The Prepaid Press - October 15, 2008 - (Page 25)

RETAIL FOCUS October 15 · 2008 - 25 i2c Inc. Signs Agreement With Diestel To Launch Prepaid Products in Mexico REDWOOD SHORES, CA (September 29, 2008) i2c Inc., a provider of payment solutions, has signed an agreement to provide prepaid card processing services for Diestel, a distributor of prepaid solutions in Mexico. Through card programs that utilize i2c’s MCP Card Platform, Diestel will enter the Mexico and Latin American Markets to reach the unbanked and underserved market. Initially, Diestel will service these segments through its network infrastructure of more than 50,000 POS’s in Mexico and further expand to similar markets in Latin America. Amir Wain, CEO of i2c commented, “Reaching the unbanked market in Mexico to provide broader access to financial services is a key goal of the Mexican government. The unbanked represent more than 70% of the country’s population and Diestel prepaid card programs will help Mexican citizens realize economic opportunities never before possible. i2c is pleased to contribute to this goal and work with a distinguished partner such as Diestel”. Carlos Alvarez, President of Diestel, said, “This alliance partnership with i2c will leverage our electronic solutions platform to assure we can meet the needs of a quick emerging market. We found no other processor that could match the i2c MCP platform’s level of configurability and its robustness of features.” Jaime Cantú, CEO of Diestel said, “In only three years, Diestel has rapidly become a robust technological platform that is innovating in prepaid solutions. We have been transforming the way prepaid cellular minutes are bought in Mexico, going from live scratch cards to on time electronic top up. We believe i2c understands our company our philosophy and furthermore, understands the complexity and uniqueness of the Mexican market. ” Source: i2c (www.i2cinc.com) Heartland Leverages VeriFone Managed Services Facilitates Tableside Payments With Wireless Solution SAN JOSE, CA (September 24, 2008) VeriFone Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:PAY) has announced that Heartland Payment Systems (NYSE:HPY), a payments processor, has certified VeriFone’s ON THE SPOT pay-at-the-table managed services solution for nationwide use. Heartland is marketing this pay-at-thepoint-of-service technology to restaurant customers under the Heartland TablesideSM brand. Tableside utilizes the VeriFone Vx 670 handheld system with Wi-Fi and the managed services model that VeriFone developed. This provides restaurants with many of the advantages of integrated systems without the need to invest in expensive restaurant management systems. “VeriFone’s wireless payment and managed services solution is ideal for independent restaurants and small chains that want to provide diners with faster, more secure card payment options,” said Mike English, Heartland’s executive director of product development. “Heartland Tableside enhances our ability to provide restaurants with quick, dependable service and easy, cost-effective access to enhanced processing and reporting capabilities.” Verifine says the Vx 670 improves the customer experience by reducing the time and number of steps to complete the payment transaction while virtually eliminating the potential for card skimming or tip alteration. In addition, Heartland Tableside enables restaurant operators to comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) requirements by storing card transaction information on a secure remote IP gateway. “VeriFone’s ON THE SPOT solution further enhances Heartland’s tailored solutions specifically crafted for the restaurant market,” said Jeff Dumbrell, VeriFone executive vice president. “Together, VeriFone and Heartland are providing restaurants with advanced value-added services and the tools to improve operations.” With Heartland Tableside, any one of multiple Vx 670 systems in a particular restaurant can initiate or complete a transaction. Tip capture can be completed at the point of service, saving time at the end of the shift as no adjustments are required. Batch closing can be pre-programmed on the managed services gateway, which also provides sophisticated reporting functions and transaction history that can be reviewed from any computer with Internet access. Source: Heartland Payment Systems (www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com) VeriFone Holdings, Inc. (www.verifone.com) iPayStation Partners with Pronto Envios Pronto Envios Customers to Benefit from Money Transfer Services GARDNER, MA (September 30, 2008) iPayStation, a North American bill payment and prepaid services network, and Pronto Envios, a provider of money transfer service targeted to the Hispanic market, have signed an agreement whereby Pronto Envios will utilize iPayStation’s bill payment and prepaid processing services at over 6,000 Pronto Envios money transfer locations nationwide. As part