))) PowerPay RFID Payment and Marketing Solution Speeds Concession Purchases at Seahawks Stadium With Technology From Texas Instruments

Seahawks Fans Spend Less Time in Line and More Time Catching Live Action Using PowerPay RFID Payment Keyfob

))) DALLAS, TX (November 11, 2003)

Exclusive Club Seat ticket holders at Seattle Seahawks NFL football games can now spend less time in the concession line and more time catching the action by paying for items with their Seattle Seahawks PowerPay™ token, featuring radio frequency identification (RFID) technology from Texas Instruments RFid Systems (TI-RFid™). Introduced during the 2003-2004 pre-season, 33% of the Club season ticket holders have opted into the PowerPay program, generating an increase in transaction frequency and revenue for the Seahawks.

Developed by SMART System Technologies, Inc. of New York , New York , the PowerPay system allows Seattle Seahawks fans to pay for concession items on the Club Level by simply waving a Texas Instruments RF-enabled keyfob over a PowerPay reader at a point-of-sale terminal. Using the PowerPay Secure Marketing Architecture for Retail Transactions (SMART) network, payment information is transmitted wirelessly and securely, and the transaction is processed in seconds. PowerPay users do not have to worry about carrying cash to the game for concessions, and can have their purchases applied to the credit or check card of their choice. The Seahawks are supporting the program by providing opportunities for rewards and chances to win valuable prizes for PowerPay users, including autographed Seahawks merchandise. PowerPay's SMART network allows merchants to create target groups of consumers and communicate relevant content and offers to individuals based on buying preferences and demographic data, then automatically reconcile those offers at the point of sale.

“The Seahawks are committed to giving their fans the best football experience possible, and the PowerPay solution enables them to reward fans with faster service and free merchandise while increasing revenues at the same time,” said Mark Johnson, president and CEO, SMART System Technologies, Inc. “With RF technology and PowerPay, we have created a total payment and CRM solution for the sports and retail industries that will benefit teams, venues, merchants and consumers.”

RF is a widely deployed, mature technology for contactless consumer payment that benefits the merchant, the device issuer and the consumer. In 1997 Texas Instruments launched its RF technology for wireless payment with the introduction of the ExxonMobil Speedpass™, which boasts more than 6.5 million active users. In July 2003, TI also announced a new RF-based payment program with American Express, called ExpressPay™, which has been deployed at more than 250 merchant locations in the Phoenix area. “We are very excited about all of the activity around RFID,” says Johnson. “It has been accepted as a valid payment methodology, and we have taken it to the next level by utilizing RF technology as the gateway to our suite of products.”