Smoothie King Press Release

SMOOTHIE KING TO OFFER RFID GIFT CARD PROGRAM FROM FIRST DATA
Contactless Key Fobs Provide Choice and Convenience for Customers

DENVER, March 14, 2006 – Electronic commerce and payments leader First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) today announces Smoothie King Franchises, Inc. has launched a radio frequency identification (RFID) gift card program using First Data payment processing technology in its Colorado area stores. Smoothie King is a privately held, New Orleans-area-based franchise company, with more than 375 stores nationwide. The pilot is one of the first gift card programs in the country to use RFID technology.

“Smoothie King prides itself on the convenience it provides guests by offering a quick and healthy meal alternative for people on the go,” said Richard Leveille, executive vice president development and real estate for Smoothie King. “Our RFID gift card program creates additional convenience by making it easier to purchase a nutritious smoothie because it cuts down time spent at the register.”

“We envision the ease and convenience of the RFID card becoming the preferred transaction method by your guests,” commented Brian Douglas, project manager and Smoothie King West Coast operations and marketing consultant.

Smoothie King’s RFID gift card program allows customers to purchase re-loadable gift card key chain fobs. The fobs can be purchased at Smoothie King locations and there is no minimum purchase needed to activate a gift card. Each fob contains an RFID antenna, which allows data to be read through an RFID transceiver terminal via radio frequencies. To use the gift card, consumers simply tap the fob to the terminal, which will read the fob and remove the amount of purchase from the gift card account. The transaction is completely “contactless,” and, as a result, is even faster and easier than swiping a card or handing it to an employee.

SMOOTHIE KING – 3/14

“We are excited that Smoothie King has chosen to partner with First Data,” said Doug Dwyre, senior vice president with First Data. “Providing innovative payment options to Smoothie King strengthens First Data’s commitment to offering a wide array of products and services letting customers pay when, where and how they want. We also feel that Smoothie King customer lifestyles are perfectly suited for this type of “no wallet required” payment method and will migrate their payment behavior to “contactless” because of its simplicity and convenience”

The RFID gift card program is a test program at Smoothie King’s five stores in the Colorado market. Colorado was chosen as a test market because of the state’s young, technologically savvy demographic. In addition, the healthy lifestyle led by Colorado citizens fits in well with Smoothie King’s target audience.

First Data is using ViVOtech technologies to deliver contactless (RF) infrastructure including key fobs and POS readers for Smoothie King’s RFID gift card program. “We are very excited to enable First Data’s gift card customers with contactless technology that gives a clear competitive edge by enabling faster transactions and better service, with the additional benefit of branding in every customer key chain,” said Mohammad Khan, president and founder of ViVOtech.

About First Data
First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) is a leading provider of electronic commerce and payment solutions for businesses and consumers worldwide. Serving 4.1 million merchant locations, 1,500 card issuers and millions of consumers, First Data powers the global economy by making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses around the world to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. The company's portfolio of services and solutions includes credit, debit, private-label, smart and stored-value card issuing and merchant transaction processing services; money transfer services; money orders; fraud protection and authentication solutions; check guarantee and verification services through TeleCheck; as well as Internet commerce and mobile solutions. Western Union and its subsidiary, Orlandi Valuta, together make up one of the world's largest money transfer networks with approximately 250,000 Agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories. The company's STAR Network offers PIN-secured debit acceptance at approximately 1.9 million ATM and retail locations. For more information, visit www.firstdata.com.

About Smoothie King Franchises, Inc.
Smoothie King is a privately held New Orleans-area-based franchise company and the premier Smoothie Bar and Nutritional Lifestyle Center in the industry. Smoothie King centers offer to their guests the industry’s first and original nutritional fruit and function-based, fresh blended smoothies. Each "Lifestyle Center" also offers healthy retail product solutions, including sport beverages, energy bars, healthy snacks, vitamin supplements, herbs, minerals, and other sports nutrition products. Smoothie King opened its first store in 1973 and started as the first franchised smoothie bar/health food store business in the United States in 1989. Smoothie King currently has more than 380 units operating in 34 states, including 12 international locations in Seoul, Korea. For more information, visit www.smoothieking.com.

About ViVOtech
ViVOtech is the market leader in contactless payment software, readers, cards, fobs and transaction management systems. These solutions allow consumers to make contactless payments with radio frequency-enabled credit cards, debit cards, key fobs, and NFC enabled mobile phones. With more than 140,000 units shipped, ViVOtech's products are being used by movie theaters, fast food restaurants (QSR), casual dining establishments, convenience stores, gas stations, drug stores, grocery and vending machine locations enabling them to accept contactless payments. ViVOtech is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with offices in Europe and Asia. In 2005, ViVOtech received the prestigious Frost & Sullivan technology award for its role in transforming the contactless payment industry.

Contacts:
Jody Soper
First Data
303-967-6611
jody.soper@firstdatacorp.com

Kenny Tuohy
Smoothie King
985-635-6973 ext. 129
kennyt@smoothieking.com

Editorial Contact:
Janice Mackey
Weber Shandwick, for ViVOtech
408-530-8400 ex 2223
jmackey@webershandwick.com