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

PREPAID WIRELESS September 15 · 2008 - 11 Wireless in Brief Globalive Communications Corp. is hoping to launch Canada’s fourth major wireless company as early as next spring and snare up to 1.5 million customers in its first three years of operations. The parent of the yak long-distance service, which bid $442 million on wireless airwaves across the country in a recent federal government auction, plans to reach the goal by focusing on cheaper prepaid wireless plans in an apparent bid to woo customers away from existing players and sign up others who don’t yet have cell phones. Canada has a relatively low wireless penetration rate – roughly 61 per cent – that some have blamed on the industry’s fondness for lengthy subscriber contracts, extra fees and high data prices. Egypt’s Orascom Telecom is backing Globalive and has agreed to invest up to $700 million (U.S.) over the next four years. Globalive also launched a new website, www. wirelesssoapbox.com, that asks Canadians to share their thoughts and ideas about what a new wireless provider should look like. Source: The Star – www.thestar.com MetroPCS Available at Best Buy Deal Broadens MetroPCS’ Distribution receive five SMS or e-mail ads per day will only be charged AU$10, a 65 percent discount. The MVNO runs on local Vodafone (VOD) network, and follows ComTel’s integration of its pre and post-paid MVNO businesses with Empowered Communications, a local permission-based e-marketing group that it acquired in October 2007 for AU$23.7 million. One of the catches of the new service for subscribers is that if they do not view 50 percent of the advertising messages they are sent, then SMSPup Mobile reserves the right to remove the discount. ComTel says its service is modeled on the Blyk service launched in the UK in late 2007, which itself is in an early stage and remains to be seen it these experiments pan out. Source: PaidContent.org – www.paidcontent.org The Wireless Foundation and the American Red Cross have announced that most wireless subscribers in the U.S. can make a charitable donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund through the unique Text 2HELP program. Here’s how it works: Subscribers of participating wireless carriers can donate $5 simply by texting “GIVE” to 24357 (2HELP). The donations will appear on customers’ monthly bills or be debited from prepaid account balances. Standard text messaging rates may apply. The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Hurricanes of 2008. Wireless carriers participating in Text 2HELP include AT&T, Alltel, Sprint, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless. VeriSign is powering the intelligent messaging infrastructure to enable the short message service. Wireless users can text their donations anytime until October 31, 2008. American Red Cross – www.redcross.org Virgin Mobile USA has introduced its newest handset, the TNT! by Kyocera Wireless. A stylish Talk N’ Text phone in a flip form factor, Virgin says the TNT! is perfect for consumers who like the simple things in phones. The TNT! is now available at major retailers nationwide including Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy and Radio Shack, and on Virgin’s website. The TNT! costs only $20. Virgin Mobile USA – www.virginmobileusa.com DALLAS, TX (September 2, 2008) MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NySE: PCS) said its handsets and service are available at more than 200 Best Buy locations. The retail agreement between Best Buy Mobile and MetroPCS will make MetroPCS’ products available in the 14 markets where service is available. MetroPCS phones purchased from any of the 200 Best Buy Mobile store locations in MetroPCS markets can be activated by simply pressing *228. MetroPCS does not require a signed contract, which means consumers can activate service through their phone without going through a credit check or paying a deposit. “Best Buy Mobile will be a great expansion of our current distribution,” said Roger Linquist, president and CEO for MetroPCS Communications, Inc. “This is yet another example of how MetroPCS is committed to bringing affordable, flat-rate, unlimited wireless service to consumers.” MetroPCS plans range from $30 to $50 per month and allow subscribers unlimited talk 24hours-a-day, seven days a week. MetroPCS does not require a signed contract, and consumers can activate service without going through a credit check or paying a deposit. While options and services depend on the selected plan, subscribers can add “unlimited” feature packages that include voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling, text and picture messaging, push e-mail, mobile-internet browsing, mobile instant messaging, and the recently announced unlimited Metro411, a voice-activated, premium directory assistance service. Consumers can visit any of MetroPCS’ current authorized dealer locations and companyowned retail locations or visit MetroPCS’ web site to sign up for service plans, and choose from a lineup of wireless phones from the top handset manufacturers. Source: MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (www.metropcs.com) NOW OFFERING Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. (NySE: VM) has made an addition to its leadership team by naming a new Chief Information and Technology Officer (CIO/CTO). Daniel A. Acton, a veteran of the IT industry, has assumed responsibility for leading the company’s evolution in information technology as it expands its information operations through an outsourcing agreement with IBM and integration of Helio’s IT operations. In this role, Acton will assume management responsibilities for the present Virgin Mobile USA IT and product development operations. He will focus on integrating key business and technology processes, to move Virgin Mobile USA ahead as a full service wireless provider. Acton will build a new portfolio management team to govern the strategy and investment in information technology. Virgin Mobile USA – www.virginmobileusa.com ONE STOP CARD MANUFACTURER “We’ll print, personalize and package your cards without ever sending them outside.” A BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC Wireless Age Communications has announced that its subsidiary, Wireless Source Distribution, has mutually agreed to terminate prepaid cellular service card distribution agreement with SaskTel Mobility effective September 30, 2008. Under this agreement, which originally was signed in 2003 and later amended in December 2004, Wireless Source was granted the local distribution rights of prepaid phone cards on behalf of SaskTel. John Simmonds, CEO of Wireless Age, said: “While we are disappointed that we could not continue the business at a higher gross margin, the loss of this business while significant with respect to our total revenue, will have no material impact on our net income.” Source: Wireless Age Communications www.thewirelessage.com WE OFFER OUR CLIENTS Standard and high resolution (DOD) ink jet Secure scratch off (customizable label or slurry) LoCo and HiCo magnetic stripe Three track encoding Tipping Single and batch wrapping (customizable) Fulfillment Customized packaging Commercial printing Australian telecom firm ComTel is launching SMSpup Mobile, a new prepaid MVNO service offering AU$130 of talk and text value for AU$29 per month but customers who agree to www.pentagon.ca 877-339-5995 ideas@pentagon.ca http://www.metropcs.com http://www.PaidContent.org http://www.paidcontent.org http://www.wirelesssoapbox.com http://www.wirelesssoapbox.com http://www.thestar.com http://www.metropcs.com http://www.virginmobileusa.com http://www.pentagon.ca http://www.redcross.org http://www.virginmobileusa.com http://www.thewirelessage.com http://www.pentagon.ca

