New Partner Programme Designed To Help UK?s Small Retailers Tap In To ?70 Million Mobile Data Market

Sheffield, UK and Worldwide, November 3, 2003 /Wi-Fi Technology News/-MULTePAY Limited, the first truly independent broker of countertop electronic payments services in the UK, today announced the launch of a new ?Partner Promotion Programme? aimed at helping the UK?s small independent retailers tap in to the lucrative mobile data market for the first time. Sales of mobile content ? including mobile phone ringtones, logos and games ? are currently experiencing dramatic growth in the UK. According to the Mobile Data Association, ringtone sales are set to rise 60 per cent this year, creating a market valued at over ?70m in 2003.

The promotion, which is being trialled in MULTePAY?s leading retail stores, includes point of sale materials and in-store advertising designed to help independent retailers profit from the explosion in consumer demand through MULTePAY Direct, ?The only payment terminal you will ever need?. The solution works by delivering an access PIN code through the terminal and onto a receipt which the customer keys in to their mobile phone to access a vast choice of ringtones and other mobile content. The MULTePAY solution offers the first opportunity for retailers to capitalise upon the market for mobile content products, which are sold today predominantly through magazine advertisements and via the Internet.

Launched earlier this year, the MULTePAY Direct terminal provides a flexible, revenue-generating platform for multiple new electronic products, including electronic top-up for prepaid mobile phones, games, ringtones and logos. MULTePAY Direct is unique in enabling retailers to prepay a cash value onto their MULTePAY terminal, allowing them to vend from this value any top-up and prepaid product without the risk of holding stock. Moreover, MULTePAY offers the highest commissions available to independent retailers today. With MULTePAY Direct, retailers can earn margins of up to 5.5 per cent on electronic top-ups on all major mobile networks, and 20 per cent on mobile content sales.

To complement the prepay products, the MULTePAY terminal is Chip and PIN compliant and can provide credit and debit card facilities through all acquiring banks. The MULTePAY terminal has been chosen by Europe?s leading sales, marketing and distribution specialist, Food Brokers Limited, to market to its customer base, and is being stocked by cash & carry outlets throughout the UK, including Batleys, Blakemores, United, Sher Bros and JW Grays.

Commenting on today?s announcement, MULTePAY?s Managing Director Andrew House said, ?75 per cent of the UK population now owns a mobile phone and personalisation products such as ringtones and logos are big business.? He continued, ?With the highest commission rates in the industry today, MULTePAY is already committed to helping independent retailers maximise their profits, and now we are delighted to be enabling our customers to take full advantage of an outstanding market opportunity.?

Nik Wylde, recently appointed as MULTePAY?s Sales Director, added, ?Selling ringtones and logos is a new opportunity for many small retailers.? He continued, ?With the expected Christmas rush on new mobile sales just around the corner, we?re seeing a lot of interest from proprietors who have previously attracted custom with paper vouchers for pre-pay phone top-ups. Our innovative point-of-sale packaging will maximise the ringtone and logo opportunity for them.?

The MULTePAY Direct terminal is available to all small independent retailers without the need to fill out application forms or enter into a contract. Additionally, there are no hidden deposits or service charges to pay and no minimum transaction targets to meet. Together with the wide range of prepay products on the terminal, the MULTePAY terminal is positioned to be the most complete electronic payment solution for the independent retailer on the market.

For further enquiries about the MULTePAY terminal please contact Customer Services on 0870 802129.

About MULTePAY
MULTePAY is the first truly independent broker of countertop electronic payments services in the UK. A privately owned company, MULTePAY launched a network of unique payment terminals in June 2003 that are being marketed into various retail sectors including CTN, impulse and leisure both in the UK and throughout Europe.

Currently marketed as ?The Only Payment Terminal You Will Ever Need?, MULTePAY provides small independent retailers with a plug-and-go electronic top-up terminal which eliminates the need to enter into a contract or meet minimum transaction targets.

MULTePAY offers the ability to prepay a cash value onto the terminal and vend a range of prepaid and top-up services, removing the risk of post transaction cash collection and without the risk of holding stock. Off-the-shelf services currently available include mobile phone top ups, mobile phone ringtones, logos and games, international telephone cards and prepaid Internet access.

MULTePAY is differentiated by being the only vendor which affords wholesalers a realistic market entry point into the electronic payment process. For retailers, MULTePAY?s strategy is to provide the most complete range of prepay products with the best commission rates available, enabling maximum profit and rapid return on investment for the merchant.

For small independent retailers, the advantages of the MULTePAY solution include no requirement for a contract and new revenue opportunities available directly through the terminal that is also fully Chip and PIN compliant and credit card ready, providing payment facilities through all acquiring banks.