The Prepaid Press - January 2009 - (Page 12)

PREPAID TELECOM Dec. 2008 / Jan. 2009 - 12 APCC Services Settles With Calling Card Providers Reaches Agreements on FCC DAC Litigation ALEXANDRIA, VA (November 10, 2008) The American Public Communications Council, Inc. (APCC) has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, APCC Services, Inc., a billing and collection clearinghouse for independent payphone operators in America, has reached agreements to settle pending litigation against four telecommunications carriers (Compass Global, Woodcliff Lake, NJ; CVT Prepaid Solutions, Inc., Great Neck, NY; Next-G Communications, Houston, TX; and Dollar Phone, Brooklyn, NY) for the collection of “dial around compensation.” The specific terms of the agreements are confidential. Dial around compensation is the federally mandated payments to payphone providers required of long distance carriers, including facilities based prepaid phone card providers, for the use of payphones in making coinless long distance calls. In addition to settling past disputes, parts of the settlements also address ongoing future payment obligations. All the settlements result from filings at the Federal Communications Commission against about 30 different carriers beginning in June 2006. “The complexities of the FCC-mandated dial around compensation system have resulted in real difficulties for both the payphone operators and the long distance companies and prepaid card providers,” said Willard R. Nichols, President of APCC. He further noted: “We are pleased we were able to resolve these complaints through negotiations. We look forward to working with more carriers to resolve past payment issues as well as future compensation arrangements which could significantly reduce the costs to both APCC Services’ customers and the carriers in carrying out their responsibilities for making payments in the future.” With the new agreements, Nichols noted that APCC Services has now reached settlements generating over $6.5 million in past unpaid compensation for its customers. “While there still is much that needs to be done to ensure that our customers receive all the compensation they are entitled to, we will not shrink from using the legal processes to vindicate those rights,” Nichols noted, “these settlements should make it clear that APCC Services stands ready to resolve past payment issues on a reasonable business-to-business basis.” APCC is the national trade association representing about 1,000 owners, operators, suppliers and manufacturers of public communications equipment and services. APCC’s primary membership base consists of independent, non-telephone company affiliated, payphone service providers. Its wholly owned subsidiary, APCC Services, Inc., is the largest dial-around compensation clearinghouse serving the payphone industry in America. On behalf of its customers, it bills and collects the compensation that carriers are required to pay to payphone operators for toll-free calls made from their payphones. Source: APCC (www.apcc.net) BillSoft Selected by Integra Telecom EZTax to Tax Communications Services OVERLAND PARL, KS (November 24, 2008) BillSoft, Inc., a provider of transaction tax products and services, has announced that Integra Telecom Inc., a facilities-based, integrated communications carrier, has selected BillSoft’s EZTax product line to tax their communications services. EZTax has been integrated into Integra’s billing operations to provide a real-time billing and taxing platform. EZTax integrates with Integra’s existing billing system to accurately calculate numerous jurisdictional taxes. Integra has employed a series of BillSoft solutions, including BillSoft’s flagship tax calculation product EZTax. Additional supplemental products utilized by Integra include EZTax Viewer, EZTax Bundler, and EZTax Rate & Logic Modifier (RLM). The EZTax Viewer provides Integra with a tax reference tool for the latest tax rate information in every jurisdiction within the United States and 85+ countries. The EZTax Bundler allows Integra to create bundled service offerings for quick tax calculation. The Bundler systematically taxes each component of the bundled service appropriately and returns summarized results to the billing system. The EZTax RLM provides the flexibility to make rate and/or logic modifications based on Integra’s specific requirements. “BillSoft was the clear choice for Integra,” said Julie Rouzee, Integra Telecom’s Chief Information Officer. “Integra’s commitment to delivering quality, user-friendly services to our customers includes our ability to deliver timely, accurate statements. As we evaluated our options, we looked for a best-in-class taxation tool and BillSoft’s EZTax service delivered.” “We’re ecstatic Integra Telecom has chosen us for their tax vendor,” said Vicki Klein, President of BillSoft. “Integra is a rapidly growing company with very similar core values. We both recognize the importance of providing superior customer service and look forward to a strong and prosperous partnership,” said Klein. Source: Integra Telecom, Inc. (www.integratelecom.com) BillSoft, Inc. (www.billsoft.com) Pingo Adds PC ‘SoftPhone’ Calling New PC-based Phone Feature Enables Anywhere Calling BURLINGTON, MA (November 10, 2008) Pingo, the prepaid VoIP calling service from iBasis (NASDAQ:IBAS), has launched a new feature that enables customers to make low-cost international calls using personal computers (PCs) from anywhere in the world where there is Internet access. With SoftPhone, Pingo customers can use Internet-connected PCs to call any fixed or mobile phone and avoid access charges and high mobile roaming costs. For calls made from international destinations, the calls are charged at the same perminute rates as those originating from the United States. Unlike traditional calling plans, prepaid calling cards, international calling cards and other VoIP services, Pingo allows consumers to purchase minutes on an as-needed basis. The service has no hidden fees, surcharges or further contractual obligation. Pingo Business provides small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with service for up to 999 employees, allowing administrators to easily set individual spending limits, monitor use and manage balances through a single, centralized account. All Pingo customers can use fixed or mobile phones to make calls; no additional equipment purchases or software downloads are necessary. “Pingo offers the best of all calling worlds: low rates, no hidden fees or extended contracts, and you buy only what you need,” said Jayesh Patel, vice president of business development and strategy for iBasis. “Now, with Pingo SoftPhone, customers have an opportunity to use the service anywhere and enjoy our lowest rates. For those living or traveling abroad, that also means avoiding access and roaming charges, saving mobile minutes, and not paying those exorbitant premiums that hotels charge for international phone calls.” Pingo offers online account management and minutes can be purchased via credit and debit cards and PayPal. Subscribers can also pay in four currencies, compare calling rates to any destination in the world, and interact with automated phone voice prompts in a variety of languages including Chinese, English, French, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian. Source: iBasis (www.ibasis.com) Pingo (www.pingo.com) Boost Mobile Offers All-in-One Prepaid Package Starts Under $30 attached way to gift wireless,” said Matt Carter, president, Boost Mobile. “It also gives budgetconscious consumers an affordable wireless solution that can be used anywhere on Sprint’s dependable nationwide iDEN network.” Boost Mobile phone packages start under $30 and include a Motorola phone, $5 of service credit, and simple instructions for getting started on wireless service with no activation fees. Handsets include Boost Mobile’s newest and smallest flip camera phones -- the Motorola i776 and i776w, the rugged Motorola i335 and the thin candy-bar design Motorola i425t and i425e. All handsets from Boost Mobile are also available at www.boostmobile.com, where shipping is free. Boost offers flexible service billing options -- including an anytime rate of 10 cents per minute, the $1/Day Chat Plan that features unlimited text messaging, unlimited nights and weekend calling and unlimited mobile-tomobile calling to approximately 40 million customers on the Boost Mobile, Sprint, and Nextel networks. Nighttime calling hours apply from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and weekend calling hours apply from 9 p.m. on Fridays to 7 a.m. on Mondays. Source: Boost Mobile (www.boostmobile.com) kajeet, the Cell Phone Service for Kids, Wins Award Awarded PTPA Media Inc. Seal of Approval BETHESDA, MD (December 9, 2008) kajeet, the cell phone service made for kids, has been awarded the PTPA Media Inc. Seal of Approval for excellence in parenting products. PTPA Media Inc. (Parent Tested Parent Approved) has announced that the kajeet kid’s cell phone service is a winner in their 2008 Fall Product Call for the best in parenting products. “PTPA Media had a team of moms put the kajeet service through their paces.” said Daniel Neal, CEO and Founder of kajeet. “Their endorsement of the kajeet kid’s cell phone service, based on a thorough evaluation of the kajeet service value and functionality, will help busy parents as they make their decision of which cell phone service is best for their kids.” kajeet was among many entries competing to win the PTPA Media Seal of Approval for Fall 2008. Companies throughout North America submitted samples of their parenting products and they were matched with PTPA Media’s large database of parents. The products were tested by savvy parenting reviewers and professionals and the results were compiled for PTPA Media Inc.’s review committee for the final decision. The winners of the prestigious Seal of Approval from PTPA Media are selected based on value, functionality, quality and appeal of the product. “We are excited to announ http://www.integratelecom.com http://www.billsoft.com http://www.apcc.net http://www.ibasis.com http://www.boostmobile.com http://www.pingo.com http://www.boostmobile.com http://www.sonartel.com http://www.kajeet.com http://www.ptpamedia.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Prepaid Press - January 2009

