STJ Retail Nominated for 2009 ACT Canada Innovation Award

June 11, 2009 - PRLog -- STJ Retail’s leading payment application, EFT Plus™, has been nominated for the ACT Canada Innovation Award.  This prestigious award will be presented to Canadian organizations that have introduced an innovative new technology, application or service into the market in the past year.  There are nine innovation categories including hardware, software, application and transportation.  EFT Plus™ has been nominated in the Banking/Finance category.

EFT Plus™ is an electronic funds transfer module that addresses the new Chip and PIN security standards introduced by Visa, MasterCard and Interac.   The first release of this product is specifically designed for the IBM 4690 operating system and enables users to process Chip and PIN cards through their integrated payment systems.  In September 2008 STJ Retail began installing EFT Plus™ at HMV stores across Canada and this installation marked the first time a fully certified integrated chip and PIN solution had been installed on the 4690 operating system in Canada.  As of May 2009 the EFT Plus™ solution has been implemented in all 130 HMV stores nationwide.

When asked about his feelings on being nominated for an award, CEO of STJ Retail Steve Braceland responded: “We are very honored that EFT Plus is being considered for the ACT Canada Innovation Award.  Our company has provided innovative solutions to the retail marketplace for over 14 years and our staff has worked diligently over the past 3 years to build EFT Plus.  It is a great feeling anytime you receive praise for your hard work and dedication.”

Innovation has been driving competitive advantage in retail for over a century; however, in these times of rapid change it has never been more important.  Judging criteria for the Innovation Award will be based on the advantages experienced by employing the solution, its innovativeness compared to existing products in the marketplace, current implementations and the clarity and strength of the nomination form.  The Award will be presented at the Gala awards lunch at the Cardware 09 symposium on Thursday June 18th.  

About STJ Retail
Headquartered just north of Toronto, Canada, STJ Retail has been providing innovative solutions to the retail marketplace for over 13 years.  STJ is aligned with several major hardware manufacturers, and offers both augmentation services and/or turn-key solutions, including 7x24 hour help desk services. In addition to having extensive 4690 POS development and support expertise, STJ has invested over $6 Million in R&D in the last 8 years and has two leading products: EFT Plus(TM), addressing Chip & PIN Compliance and Appaloosa, a browser based POS System. For more information on STJ, please contact Dave Mahr at (905) 851-6600 Ext 115 or dmahr@stjretail.com., or visit the company's website: www.stjretail.com.

About ACT Canada
ACT Canada is the stakeholder association, focused on secure payment, secure identity management and other advanced applications.  Now in their 20th year, they are the authority on the Canadian market, supporting members through working with key stakeholders.  ACT Canada helps members understand the market, public and private sector applications and potential barriers.  They facilitate knowledge transfer and thought leadership through a neutral forum, while expanding members’ networks.  Founded in 1989, ACT Canada is a non-profit membership association.

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Headquartered just north of Toronto, Canada, STJ Retail has been providing innovative solutions to the retail marketplace for over 14 years. STJ is aligned with several hardware manufacturers and offers both augmentation services and turn-key solutions.