RocketBux Pilot Study Successfully Drives Consumer Purchasing Via Mobile Phone Payment and Text-Based Messages

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RocketBux Pilot Study Successfully Drives Consumer Purchasing Via Mobile Phone Payment and Text-Based Messages

Patented Technology for Location-Based Mobile Phone Advertising Proves 50 Percent Purchase Conversion Rates

May 24, 2006 – Bend, OR – RocketBux, Inc., the leaders in location-based, pay-for-performance loyalty program, today announced it successfully completed its first pilot study.

On April 25th and 26th, 2006 in Bend, Oregon, RocketBux, Inc. conducted the first public use of text message advertising triggered by a merchant point-of-sale terminal. In the study, random mobile phone users volunteered to participate, providing their cell phone number and carrier. A small RocketBux RFID tag was then affixed to the back of their mobile phone. The users walked into the first location and waved their phone over the contactless payment reader. After the users swiped, a text message was sent to their phone, giving them an offer such as $5 off any purchase at the next participating merchant. The consumers did this up to eight times over two days with many users buying expensive items at participating merchants.

“We originally thought our conversion rates of people buying items at the locations would be 5 to 7 percent, which is very good by traditional advertising standards,” says Fred Boos, chief inventor and co-founder of RocketBux. “But our conversion rates were over 50 percent – a phenomenal success.”

“The real importance of what we accomplished was the ability to direct user movement using location-based services on a standard mobile phone via text messaging,” says Tony Westerberg, co-founder of RocketBux. “The participating merchants were amazed at the pinpointed advertising model that successfully brought real buyers into their stores. For consumers, it was a fun and very rewarding experience.”

Merchants Earn Additional Revenue; Consumers Receive Relevant Offers
In the RocketBux model, merchants earn revenue from ads served. For example, in the pilot study a user making a purchase at the participating coffee shop would receive an ad for another nearby store. If the consumer purchased at the next store, the coffee shop would receive revenue for driving that consumer to the second merchant.

Users will only receive relevant ads that they allow into their phone. If consumers would like, they will be able to provide information about their preferences, so they only receive offers meaningful to them.

“The cell phone has evolved to become a device that many of us wouldn’t leave home without – like our wallets or keys,” says Boos. “RocketBux brings the convenience of fast, easy and safe payment to mobile phones, along with the targeted offers and rewards that consumers want.”

More than 140,000 Contactless Readers Nationwide
RocketBux has developed its location based phone advertising services using ViVOtech breakthrough technologies. i.e, RFID tags, contactless readers, and back end transaction software platform. There are more than 140,000 ViVOtech contactless readers already installed at various merchant POS locations nationwide that enable consumers to make contactless payments by simply waving their radio frequency (RF) enabled credit cards, key fobs, or mobile phones at existing point-of-sale (POS) systems. ViVOtech solutions upgrade existing magnetic stripe POS terminals in minutes so they can accept contactless payments which are faster than cash and safer than checks. ViVOtech contactless readers are equally capable to support RocketBux services for participating merchants.

“RocketBux is absolutely in the right place at the right time,” said Mohammad Khan, president and founder of ViVOtech. “Consumers want the ease of paying via their mobile phones and receiving offers that are relevant to their needs. ViVOtech is excited to work with RocketBux in accomplishing both experiences for consumers.

About RocketBux
RocketBux, Inc. specializes in mobile phone payment and location-based text advertising and rewards. The company provides a new way for merchants and customers to interact and benefit from each other. Never before has there been a method for merchants to target their customers via advertising so precisely. Consumers can now benefit immediately from the merchants closest to them, receiving special offers that are geographically and interest-specific. RocketBux has a patent pending for location-based messaging via point-of-sale. The company is based in Bend, Oregon. For more information, go to www.rocketbux.com.


About ViVOtech
ViVOtech is the market leader in contactless payment software, readers, cards, fobs and transaction management systems. These solutions allow consumers to make contactless payments with radio frequency-enabled credit cards, debit cards, key fobs, and NFC enabled mobile phones. With more than 160,000 units shipped to 17 countries, ViVOtech's products are being used by movie theaters, fast food restaurants (QSR), casual dining establishments, convenience stores, gas stations, drug stores, grocery and vending machine locations enabling them to accept contactless payments. ViVOtech is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with offices in Europe and Asia. In 2005, ViVOtech received the prestigious Frost & Sullivan technology award for its role in transforming the contactless payment industry, as well as winning the first annual ETA Technology Innovation Award. For more information, please visit the ViVOtech website at www.vivotech.com.


Contact:
Fred Boos
RocketBux, Inc
www.rocketbux.com
541-408-0203

Contact:
Loretta Stevens
VIVOtech
www.vivotech.com
415-248-3434
lstevens@webershandwick.com