Poland Mobile Operator Launches Euronet Mobile Recharge
Poland Mobile Operator Launches Euronet Mobile Recharge
Poland Mobile Operator Launches Euronet Mobile Recharge WARSAW, POLAND and LEAWOOD, KANSAS — April 9, 2002 — Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: EEFT), a leading provider of secure electronic financial transaction solutions, today announced the launch of Euronet Mobile Recharge for Polkomtel S.A, enabling subscribers to add prepaid airtime directly from the mobile phone. Polkomtel S.A., with the consumer brand Plus GSM, is a mobile operator leader in Poland with more than 3.5 million subscribers, including 1.6 million prepaid subscribers.
This agreement marks the first time Poland’s mobile users will be able to take advantage of this product, adding to the existing electronic distribution method that Plus GSM already has implemented—Euronet ATM Recharge. With Euronet Mobile Recharge, Plus GSM’s users can automatically add minutes to a prepaid account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, directly from the mobile phone through short message service (SMS).
Euronet Mobile Recharge enables customers to purchase airtime using a mobile phone and charges the purchases to a card or account registered in the Mobile Recharge system. Registration has to be performed (only once) at any of over 400 Euronet ATMs and then every recharge can be initiated any time and any place from the handset. Euronet Mobile Recharge authorizes the financial transaction, processes the recharge automatically and triggers an electronic credit to the subscriber’s prepaid account. The subscriber’s mobile phone receives an SMS message from Plus GSM confirming that the account has been credited.
“Poland’s mobile phone rate has grown tremendously over the past few years,” said Janusz Diemko, Euronet Country Manager. “Electronic forms of recharge soon will become a way of life, offering yet another reason for consumers to use a mobile service such as Plus GSM.”
In addition to Euronet Mobile Recharge and Euronet ATM Recharge, Euronet offers two other recharge options, including adding prepaid minutes through POS devices and the Internet. These outsourcing solutions are processed through the Euronet Operating Center in Budapest, Hungary.
“Because 50 percent of the mobile phone service in Europe is prepaid, Mobile Recharge provides a great opportunity to offer consumer convenience throughout the region,” said Daniel R. Henry, Euronet Worldwide President and Chief Operating Officer. “This is the first Mobile Recharge solution implemented in Poland, and through our continued partnership with Plus GSM, we can use Euronet’s infrastructure and capabilities to bring convenience to all types of mobile customers.”
About Euronet Worldwide
Euronet Worldwide is an industry leader in providing secure electronic financial transaction solutions. The company offers financial payment middleware, financial network gateways, outsourcing and consulting services to financial institutions and mobile operators. These solutions enable their customers to access personal financial information and perform secure financial transactions -- any time, any place. The company has processing centers located in the United States, Europe and Asia, and owns and operates the largest independent ATM network in Europe. With corporate headquarters in Leawood, Kansas, USA, and European headquarters in Budapest, Hungary, Euronet serves more than 200 clients in 60 countries. Visit our web site at www.euronetworldwide.com.
About Polkomtel S.A.
Polkomtel S.A. was established in 1995. The shareholders are six Polish companies, which represents 60.78% of share capital and two foreign companies with share capital of 39.22.%.
Polkomtel shareholders include: Polski Koncern Naftowy ORLEN SA, KGHM Polska MiedŸ SA, Vodafone Americas Asia Inc., Tele Danmark A/S, Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne SA, Wêglokoks SA, Tel-Energo SA and TelBank SA. Through the end of 2002, Plus GSM expects to have about 4.5 million customers. In 2001 Plus obtained almost 1 million new customers, just during December over 111,000 new prepaid customers joined Plus GSM. During 2000, Plus GSM was the first to provide WAP (Wireless Access Protocol), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and electronic customer service. In addition, 178 million SMS (Short Messaging Service) messages were sent during 2000. Visit the Plus GSM web site at www.plusgsm.pl.
Contacts:
Media Contact:
Misti Garffie
Euronet Worldwide
913-327-4257
mgarffie@payspot.com
This agreement marks the first time Poland’s mobile users will be able to take advantage of this product, adding to the existing electronic distribution method that Plus GSM already has implemented—Euronet ATM Recharge. With Euronet Mobile Recharge, Plus GSM’s users can automatically add minutes to a prepaid account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, directly from the mobile phone through short message service (SMS).
Euronet Mobile Recharge enables customers to purchase airtime using a mobile phone and charges the purchases to a card or account registered in the Mobile Recharge system. Registration has to be performed (only once) at any of over 400 Euronet ATMs and then every recharge can be initiated any time and any place from the handset. Euronet Mobile Recharge authorizes the financial transaction, processes the recharge automatically and triggers an electronic credit to the subscriber’s prepaid account. The subscriber’s mobile phone receives an SMS message from Plus GSM confirming that the account has been credited.
“Poland’s mobile phone rate has grown tremendously over the past few years,” said Janusz Diemko, Euronet Country Manager. “Electronic forms of recharge soon will become a way of life, offering yet another reason for consumers to use a mobile service such as Plus GSM.”
In addition to Euronet Mobile Recharge and Euronet ATM Recharge, Euronet offers two other recharge options, including adding prepaid minutes through POS devices and the Internet. These outsourcing solutions are processed through the Euronet Operating Center in Budapest, Hungary.
“Because 50 percent of the mobile phone service in Europe is prepaid, Mobile Recharge provides a great opportunity to offer consumer convenience throughout the region,” said Daniel R. Henry, Euronet Worldwide President and Chief Operating Officer. “This is the first Mobile Recharge solution implemented in Poland, and through our continued partnership with Plus GSM, we can use Euronet’s infrastructure and capabilities to bring convenience to all types of mobile customers.”
About Euronet Worldwide
Euronet Worldwide is an industry leader in providing secure electronic financial transaction solutions. The company offers financial payment middleware, financial network gateways, outsourcing and consulting services to financial institutions and mobile operators. These solutions enable their customers to access personal financial information and perform secure financial transactions -- any time, any place. The company has processing centers located in the United States, Europe and Asia, and owns and operates the largest independent ATM network in Europe. With corporate headquarters in Leawood, Kansas, USA, and European headquarters in Budapest, Hungary, Euronet serves more than 200 clients in 60 countries. Visit our web site at www.euronetworldwide.com.
About Polkomtel S.A.
Polkomtel S.A. was established in 1995. The shareholders are six Polish companies, which represents 60.78% of share capital and two foreign companies with share capital of 39.22.%.
Polkomtel shareholders include: Polski Koncern Naftowy ORLEN SA, KGHM Polska MiedŸ SA, Vodafone Americas Asia Inc., Tele Danmark A/S, Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne SA, Wêglokoks SA, Tel-Energo SA and TelBank SA. Through the end of 2002, Plus GSM expects to have about 4.5 million customers. In 2001 Plus obtained almost 1 million new customers, just during December over 111,000 new prepaid customers joined Plus GSM. During 2000, Plus GSM was the first to provide WAP (Wireless Access Protocol), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and electronic customer service. In addition, 178 million SMS (Short Messaging Service) messages were sent during 2000. Visit the Plus GSM web site at www.plusgsm.pl.
Contacts:
Media Contact:
Misti Garffie
Euronet Worldwide
913-327-4257
mgarffie@payspot.com