Vesta Corporation and Axalto Announce Groundbreaking Mobile Payments Solution; Innovative M-Commerce Solution Allows Top-Up of Prepaid Mobile Phones on GSM Networks.

PORTLAND, Ore. & AUSTIN, Texas -- Vesta Corporation, a leading provider of virtual commerce solutions, and Axalto, the world's leader in microprocessor smart cards, have teamed up to offer prepaid wireless customers new payment capabilities directly from their mobile phones. Vesta and Axalto's solution will serve the rapidly growing U.S. population of prepaid wireless consumers with real-time top-up, leveraging the security and ubiquity of the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card in their phones.

The SIM-based top-up solution adds to Vesta's suite of virtual payment capabilities for prepaid telecommunications products, which include phone, web, WAP (Wireless Access Protocol) and SMS (Short Message Service). "Wireless consumers have demonstrated an interest in making payments using a broad range of methods and our objective is to make it as easy as possible for consumers to pay their service providers," said Matthew Hall, vice president, business development at Vesta. "SIM technology is a key component of the mobile commerce landscape and we view Axalto as an ideal partner to optimize Vesta's solutions."

This solution from Vesta and Axalto enables any North American GSM carrier to offer customers the ability to make payments via credit card, debit card or direct withdrawal from a checking account through a feature directly on the phone. Payment capability is embedded in the SIM card through simple and intuitive drop down menus, creating a mobile transaction environment that is highly secure, can be remotely managed and is tightly integrated with other features on the handset.

Offering consumers the option of making a payment directly from their mobile device enhances the convenience of Vesta's current recharge services, which already eliminates many of the obstacles associated with recharging a prepaid phone, such as finding a retail store to buy minutes, and then having to call an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) line and enter a PIN code to redeem them. Because SIM technology is part of every GSM phone on the market, carriers can easily offer this service to millions of subscribers. According to Informa and the GSA (the Global Mobile Suppliers Association), the GSM market in the United States and Canada currently comprises just under 80 million mobile phones and is growing twice as fast as CDMA.

"As mobile devices have become consumer gadgets that subscribers change readily for new features and capabilities, SIM cards are the GSM carriers' primary link to their subscribers," said Dale Sperrazza, vice president, mobile communications for Axalto North America. "Having access to a convenient service like Vesta's mobile payment and top-up on the SIM card makes it a permanent companion for the end user, regardless of the device used. This represents significant revenue and loyalty gains for the carrier."

Payment transaction security is ensured through end-to-end encryption running over non-public wireless networks. This reduces the likelihood that consumers' passwords or payment information can be intercepted. In addition, Vesta offers a unique payment guarantee that insulates merchants from fraudulent transactions and the costs associated with them.

The mobile top-up turnkey solution is available now from Vesta and Axalto. Vesta and Axalto have plans to explore and develop additional mobile payment services for wireless carriers in the future.

About Vesta Corporation

Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, USA, and with operations in China and Europe, Vesta is a pioneer and worldwide leader in virtual commerce. Vesta utilizes proprietary authentication and fraud screening measures in managing its telecommunications and financial services clients' virtual (phone and Web) payment programs, and provides a secure, privacy-assured payment alternative to end users. Vesta has been recognized by Inc. magazine as one of America's fastest growing privately owned companies for five years running. Vesta's clients include AT&T, Cingular Wireless, T-Mobile USA, MCI, IDT, Sprint, and Firefly Mobile. For more information on Vesta Corporation, visit www.trustvesta.com or email [e-mail].

About Axalto

Axalto (EURONEXT:AXL) (EURONEXT:NL0000400653) is the world's leading provider of microprocessor cards (Gartner 2005, Frost & Sullivan 2004) -- the key to digital networks -- and a major supplier of point-of-sale terminals. Its 4,500 employees come from over 65 nationalities and serve customers in more than 100 countries, with worldwide sales reaching 3 billion smart cards to date. The company has 25 years of experience in smart card innovation and leads its industry in security technology and open systems.

Axalto continuously creates new generations of products for use in a variety of applications in the telecommunications, finance, retail, transport, entertainment, healthcare, personal identification, information technology and public sector markets. Microprocessor cards provide convenience, security and privacy to public and private services operators, their customers and end users. For more information, visit www.axalto.com.