QB COMMEMORATES AQUARAMA 2003 WITH NEW EZ-LINK CARD DESIGNS
Issued By: QB Pte Ltd
SINGAPORE, 31 October 2003 – QB Pte Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Green Dot Payment Services (GDPS), member of Singapore Technologies, is pleased to announce that its appointed distributor, icard Pte Ltd, is commemorating Aquarama 2003, the 8th International Aquarium Fish and Accessories Exhibition & Conference, with a custom-designed ez-link card. The refundable card deposit of S$2 for senior citizens and will not impose the non-refundable card cost of S$5. Senior citizens will now save S$2 when they are issued with their card.
Billed as the World Conference on Ornamental Fish Aquaculture, Aquarama 2003 is the meeting for leading industry and aquaculture experts worldwide.
Illustrating an innovative use of the ez-link card, the commemorative "Aqua" card, will be transformed into a discount and membership card. Eschewing its regular design, the ez-link card is for the first time being printed with custom designs on both sides. This is possible as the ez-link card operates on contactless smart card technology, unlike traditional technology which uses magnetic strip readers on ATM or credit cards.
This ez-link card now becomes a two-sided billboard in consumers’ wallets, offering merchants and event organisers a new print medium from which to creatively promote their products and messages, while promoting the use of contactless smart card technology in everyday life.
On one side, the ez-link card features the image of the fish mascot for Aquarama 2003. On the other, the card displays the logos of merchants participating in a discount scheme to card bearers. Participating merchants include Oase Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Tropical Fish International Pte Ltd and Ktizo Marine & Design. The discounts are valid both during and after the exhibitions.
The card also bears the logo of icard, a specialist in contactless smart card marketing and membership management systems. All purchasers of the Aqua card will automatically be signed up as members of icard’s network. icard will use the card to identify its members, and intends to reward card bearers with privileges at future iCard events.
QB offers solutions to creatively package and market ez-link cards as collectibles. Past examples include specially printed cards for the "Lord of the Rings" and "2 Fast 2 Furious" movies. These limited edition cards are popular among collectors and fans who consider them to be a small investment. Corporate organisations will also find custom printed ez-link cards a novel, innovative and premium gift for their clients, which can be used for corporate branding or to commemorate special dates or events, while providing their clients with a card that is used in everyday life.
Ms Norma Sit, CEO of QB, said, "QB demonstrates yet another innovative use of the ez-link card, taking it beyond its common usage as a transport card. The ez-link card has demonstrated its versatility in the areas of transport, charity and donations, and Aquarama 2003 launches it into new realms of advertising, marketing, membership rewards and discounts."
The card is on sale at counters located at the entrance of Aquarama 2003, and costs $15 each without any stored value. Aquarama runs from 30th October 2003 to 2nd November 2003, and is being held at Hall 3 and Foyer 2 of the Singapore Expo. QB can be contacted about the sale of custom printed ez-link cards at enquiries@qb-link.com