PayPal Partners With MoneyGram So You Can Buy (Almost) Anywhere, Even Without A Credit Card

As mobile payments players race to innovate credit cards, PayPal spots an opportunity in the 1 of every 12 American households without bank accounts.

PayPal has partnered with global money transfer company MoneyGram to allow its 117 million users to deposit and withdraw funds to and from their PayPal digital wallets from any one of Moneygram's 284,000 physical locations.

The pilot run, which a PayPal blog post says will launch in early 2013, helps the payments giant pare down the number of steps it takes for a customer to go from "cash to commerce," which should ultimately translate into more purchases, whether online or offline.

The partnership also gives the 10 million American households without bank accounts access to e-commerce without requiring traditional banking information, such as a credit card number. A consumer who wants to shop online but doesn't own a credit card or bank account probably uses a pre-paid card. Through this partnership, they'll be able to load cash directly into a PayPal account to use anywhere it's accepted.

It's worth noting that Moneygram also has a money transfer partnership with Walmart, where customers can make in-store transfers without needing a bank account or credit card. Walmart is also testing Bluebird, a new pre-paid card in partnership with American Express that targets a similar, lower-income demographic.

PayPal's MoneyGram partnership fits in nicely with its big play to become the payments solution of choice not just on the web, but anywhere you can shop. In August, it extended the number of brick-and-mortar retailers who accept PayPal to include all those who accept Discover, also to be in effect beginning in 2013.

[Image: Flickr user epSos.de]

Posted by Unknown 07:31 0 comments

Zong Shifts its Marketing Strategy to Contradict its Own Vision

Back in May 2008, just after the launch, the first thing that Zong made an impression with was with a talky ad. In fact the very first dialogue of Zong’s launch TVC was:

Yaar aik baat tu batayain…

Yeh naach naach kay hi mobile connections bechna kyun zarori hay?

If you can’t recall, let’s have a look at Zong’s first TVC, which earned huge reputation (despite the fact that it was a ripped off version of a European TVC).

And you will have to agree with me that Zong did well without all those dancing TVCs and jingles that other operators were so vigorously following in those days. Unlike Telenor and Mobilink, Zong capitalized on talky ads to clearly and effectively convey the message.

Zong’s MNP TVCs are super example of the talky TVCs that not only brought them million of MNP subscriptions but such TVCs actually helped the general user in understanding MNP in real. Their talky ads were soon replicated by other sectors including banks and FMCGs.

Zong remained to the point, well focused and look at their performance in yester years, they outshined every other operator in terms of new sales, MNP acquisitions and what not. Zong in fact surpassed Warid to become number four operator in Pakistan in February 2012.

Now, after achieving 17 million customers, Zong this week aired a TVC which contradicts their own vision and mission statement. I can tell you that Zong didn’t look well by deviating from their own saying. What you think?

Before you share your thoughts, let’s have a look at their Dancing TVC:

Posted by Anonymous 00:13

Telenor Increases Talkshawk Tariffs, Changes LBC Offering in Selected Cities

Telenor has increased call charges for two of its talkshawk packages, namely Talkshawk 30 and Talkshawk 24 hours. Keep reading to know complete details:

Talkshawk 30

A note published on Telenor website says that Talkshawk 30 package holders will be able to make calls at 80 Paisa/30 Sec for off net and on net calls, which was earlier 63 paisas/30 seconds.

Note further says that FnF numbers will be charged at 50 Paisa/30 for TS 30 package holders.

Talkshwawk 24 Hours:

Similarly the rates for Talkshawk 24 hours were also increased to Rs. 1.6 /60 Sec for off net and on net calls. FnF numbers on Talkshawk 24 hours are now charged at Rs 1 /60 Sec. All calls will now be charged at 60sec pulse, unless specified differently.

Location Based Charging:

Telenor has also announced that Location Based Offer ( *345*232#) available in the below given cities is changed. Friend and Family numbers are now charged at Rs. 2.5/Hour + Tax for cities mentioned below:

• Bahawalpur
• Dera Ghazi Khan
• Muzaffargarh
• Multan
• Rahim Yar Khan
• Vehari
• Bahawalnagar
• Khanewal
• Ranjanpur

Posted by Unknown 03:33

Ufone T20 Offer: Free Minutes with Every Boundary

      Ufone is again offering free minutes for the cricket loving Nation. The offer comes filled with tons of minutes along with tons of runs, to be enjoyed during the T20 World Cup to be hosted in Sri Lanka.
All a customer needs to do is Dial *2020# and select their team prior to commencement of any T20 World Cup match, as players of their selected team send the ball over the rope or takes an outstanding wicket the customer will win a number of minutes which can be consumed to celebrate their teams achievements.
Offer Details and How to Subscribe:

• *2020# and select your team before commencement of T20 World Cup match
• 4 minutes will be rewarded on every boundary
• 6 minutes on every Six (the ball goes over the rope)
• 10 minutes on each wicket taken by your selected team
• Free Minutes will be given on the day of the match. These minutes will be valid till 3pm next day

Charges:

• Charges of selecting the team each time are Rs.20 (inclusive of tax)
• Selected Team will be valid for one ongoing match

The selection of the team will be valid for that particular day/match for which the team is selected and customers will have to try their luck in next match afresh.
The 2012 World Twenty20 will be the fourth edition of the Twenty20 tournament. South Africa organized the first event in 2007 where India emerged victorious in a closely fought final while Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the 2009 tournament in England to become World T20 Champions. England was crowned champions of the third T20 World Cup as it beat arch rivals Australia in Caribbean Islands.
Terms & Conditions:

• This offer is valid for all Prepaid customers
• This offer is only valid for T20 World Cup of 2012
• Ufone reserves the right to stop accepting the entries any time during the day
• Minutes will be given on the day of the match. These minutes will be valid till 3pm next day
• Selected Team will be valid for the ongoing match
• Minutes will be useful for Ufone to Ufone calls only
• In case of match cancellation, 50 minutes will still be given to the customers on the day of the cancelled match
• 19.5% FED on usage and 10% withholding tax at recharge or bill applies
• Terms and condition apply

Posted by Unknown 10:04

Pakistan SIM Information System

Pakistan SIM Information System:

PTA)( – Online SIM Information System (State of Telecom Industry in Pakistan)

(PTA) Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has developed a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) information system to address associated risks on security and to ensure subscription regulations in cellular sector.

The objective of the project is to provide a consumer-based facility to mobile subscriber's in Pakistan by which they would be able to find out the total number of SIM(s) registered against their respective CNIC number with each mobile operator.

You will get a response with number of connections issued against this CNIC for 6 companies (Mobilink, Warid, Zong, Telenor, SCO and Ufone).Service wont tell you cell number's,instead it will actually tell you amount of number's.

Computerized National ID card number (CNIC):

Note: Write your national ID card number without using ( - ).
(e.g. 6110160645683)

Posted by Unknown 08:17