NEW YORK, July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Dispensing cash at an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) via a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA) is not as far-fetched as it sounds. In fact, NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) today introduced a concept ATM that will ensure the ATM is a significant part of the growing wireless revolution.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010713/CLF008 )
Demonstrated at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, NCR's screenless, keyless ATM of the future is built on infrared and Bluetooth technologies. The 'Freedom' ATM incorporates a radical design and red color, while showcasing access via handheld wireless devices.
According to a report issued by Cahner's In-Stat Group ( www.instat.com ), more than 1.3 billion wireless data users are expected worldwide by 2004. Currently, there are more than 118 million U.S. cellular phone users, while six percent of all U.S. households already own a PDA. Those numbers bode well for NCR's Freedom technology.
The egg-shaped Freedom ATM works without a screen, keyboard or card. Instead, cash withdrawal requests can be typed into a PDA or mobile phone at home or the office. Consumers then walk up to the ATM, enter a security pin on the mobile handset, and point the handset at the ATM to withdraw cash.
Freedom could do more than dispense cash. Travel or entertainment tickets could be ordered via the handheld device and later picked up at the ATM when withdrawing money. In fact, the concept could be a dream-come-true for promoters and consumers alike. Because this concept ATM is compatible with broadband mobile connections, data such as favorite MP3 files could be downloaded while collecting concert tickets.
Tim Wiggins, spokesperson for NCR's Advanced Concept Lab in Dundee, Scotland, said, "Advances in Bluetooth and 3G will bring new services through mobile devices. ATMs could enhance these broadband services by dispensing associated physical items. For example, local area maps can be downloaded on your mobile device and dispensed through the nearby ATM. For high-traffic visitors' areas, like Times Square, that could be phenomenal."
Wiggins expects traditional ATMs will be capable of working with handheld devices some time in the near future, probably before the red egg-shaped model would actually be seen on the street. However, Freedom's standalone dispensing unit could be placed virtually anywhere, meeting the growing demand for ATMs in restaurants, stores, airports and hotels.
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leader in providing Relationship Technology(TM) solutions to customers worldwide. NCR's Relationship Technology solutions include the Teradata(R) database and analytical applications for customer relationship management (CRM) and business performance management, store automation systems 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 33,200 in more than 100 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.
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SOURCE NCR Corporation
CONTACT: Lorraine Russell of NCR Corporation, +1-937-445-3784, or lorraine.russell@ncr.com /