Boston Communications Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCGI), a leader in real-time transaction processing for prepaid wireless, enhanced voice, and m-commerce services, today announced the availability of bcgi Wireless Wallet(TM). The product offering is leading the company's initiative to provide wireless carriers with new revenue-generating services.
This announcement follows a successful beta trial program with Cincinnati Bell Wireless' i-Wireless prepaid offering. This trial, the first of its kind in North America, provided youth users with a single prepaid account for the delivery of voice and m-commerce services.
bcgi Wireless Wallet is the foundation on which wireless carriers can build new m-commerce services. Enabled by the company's proven transaction-processing capabilities, Wireless Wallet provides carriers with an end-to-end, secure, cost-effective m-commerce payment solution that links stored value accounts to a network of e-commerce and m-commerce merchants. By leveraging bcgi for their m-commerce billing needs, wireless carriers can focus on developing value-added services for their subscribers.
A natural extension of the technology behind bcgi's Prepaid Wireless service, bcgi Wireless Wallet allows subscribers to sign up for a Wireless Wallet account using a PC or personal digital assistant (PDA), then perform commerce transactions using a mobile phone, PC, or PDA. Wireless Wallet provides consumers with a safe and easy payment solution for m-commerce. In addition, the solution's stored value capability makes it an ideal solution for the youth market, who are ineligible for credit, and for individuals wary of sending their credit card information over the Internet.
"bcgi recognized early on the need among carriers to diversify their offerings with services such as prepaid wireless calling," said E.Y. Snowden, president and CEO of bcgi. "Now, with the explosive growth of the youth market, and m-commerce revenues predicted to reach $47 billion by 2005, according to the research firm Ovum, carriers must again develop services to differentiate themselves to seize their share of this market. With bcgi Wireless Wallet, carriers can quickly develop value-added services aimed at capturing additional market share and retaining subscribers."
The architecture of bcgi Wireless Wallet allows the carrier to quickly implement a carrier-branded m-commerce capability with minimal infrastructure investment and risk. Carriers also benefit from bcgi's Distribution Technology Partnership Program that enables cash collection for account recharge at over 75,000 retail and ATM locations, as well as integration with a growing network of online merchants. bcgi Wireless Wallet has integrated with content provider merchants such as The-Mobile.net, FunCaster, and *CD.
"For carriers facing such an enormous market opportunity, m-commerce is no longer a question of if, but of when," said Tom Erskine, vice president of product development for bcgi. "Wireless Wallet meets carrier needs for a scalable, reliable, and secure payment platform immediately. Carriers that act to implement m-commerce services now will be better positioned to meet the changing needs of subscribers, and leverage their investments in new network technologies."
bcgi Wireless Wallet Features and Benefits
--Easy to sign-up - Subscribers can open a Wireless Wallet account in only a few minutes using a PC or PDA with Internet access.
--Intuitive interface - Provides an easy-to-use interface via voice or data.
--Subscriber self-care - Makes it easy for people to manage their account securely and independently online.
--Diverse recharge options - Allow recharge via wireless device, PDA, PC, and at 75,000 cash collection sites nationwide.
--Person-to-Person (P2P) payment between Wireless Wallet accounts - Allows individuals to remotely exchange or transfer funds.
--Easy merchant integration - Using XML.
--Network independence - Supports various switch types and network technologies.
--Device independence - Supports all types of wireless and web access, including voice, WAP, PC, and PDA.
--Real-time billing - Enables instant debiting and crediting of customer account.
--Security - SSL and VeriSign enable protected network environment, transaction processing and account access.
[ Home | Contact | MobiChat | Experts database | Let's do it ]
Comments to the content of this page can be posted on the MobiChat discussion group