PYMNTS.com News Briefing - August 18th

What's HOT: Wells Fargo Adds Debit Fees| HSBC under "Lock and Key" | What's Next for Google?  Regulation Roundup - Frustrated Community Banks to Regulators: Back Off!      - The Dodd-Frank Act's Expansion of State Authority to Protect Consumers of Financial Services  Featured Event  150+ Senior Executives Talk Mobile Payment Strategies for the Latin American Market in Miami this December   This event helps to iron out the current issues facing the industry. The agenda takes on all the key questions that the industry needs answering. Business models for both banks and mobile carriers feature heavily, whilst crucial topics such as launching strategies and reaching critical mass are a real highpoint over the two day event.  Read More   Featured Event    Featured Event    Emerging Payments 2011 will bring together key stakeholders from financial institutions, merchants, payment networks, transit authorities, MNOs and payment solution providers to discuss and debate the future of emerging payments.Receive a 25% registration discount for being aPYMNTS.com reader! Read More Stay Connected      Today's Top Story 08.18.11 Payments  Players vs. Google vs. Facebook: Who Should Really Win Your m Payments Trust?  By now, everyone has seen last week's survey results touting Visa, MasterCard and AmEx as the top three trusted brands when it comes to mobile payments, with PayPal posting a close 4th. The report's author made a point of remarking that the U.S. Postal Service came in well ahead of Google and Apple. Market Platform Dynamics CEO analyzes why familiarity breeds trust for consumers when it comes to mPayments. Read More  Featured Stories MOBILE  - Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway Bets Big on 2 Payments Powerhouses  - Wells Fargo to Start Charging for Debit Cards; Is Your State Affected?        MOBILE  - Take That, iPhone and Droid! PYMNTS Readers Rate New BlackBerry Devices with NFC   - Analysis: After Google Buys Motorola, What's Next for the Payments Ecosystem?    BANKING    - Wells Fargo Named Best Internet Bank in U.S.   - BankAtlantic Announces New Key Leadership Appointment     - Jwaala and eWise Partner to Offer New Payment Solution to Members of MACU  MORE HEADLINES  - Google Brings Back Digital Catalogs for iPad Users    - Facebook Activity Drastically Decreases   - Acceptance Of Airline Ancillary Fees Is The New Reality In New Survey From AirPlus   - Square Co-Founder Participates in $17 Million Funding Round for Kabbage       - VantageScore Solutions Awarded Another Complete Court Victory Against FICO   Briefing Room: Security and Fraud     Why the Interest in EMV and Why Now? Gemalto Exec Offers Insight    How First Data TransArmor Reduces the Scope - and Costs - of PCI DSS Compliance Retail Decisions Reports on How to Curb Global Payment Fraud

Nuclear Warfare, WMD and Financial Data Insecurity Top 3 Threats

BankThink: Data Insecurity Is a Systemic Threat

"The FBI rates cyber attacks as the third greatest threat to U.S. security behind only nuclear warfare and weapons of mass destruction," writes columnist and former comptroller of the currency Eugene Ludwig. He notes the Financial Stability Oversight Council's mention of data security weakness as a potential systemic threat and explains that as an information business, the financial industry is especially prone to harm from hackers.

Go to BankThink.com to read the rest of Ludwig's story

Parkmobile USA, Inc. and Premier Parking Launch Pay by Phone Parking in Nashville, TN

With the launch of Parkmobile, patrons of Premier Parking are now able to conduct their parking transactions by mobile phone at designated locations in Nashville.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Parkmobile USA, Inc. announced today that their revolutionary new service will be implemented at Premier Parking surface lots located in and around the downtown Nashville area. Customers will now be able to pay for parking with their cell phone using Parkmobile's native mobile applications for the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry smartphones.

