For most of Europe this is a pivotal time in the preparation for January 2002 when the first euro notes will come into general circulation. A total of 14,250 billion bank notes will be produced before 1 January 2002, and the self-service channel will be a primary channel for getting euro notes into circulation says NCR.

European consumers use ATMs for 70 percent of their cash requirements, but in order for them to access the new notes, every machine in the euro countries will need to be adapted. There are approximately 200,000 ATMs in the countries converting next year, and around 50 percent of these are NCR machines.

As an official ECB 'Euro 2002 Campaign' partner, NCR says it will work to provide customers with a source of accurate and timely information to help ensure the smooth introduction of euro banknotes and coins. It warns that some institutions are not as far advanced in their preparations for the changeover in comparison with Year 2000 (Y2K) planning 12 months earlier.

Simon Rubin, NCR vice president, marketing, EMEA, comments: "Whereas in many cases banks are already well ahead in their preparations for the changeover, this is not true in every instance."

Rubin was speaking at the German technology trade show Cebit, where NCR is demonstrating how the growth in mobile communications and the emergence of new technologies such as Bluetooth, WAP and GPRS may create new self-service opportunities. At Cebit, the company is displaying its 'Freedom' concept, which involves the use of a hand-held device to download value from the ATM network. The ATM itself has no conventional interface and is different in appearance from more traditional machines.

Mel Walter, NCR mobility program director, comments: "The Freedom concept we are displaying at Cebit demonstrates how the traditional human computer interface can be 'dislocated' from the self-service device and re-created on a personal trusted device, such as a PDA or mobile phone."