Prepaid calling companies form association
ifteen leaders of the prepaid telecommunication industry gathered in Washington to create the American PrePaid Phonecall Association. The APPA is designed to promote "high-value prepaid telephone services to consumers and serving as the voice of the industry."
Gustavo M. de la Garza Ortega, founder and President of Mexico telecommunication company Grupo Marcatel, was elected Chairman of the APPA. Pete Pattullo, Chief Executive Officer of cloud-based prepaid services company Network Enhanced Telecom LLP (doing business as NetworkIP), was elected Vice Chairman. And Gene Retske, retired editor of The Prepaid Press, will serve as the Executive Director and oversee day-to-day operations.
Open and close with prepaid
ISOs and merchant level salespeople are always looking for new ways to open doors and close accounts with merchants. The 1201A edition of SellingPrepaid E-Magazine details how a promising opportunity may have just arrived.
On Jan.10, 2012, Better ATM Services Inc. said it is conducting a pilot program with Visa Inc. where specially configured ATMs dispense open-loop, Visa-branded gift cards. Add that functionality to Better ATM Services' technology that allows existing and new ATMs to offer closed-loop, retailer-specific gift cards, and merchant service providers may have a potent new value-added service to sell to merchants.
Next, Polymath Consulting Ltd.'s David Parker returns to SellingPrepaid with an update on how stadium card implementations are accelerating across Europe; it makes the San Antonio Spurs' move to offer season ticketholders the option of putting tickets on closed-loop smart cards seem timid in comparison.