"Parkmobile is very excited to add Premier Parking to its growing list of clients who have chosen to offer pay by phone parking technology as a means of servicing their parking locations," said Brent Paxton, EVP of Parkmobile USA, Inc. "We feel confident that Nashville, TN will be an ideal setting to showcase not only how local citizens can take advantage of this convenient means of payment but also how loyal Parkmobile customers across the country can visit Nashville, the Music City and use their current Parkmobile account to pay for parking. Partnering with Premier Parking clearly exemplifies Parkmobile's commitment to helping deliver innovative technologies to leaders in the parking and transportation sectors."

Ryan Chapman, President of Premier Parking of Tennessee, LLC said, "Premier Parking is thrilled to be the first parking company in Nashville, TN to bring this exciting new payment method to our customers. With the increasing popularity of smart phone applications, Premier Parking greatly values this partnership with Parkmobile that allows us to offer this convenience. We pride ourselves on staying ahead of the technology curve in the parking industry and will continue to strive to provide the latest technologies to our clients."

To use the new Parkmobile system, customers register for free at www.parkmobile.com. Once registered, motorists can use a mobile app, the internet, or a toll free phone call, 877-727-5015 to pay for parking. After setting up the account, customers can immediately start using the system with their registered mobile phone. Motorists can also select the option to receive text message alerts and reminders.

About Parkmobile

Parkmobile is a leading global provider of seamlessly integrated end-to-end solutions for Pay by Phone parking. Its offerings include cashless mobile payments for on and off-street parking, digital parking permits and real-time enforcement. Their services are used in 100 cities around the world by millions of registered users. Parkmobile USA was founded in Atlanta, Georgia and its call center, engineering team and corporate headquarters are located in the U.S. Parkmobile's investors include BCD Holdings and Fontinalis Partners. With annual global revenues of $18 billion, BCD Holdings is an international market leader in the travel industry. Fontinalis Partners invests in and partners with innovative technology companies that modernize and improve transportation. Fontinalis is led by Bill Ford, a lifelong environmentalist and the executive chairman of Ford Motor Company. For more information please visit www.parkmobile.com.

About Premier Parking – Founded in 2001 by developer Tony Giarratana and led by co-owner and President, Ryan Chapman, Premier Parking www.PremierParking.com is the second largest provider of parking management services in Nashville. Premier Parking's current portfolio includes 70 prime locations consisting of over 15,000 parking spaces. Parking facilities under management include the Pinnacle at Symphony Place Garage, the Public Square Garage, the Nashville Zoo, the Gulch, the Cummins Station parking facilities, the 2525 West End garage, and the parking assets of several prominent Nashville families.

SOURCE Parkmobile USA, Inc.

ProfitStars and ICBA Expand Scope of Preferred Service Provider Relationship

Accounts receivable financing solution added to Preferred Service Provider relationship -

MONETT, Mo., Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ: JKHY), a leading provider of technology solutions and payment processing services primarily for the financial services industry, today announced its ProfitStars® division has expanded its Preferred Service Provider relationship with the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). The new agreement adds ProfitStars' BusinessManager® to the website design and hosting, remote deposit capture, and security services already provided to ICBA member banks at exclusive discounted rates.

BusinessManager is a Web–based accounts receivable financing solution that enables banks to maintain lasting, profitable relationships with small- and mid-sized business customers. Backed by more than 20 years of experience, BusinessManager has helped hundreds of community banks generate recurring fee income and supports creditworthy businesses with the management and funding of accounts receivable financing alternatives.

Dan Clancy, ICBA executive vice president of services, explained, "There is a great market opportunity for community banks to evolve their approach to traditional lending and capitalize on the possibilities available with small businesses. Providing BusinessManager to our members was a logical progression of our relationship with ProfitStars. Not only does the solution contribute to our members protecting and growing their margins, but it is also a significant risk mitigation tool, giving financial institutions more knowledge and control over their lending operations."

Select ProfitStars' solutions have been ICBA preferred services since 2005. The agreement was recently extended through 2015 to offer member banks exclusive discounts on remote deposit capture, security, and website design and hosting services as well as added discounts to specific complementary solutions, including ProfitStars' Enterprise Payments Remote Deposit Capture Processing Services and Gladiator Phishing and Defense Service.

According to David Foss, president of ProfitStars, "We are happy to once again expand our relationship with the ICBA and its member banks. The addition of BusinessManager to our Preferred Service Provider agreement provides an ideal and proven solution for community banks to further enhance their profitability."

ProfitStars maintains its Commercial Lending Online Knowledge Center to educate financial institutions on moving beyond traditional lending strategies, whether diversifying their portfolio or expanding their commercial business base by bringing in new deposits, growing earnings, and enhancing asset quality. Found at http://discover.profitstars.com/commercial-lending-knowledge-center, the microsite creates a central repository of best practices for financial institutions on how to lend efficiently without sacrificing quality or performance.

About ProfitStars

As a diverse, global division of Jack Henry & Associates, ProfitStars combines JHA's solid technology background with the latest breakthroughs in four performance-boosting solution groups – Financial Performance, Imaging and Payments Processing,Information Security and Risk Management, and Retail Delivery. Explore the power of ProfitStars-enhanced performance atwww.profitstars.com.  

About Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ: JKHY) is a leading provider of technology solutions and payment processing services primarily for financial services organizations. Its solutions serve more than 11,300 customers nationwide, and are marketed and supported through four primary brands. Jack Henry Banking™ supports banks ranging from de novo to mid-tier institutions with information processing solutions. Symitar™ is the leading provider of information processing solutions for credit unions of all sizes. ProfitStars provides highly specialized products and services that enable financial institutions of every asset size and charter, and diverse corporate entities to mitigate and control risks, optimize revenue and growth opportunities, and contain costs. iPay Technologies™ operates as a leading electronic bill pay provider supporting banks and credit unions with turnkey, highly configurable retail and small business electronic payment platforms.  Additional information is available atwww.jackhenry.com.

Switzerland B2C E-Commerce Report 2011

NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Switzerland B2C E-Commerce Report 2011

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0592267/Switzerland-B2C-E-Commerce-Report-2011.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=e-Commerce

Swiss B2C E-Commerce continues rapid growth

In its most recent "Switzerland B2C E-Commerce Report 2011" Hamburg-based market research firm yStats.com presents a detailed analysis of recent data on trends, revenue and market share figures, customers and competitors of the Swiss B2C E-Commerce market.

In 2010, the Swiss online market increased its overall revenue. As clearly shown in the yStats.com report, the main reason for this growth is the increased average online spending of Swiss consumers. In 2010, 55 % of all Swiss users accessed the internet for buying or ordering online. It is particularly noteworthy that 50 % of all users wanted to use e-banking services, while only 16 % played or downloaded computer games online.

Growing number of internet users and shoppers

B2C E-Commerce revenue generated in Switzerland grew by more than 50 % in 2010 compared to 2009. In 2010, half of all Swiss online shoppers planned to purchase books – followed by the categories plane tickets and clothing. According to the "Switzerland B2C E-Commerce Report 2011" by yStats.com, the number of internet users in Switzerland reached more than 5 million in 2010, equalling approximately 80 % of the total population. Correspondingly, almost 50 % of all Swiss purchased online – an impressive growth compared to 37 % in 2008.

Group shopping sites gaining in popularity in Switzerland too

The yStats.com report provides interesting information about retailers dominating this market: generalist Amazon was the number one B2C E-Commerce business in Switzerland in June 2010 evaluated based on the number of unique visitors – followed by fashion retailer La Redoute, online media retail company Weltbild, consumer electronics online store Brack and online bookshop Exlibris. In the segment of group shopping sites in June 2011 DeinDeal had the most unique visitors inSwitzerland, while Groupon and DailyDeal were ranked second and third, respectively.

Key Findings

• Between March and May 2010, 55% of Swiss Internet users accessed the Internet to "Buy or Order something", and 50% for "E- Banking". 16% accessed the Internet to "play or download games".
• In Switzerland, 2010 B2C E-Commerce sales increased by more than +50% vs. 2009.
• Almost half of Swiss shoppers planned to buy "Books" online between April and September 2010, followed by "Flight Tickets" and "Clothing".
• The number of Internet users in Switzerland reached more than 5 million in 2010, accounting for almost 80% of the total population.
• Generalist Amazon was the leading B2C E-Commerce player in Switzerland in terms of unique visitors in June 2011, followed by clothing retailer La Redoute, online media goods retailer Weltbild, consumer electronics online store Brack and online bookstore Exlibris.
• DeinDeal was the leading group shopping site in Switzerland in terms of unique visitors in June 2011, followed by Groupon and DailyDeal.

About our Reports

- Market reports by yStats.com inform top managers about recent market trends and assist with strategic company decisions

- yStats.com provides secondary market research: By using various sources of information we ensure maximum objectivity for all obtained data. As a result companies get a precise and unbiased impression of the market situation.

- The analyses, statistical reports and forecasts are only based on reliable sources including national and international statistical offices, industry and trade associations, business reports, business and company databases, journals, company registries and news portals.

- Our international employees research and filter all sources and translate relevant information into English. This ensures that the content of the original studies is correctly interpreted.

- yStats.com delivers all research results as PowerPoint files. All data can therefore be used directly for board presentations or be individually adapted.

- If required, yStats.com provides in-depth analysis for all research projects. Simply send us a request.

About yStats.com

yStats.com has been committed to research up-to-date, objective and demand-based data on markets and competitors for top managers from various industries since 2005. Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, the firm has a strong international focus and is specialized in secondary market research. In addition to offering reports on markets and competitors, yStats.com also carries out client-specific research. Clients include leading global enterprises from various industries including B2C E-Commerce, electronic payment systems, mail order and direct marketing, logistics, as well as banking and consulting.

Discover Receives Top Honors for Innovative Call Center Solutions

August 18, 2011 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time 

Productivity and Best Practices Group Recognizes Discover for Superior Thinking, Creativity and Execution in Call Center Functions

RIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Discover has been named by the International Quality & Productivity Center (IQPC) as the winner of two 2011 Call Center Excellence Awards – “Best in Class Call Center” and “Best Performance Acting on Voice of the Consumer and Voice of the Social Customer.”

“Receiving independent recognition of our leading customer service is a great honor and is a reflection of the pride that we take in providing a great experience with each interaction.”

The 12^th annual awards honor and promote the most innovative call center solutions and individuals across all major industries.

The Best in Class Call Center (over 200 staff) category recognizes companies that provide outstanding customer service while controlling costs and managing complex operations. The award also honors call centers that set a vision of excellence and show a direct connection to growth and profit for the company.

For the second year in a row, Discover placed first in Best Performance Acting on Voice of the Customer and Voice of the Social Customer. This award honors Discover for leveraging social media to turn detractors into business advocates and for translating feedback into action, including product and process innovation. In 2011, this category was expanded to include the Voice of the Social Customer.

“Our strong commitment to making the customer experience our top priority is a key contributor to winning these awards in 2011,” said Carlos Minetti, president of consumer banking and operations at Discover. “Receiving independent recognition of our leading customer service is a great honor and is a reflection of the pride that we take in providing a great experience with each interaction.”

Discover employees at all levels, including the chief executive officer, attend call-listening sessions to hear recorded playback of actual customer service calls. The sessions, totaling nearly 8,000 hours annually, include questions and commentary from attendees, and a discussion of the key aspects of the calls.

Discover, which pioneered 24-hour live customer service, cash rewards and no annual fee in 1986, has built a reputation for excellent customer service, including finishing #1 in the Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index of major card companies for 15 consecutive years. Discover also was awarded first place in Best Overall Customer Experience for prospective customers in the 2011 Keynote Competitive Research Industry Study.

Winners of the IQPC awards are selected by a panel of call center experts who look for superior thinking, creativity, and execution across all call center functions. The awards were presented in June at the Annual Call Center Week conference.

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company operates the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal and student loans, online savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its Discover Bank subsidiary. Its payment businesses consist of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discoverfinancial.com.

Financial Channel Innovation 2011

Enhance Agility, Mobility, Efficiency and Security of Financial Services through Channels Innovation December 8th-9th, 2011 Beijing, China

SHANGHAI, Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- In a world where technology and customer needs are ever-changing, all banks and financial services institutions are under pressure to innovate. How to increase revenues by selling more products and services through multi-channels? How to utilize new technologies to improve existing channels and to create new and innovative channels? How to improve customer experience to truly achieve customer-oriented financial serves? These are questions that call for attention.

With the support of key foreign and domestic authorities, the Financial Channel Innovation 2011, hosted by the China Electronic Finance Industry Alliance, an important branch of the China Electronic Commerce Association, and co-organized by Global Leaders Institute, will convene from 8th to 9th of December 2011 in Beijing, China. The theme for this year's conference is: Enhance Agility, Mobility, Efficiency and Security of Financial Services through Channels Innovation. The conference will focus on regulation and compliance issues of channel development, newly emerging technologies and innovative financial services, novel partnerships and business models in the mobile payment ecosystem, opportunities and challenges in this most dynamic industry, and other hot topics.

Organizers of the event are inviting decision-makers from world-class financial services institutions and experts from leading technology and solution providers, to discuss key issues in the financial channels innovation field, together with our advisors from the regulatory department and analysis institutions. Early confirmed speakers include Patrick Maes, GM-Global Strategy and Architecture and CTO of ANZ Banking Group, Ericson Chan, China CIO of Standard Chartered Bank, Makoto Shibata, Principal Analyst, eBusiness & IT Initiatives Division of the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Wang Yonghong, Director of Technology Department at People's Bank of China, Duan Jining, Director of Supervisory Cooperation Division for Banking Innovation of CBRC, Cai Dong, GM of E-banking Dept. of ICBC, Xu Jie, GM of E-banking Dept. of China Construction Bank, Li Jian, GM of E-Banking Dept. of China Everbright Bank, and Cao Xiaoqing, VP of China Financial Certification Authority.

Bringing together 200+ insiders of financial channel innovation, the Financial Channel Innovation 2011 provides a face-to-face communication platform for regulators, banks and solutions providers. It is a fantastic opportunity to gain first-hand information, to network with industrial pioneers, to meet business partners, and to enhance your company's competitiveness in the marketplace.

For more information, please visit http://fci2011.globaleaders.com or contact Leo Lan or Ophelia Wang on +86 21 5236 0030

SOURCE Global Leaders Institute

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Customer Satisfaction with Credit Cards Increases for a Second Year

American Express Ranks Highest in Credit Card Customer Satisfaction for a Fifth Consecutive Year

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- After a considerable decline in 2009, credit card customer satisfaction has increased for a second year, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study(SM) released today.

The study, now in its fifth year, measures customer satisfaction with credit cards by examining six key factors: interaction; credit card terms; billing and payment process; rewards; benefits and services; and problem resolution. Overall credit card satisfaction averages 731 on a 1,000-point scale in 2011, up from 714 in 2010 and 705 in 2009.

American Express ranks highest in customer satisfaction for a fifth consecutive year with a score of 786 and performs particularly well in the benefits and services, credit card terms and rewards factors. Discover Card follows with a score of 779, and performs well in the interaction factor. Barclaycard ranks third with 739.

2011 Credit Card Satisfaction Study

Award Recipient

American Express

• Read the Press Release

Ratings Factors

Displaying Factors 1-4 of 7

 

Company

 

Overall Satisfaction

Credit Card Terms

Rewards

Benefits

American Express
Award Recipient

Bank of America

Barclaycard

Capital One

Chase

Citi Cards

Discover Card

HSBC

U.S. Bank

Wells Fargo

Displaying Factors 1-4 of 7

Scoring Legend

 Among the best        Better than most        About average        The rest

Satisfaction improves across all factors, with substantial increases in satisfaction with problem resolution and credit card terms. In the problem resolution factor, customers report fewer problems—11 percent in 2011, compared with 14 percent in 2010. Additionally, any problems that do occur tend to be resolved more quickly this year (4.9 days vs. 5.8 in 2010) and require fewer contacts (1.8 contacts vs. 2.2 in 2010).