of the agreement, iPayStation has integrated Pronto Envios’ International Money Remittance services into the iPayStation interface and platform. This extends the reach of both the iPayStation and Pronto Envios brand and footprint, adding new retail agents to both providers’ portfolios. The iPayStation interface will serve as the retail agent’s portal to a extensive product offering which includes; express bill payments, prepaid wireless airtime, cellular handsets, phone cards, top-up, gift cards, home phone and now International money transfer services. “We wanted to work with Pronto Envios because each one of their transactions undergoes rigorous bank compliance monitoring with total transparency to the end user,” comments Osvaldo Rodriguez, President and CEO of iPayStation. “Being compliant with United States Treasury laws and regulations is important to iPayStation, and it is our duty to help enforce anti-money laundering and bank secrecy act programs.” iPayStation and Pronto Envios have worked together to develop an educational and informational resource center for the retail agents of both companies. Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR), Customer Identification (KYC), Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and other information and educational programs and are provided to all retail agents. “We pride ourselves on understanding the needs of our customer base, providing prepaid, money transfer and bill payment services through a single portal add value and strengthens relationships in our neighborhood branches,” adds Rodriguez. “As both iPayStation and Pronto Envios focus on serving the needs of the Hispanic consumer, we are confident iPayStation’s bill payment and prepaid services will prove to be successful with Pronto Envios customers.” Source: iPayStation (www.ipaystation.com) Pronto Envios (www.prontoenvios.com) Sodexo Releases Prepaid Incentive Card Esteem Pass is Electronically Filtered Gift Card LAS VEGAS, NV (September 9, 2008) eCommLink, Inc., a provider of secure, innovative prepaid debit programs, and Sodexo, a foodservice and facilities management company and issuer of prepaid service vouchers and cards, have released the Esteem Pass, a filtered merchant prepaid debit card program. Incentive programs that motivate and reward employees are a significant part of any human resources program and a key contributor to performance, according to eCommLink. Gift cards are fast becoming the solution of choice. However, they say it can be challenging for employers like Sodexo and the clients they work with to create and manage incentive programs because of their large and geographically dispersed workforce. “We wanted to create a program that would work well for all employees, regardless of location, but that would stand out in their minds and provide a memorable shopping experience. Too often, open loop gift cards are spent on necessities like gas or groceries,” stated Vincent Hillenmeyer, President, Sodexo Pass USA. “eCommLink’s filtered merchant gift card program provided the perfect balance of freedom and control.” As a filtered merchant prepaid debit card, the Esteem Pass allows Sodexo to specify the exact merchants and even locations that can accept the Esteem Pass. eCommLink’s flexible platform enables Sodexo to select any number of merchants greater than one and less than ubiquitous. For Esteem Pass, Sodexo partners with 25 nationally recognized merchants, including Macy’s, Home Depot, Borders, Gap, Inc. and Marriott, representing more than 20,000 locations. What separates a filtered merchant gift card program from a closed loop program is the fact that it is branded as a Discover Network card. As long as the selected merchant accepts a Discover Network card, they can be part of the Esteem Pass network -- no specific POS system or processor required. “Filtered merchant gift cards are really a win-win-win situation. Employees have the freedom to redeem the card from the stores they love, employers provide a memorable incentive, and merchants enjoy a powerful marketing tool that pushes business to their store without requiring a change to their payment infrastructure,” stated T. Jack Williams, CEO, eCommLink. Sodexo is selling reward and recognition solutions and products to their existing client base and to companies throughout the U.S., utilizing the Esteem Pass as an internal incentive program. After the first few months of the program, there are already over 20,000 Esteem Pass cards in circulation. Source: eCommLink, Inc. (www.ecommlink.com) Sodexo (www.sodexoUSA.com) http://www.i2cinc.com http://www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com http://www.verifone.com http://www.payzone.biz http://www.ipaystation.com http://www.prontoenvios.com http://www.ecommlink.com http://www.sodexoUSA.com http://www.payzone.biz

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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