ATLANTA, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless, the recently formed joint venture between BellSouth Cellular (NYSE: BLS) and SBC Communications (NYSE: SBC), today announced it has installed NCR Corporation's (NYSE: NCR) bill payment Web kiosks in 186 retail locations throughout the Southeast. Valued at $2.5 million, the deal underscores a growing demand for self-service technologies, which allow time-sensitive consumers faster access to routine transactions.
"In this highly competitive telecommunications environment, delivering superior customer service is critical to differentiation in the marketplace," said Bob Shaner, president, wireless operations, Cingular. "NCR's Web-based kiosks provide our customers with a quick, easy-to-use, self-service payment option in our retail stores, enhancing our ability to meet that challenge."
The solution includes the NCR 7401 Web Kiosk and receipt printer, and enables Cingular customers to pay with cash, checks and credit and debit cards.
Cingular is one of a growing number of companies deploying Web kiosk technology and the first wireless provider to offer the enhanced service to customers. A report issued this year by market research firm Frost & Sullivan predicts that as the number of applications for kiosks increases and they become more attractive and reliable, worldwide markets for interactive kiosks will grow exponentially. Web-enabled kiosks can be programmed to perform myriad services in addition to bill payment, such as helping consumers locate products, refreshing pre-paid accounts, checking product availability, accessing product information and viewing relevant promotions.
"As consumers' comfort level with using the Internet increases, so will their expectation to access information on the Internet anywhere, anytime," said NCR Vice President of Future Retailing Joanne Walter. "Savvy retailers will be the ones who use kiosk technology to marry the online and in-store experience."
About Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless, a joint venture between SBC (NYSE: SBC) and BellSouth (NYSE: BLS), provides wireless voice and data service to more than 19 million customers in 38 states, the District of Columbia and two U.S. territories. SBC and BellSouth share control of Cingular Wireless. Cingular operates in 42 of the top 50 markets in the United States. For more about Cingular Wireless visit our website at www.cingular.com .
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a US$6.2 billion leader in providing Relationship Technology(TM) solutions to customers worldwide in the retail, financial, communications, manufacturing, travel and transportation, and insurance markets. NCR's Relationship Technology solutions include privacy- enabled Teradata(R) warehouses and customer relationship management (CRM) applications, store automation and automated teller machines (ATMs). The company's business solutions are built on the foundation of its long- established industry knowledge and consulting expertise, value-adding software, global customer support services, a complete line of consumable and media products, and leading edge hardware technology. NCR employs 31,900 in 130 countries, and is a component stock of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. More information about NCR and its solutions may be found at www.ncr.com .
NCR and Teradata are trademarks or registered trademarks of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries. SOURCE NCR Corporation
CONTACT: Caroline Leigh of NCR Corporation, 770-623-7608 or caroline.leigh@ncr.com , or Clay Owen of Cingular Wireless, 404-236-6153, or clay.owen@cingular.com /