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

The Prepaid Press - September 15, 2008 ISOs Hold Key to Growth in Prepaid Industry Contents From the Publisher: The Show Goes On Regulatory Rundown: Early Fall Regulatory Beat 5 Minutes With Brian Rudolph, Co-owner, Krush Communications TPPEXPO’08 Spotlight Dateline Expo: Prepaid Wireless Update 2008 Wireless in Brief MetroPCS Available at Best Buy Western Capital Resources Inc. to Acquire PQH, Inc. TracFone Launches SafeLink Wireless Prepaid Wireless Roundup CIT Secures Financing for Prepaid Wireless Company MetroPCS Premiers Loopt Social-Mapping Services Virgin Mobile USA Reports Financial Results Dateline Expo: Prepaid Calling Card Update 2008 Inc. 5000 Recognizes Viscom International USAC’s “Carrier’s Carrier” Rule Comes Under Attack NetIQ Extends VoIP Management to Microsoft Office Transverse Launches OSS/BSS Open Source Platform Calling Cards in Brief Dateline Expo: Prepaid and Alternative Payments Update 2008 NETELLER and TransSend to Offer Cards Payments in Brief U.S. Treasury Introducing Direct Express Debit Card Visa Launches New Mobile Payment Services SCX Global Acquired by Rev Worldwide Metavante Selected by Corporate Network eCom ACE and NetSpend Launch March of Dimes Card AccuPOS Announces AccuCount Software Springbok Offers Private Label Prepaid Cards Prepaid 101: ATMs and Prepaid NACS Releases State of the Industry Report PaySpot to Distribute Futura Cards Hypercom Lands Element Payment Services Retail Focus in Brief Our Advertisers Contact Us

The Prepaid Press - September 15, 2008

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