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Mac-Gray Campus Solutions Launches 'Text Me' Alerts(TM) Program Across 170 Colleges and Universities

Students Can Now Communicate With Campus Washers and Dryers Via Text Message

WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Mac-Gray Corporation's Campus Solutions division has recently launched "Text Me" Alerts(TM), enabling more than 350,000 college and university students to communicate with washers and dryers on campus via text messages from their cell phone. The student-preferred program was rolled out this summer in nearly 2,100 laundry rooms on 170 college and university campuses. The "Text Me" Alerts(TM) product was developed by Mac-Gray, the leading provider of laundry facilities management services to colleges and universities in the United States.

"Text Me" works in conjunction with LaundryView(TM), Mac-Gray's premier online campus laundry monitoring system, which allows students to see the availability of the washers and dryers on their computer. With "Text Me," students can now use their cell phones instead of a computer to request and receive a text message when their laundry is done. This allows them to receive the benefits of LaundryView without having to be in their room.

"Text Me" is the only laundry notification system of its kind. It requires no pre-registration and does not store any personal student information. Students use their cell phones to activate the text message notification method for the washers or dryers they use. The text message is managed by the LaundryView system. Upon completion of the laundry cycle, the system immediately sends a text message back to the student's cell phone with an alert that their laundry is ready.

"Text Me" and LaundryView tap into Mac-Gray's understanding of student laundry behavior and communication preferences. According to Forrester Research, 18- to 24-year-olds use text messaging services more than any other age group. The use of text messaging is growing rapidly. The Yankee Group recently reported that seven billion text messages are sent every month in the United States, which is up 20 percent from last year. This study also reported that 80 percent of young adults between the ages of 18 and 28 send text messages on a daily basis. This data supports what Mac-Gray discovered after completing the rollout; student usage of the alert feature increased dramatically and "Text Me" alerts were preferred over email alerts by a 6 to 1 margin.

About Mac-Gray Corporation

Founded in 1927, Mac-Gray derives its revenue principally through the contracting of debit-card- and coin-operated laundry facilities in multi-unit housing facilities such as apartment buildings, college and university residence halls, condominiums and public housing complexes. Mac-Gray manages approximately 80,000 laundry rooms located in 43 states and the District of Columbia.

Mac-Gray also sells, services and leases commercial laundry equipment to commercial laundromats and institutions through its product sales division. This division also includes Mac-Gray's MicroFridge business, where Mac-Gray sells its proprietary MicroFridge line of products, which are combination refrigerators/freezers/microwave ovens utilizing patented Safe Plug circuitry. MicroFridge and Maytag products bear the ENERGY STAR(R) designation. To learn more about Mac-Gray, visit the Company's Web site at www.macgray.com.

SOURCE Mac-Gray Corporation