Initiative Includes Apriva Support of MEI TelemetryTechnology, Integration of Sales and Marketing Activities
Scottsdale, AZ July 5, 2011 — Apriva, the leading provider of end-to-end wireless transactions and secure information solutions, today announced it has formed a strategic alliance with MEI, the leading global manufacturer of unattended payment systems, to bring comprehensive cashless payment solutions to vending operators throughout North America. As part of the arrangement, Apriva and MEI will actively co-market and support an end-to-end solution which includes state-of-the art hardware, secure payment processing technologies, reporting and back office tools, and MEI’s leading-edge EASITRAX® vending management solutions. In addition, both Apriva and MEI will actively support each other’s channel partners.
“In terms of market share, innovation, and customer service, MEI is regarded as the foremost provider of unattended payment systems to vending operators throughout the world,” said Paul Coppinger, president of Apriva. “Over the past few years, we have worked closely with MEI to integrate and certify its cashless payment solutions. This strategic alliance builds on our numerous synergies and successes, and allows each organization to gain access to sales channels that extend well beyond the traditional vending space to include merchant-acquiring banks, payment processors and Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs).
“Apriva and MEI have a successful track record in jointly delivering cashless payment solutions to the market. Each company is an active participant in the National Automatic Merchandising Association’s (NAMA) branded cashless payment offering. MEI is also a core partner in the Apriva Vend™ cashless vending solution, an end-to-end cashless payment service that incorporates hardware, software, wireless transaction technology, and carrier services, as well as reporting and back office functionalities. The strategic alliance expands this partnership by enabling both companies to closely market each other’s solutions, and allows Apriva to sell and support MEI’s EASITRAX technology. The strategic alliance between Apriva and MEI is non-exclusive.
“In only a very short time, Apriva has earned the respect of operators—and the vending industry at large—for its powerful wireless transaction technologies which enable operators to reliably and securely conduct cashless transactions,” noted Jeff Jordan, president of MEI Vending. “We expect that our strategic alliance with Apriva will allow both companies to deliver a compelling ROI for cashless vending technology by offering best-of-breed solutions based upon superior reliability, security and value compared to competing solutions in the market.”
About Apriva
Founded in 1999, Apriva is the leading provider of end-to-end wireless transactions and secure information messaging solutions that meet the exacting security and reliability requirements of financial services providers, government entities, and public service sectors. Through its two operating groups, Apriva Point of Sale (POS) and Apriva Information Security Systems (ISS), the company offers customers fully-managed, end-to-end, security solutions that incorporate hardware, software, network infrastructure and management tools. For more information, visit www.apriva.com.
About MEI
MEI, headquartered in West Chester, Pa., holds the world’s largest installed base of unattended payment systems, handling over two billion transactions per week in more than 100 countries. The company developed the first electronic coin mechanism in the 1960s, followed by the first electronic non-contact bill acceptor, and more recently its credit card capability and vending management solution. Recently, MEI reached a milestone of selling more than four million bill acceptors and five million coin mechanisms worldwide. Its products are in widespread use in the vending, soft drink, gaming, amusement, transport, retail, and kiosk markets. For more information on MEI and its products, visit www.meigroup.com or call 800-345-8215.
Apriva Contacts:
Robin Rotz
Apriva
480-421-1275
rrotz@staging.apriva.com
Glenn Goldberg
Parallel Communications Group
516-705-6116
ggoldberg@parallelpr.com