MSFDC Announces New Third-Party Program for Implementing Its Electronic Bill Payment and Presentment System
DENVER, Jan. 28, 1998 — MSFDC, a joint venture of Microsoft Corp. and First Data Corp. (FDC), today launched its Systems Integrator Program for third-party companies to help implement the nation’s first electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP) system that seamlessly links banks, billers and consumers.
The Systems Integrator Program follows the announcement of MSFDC’s pilot program for financial institutions and billers, which is being initiated with three leading banks and a number of nationally recognized billers.
The goal of the Systems Integrator Program is to provide billers, financial institutions and processors with an extensive pool of professional technology companies to help them quickly and efficiently implement the MSFDC electronic bill presentment and payment system. Systems Integrators will offer a variety of products and services including consulting, development, integration, Web-based design, support and ongoing maintenance.
“MSFDC wants to offer both banks and billers maximum flexibility in customizing our electronic bill presentment and payment system,” said Richard Pickering, senior vice president at MSFDC. “To satisfy their varying needs, we’ve built a team of heavy hitters in systems integration and solution implementation. So, whether a bank or biller wants vertical industry expertise or specific systems or applications expertise, we have the solution providers to help them.”
To date, almost 20 companies have agreed to participate in MSFDC’s Systems Integrator Program. They include Crystal Clear Technology Inc., First Image Management Co., Bell and Howell Co., BlueGill Technologies Inc., Cap Gemini, Computer Sciences Corp., CobWeb Inc., Dataline Systems LLC, Edify Corp., Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS), HOME Account Network Inc., Interface Systems, InteliData Technologies Corp., Microsoft® Consulting Services, Price Waterhouse LLP, Princeton Telecom Corp. and Unisys Corp.
Representatives of these companies gathered on the Microsoft campus this week to receive their first detailed technical training on the MSFDC systems.
Association With MSFDC
Electronic bill presentment opens an entirely new business and revenue opportunity for companies offering billing and financial services. MSFDC developed the Systems Integrator Program to ensure that the projected benefits for billers, financial institutions and consumers alike are realized as early as possible.
“Hundreds of North America’s largest banks are preparing to offer bill presentment and payment over the Internet in 1998. By giving banks tools to create a user-friendly, bank-customized interface for EBPP, MSFDC is helping them better leverage their Web assets and is giving us the opportunity to be a player in this emerging market,” said Gary Meshell, director of the electronic finances group at Price Waterhouse.
Membership in MSFDC’s Systems Integrator Program provides numerous benefits, including access to the latest technology in bill presentment and payment, the opportunity to work in a high-growth business pioneered by leaders in the technology and financial services industries, and access to products and services provided by Microsoft, FDC and MSFDC. In addition, members of the program will be marketed by MSFDC to current and new billers, processors and banks.
“We’re ready to implement MSFDC’s value-added service for our customers,” said Daniel Twing, director of Electronic Billing Services for EDS. “MSFDC’s integrated electronic bill presentment and payment system fits naturally with EDS’ industry expertise in consulting and systems integration.”
“As a longtime leader in delivering payment processing and retail delivery solutions through systems integration applications to financial services organizations, Unisys is pleased to be a part of the MSFDC initiative,” said David Hampton, Unisys vice president of marketing, Financial Services North America. “We look forward to helping our clients implement EBPP systems to add value for their customers.”
The Advent of Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment
Virtually every one of the 100 million households in the United States receives and pays bills. The average household receives 10 to 12 recurring bills per month, resulting in a total of 14 billion to 15 billion bills mailed annually in the United States. Billers and consumers could achieve significant savings by replacing costly printing processes, paper, remittance handling exceptions, stamps and checks with electronic delivery and payment. In addition, banks can add value for consumers, increase revenue and cut customer service costs by incorporating bill presentment into their online banking.
About MSFDC
Based in Denver, MSFDC is a joint venture of Microsoft Corp. and First Data Corp. formed in June 1997. In summer 1998, the company is scheduled to introduce the nation’s first
end-to-end system for electronic presentment of richly formatted bills over the Internet, as well as represent next-generation electronic payment and remittance capabilities. MSFDC’s service, which will use existing payment systems, will allow consumers to access and pay their bills through the branded home-banking services of participating financial institutions.
For more information on the Systems Integrator Program and other information on MSFDC, companies are encouraged to visit the MSFDC Web site at (http://www.msfdc.com/) .
Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information, press only:
Jackie Erspamer, Shandwick for MSFDC, (612) 832-5000, [email protected]
Gary Meshell, Price Waterhouse, (212) 596-7000, [email protected]
Rory Ragsdale, EDS, (972) 604-5671, [email protected]
Jan Haig, Unisys, (215) 986-4755, [email protected]
