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

www.prepaidpressexpo.com Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - Prepaid Wireless Prepaid Wireless Today – New Opportunities, Challenges and Technologies Mobile phones have become a vital part of our daily lives, and are increasingly ubiquitous throughout all population segments. Even the credit challenged and cash poor members of society have a need for a mobile phone, and it is not uncommon for them to use it as their only phone. And, they are looking for more than basic voice technology. Features like mobile search, mobile payments and mobile data features create new opportunities for the prepaid industry, along with new challenges. How do prepaid wireless providers respond and deliver to this new environment? How large are these growing market segments, and what companies are benefiting from them? How can prepaid wireless providers leverage new needs, features and technologies into higher revenues and lower churn? This session explores these issues and provides the answers. Regulation, Registration and Taxation – Will Government Dampen the Prepaid Wireless Party? Mobile services are coming under increased scrutiny by government. In addition to taxation, there are concerns that prepaid mobile phones enabling the user to engage in anonymous criminal or terrorist activities. Frequently there are no technological means of determining a user’s identity. Will these concerns result in a move to register and further regulate the users of prepaid mobile phones? Where does pending legislation stand, and will legislation or new tax initiatives disrupt prepaid wireless growth opportunities? This session explores these concerns, and addresses key issues in reconciling the prepaid consumers’ desire for privacy and anonymity with the realities of today’s social and political environment. The MVNO Challenge – Remaining Relevant and Competitive in 2008 and Beyond Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO’s) have taken their lumps of late. These marketing oriented entities -- Virgin Mobile being the most familiar -- buy minutes wholesale and then retail them to their customers. They thrive by targeting specific market segments, and the road to success has not been easy for even the biggest players. What applications and marketing strategies, and specific niche marketing demographics, are the mark of successful companies, and which have proved fatal? What is the MVNO role in a world that already has over 3.5 billion mobile phone subscribers? This session will address these issues, provide insight into current and future synergies between MVNOs and mobile operators, and answer what the future holds for these specialized mobile service entities. Voice, Data, Media – Can Prepaid Wireless Compete in this New Environment? Technology and consumer wants have moved the smart phone of not so many years ago to the typical mobile phone of today. Functions such as web access, streaming video, music downloads and local search are increasingly being demanded by the mobile user and incorporated by the mobile phone provider. With phone manufacturers introducing feature-rich smart phones, and with the advanced capabilities of phones such as the Apple iPhone becoming more popular, questions arise over just how changing consumer handset needs and interests will impact the prepaid wireless space. In this session industry visionaries will provide insights into these and other questions that are arising from the rapidly evolving capabilities of mobile phones, and how they will impact opportunities in the prepaid wireless space going forward. Distribution and Retailing Strategies – The Potential to Change Market Dynamics With approximately 250 million mobile phones in use today, representing over 80% of the U.S. population, reaching and enticing new subscribers is becoming increasingly important to a provider’s growth. Targeting the right audience with the right distribution channel is a key component of a successful marketing strategy. And that requires innovation in all aspects of its implementation, from packaging to presentation. Nowhere is this more evident than in the prepaid arena. What makes a distribution and retailing strategy successful? What are the key challenges and what innovative techniques are providers using to meet those challenges? This session promises to provide insight into emerging, innovative and successful distribution and retailing strategies being used by companies to attract new users and expand the prepaid wireless pie! What Do Changing Demographics, FCC Actions and Evolving Consumer Needs Mean to Prepaid Wireless? Developing market conditions -- both consumer driven and government influenced -- and economic issues are setting the stage for changes in market acceptance of prepaid wireless solutions. Continuing technology innovation and growing user sophistication are driving new functionality to prepaid services, compelling providers to evolve to meet the demands of today’s user. What developments should prepaid providers prepare for and what do they mean to the industry? Designed to shed light on the salient demographic and consumer driven factors propelling prepaid wireless, this session will offer a bold and unflinching appraisal of emerging trends, their ramifications and potential opportunities. Thursday, August 21, 2008 - Prepaid/Alternative Payments Stored Value Market Today – Capitalizing on Evolving Opportunities As stored value has evolved past niche status, it is unleashing wholesale changes in the way we pay for goods and services. This session will offer perspective on the current state of stored value -- its dimensions, prospects and avenues for future growth, and the forces shaping profitability. What are the hot areas with high consumer adoption rates? Designed to provide insight into the dominating market factors propelling stored value, this exclusive session will drill down on what likely direction the market will take over the next several years, and provide actionable insight on the market drivers. Drilling Down on Stored Value Distribution Channels – The Inside Scoop Launching a stored value program is no sure thing by any means. Considerable planning and focused market execution must be exercised to prevent misfires. Differences in market channels could make or break a stored value initiative. Retail, the Internet, direct mail, or other avenues -- what determines the best course? What innovative distribution models are emerging that will further propel stored value card usage through enhancing consumer convenience? Why must approaches vary for national chains vs. regional chains and independent storeowners? What are the most important factors when selecting specific target market(s)? This session is designed to provide answers to these critical issues. Jumpstarting Mobile Payments – Incenting Merchants and Targeting Consumers There are approximately 250 million U.S. mobile phone subscribers, representing an 80% market penetration. Widespread acceptance of mobile payments entails overcoming a number of obstacles, including merchant acceptance. Are prepaid cards the entrée that will enable this payments market to blossom? This session focuses on mobile payment applications that are in the here and now, and highlights effective -- and cost-effective -- incentives to attract sufficient merchants and users to take the critical first step for more widespread adoption of mobile payments. The Security Specter – Dealing With Fraud and Risk Management The growing trend to substitute electronic payments for cash introduces an additional dimension in protecting customer data. These presentations will address how security, compliance, and privacy concerns will play an integral role in shaping solutions. How and where does data traditionally hide, and how are the mistakes made? Companies need to understand what steps are required to protect them -- and their clients – from the risks associated with fraud and security breaches. This session lays out the major threats, and explores the methods to fight fraud, enhance security, and prevent identity theft. Legal and Regulatory Factors Affecting New Payment Applications Stored value comes under the review of regulatory agencies at both the federal and state levels. But many of these regulations are literally in constant flux, coming under scrutiny on a regular basis. Presented by leading regulatory and legal authorities, this session will delve into the legal and regulatory factors that impact industry participants on a day-to-day basis. One of its many highlights will be a comprehensive, no-holds-barred and up-to-the-minute review of the current laws and pending issues related to stored value. Are the Regulation E changes increasing growth rates for payroll cards? What remaining uncertainties in this area are holding back stored value growth? This session will explore the most pressing issues emerging from the regulatory/legal variable of the stored value equation. Exploiting New Mainstream Applications in Prepaid Cards Payroll, Government, Health Care and Beyond After years of rapid growth and proliferation of products, the mainstream public is using prepaid cards in new ways. This session will bring delegates up to light-speed on the latest market developments, spotlighting why payroll cards are enjoying a meteoric rise in acceptance and popularity. Just how big is the opportunity that has developed with health savings accounts? This will provide invaluable insight on how to integrate stored value applications into employee and government benefits portfolios. These mainstream applications show great growth potential – a potential that prepaid card retailers and banks ignore at their peril. This session strives to cast light on just how extensive and potentially lucrative these market segments can be for prepaid service providers, and how they are becoming increasingly attractive for employers, government at all levels, and the public at large. Tom Kleeman Spartanics T. Jack http://www.prepaidpressexpo.com

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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