Forwarded message: From: Dave Birch Press Release. Hyperion have been working with Mondex International to develop a smartcard-based electronic cash service which will be launched in the UK in 1995. Mondex has been invented as an alternative to cash. At the heart of the system is a plastic smart card which stores electronic cash value. Mondex customers will be able to use specially adapted NatWest and Midland cash machines (ATMs) or a new generation of BT telephones to transfer cash between their bank accounts and their cards. Once funds have been transferred onto the customer's Mondex card it can be used to make purchases up to the total cash value held on the card or to make payments by telephone. The card can be used to make purchases for large or small amounts. Mondex cards can be locked by the cardholder and unlocked by using a personal code. Once locked, the money in the card cannot be spent without re-keying this personal code. Shoppers will not need to sign anything when using the card and there will be no need for authorisation calls; the customer's card is inserted into the terminal and the value is instantly moved from the card to the terminal. With Mondex, retailers will not have to account to the bank for each individual transaction; their electronic terminal will simply accumulate the total value of Mondex transactions, which can be banked by telephone line at any time. Cardholders will be able to check how much cash they have left on their card at ATMs, a new range of BT payphones and home phones or by using a small key-ring sized personal reader. A pocket-sized electronic wallet will show cash available as well as providing a record of the last ten transactions. It can also be used for transferring money from one card to another or for transferring cash into the wallet for safer-keeping at home. The card is designed to be used by children as young as 5. In summary, among the benefits consumers will see are: 24-hour electronic cash at Mondex phones which may be available at home, in shops or at work and a convenient, simple to operate alternative to cash that is inherently safer to carry. Retailers and other cash handling business will benefit from an efficient, faster, and more secure way of handling money that is economic to operate. In 1990, National Westminster needed a consultancy capable of translating radical business ideas into reality. They chose Hyperion. We have provided resources to assist in: * The development of requirements, functional specifications and architectural specifications for a variety of services. * The development of software specifications for a large variety of components. * The management of software implementations, performed by developers commissioned by National Westminster Bank. * The management of testing and integration activities, including the development of rigorous test specifications derived from the structured analysis and design of products. Hyperion's considerable expertise in the practical analysis and specification of highly secure financial systems is well known and this appointment has confirmed their position as world leaders in electronic payment systems consultancy, following on as it does from their work for organisations such as the Bank of England, APACS and SWIFT. Notes for Editors-Why is this interesting? 1. This is believed to be the world's first implementation of general purpose, person-to-person electronic money-a genuine replacement for notes and coins. 2. Since electronic money works over the telephone, for the first time in history people can exchange cash without being in the same place at the same time. 3. Recent figures show the cost to UK banks of moving cash around is approximately 4.5Bn/annum. 4. A senior NatWest executive predicted that in 10-15 years' time, the telephone will be the dominant way in which electronic money is deposited and withdrawn. 5. Analysts estimate that the service, if successful, will add around 100M/annum to BT revenues (The Times, 9th December 1993). Notes for Editors-Mondex Mondex International is a joint venture between National Westminster Bank (the UK's largest retail bank) and Midland Bank (part of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation). They are working with BT in the UK to introduce domestic service next year, beginning with a trial in Swindon. National Westminster will be actively seeking banking partners worldwide to establish Mondex as the basis for a global electronic cash payment scheme. A number of international technology companies, including Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd., Hitachi Limited, NCR, Panasonic (Matsushita Electric Industrial/Matsushita Battery), Oki Electric Industry Company Limited, SPOM Japan Co. Ltd., and Texas Instruments Limited are working with National Westminster developing suitable components and equipment for the Mondex product. The public launch of the service will take place in Swindon in 1995. All 40,000 of the banks' customers will be eligible and the banks plan to have all 1,000 or so retailers in Swindon taking part. Notes for Editors-Hyperion Hyperion is an information technology management consultancy based on the Surrey Research Park. The company, founded in 1985, employs 19 people and is currently growing at around 30% per annum. The company has a worldwide reputation: in recent months, their consultants have been on assignment in the US, Japan, Belgium, Switzerland, Nigeria, South Africa and France. Their clients include the world's largest computer company, (IBM) and the world's largest communications company, (AT&T) as well as household names such as Sainsbury's, Nationwide Anglia and the London Stock Exchange. The company has close links with leading research institutions. Since 1987 they have sponsored M.Sc research at the University of Surrey and are currently funding Ph.D research into business re-engineering at City University in London. For further details, please contact: David Birch Director, Business Development Hyperion 8 Frederick Sanger Road Surrey Research Park Guildford Surrey GU2 5YD National Telephone (0483) 301793 Fax (0483) 61657 International Telephone +44 (483) 301793 Fax +44 (483) 61657 E-Mail: 100014,3342@Compuserve.com ENDS. -- Stanton McCandlish * mech@eff.org * Electronic Frontier Found. OnlineActivist F O R M O R E I N F O, E - M A I L T O: I N F O @ E F F . O R G O P E N P L A T F O R M O N L I N E R I G H T S V I R T U A L C U L T U R E C R Y P T O