Friday, November 2, 2007

Don't Mind the Headline - Undeveloping



Shell wants Southland to give it the finger
(Editor's Note: It still amazes me that so-called professional writers, think that headline is funny when it is lewd, ultra-unprofessional and psychologically, the wit of the mentality of an underdeveloped 9 year old )

Ten gas stations installing Pay By Touch system

November 2, 2007

Shell will enable Southland drivers to let their fingers do the paying for gasoline.

The company said Thursday that 10 stations - including six in the southwest suburbs - are installing devices that will let customers use a fingertip scan to pay for fill-ups. It's the same technology used at Jewel-Osco locations throughout the Chicago area. Purchases are deducted from the customer's checking account or put on his or her credit card.

Customers will be able to initially scan their fingerprints at a kiosk inside the gas station and can link payment information either at the store or online.

Among the stations being outfitted are two in Bolingbrook - 398 S. Bolingbrook Drive and 255 N. Weber Road - as well as Homer Glen, 12810 W. 143rd St.; Frankfort, 7600 W. U.S. 30; Mokena, 19100 S. LaGrange Road; and Tinley Park, 8401 W. 159th St. The pads will be up and running this week at the Homer Glen and Frankfort stations and next week at the Bolingbrook and Tinley locations.

While the biometric devices, made by San Francisco-based Pay BY Touch, are being piloted in a handful of stations, Shell said, the company is installing video monitors at 300 stations across the United States that will let customers watch news weather and sports reports while pumping their fuel.

Shell has partnered with Fuelcast Media International LLC, which will pay Shell to display advertisements on the screens along with content from local NBC stations.


Shell officials said the system is less susceptible to identity theft because it's impossible to duplicate or steal a fingerprint. Alternatives - such as cash, credit cards and keychain payment cards with radio-frequency identification chips - can be stolen and used by others.

Contributing: The Associated Press and staff writer Mike Nolan.