HDX Named Exclusive Canadian Retail Distributor of eCOM Gift Card MasterCard(R) and Reloadable eCOM Prepaid MasterCard(R) Cards [Market News Publishing Canada] Market News Publishing
HOSTED DATA TRANSACTION SOLUTIONS INC
HOSTED DATA TRANSACTION SOLUTIONS INC ("HDX-T") - HDX Named Exclusive Canadian Retail Distributor of eCOM Gift - Card MasterCard(R) and Reloadable eCOM Prepaid MasterCard(R) - Cards
Hosted Data Transaction Solutions Inc. ("HDX") announced to-day that it has entered into a five year agreement with ECOM Financial Corp. ("eCOM") and its subsidiary EcomCard Canada Inc. to market, sell, and distribute prepaid eCOM Gift Card MasterCard and reloadable eCOM Prepaid MasterCard cards. HDX (formerly Dexit Inc.) is listed on the TSX under the symbol HDX.
MasterCard International estimates the annual market opportunity for global prepaid products to be $6.46 trillion. The prepaid eCOM Gift Card MasterCard and the reloadable eCOM Prepaid MasterCard cards provide the ultimate in consumer convenience because they can be used at any of the over 25 million MasterCard merchant locations and ATMs worldwide.
Gift Cards can be purchased and activated immediately at the merchant location without providing personal information or filling out an application. Merchants accept the cards like any other MasterCard card and can sell, activate, and redeem the card using HDX's integrated point of sale solutions, HDX customer self serve kiosks, or any current "stand-beside" MasterCard payment technology. HDX also offers MasterCard PayPass(R) integration to HDX's touch-screen POS solutions.
eCOM Prepaid MasterCard reloadable cardholders can use their card to make purchases or cash withdrawals at an ATM. Purchases and cash withdrawals are deducted from the account balance and as the balance is spent, the cardholder can reload additional funds onto their card. The cards are ideal for internet or telephone purchases as they offer cardholders the added security of knowing that there is no link to a credit card with a high amount of available credit, nor links to any consumer banking information. Cardholders can also activate new cards and review their purchase history and card balance on-line.
Both cards are ideally suited as a student allowance card or a method of offering controlled "credit card style" spending for young adults. The prepaid card is an excellent way to provide funds to travelling individuals and prepaid cards are a great alternative to travelers' cheques.
Businesses and employers are able to offer the cards to team members for travel and expense management for mobile and remote personnel. Retail businesses, event organizers, sports teams, stadiums and arenas are able to use prepaid cards for promotions and marketing.
The eCOM Gift Card MasterCard and eCOM Prepaid MasterCard cards are ideal for individuals that may not qualify for a standard credit card but need to reserve tickets or hotel rooms, rent a vehicle, or order goods and services on-line.
The eCOM Gift Card MasterCard(R) and reloadable eCOM Prepaid MasterCard(R) cards can be customized for individual merchant brands offering merchants an excellent quality prepayment product that can be deployed easily and quickly.
"HDX installs, services, and supports thousands of merchant point of sale solutions internationally," says Paul Howell, President and CEO of HDX. "eCOM prepaid MasterCard Gift Cards will allow our multi-site and international merchants to deploy stored value cards throughout their chain quickly and easily. Merchants and consumers around the world are familiar and comfortable with the MasterCard brand. This ubiquitous payment product complements and completes the HDX stored value payment suite which currently includes Dexit(R) contactless RFID, UPC barcode and traditional magnetic stripe gift and loyalty card products."
These cards are issued by Servus Credit Union Ltd. pursuant to a license by MasterCard International Incorporated. EcomCard Canada Inc. is a registered agent of Servus Credit Union Ltd.
MasterCard is a registered trademark and PayPass is a trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated. Dexit is a registered trademark of Hosted Data Transaction Solutions Incorporated.
About Hosted Data Transaction Solutions Inc. (HDX)
HDX manages merchant transactions with consumers and facilitates payment. HDX develops and deploys touch screen POS (point of sale) system software and associated enterprise management tools and has developed and deployed numerous POS applications. HDX also provides system hardware integration services, merchant staff training, system installation services, and post sale software and hardware support services. Leading edge technology also includes customer self serve kiosks and "line buster" mobile point of sale terminals. These products have been designed to dramatically enhance customer throughput and drastically reduce customer queues. These technologies are especially effective in high foot traffic environments that have limited cash register counter space, limited retail square footage, and the absence of a drive through.
About ECOM Financial Corp.
Headquartered in Stuart, Florida with wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, EcomCard Canada Inc., ECOM is a developer and marketer of prepaid gift, payroll, travel, rebate, and incentive cards under the MasterCard(R) brand. Using innovative marketing programs, eCOM strives to enhance the consumer's card experience with value added features only available through eCOM distribution channels. Consumers may use eCOM prepaid MasterCard(R) cards for purchases everywhere MasterCard is accepted. For more information go to
About MasterCard International
MasterCard International is a leading global payments solutions company that provides a broad variety of innovative services in support of our global members' credit, deposit access, electronic cash, business-to-business and related payment programs. MasterCard manages a family of well-known, widely accepted payment card brands including MasterCard(R), Maestro(R) and Cirrus(R) and serves financial institutions, consumers and businesses in over 210 countries and territories. The MasterCard award-winning Priceless(R) advertising campaign is now seen in 106 countries and in 50 languages, giving the MasterCard brand a truly global reach and scope. For more information go to
Forward-Looking Statements
This discussion includes certain forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations, which involve risks and uncertainties associated with our business and the environment in which the business operates. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking, including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but reflect Hosted Data Transaction Solution's (formerly Dexit's) current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including the matters discussed under "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Annual Information Form filed on March 31, 2008 with the regulatory authorities. Hosted Data Transaction Solutions Inc. (formerly Dexit) assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements.
TSX closing price for HDX Date: 2008/10/08 Closing Price: 0.610
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