The Prepaid Press - June 15, 2008 - (Page 22)

CALLING CARDS June 15 · 2008 - 22 TX AG Files Suit Against Calling Card Company Next-G Charged with Providing Fewer Minutes Than Advertised be getting what they are promised,” Attorney General Abbott said. “We are grateful to the Public Utility Commission for their tremendous assistance on this case. The Office of the Attorney General will continue to crack down on scams that deceive Texas customers.” According to the Attorney General’s legal action, Next-G Communication offers prepaid calling services to several international destinations. To use the card, customers must first dial the defendants’ access number and enter a personal identification number (PIN), which is provided with the card. Once the PIN is verified, the defendants’ computer system prompts the caller to enter a destination phone number and informs the caller how many minutes are available on the card for the call. State investigators who independently tested the cards found that Next-G’s calling cards consistently failed to deliver either the number of minutes on the advertising posters or the number of minutes prompted at the beginning of the call. In addition, the calling cards and the advertising posters contain vague and inadequate disclosures about fees and additional charges. The Office of the Attorney General is seeking a temporary and permanent injunction against Next-G Communication’s deceptive marketing claims and civil penalties of up to $20,000 per violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Source: Texas Attorney General (www.oag.state.tx.us) Startec Moves to PhoenixSoft Cirrus Long Distance Provider Upgrades VoIP Network PHOENIX, AZ (May 27, 2008) Next generation platform provider PhoenixSoft announced that Startec Global Communications has upgraded its VoIP network to PhoenixSoft’s Cirrus Softswitch. Startec is a facilities-based provider of long distance communications services to ethnic businesses and consumers in the United States and Canada, and operates a network of IP gateways, international gateways, domestic switches and undersea fiber optic cables. The announcement said that Cirrus Softswitch integrates within Startec’s existing Sonus softswitch network, functioning as a feature server providing cost-effective prepaid and post-paid enhanced services for Startec’s calling card and wireless customers. Calls into the network are routed through the Sonus Softswitch to the Cirrus Softswitch to access advanced capabilities, then back to the Sonus Softswitch to be directed to their final termination point. PhoenixSoft’s Cirrus Softswitch works within any SIP network, regardless of existing switching hardware, according to the company. “The Startec application demonstrates the flexibility of our Cirrus Softswitch,” said Paul Amick, PhoenixSoft co-founder. “We developed Cirrus to integrate within a variety of network configurations, including VoIP-enabling a TDM network, integrating end-to-end IP capabilities as a stand-alone softswitch, or, as with Startec, interoperating with existing gateways and softswitches to provide an enhanced feature set.” Amick said the Cirrus Softswitch economically adds the VoIP features Startec needs. “By offering such attractive upgrade alternatives, we’re able to build lasting partnerships with our customers. We value our long-term relationship with Startec and look forward to serving them well into the future,” added Amick. Source: PhoenixSoft, Inc. (www.phoenixsoft.com) AUSTIN, TX (May 23, 2008) Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed the state’s first legal enforcement action against a prepaid calling card company. Court documents filed in Bexar County charge Next-G Communication, Inc. with consistently failing to deliver the number of minutes it advertises to customers. The Attorney General’s joint investigation with the Public Utility Commission (PUC), which regulates prepaid calling card companies in Texas, found that Next-G’s prepaid calling cards consistently delivered only 40 percent of the minutes claimed on the defendants’ advertising posters and confirmed by Next-G’s voice prompt given at the beginning of each call. The defendants typically sold the cards at small grocery stores and convenience stores for less than $10 each. “Texas consumers who rely on prepaid calling cards for their long distance needs should Ringplus.net Offers Free Calls Beta Test for U.S., Israel and Germany LOS ANGELES, CA (May 20, 2008) A telecom company in Texas, Ring Plus, is offering free long distance phone calls within the United States and international calls to Israel and Germany from selected area codes. And “Free” means really free, according to the press release, which said users just dial a local access number, then the number they want to reach. No credit card is required, and no bill will be sent, and Ringplus.net said that it does not sell the information. Ringplus.net said that the calls are funded by advertisers whose messages are paid during the ringback signal that callers hear when the number is being called. Ringplus.net said that the service also includes voicemail, an Internet telephone book, and a social network, similar to Facebook. There are also additional capabilities such as creating photo albums and uploading pictures to share, and news content, like world and entertainment news. Users can sign up for free on its website. Source: Ringplus.net (www.ringplus.net) http://www.phoenixsoft.com http://Ringplus.net http://Ringplus.net http://Ringplus.net http://Ringplus.net http://www.oag.state.tx.us http://Ringplus.net http://Ringplus.net

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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