Ottawa, Canada, January 13, 2004 - Precidia Technologies Inc., a global leader in the design and manufacture of IP access devices, today announced that it has joined the Vital Processing Services® (Vital®) Integration Partner Program. The Vital Integration Partner (VIP) Program consists of software developers, system integrators and third-party vendors with approved POS applications to process transactions on Vital's state-of-the-art network. Precidia's EtherDial and Ether232AT products are Class B approved with Vital.

The products Precidia has received approval to process on Vital's network connect older payment terminals to newer, faster and more cost effective IP LANs and WANs. The EtherDial migrates transaction data from a dial-based infrastructure to a TCP/IP network, eliminating the merchant's dependence on a dedicated telephone line for transaction processing. The Ether232AT connects existing dial-based payment terminals to an Ethernet LAN, acting as a modem replacement. Both solutions deliver dramatic cost savings to the merchant, eliminating costs associated with dedicated telephone lines, as well as retaining their investment in existing payment terminals.

"Precidia is a natural choice for our VIP Program. Our VIP Program is focused on providing a broad array of secure, reliable and efficient POS solutions delivered through best of breed integration partners", said Kevin Bradford, executive vice president, Client Relations, Sales and Business Development for Vital Processing Services. "Precidia's products provide a clear path to IP-based transaction processing that works with the payment terminals already used by our acquirers and their merchants."

Precidia president Deepak Wanner said, "Joining Vital's VIP Program means unique access to an important channel for our retail payments products. We understand that merchants are looking for a simple path to IP-based processing that is cost-effective and efficient. By recognizing Precidia as a VIP member, Vital is helping its acquirers and their merchant customers to gain access to more IP-based transaction processing solutions."

About Vital Processing Services
The world's recognized leader in technology-based commerce enabling services, Vital Processing Services® (Vital®) brings the power of pure commerce to more than 300 Acquirers and one million Merchants. Vital delivers highly reliable, integrated end-to-end payment-related solutions to Acquirers and their Merchants, and provides them with the information and tools to efficiently manage their payment processing businesses. From authorizing and capturing electronic payments at the Merchant point of sale, to clearing and settling transactions, Vital is the only pure Acquirer processor in the industry. Vital is a joint venture of Visa U.S.A. and TSYS® ("NYSE: TSS"). Additional information regarding Vital can be found at www.vitalps.com.

About Precidia Technologies
Precidia Technologies Inc. is a global leader in the design and manufacture of IP access devices for a wide range of industries, including retail payments and building automation. With customers in over 75 countries, Precidia's unique product line of wired and wireless access devices seamlessly migrate stand-alone serial and dial equipment onto more sophisticated IP networks. For more information, visit Precidia on the Web at http://www.precidia.com.