This week, Shell becomes the first gasoline retailer in the world to adopt Pay By Touch biometric payment technology at its pumps and inside convenience stores. A recognized industry innovator, Shell also is testing attendant hand-held wireless card scanners abroad. Both technologies are intended to add more convenience and security to customer transactions. Simultaneously, “infotainment” technologies are also launching at various Shell-branded stations across the United States to further maximize outstanding customer experiences and to educate them about the importance of fuel quality. “We want Shell to be the first choice for motorists and we aim to achieve that with operational excellence, said Chris Suess, manager of Global Refueling Innovations. “That involves having the right people in place, first and foremost; but it also requires keeping stride, if not staying ahead of the curve, where technology is concerned.” Pay By Touch™ Finger-Scan Payments
The Pay By Touch biometric technology Shell has installed at select Chicagoland stations verifies personal identity using biometrics, the measurement of unique physical and behavioral characteristics. In this case, a simple finger scan is used to pay for a fuel purchase from an existing financial account of the driver’s choice: eCheck (a direct debit from his or her checking account), Shell Card or Shell MasterCard. “Customers are going to walk away satisfied with this new technology because it’s faster, easier and more secure, which offers convenience and peace of mind,” said Suess. “Because the driver must be physically present to conduct the transaction, we will be able to reduce the risk of fraud and make transactions safer for our customers.” To get started, drivers simply go to  www.shell.com/paybytouch or sign up onsite the first time they visit a Pay By Touch-outfitted station. After a quick sign up, drivers can begin transacting immediately and begin their new-and-improved,pump-and-go lifestyle. "We are honored to be working with Shell – a technology leader and our first gasoline industry partner,” said John Rogers, Pay By Touch founder and executive chairman. "Pay By Touch helps Shell provide better customer service, and make transactions safer, which is good for their customers and their bottom line." Keeping customers financially secure and on-the-go is only one part of the new-and-improved customer service models that Shell is researching and testing. The company is simultaneously piloting “info-tainment” technologies at various Shell Stations across the United States to further maximize the customer experience. “Info-tainment” at the Pump
Keeping up with the multitasking consumer of the digital and multimedia age is no easy task, especially with the ever-changing technological landscape. On a daily basis, consumers are coming into contact with cell phones, computers, PDAs, iPods, etc. Information and entertainment are available on-demand 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. To reach customers accustomed to these communication formats, Shell has installed FuelCast digital pump-screens at nearly 300 Shell-branded locations across the United States. These broadcasts offer a balanced mix of programming, in-store promotions and advertising, allowing customers to get the latest score or breaking news as they fill up. To check it out, customers can go to any Pay By Touch-outfitted location, as FuelCast is available at all the same sites. “We know our customers, on average, are only with us for less than five minutes, but it is important to Shell that its customers get the most from their money and their time,” said Suess. “Features such as Fuel Cast, or REEP, make the experience more enjoyable and memorable.” “REEP,” or “Real-Time Rewards at Shell,” is the technological vehicle that can deliver instant rewards to American customers, including fuel price rollbacks or discounts, car wash discounts, or receipt-based coupons for c-store items. These offers are communicated to customers right at the pump through an electronic display on the pump screen during the fill-up process. REEP also delivers messaging about the benefits of Shell quality fuels and the rebates that can be earned by using the Shell MasterCard. In addition to communicating the benefits of Shell quality fuels via REEP, the company has also invested in a traveling exhibit to demonstrate to consumers the benefits of using high-quality gasoline to stop gunky build up on critical engine parts (caused by using lower quality, discount fuels) to maintain optimum vehicle performance. Displayed at Shell Stations, the exhibit features a dual-chamber engine that allows two different gasoline products to be compared simultaneously, under identical conditions. “This innovative exhibit allows people to see first-hand that the choices they make at the pump can have real-world consequences to their vehicle,” said Suess. “Bringing this technology to consumers at the pump is an authentic, fun and engaging way to get the point across.” Hand-Held Wireless Scanners
In addition to the technologies available in the United States, the gasoline retailer is also exploring hand-held technologies for attendants in Central America, India and Indonesia. Similar to customer service models seen in restaurants in Europe or at car rental agencies in the United States, the attendant uses a wireless card scanner to process payment at the car window to allow the customer to stay comfortably seated behind the wheel. Using this technology adds another level of trust at full-service Shell Stations for the customer who wants to keep their credit or debit card in plain sight at all times. “In total, Shell is conducting these various payment and info-tainment tests to determine what resonates most with our customers so that we can make the right decisions about what to adopt across our various markets around the world,” said Suess. “Our objective is to best deliver what customers expect from their gasoline station experience today and in the years ahead, as well as to educate them about the gasoline choices they are making.” POP images are available upon request. About Shell Oil Products US
Shell Oil Products US, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company, is a leader in the refining, transportation and marketing of fuels, and has a network of approximately 6,100 branded gasoline stations in the Western United States. Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Shell Group (NYSE:RDS.A) and (NYSE:RDS.B). For more information, please visit www.shell.com. Motiva Enterprises LLC refines and markets branded products through approximately 8,100 Shell-branded stations in the Eastern and Southern United States. Shell Oil Company is a 50 percent owner of Motiva Enterprises LLC, along with Saudi Refining, Inc. About Pay By Touch
Pay By Touch (www.paybytouch.com) is the global leader in biometric authentication, personalized marketing and payment solutions. Already, more than 4 million consumers are using Pay By Touch services to identify themselves, make purchases, cash checks and get personalized savings with the touch of a finger. Pay By Touch services are free for consumers to use and available in more than 2,600 retail locations across 44 states, the UK and Singapore. Pay By Touch also provides robust data management and payment processing solutions for ACH (electronic checking), card-present and card-not-present debit and credit transactions for retail clients. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in San Francisco, Pay By Touch employs 800 professionals and holds more than 60 patents worldwide on secure, convenient and cost-effective transaction solutions.
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Disclaimer statement:
This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risk factors associated with the oil, gas, power, chemicals and renewables business. It is believed that the expectations reflected in these statements are reasonable, but may be affected by a variety of variables which could cause actual results, trends or reserves replacement to differ materially, including, but not limited to: price fluctuations, actual demand, currency fluctuations, drilling and production results, reserve estimates, loss of market, industry competition, environmental risks, physical risks, risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets and the successful negotiation and consummation of transactions, the risk of doing business in developing countries, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including potential litigation and regulatory effects arising from recategorisation of reserves, economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions, political risks, project delay or advancement, approvals and cost estimates. Please refer to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005 (as amended) for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect the Shell Group's businesses. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any member of the Shell Group undertakes any obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or other information. Cautionary Note to US Investors:
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions. We use certain terms in this presentation, such as "expected producible resources" and "amount of reserves we expect to produce", that the SEC's guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC.
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