ROSH PINA, Israel, Oct. 15, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- EasyPark, the in-vehicle parking solution developed by EasyPark Ltd., a subsidiary of OTI (GER:OT5), has been selected as a finalist for the SESAMES 2001 award for Best Application - Transportation. All entries must be innovative and able to meet market demand, whereas EasyPark has been in full commercial use throughout Israel since 1999 and accepted for use in all the country's major cities in 2000. The Sesames will be awarded October 23, 2001 at CNIT Paris la Defense - France, during the Cartes 2001 Trade Show Evening Welcome Reception.
"We are honored that EasyPark has been selected by the SESAME committee as one of the most innovative transportation applications of the year," said Oded Bashan, President and CEO of OTI. "To be selected as one of three finalists is further recognition of EasyPark's superior parking solution after its successful implementation throughout Israel."
EasyPark utilizes OTI's award-winning contactless smart card technology as the foundation for the easy-to-use cards. Drivers need only to turn the card on, indicate the correct city and zone codes, and display it within their vehicle. Turning the card off upon returning to the car, the driver is charged only for the actual parking time - an efficient improvement over the existing parking system. The same e-cash value used for on-street parking payment will now be accepted at private parking lots. The card is simply presented at the gate when entering or exiting a parking lot.
EasyPark is currently used nationwide in Israel in over 27 cities with over 50,000 vehicles installed. The preferred method of parking payment in Tel Aviv, the largest city in Israel, EasyPark has also been implemented in the city for use as vehicle registration and parking permits using windshield stickers. Cards are currently available for purchase and revalue at participating gas stations and news kiosks throughout Israel, where 60 loading stations have been installed in the last six months. Further expansions proposed include toll road payment and other municipal payment options.
OTI will demonstrate EasyPark as well as its other innovative microprocessor-based contactless smart card solutions at its booth at Cartes 2001, October 23-25 in Booth T20.
About Easy Park
EasyPark Ltd. was established in 1991 as a subsidiary company of OTI, and was selected as the winner of the Israel nationwide electronic parking card project in 1997. Together with Hayun Israeli Computers Ltd., an Israel-based clearinghouse, the company established EasyPark Israel Ltd. to manage the implementation and operation of this nationwide project and provide clearing services for the collected parking fees to the local Israel municipalities.
About OTI
Established in 1990, OTI (On Track Innovations) designs and develops contactless microprocessor based smart card technology to address the needs of a wide variety of markets. Applications developed by OTI include product solutions for mass transit, parking, gas management systems, loyalty schemes, ID and secure campuses. OTI has regional offices in the US, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa to market and support its products. The company was awarded the prestigious ESCAT Award for smart card innovation in both 1998 and 2000. Visit OTI on the Internet at www.oti.co.il.