The Prepaid Press - May 15, 2008 - (Page 14)

PREPAID WIRELESS May 15 · 2008 - 14 American Wireless To Sell Virgin Mobile Nationwide Dealer Network To Sell Service, Handsets CAMPBELL, CA (April 9, 2008) American Wireless announced it will sell Virgin Mobile USA plans and handsets to its nationwide network of dealers. Virgin Mobile USA, which operates on the nationwide Sprint PCS network, has been rated “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Wireless Prepaid Service” the last two years by J.D. Power and Associates. American Wireless dealers will offer 4 different Virgin Mobile USA handsets, including the Kyocera Marbl with web browsing and a full-color screen for $14.99; the Flare by LG, with Bluetooth and an optional Spanish language user interface, for $29.99; the Kyocera Cyclops camera phone for $49.99; and the Kyocera Wild Card with a full QWERTY keyboard and Bluetooth for $99.99. Virgin Mobile USA phones also have Real Music Ringtones, downloadable games and graphics, Mobile Web, IM, email, user-generated content programs and streaming music capabilities on select handsets. “At American Wireless, we strive to bring customers outstanding products and services and Virgin Mobile USA’s customer satisfaction ratings speak for themselves,” said Bill Bourke, Vice President of Sales for American Wireless. “The prepaid wireless market has become very competitive and customer satisfaction is a key differentiator. We believe the addition of Virgin Mobile USA to our line-up of wireless prepaid products is a big win for our dealers and customers.” “As one of the largest wireless master agents in the U.S., American Wireless is poised to bring Virgin Mobile USA’s no annual contract services and products to an even larger customer base. We are excited about this new partnership with American Wireless and are confident that our value proposition will be a great fit for their customers,” said Joel Silverman, Vice President, Sales, Virgin Mobile USA. Virgin offers monthly plans include $24.99 for 200 Anytime minutes and 500 nights and weekend minutes, and $59.99 for 600 anytime minutes, unlimited mobile to mobile and unlimited 7pm nights and weekends, among others. Virgin also offers a Pay As You Go Plan with the ability to “roll forward” up to 5,000 unused minutes. Pay As You Go Plan pricing options range from a $20 Minute Pack with 200 minutes to a $50 Minute Pack with 1000 minutes. Virgin Mobile USA Top-Up cards are available at American Wireless dealer locations. Source: American Wireless (www.americanwireless.com) APC Wireless Buys Movida Bankrupt Hispanic MVNO Acquired ROCKVILLE, MD (April 18, 2008) A subsidiary of APC Wireless has acquired Hispanic focused MVNO Movida. In January, APC acquired another troubled MVNO, Liberty Wireless. Movida, founded in 2005, had filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month. Samuel Bahreini, COO, of APC Wireless stated, “APC Wireless is dedicated to Movida’s subscriber base and setting industry-wide benchmarks for superior service.” The release said that rate plans, and subscriber contracts will remain the same. APC said it would use its corporate assets to strengthen Movida, and would remain dedicated to the Latin market. “Our strong growth plans for Movida in the Latino market should signify another vote of confidence in the MVNO market,” said Bahreini. In the last couple of years, there have been a series of spectacular MVNO failures, including Disney properties, Disney Mobile and ESPN Wireless, and Amp’d. A recent recipient of the Deloitte and Touche 2007 Technology Fast 50 and Fast 500 Award, APC Wireless is positioned to be a leader in tailored electronic solutions for mobile devices. Source: APC Wireless (www.apcwireless.com) Virgin Mobile to Deliver Limbo Services Year Long Agreement to Market to 5 Million Subs BURLINGAME, CA (April 9, 2008) Mobile entertainment community Limbo announced it has signed a year-long deal with Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. (NYSE:VM) to provide exclusive programs to deliver its content to mobile subscribers. Monthly and quarterly promotions will be featured through SMS blasts and on VirginXL featuring Limbo’s interactive mobile content. “Limbo’s interactive content is producing tangible business results for Virgin Mobile USA, increasing SMS usage among participating customers. Participants indicate an increase in brand affinity and the viral spread is powerful, with over 70% of participants telling at least one friend about the promotion,” said Bob Stohrer, CMO for Virgin Mobile USA. “Virgin Mobile USA’s customers are some of the most text-savvy in the United States and their irreverent brand is perfect for Limbo’s ‘playground in