Bangkok--14 Sep--Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
Nokia has won a deal to supply Thai mobile operator DTAC with the Nokia Connect eRefill, an innovative solution for electronic top-ups of prepaid accounts. With Nokia Connect eRefill, DTAC prepaid subscribers can conveniently recharge their accounts by buying small, affordable amounts of airtime from a host of resellers.
In addition to the Nokia Connect eRefill, Nokia is providing system integration and care services. The solution is operational, and DTAC has started offering the service under the name ‘Happy Online’.
The Nokia Connect eRefill is ideal for the Thai market, where more than 80% of subscribers are prepaid. The solution also enables DTAC to support a large number of resellers, since resellers require only a mobile phone to perform the transaction. Alternatively, resellers can also use a Web interface. DTAC will also be able to reduce costs by avoiding physical methods of account recharging, such as scratch cards or vouchers.
“Prepaid has been a growing segment among DTAC subscribers during the past few years, “said Thana Thienachariya, Chief Commercial Officer, DTAC. “We are looking to extend our offering and attract new customers by introducing service differentiation and innovation into the prepaid Thai Market. With the e-refill solution provided by Nokia, we have a cost-effective way to do this.”
“We are very impressed with the benefits of the Nokia Connect eRefill,” said Chaiyod Chirabowornkul, Unit Head — Commercial Development Unit, DTAC “We expect it to significantly lower the barriers to recharging prepaid accounts by allowing us to greatly expand our network of resellers and by allowing our customers to buy airtime in very small amounts. It’s a very practical solution.”
“Nokia sees e-refill as a key enabler for DTAC to serve its prepaid subscriber base,” said Suwit Pruckwattanaon, Account Director for DTAC, Networks, Nokia, Thailand. “Nokia Connect eRefill makes micro-value top-ups possible, increasing affordability and encouraging greater mobile usage among lower-spending subscribers, and providing important new business growth for DTAC. With Nokia Connect eRefill, both DTAC and its subscribers come out ahead.”
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations. www.nokia.com .
About Nokia
A market leader in the cellular industry in Asia Pacific, Nokia provides innovative, industry leading and market-relevant technology and products to around 20 diverse markets in the region.
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations.
You may visit the Nokia Asia-Pacific website at http://www.nokia-asia.com or the Nokia Group website at http://www.nokia.com
For more information please contact:
Jiraporn Boonnark Nokia (Thailand) Ltd. Tel. 0 2673 8888
Waralee Bunnag / Tanawoot Kosol Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Ltd. Tel. 0 2205 6627, 0 2205 6616
Notes to the Editor:
At present most operators consider it impractical to sell prepaid airtime top ups in very small amounts because of the cost per transaction when vouchers or scratch cards are used. Electronic refill eliminates many of the fixed costs associated with traditional vouchers-based solution, making electronic refill the most cost-effective and flexible solution for providing small-denomination airtime top ups.
With Nokia Connect eRefill, prepaid subscribers pay a reseller for the desired amount of airtime. The airtime reseller then sends a payment request message to the prepaid system by text message or by the Web. The subscriber’s account is credited automatically, and the reseller’s account is also debited accordingly. Both parties are notified about the success of the transaction, and the subscriber receives a text message showing the latest account balance.
The Nokia Connect eRefill solution consists of the Nokia Connect eRefill Server and associated interfaces, as well as General User Interfaces (GUI) for airtime resellers and operators’ customer care staff, allowing flexible management of airtime distribution. The solution supports the most common protocols of SMSC dialog and has an open API interface to all prepaid systems.