announced that it has activated its first 600 OEM Express locations and started generating revenue as of February 2008. OEM Express, which leverages TIO's new transactional application programming interface, was designed to integrate large networks into the TIO network to market the company's portfolio of products on a host of third party devices including kiosks, PCs and point of sale systems.

BURNABY, N.C. — TIO Networks Corp. and El Paso Electric have announced the launch of a self-serve automated bill-payment program for El Paso Electric’s 351,000 customers. The solution will allow the utility’s customers to pay their bills with cash at ZapLink-branded kiosks in Circle K convenience stores in El Paso, Texas.
 
“El Paso Electric welcomes the opportunity to bring convenience in the payment options we offer to our customers,” said Kerry Lore, El Paso Electric vice president of administration.
 
According to a news release, beginning in April 2008, customers will be able to pay their bills in cash by entering account information directly on TIO’s touchscreen interface. 
 
“We’re always happy to bring services and products into our stores that facilitate the needs of our customers,” said Debbie Meyer, financial services manager of Circle K Stores Inc. “Our ZapLink program with TIO Networks Corp. continues to grow with important alliances such as El Paso Electric.”

TEMPE, Ariz. — Sequoia Equities Inc., using hardware designed and provided by Tempe, Ariz.-based Phoenix Kiosk Inc., has completed a statewide deployment of self-service apartment rental kiosks to its various communities throughout California, according to a release. The kiosk units enable apartment hunters to view neighborhood information, ratings for various schools in the area, interactive apartment floorplans and a 3-D community map. Users can electronically reserve an apartment home while in the leasing center. The kiosks also provide services to current residents, enabling them to report maintenance issues, provide online feedback and pay rent online.

BURNABY, British Columbia — TIO Networks Corp., an automated bill payment and non-bank financial network, and Work Software Systems, provider of Retail Management Systems to the Wireless dealers, have announced an agreement where TIO’s bill-payment processing services will be made available directly from the WorkWireless RMS solution, which is used by thousands of wireless dealer locations.

 

LOUISVILLE , Ky. - ATM Marketplace has launched a new special report that explores the convenience and advantages self-service bill-payment kiosks are providing consumers and retailers.

BURNABY, BC · TIO Networks Corp. announced it will launch a new bill-payment program that allows Alltel Wireless customers to securely and conveniently pay their bills with cash at TIO's self-service paystations in convenience stores across 22 states.

Alltel owns and operates the nation's largest wireless network and has more than 11 million wireless customers.

Beginning this fall, Alltel customers will be able to make time-sensitive bill payments, 24-hours-a-day, by inserting cash through bill acceptors at TIO touchscreen terminals. Alltel customers can navigate through billpay and other TIO applications in either English or Spanish and complete financial transactions by either printing or e-mailing receipts to an e-mail address of their choice. Users pay a $3 convenience fee per transaction.

"We are thrilled to provide Alltel customers with immediate and cost effective bill payment solutions to cash paying customers," said Hamed Shahbazi, chairman and chief executive of TIO. "Alltel joins TIO Networks' growing list of billing and service partners who share a common vision to provide the highest level of service and convenience to their customers to perform high volume, time sensitive bill payment services nationally."

SAN JOSE, Calif. - VeriFone Holdings Inc. announced that it has agreed to acquire the payment-systems business of Trintech Group PLC in an all-cash transaction. Trintech's unattended and outdoor payment systems will enhance VeriFone's solutions in the growing markets for self-service payment, vending and pay-at-the-pump applications.

The acquisition includes a range of payment systems that will support and extend VeriFone's existing offerings for merchants and financial institutions. VeriFone will take over distribution of those products and will provide existing customers with service and support.

Trintech is divesting its payment systems business to concentrate on its transaction reconciliation software products and services, which allow customers to optimize enterprise-funds-management performance, including transaction verification, account reconciliation, process management and compliance.
 
Under the terms of the Agreement, VeriFone will pay Trintech $12.1 million cash for all outstanding shares of a newly formed subsidiary which, prior to closing, will hold substantially all of the assets and liabilities of the payment systems business of Trintech. The purchase price is subject to adjustment based on the working capital of the business and other accruals at the closing date. The deal is expected to close in August.

BOSTON, Mass. · A new study by Mercator Advisory Group finds that walk-in bill payments, through tellers as well as kiosks, represent a significant portion of the recurring bill-payment market in the United States. At the current rate of growth, more than $80 billion in walk-in bill payments will be processed by 2009.

  Burnaby, BC, - Info Touch Technologies Corp.(www.infotouch.net) (IFT: TSX Venture Exchange) owners of the TIO Network has signed an agreement with both San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Company (SCGC) to launch a new self-serve automated bill payment program that enables SDG&E and SCGC customers to pay their bills with cash, checks or money orders at 14 terminals in 10 southern California locations.