Chockstone, Transaction Network Services Partner to Deliver High-Speed Transaction Services to the QSR Industry.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Chockstone Inc., a leading stored value transaction company providing gift, loyalty and promotions card marketing programs for multi-unit retailers and Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), today announced in partnership with Transaction Network Services Inc. (TNS) the results of their collaboration to combine Chockstone's SingleSwipe(TM) POS service and TNS' TransXpress(R) transaction network.

Chockstone processes millions of QSR stored value cards via ChockPoint(R), Chockstone's revolutionary transaction platform, which enables retailers to offer payment, loyalty and promotional programs through a single consumer card. Consumers can draw down gift card dollars, earn loyalty points, and redeem these points in real time with one retail-branded card. QSRs can instantaneously deliver promotions based on historical transaction behavior at the point-of-sale (POS).

TNS, one of the leading providers of business-critical, cost-effective data communications services for transaction-oriented applications, will serve as Chockstone's network provider for authorizing debit and credit transactions. High-frequency, multi-unit QSRs deploying Chockstone's stored value program can complete payment transactions at the POS in seconds -- considerably faster than traditional dial methods. This enhanced capability enables merchants to improve customer service and promote and reward in real time without the cost (or headaches) of unmanaged networks.

Chockstone's platform has revolutionized payment processing for several of the nation's largest QSR chains. Chockstone's combined gift, loyalty and promotions stored value card platform combines all transaction information, including credit/debit, into one transaction before transmitting over TNS' TransXpress(R) network. In just seconds, via a managed IP VPN connection, credit/debit authorizations, gift card loads, loyalty point accruals and one-to-one analytics-based promotions messages are processed and returned to the POS. To date, the combination of Chockstone's revolutionary transaction platform ChockPoint(R) and TNS' TransXpress(R) network has enabled four of the top 25 QSR chains to introduce profit-generating card-based programs without sacrificing the precious seconds that evaporate through traditional credit/debit authorizations and gift card transactions.

"With hundreds of thousands of payment and loyalty transactions processed daily for our QSR customers, high-speed service and low maintenance is critical to our merchants, especially QSRs where line speed is essential," said Jeffrey Lipp, CEO and president, Chockstone. "TNS' managed IP VPN service on its secure data networks for credit and debit authorizations translates into reduced network communications costs and faster transactions. Through this partnership, we are excited to bring the latest communications access methods to the QSR industry."

"TNS is pleased to work with Chockstone to enable retailers to experience the speed and cost benefits of a complete IP POS solution," said Trevor Fall, TNS vice president of POS Retail Solutions. "This partnership gives Chockstone a great market advantage and enhances the company's already established position as a leading payment and loyalty processor for the QSR industry."

About Chockstone

Chockstone is the Technology Behind Stored Value(TM). A leader in stored value, loyalty and transaction processing, Chockstone focuses on the growing needs of high frequency, multi-unit retailers who seek to differentiate their products in highly competitive markets. Chockstone offers retailers One Card, the most innovative gift card program available. One Card transforms customer loyalty into profit through real-time POS loyalty and promotional marketing programs that drive incremental store visits, increase ticket price, and build brand awareness. Chockstone's core transaction platform, ChockPoint(R), provides retailers with the most powerful reporting architecture available in the stored value marketplace, creating unparalleled card-based business intelligence. For more information, please refer to www.chockstone.com.

About Transaction Network Services

Transaction Network Services is one of the leading providers of business-critical, cost-effective data communications services for transaction-oriented applications. TNS provides rapid, reliable and secure transaction delivery platforms to enable transaction authorization and processing across several vertical markets and trading communities. Since its inception in 1990, TNS has designed and implemented multiple data networks, each designed specifically for the transport of transaction-oriented data. TNS' networks support a variety of widely accepted communications protocols and are designed to be scalable and accessible by multiple methods. TNS' network technologies have been deployed in the United States and internationally, and TNS' networks have become preferred networks servicing the trading community, wireless and wireline carriers, and the card processing and dial-up automated teller machine markets. For further information about TNS' transaction solutions, please refer to www.tnsi.com.