40th birthday of the 'hole in wall' sees arrival of new 'super cashpoint'

• Wednesday, 28 March 2007

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Its hard to imagine how we lived without them but the ‘hole in the wall’ is 40 years old this year. But not a lot has really changed with cashpoints since Barclays first invented it and actor Reg Varney took out the first ever ‘emergency cash’ using a PIN number in front of huge crowds in Enfield, North London.

But now there’s the arrival of The MAX BOX - a brand new type of ATM that is currently rolling out across the UK. With MAX BOX customers can order flowers, print photos, play games and buy ring-tones plus lot more - as well as take out cash. For pubs and shops that want one there’s a built in jukebox, and can even turn the host venue into a WiFi hotspot.

Full press release below and hi-res photos of the MAX BOX ‘in action’ are available. Entrepreneur Andy Egan, CE of AIM-listed Felix Group who have developed the MAX BOX, is up for interview.

Please contact Richard Bond at SKV PR for more information, interview requests and images on 0161 236 9909 or email richard.bond@skvpr.co.uk

Felix Group press information 29.03.07

40th Anniversary Of First Ever Cashpoint Marked By Arrival Of The MAX BOX

An ATM That Prints Photos, Sells Flowers And Is Even A Juke Box Hits The UK

In June 1967 actor Reg Varney, of On The Buses TV fame, withdrew the first ever cash out of an 'automated teller machine' using a PIN number at a branch of Barclays in Enfield, North London. 40 years on and there’s 60,000 ATMs across the UK, used regularly by over 30 million. But apart from the actual number of ATMs on the high street, from the customers point of view not much else has changed about them – until now.

Felix Group plc, a company based in Cheshire, is now deploying a new type of ATM kiosk within high street, licensed and leisure locations across the UK. Called MAX BOX, it is a multi-function two-screen terminal that combines a traditional ATM function with a raft of additional retail services - transforming the humble ‘hole in wall’ into a standalone ‘digital shop’.

With the MAX BOX you can do more than just withdraw cash. You can instantly print digital photos, order flowers for next day delivery, play interactive Sudoku, top up you mobile and download ringtones, games and other mobile content.

The MAX BOX also has a digital jukebox facility that carries a staggering three million digital tracks - including every UK top 40 hit since charts began. In addition the kiosk streams third party advertising, runs sales promotions and can turn any host venue into a free Wi-Fi hotspot.

And through high speed and high capacity broadband the MAX BOX can be quickly updated with new content, products and prices - with additional digital applications easily added to the kiosk at a future date as they are developed. To meet the needs of host venues, Felix also offer three models of the MAX BOX, two of which do not feature the ATM function.

After thorough trials throughout 2006, Felix is now moving forward with its deployment drive and is actively placing kiosks in retail, leisure, licensed and corporate sector venues across the UK. Odeon Cinemas are current trialing non-ATM MAX BOX kiosks, with plans to deploy them in a majority of its multiplexes later this year.

Felix has also partnered with the UK’s premier independent ATM deployer Bank Machine. Bank Machine plan to aid the rollout of MAX BOX kiosks into current non-ATM sites, together with a proportion of Bank Machine’s existing clients being invited to upgrade. Bank Machine currently operates over 1,400 ATMs in locations including forecourts, convenience stores, shopping centres and cinemas throughout the UK.

Andy Egan, Chief Executive of Felix said: "The launch of the MAX BOX sees vending and ATMs finally growing up, with machines in pubs, airport lounges, shops, staff canteens and other public spaces no longer there just to dispense crisps, coke or cash. Just as 1967 ushered in a new era of consumer convenience by allowing customers to withdraw “emergency” cash from outside a bank for the first time, so we're helping to bring about a new digital retail revolution with the arrival of the MAX BOX."

-ENDS-

For images, more information regarding MAX BOX kiosks or Felix Group please contact Richard Bond or Amy O’Toole at Spinoza Kennedy Vesey PR on 0161 236 9909 or email richard.bond@skvpr.co.uk

Notes To Editors :

The MAX BOX has put Felix at the forefront of Digital Retail in the UK bringing together a range of consumer services including an ATM cash machine, digital jukebox, mobile top-up, music and mobile content download, digital photo processing as well as the unique Everyone’s A Winner sales promotion vending function in a kiosk format. The MAX BOX can also turn the host venue into a free Wi-Fi hotspot.

MAX BOX content continues to be developed with new applications coming soon. Included in these developments are digital retail services enabling retail partners to use MAX BOX as a sales channel to distribute their products and services. The choice of content and functions included can be customised to the venue and customer type.

Find out more online with these links:

· To read more about the MAX BOX visit: www.themaxbox.com

· To hear an online business interview with Felix CE Andy Egan visit: www.smallbizpod.co.uk/2006/09/22/smallbizpod-32-friday-22-se...

· To see a more detailed video profile of Felix, produced by Financial Times Television, visit: www.bnntv.tv/index.html. Click on ‘Technology’ icon, then scroll right and click on ‘Felix’ logo
About Bank Machine

· Based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Bank Machine is the leading independent ATM operator in the UK with well over 1400 ATMs in a variety of locations including forecourts, convenience stores, shopping centres and cinemas. The company has been in business since 1998 and employs over 50 staff. For more information about Bank Machine visit www.bankmachine.com

· Bank Machine is a division of American Owned Cardtronics – the world’s largest ATM Operator which provides ATM’s across the US and Mexico. Founded in 1989, the company now has more than 26,000 ATM locations, covers all 50 states of the USA.

About Felix Group plc

Felix Group plc listed on AIM March 2004 since then the trading entity – Felix Corporation Ltd has:

• Developed a new concept for sales promotions for the leisure and retail sectors – Everyone’s A Winner (EAW).

• Delivered the philosophy of EAW, that the consumer will always be rewarded with at least double the cost of engagement every time.
• Introduced a range of delivery platforms for Everyone’s A Winner to vend sales promotions through, including PRS and SMS, joint promotions with existing platforms and via the web

• Developed an EAW cabinet for deployment in a range of sectors including but not limited to; Retail, Leisure, Sport and Corporate.

• Worked directly with blue chip brands and local and national businesses to deliver sales promotions packages and campaigns to the consumer via a range of platforms that embrace the EAW philosophy.

• Developed and brought to market MAX BOX, which brings together a range of additional consumer services including an ATM cash machine, digital jukebox, optional Wi-Fi hotspot function, mobile top-up, music and mobile content download, digital photo processing as well as the unique Everyone’s A Winner sales promotion vending system.

• Further company information can be found at www.felixgroupplc.com
For all press enquiries contact: Richard Bond or Amy O’Toole at Spinoza Kennedy Vesey PR on 0161 236 9909. email: richard.bond@skvpr.co.uk

This press release was distributed via Response Source, a service from Daryl Willcox Publishing, on behalf of Spinoza Kennedy Vesey PR (Spin Media). For more information visit http://www.dwpub.com/pressreleasewires