JCPenney Goes Live With NSB Connected Retailer POS Multi-billion dollar retailer impressed by stability and performance of Microsoft .NET-based Point of Sale solution MONTREAL, March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- NSB is delighted to announce the installation of NSB's Connected Retailer(R) POS 6.0 at JCPenney, one of America's largest department store, catalog, and e-commerce retailers. JCPenney's first deployment took place in Dallas and the solution will be rolled out in all of its retail department stores over the next several years. Connected Retailer POS 6.0 is based on open standards and uses the Microsoft .NET Framework, the programming model for building Extensible Markup Language (XML) Web services and applications. The Connected Retailer POS 6.0 Solution was chosen because of its mix of stability and performance, and because it allows JCPenney to rapidly respond to changing in-store needs by taking advantage of the highly configurable nature of the 6.0 product or by extending the application using .NET inheritance. As a result, JCPenney's IT department has been able to seamlessly integrate the POS product with their existing in-store systems quickly and easily. "We've been able to integrate our own 'managed pricing' engine for price and promotions calculations, without needing access to the Connected Retailer POS 6.0 source code," comments Steve Raish, CIO, JCPenney. "This is a big benefit and what's more, our upgrade path for future releases is uncompromised." "NSB's implementation process is structured and mature," Raish adds. "We had clearly defined goals and ownership from the start, which was integral to the success of such a large and technically challenging project." JCPenney is already receiving very positive feedback from associates in the pilot store. Nikki Beckett, Chief Executive Officer of NSB comments, "We could not be more pleased with how our partnership with JCPenney has developed over the course of the project. We look forward to working with other forward-thinkingretailers like JCPenney as we continue to evolve the Connected Retailer vision using the Microsoft .NET strategy." "We are excited that JCPenney is joining the ranks of other 'smarter retailers' who are embracing solutions that leverage the Microsoft .NET Framework," said Brian Scott, general manager for the Retail & Hospitality Industry Solutions Group at Microsoft. "Partnering with innovative, industry knowledgeable companies like NSB has enabled Microsoft to extend the interoperability and integration advantages of Microsoft .NET to meet the needs of demanding retail environments." At JCPenney, Connected Retailer Point of Sale 6.0 runs on Microsoft Windows XP Embedded, a componentized operating system that allows them to deploy a smaller, more manageable operating system. This operating system gives the retailer unparalleled flexibility for offering the best customer service. About J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., the wholly-owned operating subsidiary of J. C. Penney Company, Inc., (the "Company") is one of America's largest department store, catalog, and e-commerce retailers, employing approximately 150,000 associates. As of January 31, 2004, J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., operated 1,019 JCPenney department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, and 58 Renner department stores in Brazil. JCPenney Catalog, including e-commerce, is the nation's largest catalog merchant of general merchandise, and JCPenney.com is one of the largest apparel and home furnishings sites on the Internet. J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. is a contributor to JCPenney Afterschool Fund, a charitable organization committed to providing children with high quality after-school programs to help them reach their full potential. About NSB Group NSB Group (formerly known as STS Systems) helps retailers gain a sustainable competitive advantage in today's markets with the Connected Retailer. This comprehensive portfolio includes innovative solutions, products, and services for every area of retailing: Planning, Sourcing and Product Development, Merchandising, Store, Sales Analytics, and CRM, plus hardware, professional services, and Client Care (support). More than 350 of the world's leading retailers use the Connected Retailer to streamline processes, optimize information, and meet the evolving merchandise and service expectations of multichannel shoppers. For additional information regarding the NSB Group and our Connected Retailer portfolio, visit our website at http://www.nsbgroup.com/ . NSB Retail Solutions Inc., Connected Retailer, NSB, NSB logos, & certain other marks are trademarks or service marks of NSB Retail Solutions Inc. or another NSB company. All other trademarks are owned by their respective companies. For more information Candice DeLuca, Public Relations Manager, 400 Venture Drive, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035 (USA). Email: . Phone: (614) 840-1448. Fax: (514) 426-0824. Tracy Fairchild, Director of Communications, 2800 Trans-Canada Highway, Pointe-Claire, Quebec H9R 1B1 (Canada). Email: . Phone: (514) 426-0822. Fax: (514) 426-0824. DATASOURCE: NSB Group; NSB Retail Solutions Inc. CONTACT: Candice DeLuca, Public Relations Manager, +1-614-840-1448, or fax, +1-514-426-0824, or , or Tracy Fairchild, Director of Communications, +1-514-426-0822, or fax, +1-514-426-0824, or email, , both of NSB Group Web site: http://www.nsbgroup.com/ http://www.jcpenny.com/ http://www3.jcpenney.com/jcp/default.aspx

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