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

5 Minutes With Harvey Caron VP/Marketing Director, Pentagon Graphics 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! June 15, 2008. Volume 7. Number 6 Also in this issue PAYMENTS Interchange Fee War Begins Page 23 Gifting is in the Cards By Arlene Hauben How Retailers Can Grow Gift Card Revenues Gift cards can be a gift to the retailer if a proactive marketing strategy is applied to capitalize on the huge potential of gift card sales. It’s not enough to install a gift card mall, particularly if it’s situated in an obscure corner of the store. Retailers need to get creative about planning incentives that move customers to the points of sale in the store. Bear in mind that shoppers often respond to visual reminders and cues about holidays and special occasions, so it pays to suggest the gift card as an ideal solution. Many drug stores, supermarkets, and other retailers are beginning to realize that it pays to actively promote prepaid gift cards. Here are some advantages to retailers and good reasons to be upbeat PREPAID WIRELESS Handset Trafficking Dealt Blow Page 14 about promoting gift cards, based on some suggestions from “Accounting for Gift Cards” by Charles Owen Kile Jr. (Journal of Accountancy, Nov. 2007). Increase in gift card sales. Kile says in the article that “product selection options can persuade indecisive buyers to make purchases they might not otherwise make.” Moreover, a gift card may induce additional sales when the card is redeemed, meaning that the recipient is likely to spend additional money to buy an item of greater value. Marketing benefits. Gift cards Continues on page 27 TPPEXPO’08 SPOTLIGHT Page 10 The Prepaid Press Expo August 19-21 Premier Prepaid Event at Caesars Palace The Prepaid Press Expo is just two months away, and the excitement is building. Although this is the first time for this event, it is already the biggest trade show covering the entire range of retail prepaid in attendees, exhibitors and sponsors. tppEXPO’08 will feature all the segments of the prepaid industry, including calling cards, prepaid wireless and alternative payments. tppEXPO’08 will be held at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, August 19 through August 21, 2008. The prepaid industry is a new, growing and dynamic industry, where prepaid calling cards, wireless, and gift/debit cards converge. There is no other event that covers this industry in its entirety. None, since the other prepaid show has faded, and recently morphed into a cellular accessories show. This industry deserves, and needs, a point of focus where the players can meet. tppEXPO’08 is the only place for the industry to convene. This innovative show is backed by The Prepaid Press, the most highly regarded prepaid publication, whose readership is comprised of the leading companies in the industry. No publication covers the entire range of prepaid -- service providers, ISOs, card providers, distributors, and retailers – like TPP. Because we have the widest distribution of readers in prepaid, tppEXPO’08 will have the largest and most influential group of speakers, presenters, Continues on page 13 20533 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 1142. Aventura, FL 33180. US Tampa, FL Permit No. 3311 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID http://www.prepaid-press.com/subscribe

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

The Prepaid Press - June 15, 2008 Contents The Retske Report: The More Things Change… Regulatory Rundown: June 2008 5 Minutes With Harvey Caron VP/Marketing Director, Pentagon Graphics TPPExpo’08 Spotlight Handset Trafficking Dealt Blow Prepaid Wireless Roundup Virgin Mobile to Use Platform-A Sprint Reports Lower Wireless Revenues Virgin Mobile Adds Samsung to Offerings States Considering Photo ID for Prepaid Wireless Prepaid Reviews Podcast Includes TPP Editor Prepaid Wireless in Brief Managing Equipment and Capacity Upgrades Atlantax Systems and TMI Form Alliance The Legal Line Spot Rates FTC Halts Bogus Prepaid Phone Card Claims Titan Global Re-Appoints Kurt Jensen as Pres/CEO Calling Cards in Brief TX AG Files Suit Against Calling Card Company Startec Moves to PhoenixSoft Cirrus Ringplus.net Offers Free Calls Interchange Fee War Begins edo Interactive Launches Networking Card MasterCard Uses CSC Platform nFinanSe Gets $15 Million Line of Credit Travelex Cash Passport Debuts at US Retail Stores CardEx Offers Cost-Free Gift Cards Payments in Brief Altair and Blueberry Launch a Prepaid Card for Moms FrontStream Acquires Direct Technology Innovations New Etelcharge Version Goes Live Prepaid 101: POSA Retail Focus in Brief NRF Says Retailers Fighting Organized Crime Blackhawk Announces Annual Hawk Awards NRF Says Retail Sales Showed Resiliency in April TravelCenters Adopts Coinstar Pay As You Go Marriott Offers a $25 Visa Gift Card NRF Favors Law Protecting Retailers from Lawsuits Starbucks Card Members Get Free AT&T Wireless Wi-Fi Our Advertisers Classifieds Contact Us

The Prepaid Press - June 15, 2008

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