The Prepaid Press - October 15, 2008 - (Page 10)

PREPAID WIRELESS October 15 · 2008 - 10 Virgin Mobile USA to Launch the Shuttle Affordable New from PCD Ready to Transport Content and Video WARREN, NJ (September 10, 2008) Virgin Mobile USA and Personal Communications Devices, LLC [PCD] are launching the Shuttle, Virgin Mobile USA’s first EV-DO handset, designed with high performance for data and content in mind. Available exclusively at Best Buy Mobile and BestBuy.com as of September 28, Virgin says the Shuttle offers consumers performance and monthly plans with no contract, and meets their ‘need for speed.’ Following Virgin Mobile USA’s recent acquisition of Helio, the Shuttle will be the first handset enabled to integrate several features from the Helio portfolio. This will include improved access to social networking communities and other mobile internet sites through partnerships with Accuweather, ESPN, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Yahoo! and more. The Shuttle is also slated to feature Virgin Mobile’s first location-based services from uLocate including: • Buddy Beacon, the popular ‘friend-finder’ solution which allows customers to find friends in a crowded city and show where they are and what they’re doing; and • Where, the application that delivers local information to easily discover nearby places and things of interest such as locating the lowest gas prices, finding local events, and getting restaurant recommendations. According to Bob Stohrer, Virgin Mobile USA’s Chief Marketing Officer, the time has arrived for Virgin Mobile USA to make the 3G leap. “With the Helio acquisition and the new Shuttle, we’ve made a strong move into 3G, satisfying our customers who want the speed and affordability, while greatly enhancing our handset line-up just in time for the holidays,” Stohrer said. The Shuttle includes a 1.3 megapixel camera, 2’’ screen; video capture, playback and messaging, integrated media player that supports both streaming and sideloaded music, stereo Bluetooth wireless technology, and SD card support, while sporting a stylish S-curve design in a compact slider form factor. With the new Shuttle, Virgin Mobile USA is also introducing its first Mobile Web data packs as add-ons to calling plans, as more and more customers access the mobile web and other mobile data services. ”Data is the center of growth in wireless. This handset is a perfect fit for our new Mobile Web, heavily discounted for customers who purchase a monthly voice plan, and a big benefit for users looking to take advantage of the fast web-browsing abilities,” said Stohrer. Source: Virgin Mobile USA (www.virginmobileusa.com) Personal Communications Devices (www.personalcommunicationsdevices.com) TracFone Launches SafeLink Wireless in FL Participants Receive Free Talk Time Cell Phone New Study Shows Mobile Phones Merging Roles Communicator, Shopping Aide, Entertainment and Research Hub watched TV or video on their phones as adults (8% versus 2%) “Mobile phones are emerging as a powerful complement to the Web, in both entertainment and information seeking,” said David Tice, Vice President and Group Account Director, Knowledge Networks and director of The Home Technology Monitor. “Many people and businesses could not function without the Web today, and the ‘alwayswith-me’ pervasiveness of cell phones expands the reach of Internet functionality. As standard phones get upgraded with Web connections and location-based-features, their utility and necessity will only increase. Consumers are also clearly open to mobile advertising concepts that provide them real value in exchange for their attention to a marketing message.” Other data from Knowledge Networks -- its MultiMedia Mentor media planning resource, which includes single-source data on consumers’ media use -- affirms a connection between use of some advanced mobile phone features and heavy use of other media. For example, consumers (ages 18 to 64) who use cell phone video spend 27% more time per week with media (over 2 hours more per day) compared to all mobile phone owners; this includes 60% more time on the Internet, and almost triple the amount of time with videogames. How People Use Cell Phones shows that monthly use of the Internet via mobile phones is limited to 13% of all cell phone owners -- a small but growing group that may be pointing the way toward the future. The new HPU findings are produced as part of The Home Technology Monitor, a source of information on consumers’ ownership and use of new and established media technologies, from DVRs to iPhones. The study consisted of interviews with 765 members (ages 13 to 64) of KnowledgePanel, the only online panel that represents the full U.S. population, and an indepth ethnographic study of cellular phone use by consumers in different households. Source: Knowledge Networks (www.knowledgenetworks.com) MENLO PARK, CA (September 18, 2008) Mobile phones are playing an increasingly important role in people’s daily lives -- traveling with them at all times, helping them make key shopping decisions, and connecting them to email, coupons, location-based services, and other applications. These are among the findings of How People Use Cell Phones, a new study from Knowledge Networks. Three in five (60%) mobile phone owners say they carry their phones at all times, even inside the home -- up 50% since a 2002 KN analysis; and 32% say they call friends or family “all the time” or “often” when making shopping decisions, a figure that jumps to 45% among those ages 18 to 34. When asked an open-ended question about what they dislike about their cell phones, respondents most often (15%) said, “Nothing.” MIAMI, FL (September 23, 2008) TracFone Wireless, Inc., a prepaid cell phone provider, has launched SafeLink Wireless in Florida. SafeLink Wireless will serve as the company’s distribution of Lifeline - a U.S. government supported program for income eligible households that ensures telephone service is available and affordable for eligible low income households. The SafeLink Wireless service will provide eligible low-income households a free cell phone, mobile access to emergency services and free 68 minutes of air time, monthly, for one year. The cell phone offers in-demand features: voicemail, text, call waiting, international calling to over 60 destinations and caller ID. “Over one million households in Florida qualify for the Lifeline services - offering these participants the opportunity to have the same access and privileges many individuals take for granted when it comes to using cell phones,” said Javier Rosado, Senior Vice President of Lifeline Services for TracFone. “The SafeLink Wireless service is truly unique because we are providing a service that no other company has made available before - a free cell phone and free monthly minutes to qualifying low income families,” added Rosado. SafeLink Wireless offers low income families accessibility, freedom and the security in knowing that should an emergency occur - wherever they are, they will stay safe and stay connected. Significant Economic Gains for Low-Income American Households,” April 2008) analyzed the impact of mobile phones on low-income households. “In this day and age, the cell phone should be deemed an imperative necessity for the millions of low-income families who are far less likely to own them,” said Nicholas P. Sullivan, the study’s author and visiting scholar at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “Our study showed cell phones can significantly boost the earning potential of these communities, and this connectivity vastly encourages their opportunities and remains central to their everyday survival,” Sullivan stressed. The study also revealed the cell phone is a critical component for personal safety, access to emergency services, and can potentially increase a low-income family’s economic productivity and earning power. Program Eligibility Lifeline program eligibility varies by state but generally families may qualify for SafeLink Wireless service if their household income is not above 135 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines, or if they receive certain government assistance programs. Families wanting to participate in the SafeLink Wireless service will need to provide proof of low-income qualification. Source: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (www.tracfone.com) SafeLink Wireless (www.safelinkwireless.com) Economic opportunities for low-income households A recent study (“Cell Phones Provide Master Distributors And Dealers Wanted! pageplus, an industry leader in prepaid cellular services (voice and data) is looking for Master Distributors and Dealers nationwide. If you are interested in joining the pageplus family, please contact: Jim Koval @ 1-800-550-2436 Ext. 375 jkoval@pagepluscellular.com www.pagepluscellular.com Younger users want more features Enthusiasm for a variety of mobile phone applications, such as watching video or using GPStype functions, is noticeably higher among younger generations. KN found that 61% of “Gen Y” consumers, or “Millennials,” say “the more features the better” on a cell phone, compared with 27% of Boomers. The study also shows that, among mobile phone owners: Members of Generation Y (ages 13 to 29) send an average of 20 text messages daily, compared to just 2 for Generation X (30-43) and less than one for Baby Boomers (44 to 64) Teens are four times as likely to report having http://www.BestBuy.com http://www.virginmobileusa.com http://www.personalcommunicationsdevices.com http://www.tracfone.com http://www.safelinkwireless.com http://www.pagepluscellular.com http://www.knowledgenetworks.com

