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September 22, 2008

LEVEL FOUR RELEASES U.S. GUIDE TO WINDOWS MIGRATION

-Guide offers ATM deployers strategies for migrating to Windows-

CHARLOTTE NC, September 22nd 2008 – Level Four Americas LLC, a leading supplier of open standards-based ATM software, has published a paper offering strategic guidance for U.S. based ATM networks seeking to migrate to the Windows operating system.  Most banks in the US will undertake this important migration in the next few years.  The Level Four guide enables banks to learn from early adopters in the US and European markets, and highlights many of the pitfalls, as well as offering best practice migration tips.

The conversion to Windows in ATM networks has been an inevitability since IBM withdrew support for its OS/2 operating system a number of years ago. This forced the market to consider new alternatives, resulting in Windows as the de facto standard. The Windows operating system affords a greater graphical capacity with options for advanced transaction functionality and personalization, and also goes hand in hand with the eXtensions for Financial Services (XFS) open standard which unlocks the previously tied relationship between the provision of ATM hardware and software.    

The other importance of banks adopting the Windows/XFS platform is that is enables them to employ a multi-vendor hardware strategy, and source ATM software independently of their ATM supplier.  The migration to using open standards ATM software ensures greater competition among vendors to provide cutting edge technology at the ATM, enabling the banks to meet their functionality aspirations.  There is also an increasing trend to source ATM software from independent providers.  The Windows/XFS multi-vendor strategy also minimizes risk and costs as an overall benefit and reason for banks compared to previous proprietary platforms.   

   
“The pace of change in the ATM market is helping to evolve faster, more diverse service offerings for banks and their customers,” said Steven Lund, president of Level Four Americas LLC.   “Employing a Windows/XFS multi-vendor strategy gives ATM deployers the opportunity to drive down the cost of ATM hardware through effective commoditization of that market, and also employ best-of-breed software that meets their functionality aspirations, after decades of being tied to their ATM vendors. With the reduced bottom line costs for banks, coupled with increased efficiency and new breed of independent application software, the face of the ATM market is diversifying rapidly.”

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