Vital Processing Services Signs Multi-year Agreement with TNS for POS Transaction Networking
Tempe, AZ, Nov.12, 2002 - Vital Processing Services® (Vital®), a recognized leader in technology-based commerce enabling services, announces the addition of a new data communications service provider to its existing communications network. The Company has signed a multi-year agreement with Transaction Network Services, Inc. (TNS) to deliver POS transaction network services. TNS is one of the leading providers of fast, reliable data communications services for transaction-oriented applications.
"The provision of secure data communications connectivity is mission-critical to the transaction processing business," said Jonathan Palmer, president and CEO of Vital. "This agreement provides Vital's acquirers and merchants with an alternative communications partner."
"At Vital, fault-tolerance and redundancy are built into every aspect of our processing services," Palmer continued. "In a strategic review earlier this year we identified service provider diversity as another step we could take towards assuring no single point of failure throughout our operation."
Brian Bates, TNS' President and Chief Operating Officer commented, "As a leading network transport provider to the POS industry, TNS is very pleased to have this opportunity to support Vital's business with both current and future network access technologies. We look forward to delivering a transaction transport solution that meets the rigorous requirements of Vital and its customers."
"TNS was selected after a thorough review and extensive selection process," said Robert Blair, executive vice president and chief information officer at Vital. "TNS stood out based on their experience and leadership in POS networking and their systemic focus on quality."
The new relationship with TNS will allow Vital's merchants to continue to have access to local, toll-free '950' services, one of the most efficient merchant networking alternatives. Vital and its customers will also benefit from additional connectivity options offered by TNS through its secure, nationwide transaction transport network.
About Transaction Network Services
Transaction Network Services is one of the leading providers of fast, cost-effective data communications services for transaction-oriented applications. Transaction Network Services provides reliable and secure transaction delivery platforms to enable transaction authorization and processing across several vertical markets and trading communities. Since its inception in 1990, Transaction Network Services has designed and implemented one of the fastest, most reliable and lowest cost networks for the transport of transaction-oriented data.
Transaction Network Services' proprietary network technologies have been deployed in the United States and internationally, and Transaction Network Services' network has become a preferred network servicing the card processing and dial-up automatic teller machine markets.
For further information about Transaction Network Services' transaction solutions, please refer to www.tnsi.com.
About Vital Processing Services
A leader in technology-based commerce enabling services, Vital Processing Services® (Vital®) is the commerce connection between acquirers and merchants, processing one out of every four authorized payment transactions in North America. From authorizing and capturing electronic payments at the merchant point of sale, to clearing and settling transactions, Vital provides highly reliable, integrated end-to-end processing services to more than 300 acquirers and over one million merchants. Vital processes all payment types for merchants of all sizes from a wide array of industries and provides merchants and acquirers with the information and tools to efficiently manage their payment processing businesses. Vital is a merchant processing joint venture of Visa U.S.A. and TSYS® ("NYSE: TSS"). Additional information regarding Vital can be found at www.vitalps.com.
Contacts:
Virginia Lewis
Vice President of Corporate Relations
Vital Processing Services
480.333.7671
virginia.lewis@vitalps.com
Marcie Cheney
Environics Communications
For TNS
202.296.2002
mcheney@environics-usa.com