October 9, 1999 - Washington, D.C. First e-pass office in the U.S. opens e-pass technologies limited has recently opened the first of several offices planned for various locations throughout the Americas. The newest office is located in McLean, Virginia, an agreeable suburban area just across the Potomac River from Washington D.C; an area notable for its rolling green hills, a long list of corporate headquarters, up-scale shopping, and comfortable homes - a not unpleasant blend of Southern easy gentility and understated corporate and political power.  Situated at the northern edge of Fairfax Country, e-pass joins many of the countries leading high technology companies in establishing a presence here. Along with its pleasant visage,  Fairfax is a major business and technology center that is rapidly becoming known as the “Silicon Valley of the East.” The reasons for choosing to locate its first U.S. office in Northern Virginia are many. The proximity to the Nation’s Capital provides for easy access to all federal departments and agencies as well as the long list of national associations that maintain headquarters here. Many of these governmental entities and associations are the targets of e-pass’ marketing strategy for the introduction of the e-pass Wallet PC to the North America market. An easy 20 minute drive to the District of Columbia places all of these facilities within easy reach of the e-pass office. Intercity travel is also facilitated by the new location. Situated approximately midway between Dulles International and Ronald Reagan airports, either of which may be reached by auto in under 30 minutes, the Northern Virginia area is within 2 hours flying time of most of the major cities in the Eastern U.S. The opening of the McLean office is the third in e-pass’ international expansion. e-pass made its debut on the world-wide smartcard scene when, in 1999 the company was first chartered in Dublin, Ireland, and followed soon thereafter by the open of its main office in London, England. It was not long thereafter that e-pass was in the process of firmly establishing its European presence. It is hoped that the McLean office will soon establish itself just as solidly on the American continent.