The Prepaid Press - May 15, 2008 - (Page 1)

5 Minutes With Ray Horak, Telecom Author Page 8 FREE Subscription for Prepaid Industry Professionals. Electronic and Print Versions Available www.prepaid-press.com/subscribe The Prepaid Press Real News, Right Now! REAL NEWS, RIGHT NOW! May 15, 2008. Volume 7, Number 5 Also in this issue PREPAID WIRELESS The Age of Prepaid Wireless Page 12 First Data to Acquire InComm Rollups and Mergers Create New Behemoth By Gene Retske number of other companies in the last few years. First Data could become the most significant player in the prepaid services arena by virtue of this acquisition. RETAIL FOCUS Blood in the Water Page 22 TPPEXPO’08 SPOTLIGHT Page 10 -Like two snowballs combining to start an avalanche, First Data has announced that it is acquiring InComm. Specific terms and conditions of the agreement were not disclosed, but the announcement said the transaction is expected to add to First Data’s revenue. Given InComm’s $300 billion in revenue, this is a safe bet. Both companies have had a dizzying history of rolling up a The Deal With the over $300 million in 2007 net revenues, representing almost $8 billion in retail sales transactions processed in 2007, InComm is one of the U.S.’s largest distributors of gift cards, prepaid wireless products, reloadable debit cards, digital music downloads, content, games, software and bill payment solutions. First Data serves over 5.4 million merchant locations globally with more than 2,000 card issuers with 27,000 employees. InComm has approximately 500 employees. “The combination of First Data and InComm propels us into having a holistic prepaid product suite that includes banking products, payroll solutions, closed and open loop gift cards and now expanded distribution,” said Ed Labry, president of First Data Corp.’s USA division. “We look forward to leveraging InComm’s expertise and robust retail network to offer end-to-end prepaid solutions to our retail customers around the world.” First Data said that InComm’s product and technology advancements have positioned the company for continued international expansion. Currently, InComm provides stored valued product marketing and technology solutions to international markets in Europe and Canada. Brooks Smith, current president and CEO of Continues on page 20 Prepaid Attracts Press Attention Growth Spurs Consumer Issues Staff Report The dramatic growth in prepaid activity has brought with it an unintended consequence, an increase in public scrutiny. While there is undoubtedly some justification for the concerns expressed by public officials, consumer groups, regulators and lawmakers, some of the angst could be political grandstanding. Those in the prepaid industry would be well advised to stay on top of the coverage and make adjustments in their own operations as needed. Here is a sample of some of the coverage we have recently seen. Be sure to watch “Press Today” on TPP’s website, www.prepaidpress.com for the latest up-to-date information. Continues on page 7 20533 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 1142. Aventura, FL 33180. US Iraq, Still in the News We originally reported over two years ago, a practice by AT&T that seemed to be unfair to US troops serving overseas, particularly Afghanistan and Iraq. But, USA Today reported recently that state and federal officials are finally starting to crack down on prepaid calling cards that promise more minutes than they deliver to soldiers in Iraq, as well as immigrants. According to the USA Today report, a series of investigations, Tampa, FL Permit No. 3311 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID http://www.prepaid-press.com/subscribe http://www.prepaidpress.com http://www.prepaidpress.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Prepaid Press - May 15, 2008

The Prepaid Press - May 15, 2008 Prepaid Attracts Press Attention First Data to Acquire InComm Contents The Retske Report: To Everything There Is A Season Regulatory Rundown: Rules, Bills and Probes Courtesy of the FCC 5 Minutes With Ray Horak, Telecom Author The Prepaid Press Expo Spotlight The Age of Prepaid Prepaid Wireless in Brief Prepaid Wireless Roundup American Wireless to Sell Virgin Mobile Openet Introduces Flexible Accounts Prepaid Reviews Launches Pay as You Go Podcast Motorola Reports Losses APC Wireless Buys Movida Virgin Mobile to Deliver Limbo Services The State of Prepaid Technology Start Your Engines! The Legal Line PhoenixSoft Adds Service Providers Blackstone to Distribute Viscom Calling Cards Spot Rates IVR Technologies Releases Talking SIP 3.4 Calling Cards in Brief Former IDT Employee Wins $10.5 Million Payments in Brief Hypercom SmartPayments Certified for Windows Pacific Resource Credit Union Selects TMG New Payment Software for QuickBooks POS Blood in the Water Prepaid 101: Give Me the Power 7-Eleven to Hold Innovation Event First Data Gives Ingenico I-Series Class A Support Coinstar Kicks Off Change Reuse Program Payment Application Data Security Standard Issued Forrester Predicts Online Sales to Climb Retail Focus in Brief Our Advertisers Contact Us

The Prepaid Press - May 15, 2008

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