The Prepaid Press - March 15, 2008 - (Page 11)

PREPAID WIRELESS March 15 · 2008 - 11 BlackBerry Prepaid Option to be Offered Alcatel-Lucent Plans Solution BARCELONA, SPAIN (February 13, 2008) Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) announced that it plans to develop and distribute a prepaid option for operators in the wireless market. The prepaid option will allow the BlackBerry platform to provide a prepaid option. Customized for BlackBerry smartphones, the real-time, volume-based charging solution will be hosted by Alcatel-Lucent, and will seamlessly integrate with operators’ existing networks. This option will enable BlackBerry smartphone users to track the minutes and data they have used against the prepaid amount remaining in their account so they can easily refill their account as needed. “In line with Alcatel-Lucent’s strategy to provide extensive expertise in managed communication services, we are proud to develop and provide customers with prepaid options for BlackBerry smartphones. We hope this solution will enable more operators in high-growth economies to greatly expand their business opportunity,” said Michel Rahier, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s Carrier business. “We are proud of the work that has been done in partnership with Alcatel-Lucent to bring the BlackBerry solution to new markets and we look forward to expanding this relationship,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Research In Motion. “We believe a prepaid option enabled by Alcatel-Lucent will add significant value for our operator partners and further broaden customer interest in BlackBerry smartphones.” The partnership between Alcatel-Lucent and RIM has already led to distribution of the Virgin Mobile USA Ringbacks Growing Managed Service Delivers 400,000 Tones WARREN, NJ (February 19, 2008) Virgin Mobile USA (NYSE: VM) and its partner LiveWire Mobile (NASDAQ: NMSS) have given five million Virgin Mobile customers access to 10,000 songs. Ringback tones allow a wireless customer to replace the normal ringing signal with a song or other tone for incoming callers to hear. According to Virgin Mobile, industry research shows that the number of U.S. ringback subscribers tripled last year. Virgin said that more than 100,000 Virgin Mobile customers subscribe to the ringback service and average two ringbacks per customer. “We always look to provide our customers with rich content and choice, allowing them to create their own mobile identities,” said Wes Radez, director of mobile content for Virgin Mobile USA. “More and more consumers are looking for ways to add their own style into the many ways they communicate, and ringback tones are something our customers appreciate.” The company said that its most popular ringback tones are hip-hop and R&B tunes. Virgin said that its catalog provides customers with a choice of genres from several music content providers, including current hits and selections from UMG, EMI, and Moderati. It said Moderati also offers options like the “Rejection Hotline,” a recorded voice message telling the caller they have been “rejected” by the person they were attempting to call. This Tone is often used when a phone number is given out to an unwanted prospective date. “Building on Virgin Mobile’s success in the ringtone market, LiveWire Mobile is pleased to be providing their ringback services,” said Joel Hughes, president, LiveWire Mobile. “Our objective of bringing managed personalized services, like ringbacks, to market is a natural fit for Virgin Mobile’s customers and empowers operators with new subscription and content revenue opportunities.” Ringback tones can be used on any Virgin Mobile USA phone, and can be purchased and set through either http://www.virginmobileusa.com or directly on the handset via VirginXL. Customers can set certain Ringback Tones for specific callers, or select a range that plays randomly. Source: Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. (www.virginmobileusa.com) BlackBerry solution in several countries across Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, including China, the world’s largest wireless market. Source: Alcatel-Lucent (www.alcatel-lucent.com) C M Y CM MY CY CMY K www.tuyo.com/dealers http://www.virginmobileusa.com http://www.virginmobileusa.com http://www.alcatel-lucent.com http://www.tuyo.com/dealers

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Prepaid Press - March 2008

The Prepaid Press - March 2008 tppEXPO’08 Slated for August 19-21 AT&T Strikes Back Contents The Retske Report: Net Neutrality 5 Minutes With Terry Maher, NBPCA Counsel Regulatory Rundown: FCC Enforcements Prepaid Wireless Roundup Prepaid Wireless in Brief tppEXPO’08 Spotlight BlackBerry Prepaid Option to be Offered Virgin Mobile USA Ringbacks Growing The Splitting of a Titan The State of Prepaid Technology: Part II – The Other Prepaid Calling Spot Rates Calling Cards in Brief IVR and Stratus to Offer SIP Platform PhoenixSoft Completes Integrated IP Transcoding The Legal Line Web Streamlines Bill Pay & Prepaid Distribution Travelex Debuts New Foreign Currency Packs TSYS and Telrock to Provide Mobile Solutions Payments in Brief NBPCA Offers Tips to Fight Money Laundering Hypercom Responds to Ingenico Inquiry Kiosks Change the Face of Prepaid Prepaid 101: Prepaid Wireless Coinstar to Expand Centers in Wal-Mart Locations Meta and MoneyGram Partner NRF Battles Retail Crime Retail Focus in Brief Our Advertisers Contact Us

The Prepaid Press - March 2008

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