Vodafone is Hungary’s Third Mobile Operator to Choose Euronet ATM Recharge
Vodafone is Hungary’s Third Mobile Operator to Choose Euronet ATM Recharge
Vodafone is Hungary’s Third Mobile Operator to Choose Euronet ATM Recharge BUDAPEST, HUNGARY and LEAWOOD, KANSAS — June 18, 2002 — Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: EEFT), a leading provider of secure electronic financial transaction solutions, and Vodafone Hungary today announced the implementation of Euronet ATM Recharge, which enables Vodafone subscribers to purchase prepaid airtime at 371-Euronet-branded ATMs throughout Hungary.
Vodafone, which entered Hungary's mobile market in 1999, will leverage the ATM distribution channel to offer added convenience to its prepaid mobile customers. Hungary has more than 5 million mobile phone subscribers with approximately 78% as a prepaid market. Now Euronet Worldwide provides this service to all three GSM mobile operators in Hungary—also Pannon GSM and Westel—enabling a combined total of more than 4 million Hungarian prepaid customers to easily add minutes to their accounts. Similarly, Euronet enables customers of all three mobile operators in Poland—Plus GSM, ERA GSM, and Centertel—to recharge their airtime at Euronet ATMs.
"As Vodafone's Hungarian customer base continues to grow, we're continually seeking ways to add high-quality services, like ATM Recharge, to our total offering." said Attila Vitai, CEO of Vodafone Hungary. "ATM Recharge provides innovative solutions that not only enhance customer convenience but establish an efficient and economical distribution mechanism for our prepaid airtime program."
Subscribers can add minutes automatically to their prepaid phone accounts at any Euronet ATM throughout the country, with no scratch-off or voucher receipts required. Once Euronet ATM Recharge authorizes and processes the transaction, the ATM triggers an electronic debit from a subscriber's account, and the customer's mobile phone receives an SMS message from Vodafone confirming the transaction.
"We're honored that Vodafone Hungary has chosen Euronet as their recharge service provider," said Michael J. Brown, Euronet Worldwide Chairman and CEO. "This is the second market where all GSM operators have signed up for Euronet's Recharge services, emphasizing Euronet's innovative solutions that meet the needs of both the consumer and the mobile operator. Euronet Electronic Recharge reduces distribution costs, eliminates scratch card inventory and decreases fraud, while enabling mobile operators to expand their prepaid recharge sales quickly. "
Electronic recharge service is also available via POS terminals and directly from the mobile phone. This service is live for mobile operator customers in the Czech Republic, Poland, Croatia, Curacao and Indonesia.
"Given the dramatic growth of prepaid mobile recharge in Central Europe, we are committed to supporting the GSM market with multiple Recharge touchpoints across this region," added Miro I. Bergman, Euronet Worldwide EVP and Managing Director in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
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 Europe, Asia and the United States, and it 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 Vodafone Hungary
V.R.A.M. Ltd. (Vodafone Hungary) is a joint venture of Netherlands-based Vodafone International Holdings B.V., Antenna Hungária Rt. and RWE Com Gmbh & co. oHG. Vodafone is the world's leading mobile service provider with more than 101 million subscribers in 28 countries. Vodafone's core activities are mobile voice and data transmissions, two of the most rapidly developing sectors of the telecommunications industry.
Contacts:
Media Contact:
Misti Garffie
Euronet Worldwide
913-327-4257
mgarffie@payspot.com
Vodafone, which entered Hungary's mobile market in 1999, will leverage the ATM distribution channel to offer added convenience to its prepaid mobile customers. Hungary has more than 5 million mobile phone subscribers with approximately 78% as a prepaid market. Now Euronet Worldwide provides this service to all three GSM mobile operators in Hungary—also Pannon GSM and Westel—enabling a combined total of more than 4 million Hungarian prepaid customers to easily add minutes to their accounts. Similarly, Euronet enables customers of all three mobile operators in Poland—Plus GSM, ERA GSM, and Centertel—to recharge their airtime at Euronet ATMs.
"As Vodafone's Hungarian customer base continues to grow, we're continually seeking ways to add high-quality services, like ATM Recharge, to our total offering." said Attila Vitai, CEO of Vodafone Hungary. "ATM Recharge provides innovative solutions that not only enhance customer convenience but establish an efficient and economical distribution mechanism for our prepaid airtime program."
Subscribers can add minutes automatically to their prepaid phone accounts at any Euronet ATM throughout the country, with no scratch-off or voucher receipts required. Once Euronet ATM Recharge authorizes and processes the transaction, the ATM triggers an electronic debit from a subscriber's account, and the customer's mobile phone receives an SMS message from Vodafone confirming the transaction.
"We're honored that Vodafone Hungary has chosen Euronet as their recharge service provider," said Michael J. Brown, Euronet Worldwide Chairman and CEO. "This is the second market where all GSM operators have signed up for Euronet's Recharge services, emphasizing Euronet's innovative solutions that meet the needs of both the consumer and the mobile operator. Euronet Electronic Recharge reduces distribution costs, eliminates scratch card inventory and decreases fraud, while enabling mobile operators to expand their prepaid recharge sales quickly. "
Electronic recharge service is also available via POS terminals and directly from the mobile phone. This service is live for mobile operator customers in the Czech Republic, Poland, Croatia, Curacao and Indonesia.
"Given the dramatic growth of prepaid mobile recharge in Central Europe, we are committed to supporting the GSM market with multiple Recharge touchpoints across this region," added Miro I. Bergman, Euronet Worldwide EVP and Managing Director in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
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 Europe, Asia and the United States, and it 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 Vodafone Hungary
V.R.A.M. Ltd. (Vodafone Hungary) is a joint venture of Netherlands-based Vodafone International Holdings B.V., Antenna Hungária Rt. and RWE Com Gmbh & co. oHG. Vodafone is the world's leading mobile service provider with more than 101 million subscribers in 28 countries. Vodafone's core activities are mobile voice and data transmissions, two of the most rapidly developing sectors of the telecommunications industry.
Contacts:
Media Contact:
Misti Garffie
Euronet Worldwide
913-327-4257
mgarffie@payspot.com