Mobile Solutions International Payments Expert, Nandita Bakhshi, to Lead New First Data Mobile Solut

Bakhshi joins First Data from U.S. financial services firm, FleetBoston, and will lead First Data Mobile Solutions; a business unit focused solely on mobile services, including mobile payments, prepaid top-up and mobile content. Her appointment confirms First Datas commitment to driving the development of the mobile payments sector. Bakhshi has extensive experience in the banking industry, having previously held executive level positions at FleetBoston, Home Savings of America and Bank One Corporation. Prior to this role, she served as an executive vice president of consumer deposits and payments at FleetBoston. Nandita brings with her significant talent and experience in the payments industry and were extremely pleased to welcome her to First Data, said Pam Patsley, president, First Data International. Focusing on developing and expanding First Datas depth and breath of services to the mobile market, Nandita will actively pursue mobile payments innovations and industry relationships that will grow the business and create significant benefits for our clients. First Data Mobile Solutions is leading the global development of an interoperable mobile payment standard, working with associated companies, mobile network operators, and merchant acquirers. Through its Encorus processing platform, First Data connects mobile operators and merchants with a universal payment infrastructure that is highly secure and easy to use, while providing consumers with a more convenient, cashless payment alternative. In 2004 Encorus was named a transaction processor to Simpay, the consumer m-payment brand formed by Orange, Telefónica Móviles, T-Mobile and Vodafone, in a multi-year deal covering both Western Europe and the United States. Additionally, First Data specialises in the management and delivery of innovative electronic products and the provision of electronic payment solutions for the prepaid cellular - or mobile top-up - market, as well as the mobile content and mobile entertainment markets. Mobile payments is an area of huge growth potential for First Data and I am delighted to have been given an opportunity to work in such a dynamic sector of the industry, said Bakhshi. The agreement we signed with Simpay in 2004 was extremely significant, giving First Data access to a market of over 230 million consumers, and I look forward to building on these formidable foundations.