New technologies strengthen Diebold's position as the leading innovator in
self-service solutions for financial institutions
NORTH CANTON, Ohio, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Consumers with
mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs) could gain the ability to
interact directly with their bank's automated teller machines (ATMs) in ways
that could change where, when and how often they bank. New, recently patented
technology developed by Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD), a global leader in
providing integrated automated teller machines (ATMs) and security systems and
services, will allow it to happen.
Over the past 18 months, Diebold has been granted five U.S. patents
covering a variety of applications that enable mobile devices to interact
directly with bank ATMs. These technologies extend beyond current mobile
banking practices that permit using mobile phones to conduct online banking
transactions such as transferring funds or checking account balances.
The new technologies covered by the patents will allow consumers to use
their mobile devices to locate and get directions to the nearest ATM, "order"
cash withdrawals remotely, generate electronic checks to pay for goods or
services, transmit wireless payments and conduct other transactions more
securely and conveniently than they do presently.
"Diebold's new patented technology has the potential to offer myriad
applications to boost the convenience and personal security factors of using
an ATM," according to Jim Block, director, global advanced technology,
Diebold.
Approximately 8 billion ATM transactions are performed annually in the
United States, according to the Dove 2006 ATM Deployer Study. Those
transactions add up to $600 billion in cash dispensed each year.
While no provider is offering systems with the features covered by these
patents yet, "Diebold is in discussions with technology partners that could
bring these applications closer to reality," Block noted. "The know-how to
marry mobile devices to ATMs has been lab-tested by Diebold's engineers and
could be in users' hands within three to five years, facilitating faster ATM
transactions and more of them, in more places and at more hours, with greater
peace of mind," he said.
Since 1999 -- long before popular acceptance of the notion of using mobile
devices to conduct consumer banking -- Diebold has been working to develop
innovative ways for consumers to use mobile devices for direct interaction
with ATMs, their key touch point with their financial institutions. With this
latest round of patents, Diebold has laid the groundwork for an emerging
technology -- marrying mobile communications and the banking self-service
channel -- that has the potential to change the way banks and wireless service
providers serve their customers' needs.
"Diebold takes great pride in the innovation that has come out of our
development centers in the mobile arena, with our continuous focus on advanced
technologies we will closely follow how the marketplace embraces the latest
intellectual property we have developed," said Block.
Diebold's recently issued patents cover the following:
Patent 7,040,533 -- Enables mobile devices to interact directly with an
ATM and a bank system to allow a customer to "order" cash withdrawals from a
mobile device. The technology offers protection against card-skimming or
personal identification number (PIN) surfing at ATMs, since a customer's
mobile phone becomes his or her input device to the ATM. This offers a greater
sense of security to consumers who worry about entering their personal account
information where others can watch or an unauthorized camera can record a PIN
entry.
Patent 7,207,477 -- Enables mobile devices to be used in a checkout or
bank environment to make payments using secure electronic checks.
Patent 7,201,313 -- Enables a bank network to receive wireless
communications from a mobile device, including a customer's bank account
number and account cash value. This patent defines how a wireless device can
"communicate" with a bank network to dispense cash and assess a customer's
account for the value of the cash dispensed.
Patent 7,150,393 -- Enables bank ATMs to communicate with mobile devices
through a cellular network or other wireless methods. This application could
also allow two or more customers to simultaneously conduct transactions with
an ATM.
Patent 7,025,256 -- Enables a user of a wireless device to interact with
an ATM by using the wireless device's display and keypad instead of the
display and keypad on the ATM.
"Diebold's patents demonstrate that the company is far ahead of its time
in developing technologies that increase operating efficiencies, enhance
transaction security and deliver greater conveniences to our customers'
customers," said Block.
About Diebold
Diebold, Incorporated is a global leader in providing integrated self-
service delivery and security systems and services. Diebold employs more than
15,000 associates, with representation in nearly 90 countries worldwide, and
is headquartered in North Canton, Ohio, USA. Diebold reported revenue of
$2.9 billion in 2006 and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol "DBD." For more information, visit the company's Web site at
http://www.diebold.com.
SOURCE: Diebold, Incorporated
NOTE TO EDITORS: For more detailed information or to request interviews
about Diebold's ATM-mobile banking patents, please contact Jada Cash at
312-970-5897.
CONTACT: Media Relations, Anna Istnick, +1-330-490-6661,
istnica@diebold.com, or Investor Relations, Jennifer Bako, +1-330-490-6318,
bakoj@diebold.com, both of Diebold, Incorporated; or Jada Cash of Slack
Barshinger, +1-312-970-5897, jada.cash@slackbarshinger.com
Web site: http://www.diebold.com