JOAQUIN FERNANDEZ NAMED BLACKSTONES CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Blackstone (www.blackstoneonline.com), one of the nations leading electronic providers of prepaid telecommunications products, announces the appointment of Joaquin Fernandez as chief financial officer.

Miami, Florida -- January 29, 2002 - Blackstone (www.blackstoneonline.com), one of the nations leading electronic providers of prepaid telecommunications products, announced the appointment of Joaquin Fernandez as chief financial officer.

Joaquin joins Blackstone from Prats Fernandez & Company a public accounting firm where he was responsible for the companys corporate and financial consulting department. Prior to PF&CO, Joaquin was director of finance and operations for Intermarket Corporation where he planned and implemented short and long-term corporate financing strategies.

According to Mike Acton, Blackstones general manager, As we move into 2002 and beyond, the addition of Joaquin is critical to Blackstones continued success. Our rapid expansion, both physically and monetarily, plus, our long-term goals and objectives, necessitated the addition of someone with Joaquins extensive financial and banking experience." In his role as Blackstones CFO, Joaquin will be responsible for managing Blackstones short and long-range financial plans and establishing company-wide objectives, policies, programs and procedures to insure Blackstones continuously sound financial structure.

Blackstone has rapidly become one of the countrys largest providers of prepaid telecommunications products and services with over 300,000 retail locations nationwide. Established and headquartered in Miami, Florida since 1995, Blackstone is privately owned, and managed by a team of executives experienced in payment processing, networking, information services, oil & gas and prepaid telecommunications. Under their direction, Blackstone has developed ongoing distribution relationships with internationally recognized companies such as AT&T, VoiceStream, ADMA, Americatel, Cingular, Embratel, Hypercom, Qwest and Universal Savings Bank. Today, Blackstone is successfully merging two industries, prepaid telecommunications and electronic transactions, into one terminal to the benefit of merchants across the United States.
For more information on Blackstones products and services, call 1-800-639-9590 or visit www.blackstoneonline.com

Blackstone POS are trademarks of Blackstone Communications Co.; US and foreign patents pending.

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