TNSLink for AUS Retailers | Transaction Network Services

TNS Secures Broadband Future For Australian Businesses’ EFTPOS and ATM Communication Needs

Sydney, Australia – October 7, 2009 –Transaction Network Services (NYSE:TNS) is launching a new broadband EFTPOS and ATM solution in the Australian market called TNSLink™ that will significantly reduce day to day operational costs associated with retail EFTPOS and ATM terminals.

TNSLink allows Australian retailers to securely connect their existing EFTPOS and ATM terminals to any broadband service. Legacy terminals, including most integrated Point-Of-Service (POS) cash registers, currently connect to the financial institution via PSTN lines or dedicated leased lines, such as Telstra’s ISDN service or the end-of-life Digital Data Service[1](DDS).

TNSLink enables merchants to remove the complexity of multiple Telco connections, regardless of type, resulting in substantial monthly savings for Australian retailers. This solution also provides many additional features including transparent usage plans, 24x7 monitoring and management, and potential for significant performance improvements through the use of broadband.

“According to the Australian Communications and Media Authority, more than 95% of Australian businesses[2], including retailers, already have access to broadband for functions such as store email, inventory management and phone calls”, said Jennifer Stibbard, TNS Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific. “Retailers are able to increase POS efficiency, deliver value-added services, such as card loyalty programs, and reduce their expenses by leveraging broadband for EFTPOS and ATM services using our secure TNSLink solution.”

TNSLink is a cost effective solution that does not require software, equipment replacement or network upgrades for either the retailer or their financial institution. There is no need for new payment procedures or retraining of retail staff on new technology. It also extends the life of existing equipment and allows the retailer to benefit from a high-speed, secure and reliable processing connection.

The TNSLink solution securely delivers transactions using industry-standard SSL and IPsec VPN encryption. Future enhanced options may include end-to-end managed broadband, along with integrated high-speed 3G wireless for primary or back up purposes for ATMs. This solution utilises the same reliable TNS backbone network as the recently released TNS FusionPoint Lite™ service that removes the need for dedicated PSTN dial-up lines for EFTPOS and ATMs.

TNSLink is monitored by payment specialists 24x7, 365 days a year and is powered by TNS’ PCI DSS certified backbone network which handles over 13 billion transactions each year from ATMs and EFTPOS devices around the world, making it one of the largest fully managed, value-added networks in the payments industry.

Transaction Network Services (TNS) is an international data communications company that enables payments, money and voices, to move around the world. TNS’ mission is to enable the world to transact. It does this through a broad range of networking, communications and value added services, which it provides to many of the world’s leading retailers, banks/processors, telecommunications companies and financial markets.

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. Today, TNS has offices throughout the world serving customers in 28 countries with the ability to provide services in other countries. For further information about TNS, visit www.tnsi.com

Statements and information contained in our press releases and newsletters that are not descriptions of historical fact may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or performance and from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods. www.tnsi.com

[1] As at 1 September 2009, http://www.telstra.com.au/customerterms/docs/bg_part_b_dds.doc section 2.5 includes the statement: “On and from 31 December 2009 the Digital Data Services (DDS) will be withdrawn from the market and no longer be provided to all customers.”

[2] Quotation from ACMA media release 28/2009 – 13 March available at http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311661