NSW Govt Awards approved Supplier Contract to ERG

Document date:  Thu 22 Jun 2000
Published:  Thu 22 Jun 2000 12:06:19
Document No:  180495
Document part:  A
Market Flag:  N
Classification:  Other 

ERG LIMITED                                   2000-06-22  ASX-SIGNAL-G

HOMEX - Perth                                                         

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
MEDIA RELEASE

The NSW Government has awarded ERG Card Systems (Aust) Ltd, a member
of the ERG Group, Approved Supplier status for its Proton-based
multi-application smart card technology. This is the first Approved
Supplier contract awarded by the NSW Government for a smart card
system to date.

Under the contract, all NSW public sector agencies will be able to
directly engage ERG to develop and supply tailored smart card
solutions.

ECard Pty Ltd (ECard), the joint venture company of ERG Limited,
Telstra Corporation Ltd and ANZ Banking Group Ltd, has rights to the
Proton technology in Australia and New Zealand while ERG has the
rights to the technology in the UK and Italy and, through its joint
venture company Triumphant Launch, in ten Asian countries. Proton's
globally proven open system architecture can support multiple
applications which means a range of card products can be developed to
satisfy the full spectrum of market and consumer needs. 

ERG is currently incorporating the Proton technology into its
multi-application smart card solution software, released earlier this
year, to provide a truly integrated smart card system for transit and
general market applications worldwide.

ERG's software provides multipurpose transaction processing and
clearing for multiple users and forms the centrepiece of smart card
based integrated ticketing currently being implemented in Rome, San
Francisco, Singapore and the UK. It also forms part of the Brisbane
and Sydney integrated ticketing projects bids submitted by ITS - the
bidding vehicle for the ERG Motorola Alliance - in recent months.

ERG's world-first technology was recognised at the Australian
Technology Awards ceremony on 1 June 2000 when it won the coveted
Excellence in the Commercialisation of Technology award.

Richard Fleming, Managing Director of ERG Card Systems, said the
contract provides significant business opportunities to ERG and
ECard.

"ECard has initially adopted the Proton technology as its smart card
platform in Australia and New Zealand. Joint venture partner Telstra
is finalising negotiations with NSW TAFE to issue Proton enabled
cards to its 450,000 students in over 130 campuses across NSW at the
beginning of 2001.

"This is in addition to significant ERG implemented card schemes
already operating at La Trobe University in Victoria and HBF in
Western Australia, where a total of 475,000 cards have been issued.

"Smart cards can be used for a range of applications. Whilst the most
common application is public transport system ticketing, significant
consumer benefits can be achieved when combining a range of
applications - such as identification, access control, retail and
Internet purchases, tolling and parking meters - onto a single card."

The use of smart card products by Government agencies has the
potential to substantially streamline administrative tasks, reduce
costs and, importantly, enhance customer services.