NCR, INTER-ACT TEAM UP TO PROVIDE E-MARKETING SOLUTIONS FOR RETAILERS.

Inter-Act Will Purchase Up To 10,000 NCR Web Kiosks Over Next Two Years

NCR Corp. and Charlotte, N.C.-based Inter-Act Electronic Marketing Inc. have formed a global alliance to pair Inter-Act patented electronic consumer technologies with NCR's Web kiosks in retail stores, with initial deployment in North America and Europe.

The companies estimate Inter-Act will buy up to 10,000 NCR Web kiosks over the next two years, with the first 2,000 expected to be deployed by mid-2000. A more extensive agreement is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Inter-Act plans to offer NCR's Web kiosk as part of its turnkey e-marketing solutions designed to help consumer packaged goods retailers and manufacturers communicate with millions of shopper individually. The solutions are delivered via the Inter-Act e- Marketing Network, which is currently accessible to shoppers in more than 2,000 retail stores in the United States and Europe. Unlike other marketing services platforms - where shoppers get discounts on future purchases - Inter-Act's patented technologies provide immediate, paperless savings to consumers before they make their purchasing decisions, with seamless consumer access online and in-store.

"We anticipate that Inter-Act's electronic marketing platform will become an important element of NCR's in-store Web kiosk solution portfolio for delivering customized offers to consumers," says Tony Fano, senior vice president of NCR's Retail Solutions Group. "For NCR, as a provider of complete Web kiosk solutions, Inter-Act's applications and their growing base of retail partners validate the market and business need for a robust in-store kiosk offering."

A fully integrated multimedia terminal with counter-top, wall and pole mount options, the NCR Web kiosk is internet-enabled for electronic commerce. In addition to an interactive touch screen, it is available with a scanner, printer, magnetic stripe card reader and other options. NCR's Web kiosk solution offering also includes software, servers and industry consulting services.

Inter-Act plans to port its applications to NCR's Web Kiosk Environment, a software platform designed for easy and effective implementation of e-marketing solutions. The companies are also finalizing details of an agreement under which NCR will acquire stock in Inter-Act based on the number of kiosks purchased.

"This arrangement with Inter-Act follows a year of rapidly growing market interest in the NCR Web kiosk solution," Fano says. "NCR's deep retail industry knowledge, coupled with our number one position worldwide in ATMs, uniquely position us to seize the exploding interest and opportunity in this market. Moreover, NCR's Web kiosk business strategy includes a strong focus on partnerships 'that offer value-added solutions or technologies, extending the reach of our solutions to new or additional markets."

NCR recently deployed kiosks at Macy's and other Federated stores, as well as at Wal-Mart. Inter-Act plans to work with NCR on installations at existing Inter-Act accounts, including Sainsbury's and Boots the Chemist in the United Kingdom and SuperValu, Spartan and Giant Eagle in the United States.