your pocket’,” added Jonathon Linner, CEO and cofounder of Limbo. “We’re excited to announce this partnership with Virgin Mobile USA and look forward to creating fun and interactive programs for their customers throughout 2008.” The company said monthly campaigns have already begun, letting Virgin Mobile USA customers play either Limbo Grab or Limbo Unique via SMS or WAP for the chance to win such prizes as $1,000 cash, a 42” LCD TV or a 2008 convertible Mustang. Source: Limbo (www.limbo.com) Openet Introduces Flexible Accounts Customization for Tier 1 Account Management DUBLIN, IRELAND (April 7, 2008) Openet announced the availability of its Flexible Accounts solution, which enables Tier 1 service providers to define and manage sophisticated account types and billing plans tailored to address the specific needs of different customer types, including families, organizations and students. Tier 1 service providers must offer a variety of billing and account management options to accommodate the growth of data services and personalization. Openet said its Flexible Accounts solution offers: • Hybrid Billing Plans: Automatic monthly top-up of prepaid balance without a contract requirement, • Flexible Family Plans: Parents can add children with prepaid services to their post-paid plan— providing parents control over their children’s cell phone use, • Hybrid Accounts: Accounts can have any combination of pre and postpaid plans, • Corporate Account Options: Organizations can control which calls bill to the corporate account, by whom, and when. For example, calls made during normal working hours or to specific numbers are automatically charged to the corporate account. All other calls are automatically charged to the individual subscriber. “With increasing competition, Tier 1 service providers can’t offer cookie-cutter billing and account management plans if they hope to reduce customer churn and increase loyalty,” said Niall Norton, Openet CEO. “The Openet Flexible Account solution enables carriers to offer sophisticated, personalized account management services that provides their subscribers with new levels of control.” Openet said it has long-running engagements with service providers such as British Telecom, Orange, AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Source: Openet (www.openet.com) Prepaid Reviews Launches Pay as You Go Podcast Prepaid Wireless Industry to be Featured GUELPH, ON (April 29, 2008) Prepaid Reviews announced that it has officially entered the world of podcasting with a prepaid mobile focused podcast show, “The Prepaid Podcast.“ “We have long been a leading resource for reviews of prepaid cellular providers and for news specific to the prepaid mobile industry. Launching a podcast seemed like the logical next step,” says Joe Pawlikowski, Senior Editor of the Prepaidreviews.com website. The announcement said the first episode of The Prepaid Podcast, will be available through iTunes, and features interviews with Yassine Yassine, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Page Plus Cellular and Brad Houser, Project Manager of Data Services at Cricket. Prepaid Reviews said it plans to have other interviews with industry experts on future shows. Source: Prepaid Reviews (www.prepaidreviews.com) Motorola Reports Losses 1Q Results Show $194M Net Loss SCHAUMBURG, IL (April 24, 2008) Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) reported sales of $7.45 billion in the first quarter of 2008. The net loss from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2008 was $194 million, or $0.09 per share. Mobile Devices segment sales were $3.3 billion, down 39 percent compared to the year-ago quarter. The operating loss was $418 million, compared to an operating loss of $233 million in the year-ago quarter. During the quarter, the Company shipped 27.4 million handsets. The company said it had an operating cash outflow of $343 million and ended the quarter with a net cash position of $3.5 billion. “During the first quarter, we made an important strategic decision to separate the Company, creating two independent, publicly traded entities,” said Greg Brown, president and chief executive officer. “Improving the product portfolio in Mobile Devices and positioning both businesses for future success remains a top priority.” Source: Motorola (www.motorola.com) http://www.apcwireless.com http://www.americanwireless.com http://www.limbo.com http://www.openet.com http://prepaidreviews.com http://prepaidreviews.com http://www.prepaidreviews.com http://www/allstateprinting.com http://www/allstateprinting.com http://www.motorola.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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