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

The Prepaid Press - October 15, 2008 Oblio Wins Judgment Mobile Remittance Providers Look to Latin America Contents The Retske Report: The Game Changer Regulatory Rundown: New Rules and Requirements Likely for 2009 5 Minutes With Saul Bienenfeld, President of Pop2Call Prepaid Wireless Roundup MetroPCS Sues Virgin Mobile Wireless in Brief Leap’s Cricket Service Introduces Cricket PAYGo Virgin Mobile USA to Launch the Shuttle New Study Shows Mobile Phones Merging Roles TracFone Launches SafeLink Wireless in FL IVI and Titan Sign Agreement with YA Global Boost Mobile Launches New Phone The State of Prepaid Technology: Will the Coming Market Bring You Problems or Opportunities? Calling Cards in Brief The Legal Line Tata Awarded Cisco Powered Status IDT Fails to Meet NYSE Listing Standards BillSoft Offers New Taxation Service Dialogic to Acquire NMS Platforms Business STi Acquires Sprint’s Calling Card Business TelcoBridges Introduces ToolPack System Manager Hypercom Increases Multilane Team Mobile Banking: CGAP Spurs Market Prepaid Resources Introduces PORTABLES Bancorp and Obopay Introduce Payment Card Verities, Inc. Partners with BBB and i2c Inc. The Bancorp Bank Partners with LeagueSafe Donor Dialogue Partners with Springbok Services Mercator Offers New Merchant Report Travelex Launches Budget Calculator MPOWER Companies Join Clinton Global Initiative Payments in Brief Promotions Evolve into Must-Have Marketing Strategy for Prepaid Sector Access Launches Cash-Back Rewards VendTek Partners with United Bank Card Flash Foods, Tedeschi Partner with Pinnacle Prepaid 101: Basics of PINs Gasoline Cards to Benefit Armed Forces, Veterans i2c Inc. Signs Agreement with Diestel iPayStation Partners with Pronto Envios Sodexo Releases Prepaid Incentive Card Heartland Leverages VeriFone Managed Services Retail Focus in Brief Our Advertisers Contact Us

The Prepaid Press - October 15, 2008

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