TransPhone Unveils Universal On-Line Transaction Appliance & Service; Low Cost Device is Internet Terminal, On-Line Service, and Realtime Payment System

Business Wire, Jan 29, 1996

PALM SPRINGS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 1996-- TransPhone, LLC of Ottawa, Canada, unveiled the TransPhone product line today. The TransPhone Transaction Appliance is a low-cost (Under $500) multi-function Networked Information Appliance in a Screen-Phone-with-Card Reader configuration. It functions as an Internet Terminal, an On-Line Services access system, and a Point of Sale device. Also announced was the TransPhone Service, a low-cost, secure Value Added network For TransPhone applications, including realtime credit and debit card clearing, in addition to gateways for commercial On-Line services, the Internet, and the World Wide Web.

Together, the TransPhone appliance and the TransPhone Service is the first complete realtime commerce capable On-Line system, accessing the Internet and Commercial On-Line services, in a business friendly package at consumer prices.

Barry Brisco, CEO for TransPhone said, "Banking and payment systems exist today, but are not integrated with On-Line services or the Internet. And PCs are too complicated and expensive to use as `Info-appliance' or Point of Sale terminals. The TransPhone combines these worlds into a multimedia, information and commerce station, in a telephone paradigm, making it instantly familiar and useable by businesses and the public. And the TransPhone Service deliver the commercial infrastructure for electronic commerce to be as easy as making a phone call.

Inside the TransPhone Appliance

The TransPhone is a complete telephone with a handset, speakerphone, digital answering machine, caller ID, phone keypad, and LCD. Inside is a microprocessor with 512K of memory, digitally controlling the phone and all the other functions. There is also a magnetic card swipe for credit and debit cards, 2 PCMCIA slots, and a Super VGA LCD display. There is a full computer keyboard, and ports for mouse, printer, communications, and video peripherals. There are 2 telephone lines digitally controlled by FAX/Modem hardware (optionally ISDN). The TransPhone comes with built-in software integrating all its features into a full function graphics terminal, with a JPEG decoder, multiple terminal emulation protocols, and Internet networking interfaces. Finally, the system includes realtime credit and debit protocols, allowing it to interface to thousands of existing banks and financial clearinghouses.

TransPhone has contracted with First Technology Company, LTD, of Seoul, Republic of Korea to manufacture the device. "We are very pleased to bring our consumer products volume manufacturing capability and expertise to the world of electronic commerce appliances," said Mr. Sun Chang Kim, President of First Technology. "TransPhone is an innovative product with some very clever integration."

The TransPhone Service

The TransPhone Service is a TransPhone operated low cost, secure Value added Network, built on an open system architecture of Intel-based machines running SCO/UNIX, CITRIX/NT, and utilizing large VAX/VMS and SPARC/Solaris servers. Delivering local point of presence access through X.25, the TransPhone Service interfaces to several banking and financial clearinghouses as well as providing the back-end processing for the TransPhone Appliances. The back-end processes are the server components for the point of sale. "Branded Service Applications," the access to outside services "On-Line Gateway," and the server processing for the "Internet Terminal" operation.

How TransPhones Get Used

"The Branded Service Application might be a Post Office Terminal, an Electric Power Meter Reading/Payment Terminal, a Newspaper/Advertising Terminal, or a Home/Business Catalog Shopping Terminal; we have several of these applications in the works with very larger players," said Brisco. "The vendor selling this service delivers the TransPhone and the TransPhone service connection. That's how the TransPhone is initially deployed. The On-Line Gateway which comes with every TransPhone delivers the compelling value-added for the customer. The Internet Terminal keeps them open to the world and to the future, while keeping the vendors relationship with them, and their Branded Service Application, front and center with the customer."

TransPhones Appliances and the TransPhone Service Network, currently in pilot, will be generally available in early 1996.

About TransPhone

TransPhone LLC is a privately held, venture funded company, founded in 1995 in Ottawa, Canada to market and further develop transaction appliances and services for point of sale, On-Line service, and Internet applications. TransPhone technology is based on 15 years of pioneering work on interactive services, public access, multimedia, point of sale, and business to business commercial services. TransPhone -- Transaction Appliances for the Networked Economy.

TransPhone LLC, 460 O'Connor St., Suite 200, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5H3 Canada, Phone 800/872-0809, or 613/236-7799, Fax 613/236-7809. Visit TransPhone on the World Wide Web at http://www.transphone.com. or email info@transphone.com.