TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Oct. 26, 2010) – GuestLogix, Inc. (TSX:GXI) the leading global provider of onboard store technology to airlines and the passenger travel industry, has developed an additional battery offering for use in its widely-used handheld point-of-sale (POS) devices for onboard retailing. This new offering comes as a response to the rules and concerns put forward by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding Lithium batteries, and may assist airlines in avoiding further regulatory review that could potentially impact the use of existing battery solutions.
Lithium batteries are classified as hazardous material but the FAA historically had accepted their use on planes, a position that appears to be changing. The FAA has already banned passengers and airlines from carrying spare, unattached Lithium batteries and mandated that airlines remove Lithium-powered devices from the aircraft for charging – restrictions which have created logistical challenges for both technology providers and their airline customers. GuestLogix’ clients in North America have been aware of the FAA’s potential restrictions on the use of Lithium batteries in an onboard environment. For these reasons, they have asked GuestLogix to provide an alternative. That alternative has now arrived.
Mr. Tom Douramakos, President and CEO, GuestLogix said, “Our customers rely on us to keep their onboard stores open. In this case, as in many others, that means anticipating changes in the regulatory environment and finding proactive solutions to potential challenges. In the long run, we believe that this change will create more efficient POS solutions for our customers.”
To preempt the impact of this potential regulatory development, and in an effort to streamline the charging logistics of its POS devices for its client airlines, GuestLogix has developed a new battery based on nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) technology. Historically, NiMH batteries have shown to be more stable than Lithium metal batteries
“Our new battery solution means that, with regulatory approval, spare batteries can be kept onboard to keep POS devices working throughout any flight,” Mr. Douramakos added. “So we have potentially eliminated the need to remove POS terminals from planes in order to charge them.”
The move from Lithium to NiMH-powered POS systems may impact airlines in the European Union and elsewhere as well, as regulatory agencies around the world often take cues from each other on safety and hazardous material transport.
For GuestLogix, a company with a reputation for technological innovation and a global footprint, this change is simply a continuation of the client-centric policies that have propelled the company to a leading role in the in-flight retail sector.
For more information about this development, or to obtain more detailed technical specifications on the NiMH batter from GuestLogix, please visit http://www.guestlogix.com/staging/nimh_battery.html.
About GuestLogix
GuestLogix is the leading global provider of onboard store technology and merchandising, which helps airlines and other operators create, manage, and control onboard retail environments tailored to their needs and their passengers. Serving approximately 38% of the global airline passenger traffic, GuestLogix has become a trusted onboard transaction processing partner to airlines around the world. The Company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and maintains sales and support facilities in the US, UK, Singapore, and Korea. GuestLogix is publicly traded on The Toronto Stock Exchange (Symbol: GXI.T). More information is available at www.guestlogix.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations, which involve risks and uncertainties associated with GuestLogix’ business and the environment in which the business operates. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking, including those identified by the expressions “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but reflect GuestLogix’ current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including the matters discussed under “Risks and Uncertainties” in the Filing Statement filed on October 14, 2010 with the regulatory authorities. GuestLogix assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements.