8D Technologies, historical partner of the BIXI(TM) project, files a $26 million lawsuit against PBSC

MONTREAL, April 30, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Following the article in Le Devoir last Saturday, 8D Technologies would like to offer a few clarifications.

8D Technologies filed a $26 million lawsuit in Superior Court of Quebec last Friday against PBSC (Public Bike System Company), its partner in the BIXI^TM public bike-sharing service.

After having exhausted all attempts to reach an amicable settlement with PBSC regarding the dispute, 8D Technologies is obliged to go to court.

It is important to note that, in order to maintain its business relationship with PBSC, 8D had previously attempted to obtain a safeguard order, which the court was not able to confer because of contestation and the preliminary status of the case, forcing 8D to now claim damages.

Few people know that it is 8D Technologies that developed the core technological solution that powers the BIXI bike-sharing system, which in turn has greatly contributed to the worldwide reputation and recognized success of the system, which is currently deployed, using 8D's technological solution, in a dozen cities on three continents.

8D's wireless, solar-powered 8D BSS (Bike Sharing System) technological solution primarily contains the following hardware and software components, which were conceptualized and are owned by 8D Technologies: the payment terminals (designed by Québécois industrial designer Michel Dallaire), electronic boards (for the terminal and bike docks), a comprehensive back office software solution that fully addresses the management and operational needs of the bike-sharing schemes regarding payments, operations management, accounts, billings, subscriptions and payments, power control (solar energy), user interaction, communication between bike docks and payment terminals, configuration, monitoring and operations. From a services point of view, 8D manages the majority of the bike-sharing schemes in the cities around the world, from its installations in Montreal, the hosting services being part of the solution it provides. 8D also created the Spotcycle mobile application for iPhone, BlackBerry Android, and the Spotcycle Web application.

8D is a Montreal-based company that has been in operation for more than 15 years and employs about fifty people. 8D first developed the wireless solar-powered parking solution, then went on to develop the bike-sharing solution using the same award winning technological hardware and software platform, which explains the robustness and reliability of the BIXI system since its beginnings, despite the complexity of the technological solution which was deployed.

8D has always had a heartfelt commitment to the success of the BIXI project. 8D has, and continues, to favor the development, the proper functioning and the support of the bike-sharing schemes in Montreal, and in all other cities that it serves around the world. 8D has, and continues, to consequently invest considerable time and money to insure the success of BIXI in the short and long term, and has done so despite the many pitfalls that have, and that continue, to beset the development and the operation of this project.

Now that the BIXI system continues its global expansion, PBSC has taken the gratuitous and unilateral decision to completely exclude 8D Technologies in all other cities that will deploy the BIXI system, including Chattanooga, New York and Chicago. PBSC, which is financed by public funds, has decided to have 8D's technological solution redeveloped by a company supposedly located in the United States, in spite of the agreements in place and the major issues concerning intellectual property that this raises for 8D.

Despite the reasons set forth by PBSC, this decision remains totally incomprehensible to 8D, as its contract with PBSC has been respected by 8D, and is valid until the end of 2013. According to 8D, this decision taken by PBSC weakens and jeopardizes the functioning and reputation of the BIXI system, as the solution developed by 8D is the only one that has proven its worth with the BIXI system. 8D's exclusion from BIXI's future projects also affects about a hundred jobs in Quebec, due to 8D's supply chain - a number of its products are manufactured in Quebec - who, as a result, would be excluded from future contracts.

8D Technologies wishes for the intervention of Montreal's municipal authorities in this matter, in order that the repetitive and unjustified attacks against 8D cease, to protect investments and the BIXI project, and to ensure that BIXI remains a prestigious flagship showcase of Montreal and Quebec's excellence and innovation around the world.

About 8D Technologies (www.8D.com)

8D is a world leader in the development of the most advanced, intelligent wireless, Machine-to-Machine (M2M), multi-function point of sale (POS) solutions. 8D's unique green urban transportation management and payment solutions include the award-winning city parking system (8D APMS™). This solution features 100% solar-powered wireless terminals that can manage both street parking and municipal bike-sharing services. It is the same software and hardware technology platform which is at the heart of 8D's parking solution, that propels the award-winning BIXI bike-sharing solution on three continents, in cities including Montreal (CAD), Ottawa-Gatineau (CAD), Toronto (CAD), London (UK), Melbourne (AUS), Washington DC-Arlington VA (USA), Minneapolis (USA) and Boston (USA).

8D's solution features real time secure wireless payment and remote control as well as management of all terminal functions, from payment to enforcement - and full monitoring of terminals and sensors - in wired and wireless environments. At 8D Technologies, "Terminals are just the beginning..."

Jade St-Laurent
Marketing Coordinator
[email protected]
514.906.1212 x 338
514.893.9057