Abstract : A Maltese company has developed a technology allowing the refilling
of a prepaid card that is as easy as a phone call to a toll-free number. A
server detects the caller ID from the call, hangs on the line & instantly
initiates the automatic payment processing. Then virtually from anywhere and at
any time, a customer can refill any prepaid card: mobile phone prepaid card,
long-distance or international calling card, parking, library, etc. Partners are
being sought to set up and run the service.
Up to now, in order to refill a prepaid card, a customer needs, as the case may
be, to buy a new voucher at a specific point of sale (constraints of shop
location and opening hours) , or to refill the card at a specific ATM
(constraints of specialised ATM (automated teller machine) localisation and
availability) , to refill the card via Internet (constraints of Internet access
availability and painful on-line purchasing process) .
This technology frees the customer from all those constraints and gives them
flexibility to securely manage prepaid services when they need or when they feel
like it. Furthermore, through the roaming agreements, a customer can also refill
his/hers prepaid card while abroad.
Upon subscription, a customer wanting to purchase a prepaid service simply dials
with his mobile a specific service number. The server picks up from the incoming
call the caller ID and hangs up the line. The call is free of charge. The client
can also send an SMS (short messaging service) from his mobile to the specific
service number, when the caller ID cannot be transmitted while being abroad.
Then, the server shall debit the corresponding amount from the customer's
debit/credit card, requesting an authorisation from a bank. If the transaction
was successful, the server either sends an SMS to the customer's mobile phone
with the purchased PIN (personal identification number) number while the
customer enters himself through a free top-up number of the respective service,
or directly tops up the customer's prepaid account.
Main Advantages:
The main advantage of the concept is the combination of:
- Convenience for the users who can top-up a prepaid card virtually anywhere at
anytime.
- Operational cost savings for the prepaid service vendors who do not need
countless selling points and associated administration and logistical expenses
to distribute the top-up vouchers.
- Security and confidentiality as no sensitive data such as debit/credit card
data are transmitted over the mobile network or held in the mobile handset
itself.
- Versatility of the solution that functions from any model of mobile phone, is
not dependent on any specific mobile operator, and can serve for virtually any
type of prepaid service.
Innovative Aspects : An extremely simple way of purchasing prepaid services over
the mobile phone, without the requirement to have a specific handset or "smart"
SIM (security identity module) card and without any extra costs to the
customer.
Subject Descriptors : Communications networks, Information processing, Packet
switched networks, Satellite communications, Signal processing
Subject Index Codes : Telecommunications, Information Processing, Information
Systems
Subject Class : IT, telecommunications
Market Applications : Mobile communications, cellular radio, Telecommunications
systems
Stage of Development : Prototype/demonstrator available for testing
Remarks : IRC Data: TO-MLT-ICT-005
Property Rights : Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted
Collaboration Sought : Joint venture agreement, Marketing agreement, Information
exchange/Training
Collaboration Detail : Type of partner sought:
Communications service company.
Specific area of activity of the partner:
Mobile phone technology.
Task to be performed:
Partner will provide:
- A set-up, which enables the development of such software.
- Running costs of the set-up.
Contact Details
Contact Name : WOODS, Joe
Contact Organisation : METCO Trade Centre
Address : San Gwann Ind. Estate
City : San Gwann
Region : MALTA
Postcode : SGN09
Country : MALTA
Telephone Number : +356-23-843282
Fax Number : +356-21-441106
Electronic Mailbox :
jwoods@innovationmalta.com
