First Data Merchant Services Certifies U.S. Wireless Data Technology

Business Wire, Oct 24, 2001

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2001

U.S. Wireless Data, Inc. (USWD) (OTC: USWE) today announced that First Data Merchant Services has certified U.S. Wireless Data's Synapse(SM) technology, with the Lipman 3010 wireless point of sale (POS) terminal, for wireless credit card transaction processing.

By certifying the combination of the Lipman 3010 terminal and the Synapse service platform, First Data is offering merchants an end-to-end communications network to process credit card transactions without the need for telephone lines or access to an electrical outlet. Clients of First Data can now offer their merchants a fully supported wireless POS terminal that can be quickly activated on a choice of wireless networks. First Data will also provide merchant support in conjunction with this product, including product deployment and training.

Choice of Wireless Networks

Because Synapse is a neutral service that routes transactions through multiple wireless networks, merchants can select the network that offers optimal coverage for their business. This is an important benefit for national chains and businesses with locations throughout the U.S. For First Data, Synapse provides a single connection point, eliminating the need for separate communication links to each wireless network.

Increased Speed, Mobility, and Efficiency

Synapse provides the full advantages of wireless transaction processing including speed, mobility and cost savings. Unlike traditional dial-up lines, the "always on" wireless data network can process a transaction in a few seconds, essentially as fast as cash. This speed is critical for quick service restaurants, supermarkets, and other multi-lane, high volume retailers that U.S. Wireless Data intends to convert to fixed-location wireless technology. Wireless mobility makes it possible for taxis, limos, delivery services, and other on-the-go businesses to accept credit and debit cards. Synapse also provides online reporting capabilities that show real-time transactions and related statistics that can improve business performance.

"This is an important milestone toward the widespread use of wireless transaction processing," said Dean M. Leavitt, chairman and CEO of U.S. Wireless Data. "First Data, the world's largest credit card processor, shares our belief in the enormous potential of wireless technology for our industry. By offering this capability to their extensive client base, they are helping merchants to benefit from the speed, mobility and cost savings that Synapse-based wireless transactions can provide."

"FDMS is embracing this technology because it gives important new options to our customers and their retail merchants," said Stephen Van Fleet, senior vice president of FDMS. "U.S. Wireless Data will help us drive our wireless initiative to create a choice for merchants that want fast transaction speed, mobility, and low communications costs."

Mony Zenou, president and CEO of Lipman USA, which makes the 3010 terminal, stated, "with this certification on Synapse, the Lipman 3010 terminal is available with coverage across the country, allowing merchants to maximize their business opportunities. This greatly enhances the value of an already robust and widely accepted wireless POS terminal in the market."

ABOUT U.S. WIRELESS DATA

U.S. Wireless Data makes credit card and ATM transactions faster and more cost effective. USWD connects credit card processing companies to their merchant clients. Using wireless and landline technology, USWD provides improved transport, data translation, and value-added processing. In addition, by enabling wireless point of sale terminals, USWD adds speed and mobility that has been unachievable in the past. USWD now handles more than 500 million transactions each year through its centralized computer center and nationwide network. Further information is available at www.uswirelessdata.com.

ABOUT FIRST DATA MERCHANT SERVICES

First Data Merchant Services enables merchants to accept any type of electronic payment - credit, debit, electronic check, EBT, smart card - anytime, anywhere. A subsidiary of First Data Corp., First Data Merchant Services annually processes and settles almost 9 billion transactions for more than $450 billion in sales volume from 2.6 million merchant locations. Through partnerships and various relationships with leading financial institutions and independent sales organizations, First Data Merchant Services delivers industry leading electronic payment and e-commerce services and solutions. First Data Corp., with global headquarters in Denver, powers the world economy, serving over 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers worldwide. First Data makes it easier, faster and more secure for people and businesses to buy with virtually any form of payment at the point-of-sale, over the Internet or by money transfer. For more information, please visit www.firstdata.com.

ABOUT LIPMAN USA

Lipman USA, Inc. (www.lipmanusa.com) is a subsidiary of Lipman Electronic Engineering LTD. Lipman's NURIT product line revolves around the design and manufacture of advanced wireless and tel-line point-of-sale (POS) terminals and cash registers, betting and home services terminals, thermal and impact printers, PIN pads, smart-card readers, coin-operated or credit/debit/smart card controllers for integration into vending machine, commercial washer/dryer payment systems or numerous other card-type payment applications. Lipman continually strives to manufacture unique and sophisticated products that are: low-cost, simple to operate and program, systematically flexible being based upon well thought out hardware/software integration, and finally but not least, quality assured. The engineering development department is continually researching new concepts and has demonstrated its ability to quickly respond to the ever-present technological changes characterizing the field of data communications.