Sydney, Mar 24, 2009 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Belgacom International Carrier Services (Belgacom ICS), a leading global provider of voice, data and value added services and eServGlobal Limited (LON:ESG)(ASX:ESV), a provider of end-to-end solutions, enabling smart communication and payment services, have successfully tested their joint service, HomeSend, and performed a first international money transfer through the mobile phone.
The HomeSend service is the first mobile centric global hubbing service for international remittance, airtime exchange and roaming recharge. During this trial, Belgacom ICS and eServGlobal have successfully tested a first remittance corridor between Belgium and a North African country.
This represents a significant new step in mobile payments, and indeed the telecommunications industry. Especially since the GSMA announced during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that it has chosen Belgacom ICS as one of its partners in the Mobile Money Transfer (MMT) programme, an initiative that leverages mobile to facilitate access to money transfer services.
In the coming months further tests are planned to ensure coverage, from Europe and the Middle East to South East Asia as well as within Africa and South East Asia. Belgacom ICS and eServGlobal are also striving to peer with the other players in the remittance industry, to enable Mobile Operators in any country to access the international remittance market and gain the largest possible coverage.
International remittances are a significant sector for mobile payment, allowing mobile subscribers to easily and quickly transfer airtime or money internationally. According to the GSM Association, some 175 million migrants currently use remittance services, sending money to around 800 million dependent recipients. Remittance flows have reached US$320 billion, and are estimated to reach US$700 billion by 2012.
The expansion of any payment offering with international remittance services will make it easier for users to send small amounts more frequently, generating incremental transaction revenue.
Laurent Lafarge, CEO of eServGlobal said "This is a great new milestone for HomeSend and we are proud to provide mobile operators with this unique value proposition that will allow them to access new customers, reduce churn and extract maximum value!"
Daniel Kurgan, CEO of Belgacom ICS said "Since the GSMA endorsement, this successful trial is the first big achievement for HomeSend, an innovative new hubbing service, that will open up new markets and enable mobile operators to make a bold step into a high-value area."
About Belgacom ICS
Belgacom International Carrier Services S.A./NV (Belgacom ICS) is a leading global carrier of voice, data and value added services to over 500 wireless, wireline and service providers through sales offices in Brussels, Bern, Dubai, Singapore and New York.
Belgacom ICS is at the forefront of the international communications industry, acting as a catalyst for growth, both in terms of traffic and reach. The company aims to enable global interworking across all networks, technologies and services. As a result of this approach and the joint venture with Swisscom ICS, Belgacom International Carrier Services is now one of the largest wholesale voice carrier and a world leader in data transit services.
For more information, please visit http://www.belgacom-ics.com
Contact
Ian Buddery
Executive Chairman
eServGlobal Limited
Numis Securities Limited
Brent Nabbs (NOMAD) / David Poutney (Broking)
Tel: +44-0-20-7260-1000
ICIS (financial PR)
Christian Taylor-Wilkinson / Bob Huxford
Tel: +44-0-20-7651-8688
eServGlobal Limited
Sally Bennett, Communications Manager
sally.bennett@eservglobal.com
T: +33-1-46-12-77-46
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