The Prepaid Press - January 2009 Economic Crisis Sharpens Focus on Stored Value Cards Industry Veterans Weigh In on 2009 Prepaid Opportunities Contents From the Publisher: Ready for Change? The Prepaid Press Thanks its Editorial Advisory Board Regulatory Rundown 2008 Milestones Prepaid Wireless Providers Capitalize on Economic Downturn Prepaid Telecom in Brief APCC Services Settles With Calling Card Providers Boost Mobile Offers All-in-One Prepaid Package SonarTel Prepaid Customers Can Use Accounts in More Countries BillSoft Selected by Integra Telecom Pingo Adds PC “SoftPhone” Calling kajeet, the Cell Phone Service for Kids, Wins Award Prepaid Wireless Roundup The State of Prepaid Technology: Wholesalers & White Label Services New Millennium Releases Wireless Survey Results 5 Minutes With Paul Amick, EVP & Co-Founder, PhoenixSoft Millions Could Cut Cell Phone Bills in Half New Virgin Poll Reveals Buying Habits The Legal Line BioPay Expands Offering for Underbanked IDT to Sell European Prepaid Payment Business iPayStation Launches Network for Distributor Stored Value Solutions Appoints New VP Cellular South Offers Mobile Banking for Regions Bank Javelin Research: Processor Important in Prepaid MiCash Announces New Prepaid Debit Card Monitise and eCommLink Partner Platamovil Selects PhoenixSoft’s Cirrus Softswitch Prepaid Market Forecasts to 2011 Payments & Processing in Brief Prepaid 101: Gift Cards SCA’s PrizeSuite Enables Promotions MT&L Offers Gift Card Removal and Destruction Heartland Payment Systems Acquires Chockstone Amex and Rymax Offer Gift Cards TransCard Announces Corporate Gift Card Website Gift Cards & Promotions in Brief Our Advertisers Contact Us

The Prepaid Press - January 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.