Mobil Speedpass Surpasses Three Million Users
31 August 1999
Mobil Speedpass Surpasses Three Million Users -Innovative Payment Technology Sets Standard for the Next Millenium-
FAIRFAX, Va.---Aug. 31, 1999--Mobil Corporation announced today that over three million Americans are now using Mobil(R) Speedpass(TM), the two-year-old, state-of-the-art automatic payment system. The rapid increase in enrollment growth is outpacing the company's projections and has established Speedpass as the most successful of the emerging high-tech payment systems including automatic highway toll booth payment programs and the much anticipated smart cards."We are pleased that the Speedpass program reached this milestone so quickly and that our customers are embracing the benefits that it provides," stated Brian Baker, Mobil's president, North American Marketing and Refining. "With the program's momentum growing at its current pace, Mobil and our Speedpass customers are entering the next century as the trend-setters in payment technology."
Mobil was the first to adapt the radio-frequency-based technology to assist consumers in making retail purchases, and over 3,800 Mobil stations are now participating in the Speedpass program in the United States. Evidence of the acceptance of Speedpass is that Speedpass users purchase gasoline at Mobil an average of one time more per month than non-Speedpass users.
Extensive consumer research conducted by Mobil revealed that speed and convenience are the top desires of consumers purchasing gasoline. "Based on these preferences, we expected a core population of leading-edge consumers who quickly adopt advanced technology to embrace the Speedpass program. But, with three million users in just two years, we are excited to find that broad cross-sections of consumers are enrolling. We're finding that consumers with kids feel more secure because they don't have to turn away from the car and others feel safer because they don't have to take out a card or cash," added Baker.
To celebrate the program's success, Mobil recognized Yvonne and Allen Idzenga of Gouverneur, New York, the three millionth Speedpass enrollees, in a special ceremony at Watertown Mobil in Watertown, New York. Mr. And Ms. Idzenga received $1,000 to be used for gasoline purchases along with other gifts of appreciation from the company.
Mobil has long been the technology leader in gasoline retailing. In 1986 Mobil led the industry with the first electronic payment system designed to allow customers to pay for gasoline at the pump. Since then, many of its stations have been equipped with satellite transmission capabilities that speed the transfer of payment data, reducing the time consumers spend refueling. Mobil Speedpass, which was introduced in 1997, takes the process one step further, using tiny radio transponders to eliminate several steps in the payment process, making it the fastest, most convenient way to buy gasoline.
How it works
Motorists enrolled in the Mobil Speedpass program use an automatic miniature radio transponder attached to their key chain or affixed to their vehicle's rear window. The transponders automatically transmit unique, secure ID numbers that are recognized by an electronic system located in the pump. Together, these electronic devices provide quick, simple access to gasoline by automatically charging fuel purchases to a designated credit or check card. Customers can designate any of the wide range of credit or check cards that Mobil accepts when they enroll in the Speedpass program.
There is no cost to consumers for the Speedpass transponder and no service charge for using the new technology to fill up. Drivers can enroll through any of several easy methods to acquire a free Speedpass transponder: 1) Toll free by phone at 877-MY MOBIL. 2) Through the Mobil Speedpass Web site at www.mobil.com/speedpass. 3) By completing an enrollment form available at any participating Mobil service station.
Mobil is a leading global oil, natural gas and petrochemical company whose subsidiaries have operations in 140 countries. In the U.S., the corporation markets gasoline in 28 states and the District of Columbia through 7,500 Mobil branded service stations. Mobil has been the first in the industry to develop customer-orientated electronic payment systems, including bank debit cards, pump-located customer activated terminals (pay-at-the-pump) and the Mobil Go Card, a pre-paid card.
NOTE TO MEDIA: Photos available on BW PhotoWire, AP PhotoExpress and Mobil's Web Site at www.mobil.com.