The Prepaid Press - February 2009 - (Page 1)

5 Minutes With Darren Dat Lu CEO of Lunex Group Page 8 d FREE Subscription for Prepaid Industry Professionals. Electronic and Print Versions Available www.prepaid-press.com/subscribe The Prepaid Press Real News, Right Now! REAL NEWS, RIGHT NOW! February 15, 2009. Volume 8. Number 2 International Mobile Top-Up Opportunities abound for savvy providers. Page 10 d All Hail the New King? STi Moves to Grab Market Lead with CVT Prepaid Acquisition By Rivka Gewirtz Little Seven CostConscious Marketing Strategies for 2009 Online marketing, social networking key to driving big results with a small budget. Page 24 d STI’s recent acquisition of CVT Prepaid Solutions is likely to signify a crucial shift in prepaid market leadership, as well as a change in how companies gain dominating market share. The acquisition is also part of an ongoing consolidation trend in the prepaid card market that threatens to result in a tiny group of very large players and a gaggle of smaller niche companies battling it out for market share. While, for many years, a number of companies fought for market share by slashing prices, these days, it may be more likely to gain a dominating position through acquisition. In the coming year, STi’s acquisitions are expected to place the company ahead of market leader and rival IDT. In 2008, Atlantic-ACM recorded IDT as holding 30.8 percent of the prepaid market, which was worth $685 million domestically and $2 billion internationally. STi was a good a lap behind IDT in the race, holding 21.3 percent of the market share. CVT controlled about 6.5 percent of the market last year. But with STi’s acquisition of Sprint Prepaid last September and the now the more recent acquisition of CVT, it is very likely STi will surpass IDT in 2009, according to Continues on page 13 What’s Driving Their Success? By Arlene Hauben Mobile banking “There has been a shift in consumer behavior to spend only Continues on page 18 20533 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 1142. Aventura, FL 33180. US Since its inception, the prepaid debit card has been a boon to the unbanked and under-banked population, which has often been denied access to traditional payment methods. In the current economic crisis, many more people are learning what it’s like to be without credit cards. Consequently, there has been a drastic change in consumer spending habits. Fiscal responsibility has become the new buzz phrase, and the prepaid debit card the perfect medium for paying bills and making purchases. As consumers watch what they spend, and only spend what they have, the debit card could become the centerpiece of the payment world. Ed Braswell, CEO and founder of Facebook Prepaid MasterCard, says, “There are definite opportunities tied to the current economic situation and the credit and lending issues.” Greater efficiency, simplicity, and availability of the prepaid debit card have also stimulated its popularity. In addition, the everpresent cell phone and online innovations like social networks are changing the ways we connect, making it easier to reload credit. All this bodes well for the prepaid debit card, open loop variety. Packaged Facts, a market research company, predicts $200 billion on prepaid debit cards in 2011. Tampa, FL Permit No. 3311 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Prepaid Debit Card Trends PAID http://www.prepaid-press.com/subscribe

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

Payments & Processing: Prepaid Debit Card Trends Contents The Retske Report: A Courthouse Divided Regulatory Rundown Prepaid Business: 5 Minutes With Darren Dat Lu, CEO of Lunex Group Prepaid Telecom: International Mobile Top-Up Virgin Mobile USA Compliance Plan Accepted by NYSE Tata Communications Launches One IP World KIT Communications Selects PhoenixSoft Sprint Nextel Increases Payments to Virgin Mobile Motorola, Sprint and Boost Mobile Welcome iDEN Flip PhoenixSoft Announces New Program Virgin Mobile Partners with Susan G. Komen The State of Prepaid Technology: Prepaid Virtual Operators Emerge Prepaid Wireless Roundup Boost Launches ‘Monthly Unlimited’ in More Cities Cricket Selects Callidus On-Demand Solution ICC Worldwide Expands Prepaid Products IPsmarx Launches SIP Based Card Platform The Legal Line Prepaid Telecom in Brief Pinnacle Rolls Out Ingenico’s Payment Terminals TransCard Makes Staff Announcements H&R Block Bank Selects MasterCard Avangate Pays Vendors and Affiliates with Prepaid MC TIO Networks Announces Grant of Stock Options TSYS Offers Enhanced Loyalty Solution First American Payment Systems Inks Deal with RDM Hypercom Introduces HyperSafe Remote Key System i2c Expands Team iPayStation Integrates with Movistar Payments & Processing in Brief New Javelin Report on Evolving Prepaid Card Market TransCard, Socialwise Plan to Revolutionize Prepaid Congresswoman Introduces Financial Literacy Act Industry Analysis on Mobile Banking Available Gift Cards & Promotions: Seven Cost-Conscious Marketing Strategies for 2009 Ntreev USA Announces PvP Tournament hhgregg to Help Circuit City Customers NRF Releases December Industry Sales Cellfire Expands Kroger Mobile Coupon Program Petrofix.com Offers a New Fuel Solution Gift Cards & Promotions in Brief Our Advertisers Contact Us

The Prepaid Press - February 2009

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