PhotoChannel Launches Prepaid Card Driven Online Photo Service for Visions Electronics
New prepaid card makes online photofi nishing easy and accessible for Visions' customers.
VANCOUVER, BC – January 16, 2005 – PhotoChannel Networks Inc. (TSX-V:
PNI and OTCBB:
PHCHF) (“PhotoChannel” or the “Company”) the leading innovator of online digital media solutions for retailers and Calgary-based Visions Electronics ("Visions") announced today the launch of www.photosdirect2u.ca, a prepaid card driven online photo service. The online service will be utilized to expand Visions' product offering and to provide a base for ongoing marketing, customer loyalty and e-commerce programs.
To enable the real time activation of prepaid cards within the Visions stores, PhotoChannel is utilizing InComm's advanced Point of Sale Activation (POSA) platform. Customers at any of Visions Electronics' 25 retail stores can purchase prepaid photofinishing cards in denominations of $10, $20 and $50 to be redeemed for digital prints and a variety of photo gift products on their new online photo service located at www.photosdirect2u.ca. Credit cards can also be used for payment on the website with prints and gift orders being delivered directly to the customer's home or office within just a few days.
PhotoChannel's newly launched PNI Digital Media Platform coupled with InComm's industry leading POSA services are a natural fit for forward-looking retailers like Visions Electronics. PhotoChannel CEO Peter Fitzgerald says "The prepaid card market continues to grow rapidly in parallel with the explosion in popularity of online photofinishing creating a convenient means to service our client's customers." "Visions is excited to be working with PhotoChannel & InComm to offer our customer's the ease and convenience of online photofinishing" states Dave Ethier, Category Manager for Visions Electronics. "We see this service as a great way to service our customers well beyond the initial consumer electronics purchase."
About PhotoChannel
Founded in 1995, PhotoChannel operates PNI Digital Media to provide services for major retailers, wireless carriers and content providers. The PNI Digital Media Platform connects consumer ordered digital content with retailers that have on demand manufacturing capabilities for the production of merchandise. Currently PNI Digital Media generates transactions for retailers and their thousands of locations across North America. For more information please visit www.pnidigitalmedia.com.
About Visions Electronics
Founded in 1981, Visions Electronics has over 500 employees in 25 retail locations across Western Canada and is one of the leading consumer electronics chains in the country. Visions carries such products lines as Sony, Hitachi, Toshiba, Canon, Fuji, Pentax, Telus, JVC, Samsung, LG, Apple, JBL and more. For more information on the company please visit www.visions.ca.
WARNING: The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained in this release. The Company relies upon litigation protection for "forward-looking" statements.
