Further Progress at URU
GB Group PLC
06 February 2006
Monday, 6th February 2006
GB GROUP PLC
('GB' or the 'Group')
Further Progress at DataAuthentication (URU(TM))
GB Group are pleased to announce the signing of bet365 as a URU(TM) client. This
further demonstrates that URU(TM), the flagship electronic age and ID
verification service, jointly developed and marketed with BT, continues to build
upon its market leadership in the Online Gaming sector. This deal also indicates
that clients are moving towards greater initial commitment as this contract with
bet365 has a sizeable upfront value.
DataAuthentication's other target sectors of Mobile Telecommunications and
Financial Services have also seen positive progress as URU(TM) continues to
strengthen its position as the most comprehensive and technically advanced, age
and identity verification solution, in the market.
Additionally, work to develop an electronic age and identity verification
solution capable of verifying non-UK individuals is continuing satisfactorily
and GB also announces today the appointment of Micah Willbrand to the post of
International Development Manager. For the previous five years, Micah worked in
the USA as Vice President of Authentication Solutions at Aristotle Inc., a
leading provider of age verification solutions to the USA, European and Asia
Pacific markets.
Commenting, Richard Law, GB Group's CEO, said: 'We are pleased with the progress
being made to enable ourselves and BT to establish a leading position for URU(TM)
in this rapidly growing and potentially lucrative market. Currently we estimate
that around 500 million age and identity checks are conducted annually in the UK
using manual paper based means, which are both obsolete and inefficient. The
rate at which business users adopt new electronic means of age and identity
verification will determine how quickly the market develops, however, the
sizeable commitment from bet365 is a positive indication that the rate of
adoption of electronic age and ID verification solutions is increasing.
Our work to develop an international solution is aimed at giving URU(TM) the
capability to identify overseas nationals and in the first instance will be
aimed primarily at the Online Gaming market to enable our many clients in this
sector to prevent underage gambling and fraud.'
- Ends -
For further information, please contact:
GB Group plc
Richard Law, Chief Executive 01244 657333
Mona Navin-Mealey, Finance Director
Weber Shandwick Square Mile 020 7067 0700
Richard Hews/ Helen Thomas
Website www.gb.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About URU(TM)
The URU(TM) service, the DataAuthentication division's principle offering, has
been developed jointly with BT. It combines GB's Authenticator(TM) search engine
and decision making software, access to GB's comprehensive range of identity
data and BT's high capacity web delivery. It helps organisations to protect
themselves from the growing problem of identity theft and fraud, which is
estimated to cost the UK economy over £1.7 billion per annum. URU(TM) enables
companies subscribing to the service to make an instant decision whether to
accept the identity claimed by any given individual and confirm their age in
seconds.
URU(TM) works by cross checking personal information provided by an individual at
the point of acquisition against a comprehensive range of datasources to confirm
that an individual is who they claim to be, live where they claim to live and
meet certain minimum legal age requirements.
No personal data is disclosed by the reference databases and as a result URU(TM)
is compliant with the Data Protection Act.
URU(TM) also provides a valuable audit trail demonstrating that the necessary
checks have taken place, thereby helping companies comply with legislation,
including the 2nd European Money Laundering Directive, Proceeds of Crime Act and
Minimum Legal Age requirements of certain industry sectors.
The addition of data from CallCredit also enables users of URU(TM) to incorporate
credit reference data.
The market for identity verification checking continues to grow. Research
published in February 2005 showed a 45% increase in the number of individuals
accessing gaming sites compared to the previous year. In addition, it is
predicted that around 10% of potential revenue is lost by Mobile
Telecommunications operators as a result of fraud and furthermore, the British
Bankers Association reported in March 2005 that losses of its members
attributable to fraud had increased by 11% compared to the previous year.
GB is working closely with organisations such as Gamcare, the charity promoting
responsible gambling, and RGA (Remote Gambling Association), formerly ARGO, to
help promote better understanding by gambling companies of the requirements of
good social responsibility processes. We are also working closely with some of
our clients to help them develop their social responsibility policies and
practices thereby ensuring they are well placed to address any issues in this
area as they arise and to adopt 'best practice' behaviour.
About GB Group plc
GB Group plc provides a range of products and services to enable organisations
to capitalise on one of their greatest assets - customer data. The Company has
expertise across a range of sectors and is able to transform customer data into
valuable information, enabling clients to make better, more informed decisions.
The development of innovative software and services, through to the provision of
the UK's most comprehensive consumer business databases - The National Register
(R) and the National Authentication Register - positions GB Group as a widely
acknowledged industry leader in its specialist markets.
GB Group plc has three complementary business areas:
• The DataAuthentication division helps businesses validate personal
identity information and provides anti-fraud solutions to fight crime.
• The DataIntegrity division helps companies capture and maintain accurate
customer contact data, an essential foundation for any profitable customer
relationship.
• The DataSolutions division empowers companies to consolidate and analyse
customer data from various sources, enabling them to make better, more
informed decisions.
Established since 1989, GB's core competencies combined with industry sector
knowledge have enabled the company to deliver significant value to organisations
such as Standard Life, Scottish Power and TD Waterhouse in helping them derive
maximum value from their customer data and sustain real advantage over their
competition.
GB Group is supported by its key relationships with major organisations with
whom it works with on major initiatives (an example being British Telecom),
together with a team of highly talented and motivated staff successfully
delivering business solutions.
GB Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (www.gb.co.uk).
About bet365
Bet365 is the internet and telephone betting division of the bet365 Group
Limited, one of the UK's leading betting and gaming groups. The group has held a
UK license since 1974 and now has over 600 employees.
The bet365 Group Limited operates a 24/7 customer contact centre and a thriving
internet operation (based in Stoke-on-Trent), where it services over 600,000
customers in 120 different countries. The website (www.bet365.com) is available
in a wide range of languages with a comprehensive customer service for each
area.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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