Customer perceptions of card issuer brand image have also improved in 2011. Overall reputation of brands in the industry has increased again this year, as measured across six attributes, with financial stability showing the greatest increase from 2010.

"While the perception of credit card brands has increased from last year, this strong upward indicator could certainly turn, given the highly volatile markets of late," said Michael Beird, director of banking services at J.D. Power and Associates.

The improvement in credit card satisfaction may be attributed to a decline in interest rate increases reported, as well as a decrease in the impact of interest rate increases on overall satisfaction. In addition, 35 percent of customers say they understand their credit card terms—up from 32 percent in 2010.

"It appears that credit card companies are doing a better job of communicating with customers, which may be an effect of the CARD Act," said Beird. "This improved communication is key to ensuring that customers fully understand their credit card terms—particularly benefits and fees—which helps reduce the number of problems reported and improves the overall experience."

While satisfaction among transactors (customers who always or usually pay their entire credit card balance each month) declined in 2010, satisfaction in 2011 has improved among both transactors and revolvers (customers who typically carry account balances).

According to Beird, even with improved communication and higher satisfaction across the industry, there is still a wide variance among credit card companies, and competition for acquiring new cardholders has increased during the past year. As a result, consumers should do all they can to arm themselves with knowledge when considering a new credit card.

"The improvements in the industry around more proactive and transparent communication create a more level playing field, but only if consumers educate themselves," said Beird, who offers these tips:

• Know what kind of credit card user you are and choose a card that fits your habits. Do you tend to carry a balance over time (revolvers) or pay it off every month (transactors)? Revolvers should look for the most competitive credit terms on balances and payments instead of an attractive rewards program. Transactors, however, should look at rewards programs that make it easy to both earn and redeem rewards. Both types of customers should search for programs that provide the best overall benefits and services for their needs.
• Do your homework online, in person and over the phone. Ask questions and read materials about the card program you are interested in. Do not overlook online blogs and websites, including JDPower.com, that objectively evaluate card issuers and program terms and include customer feedback.
• Explore what other customer tools and resources are available. Many issuers now offer a wide range of online tools for financial planning and debt management, as well as payment and purchase tracking. Some also offer credit counseling, sophisticated mobile applications, online chat and other forms of real-time assistance to fit their customers' lifestyles.
• Do not be afraid to test customer service before applying. While the Internet continues to be a critical interaction channel for credit card customer service, talking to agents via the phone is still the primary channel for addressing questions and problems. Before you apply, call the customer service line to see how user-friendly and helpful the service is.

The 2011 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study is based on responses from more than 8,700 credit card customers. The study was fielded in May and June 2011.

Customer Satisfaction Index Rankings
(Based on a 1,000-point scale)

Issuer	Index score	JDPower.com Power Circle Ratings For Consumers
American Express	786	5
Discover Card	779	5
Barclaycard	739	3
Chase	735	3
Industry Average	731	3
Wells Fargo	726	3
U.S. Bank	721	3
Capital One	720	3
Citi Cards	711	2
Bank of America	705	2
HSBC	689	2

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company providing forecasting, performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information oncar reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global financial information and education company that helps professionals and students succeed in the Knowledge Economy. With leading brands including Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts energy information services and J.D. Power and Associates, the Corporation has approximately 21,000 employees with more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2010 were $6.2 billion. Additional information is available athttp://www.mcgraw-hill.com.

Media Relations Contacts:

Jeff Perlman; Brandware Public Relations; Woodland Hills, Calif.; (818) 598-1115; jperlman@brandwarepr.com

John Tews; J.D. Power and Associates; Troy, Mich.; (248) 312-4119; media.relations@jdpa.com

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates. www.jdpower.com/corporate

SOURCE J.D. Power and Associates