MTxN selected as Mobile Rules! 2008 Finalist

We are very proud that Mobile Rules! has recognized m-Via’s Mobile Transaction Network (MTxN) as a 2008 Finalist in the Business Plan track:

“Mobile Rules! is the leading annual competition in the mobile world. The goal of the competition is to search for bright and fresh innovations and business plans that will bring the mobile business to a completely new level. Being a finalist in such a high-level rally is proof of your extraordinary creativeness, diligence and talent.”

Mobile Transaction Network (MTxN)
Not that long ago, minted coins were the only sanctioned currency, until paper money largely displaced coins. Then, paper money’s role in financial transactions was set aside by checks. Then credit cards and debit cards assumed the mantle of preferred form of payment. For all of these payment mechanisms, networks were created to handle currency and to protect the sanctity of the transaction.

Now, we are in the midst of yet another evolution of currency. Mobile payments are emerging and will soon become the dominant payment mechanism. However, the world is devoid of an appropriate financial network for this new paradigm.

But, coming soon from m-Via, the Mobile Transaction Network™ will solve this problem. The Mobile Transaction Network™ will provide the infrastructure and the ecosystem that is necessary for mobile payments to join the ranks of first-class payment mechanisms and assume the mantle of the preferred form of payment for years to come.

m-Via at SDForum – Menlo Park – February 18

On February 18, 2008, m-Via’s Ken Kruszka will be presenting and participating in a panel discussion at an SDForum session entitled “International Program: The Impact of Technology on Emerging Economies: MicroFinance” in Menlo Park, CA.

m-Via Releases Mobile Friends and Family Payments

m-Via Releases Mobile Friends and Family Payments Solution

Bringing the advantages of Mobile Transactions to Interpersonal Payments

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 7, 2008 – m-Via Inc., the leader in innovative mobile transaction technology and solutions, today announced the release of a new turn-key solution for Mobile Friends and Family Payments, bringing the power and convenience of mobile transactions to the problem of social and interpersonal payments.

From friends and family to online social networks, people are more connected now than ever before and expect instant interactions with members of their social circle. Before now, giving money to friends and relatives for any occasion, whether festive, commonplace, or an emergency was onerous; cash, checks, and money orders are inconvenient for either the giver or the recipient, or both.

m-Via’s Mobile Friends and Family Payments Solution opens a new era in interpersonal money exchange. Build atop the proven foundation of the best-of-breed mobile transactions application suite, MoTr™, m-Via’s Mobile Friends and Family Payments Solution provides advantages over traditional methods on all measures: cost, speed, security, convenience, safety.

“Why is it that money exchanges among friends and family is still conducted mostly using cash and checks while over 80% of consumers under age 30 greatly prefer using credit cards, debit cards, or electronic mechanisms to make purchases? The reason is that, before our Mobile Friends and Family Payments Solution, there was no easy, convenient, and economical way of transacting money within your social circle whenever you want and wherever you are,” said Kenneth D. Kruszka, CEO of m-Via. “What we’ve done with this solution is bridge the gap between sender and recipient and allow people to exchange money anywhere, anytime without the hassles and dangers of carrying cash.”

About m-Via Inc.
m-Via Inc. is a leading innovator of mobile transaction technology, solutions, and services. m-Via delivers global transaction solutions that are easy to use, highly secure, and extremely cost effective. m-Via’s revolutionary MoTr™ application suite allows anyone with a cell phone to send, receive and transact money anywhere in the world. With a combination of standard, turn-key solutions, flexible best-in-breed technology, and specialized services, m-Via empowers financial institutions, community-based organizations, retailers, or any other group to provide their customers or members with convenient access to financial services wherever they are, whenever they want. More information about the company may be obtained at www.m-via.com.

m-Via Releases Mobile Remittances Solution

Bringing the advantages of Mobile Transactions to Global Money Transfers

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 7, 2008 – m-Via Inc., the leader in innovative mobile transaction
technology and solutions, today announced the release of a new turn-key solution for Mobile
Remittances, bringing the power and convenience of mobile transactions to the problem of international money transfers.

An international remittance is a person-to-person transfer of funds from a person physically located in one country to another person in a second country. Before now, the typical consumer had no other choice but to use a traditional registered money transfer service, such as Western Union, or an informal “hawala” to send money home to friends and loved ones in another country.

m-Via’s Mobile Remittances Solution opens a new era in international money transfers. Built atop the proven foundation of the best-of-breed mobile transactions application suite, MoTr™, m-Via’s Mobile Remittances Solution provides advantages over traditional methods on all measures: cost, speed, security, convenience, safety.

“Immigrant communities are tragically underserved by existing financial services providers.  Through our Mobile Remittances Solution, we not only help unbanked and underbanked individuals with a service they need every month, at a better value proposition than any current method, but we also provide a springboard for more substantial financial services,” said Kenneth D. Kruszka, CEO of m-Via. “Mobile technology is key to providing a more convenient, cheaper, safer, and more secure way to send money back home to support your family.”

About m-Via Inc.
m-Via Inc. is a leading innovator of mobile transaction technology, solutions, and services. m-Via delivers global transaction solutions that are easy to use, highly secure, and extremely cost effective. m-Via’s revolutionary MoTr™ application suite allows anyone with a cell phone to send, receive and transact money anywhere in the world. With a combination of standard, turn-key solutions, flexible best-in-breed technology, and specialized services, m-Via empowers financial institutions, community-based organizations, retailers, or any other group to provide their customers or members with convenient access to financial services wherever they are, whenever they want. More information about the company may be obtained at www.m-via.com.

A Tale of Two Markets

m-Via’s Chris Sorensen tells “A Tale of Two Markets” in the November 2007 issue of Intele-Card News.

“Like many early stage technology markets, the mobile payments market is starting to split into separate sub-markets. The first sub-market includes both m-Banking (checking bank account balances, transferring money between accounts, locating bank branches, etc), and m-commerce (using a bank account, credit or debit card associated with a mobile phone to make purchases from the phone, pay bills, and buy prepaid airtime).

The second sub-market could be termed ‘m-unbanking’ which focuses on using mobile phones to provide financial services to the roughly 70% of the world’s population who do not yet have a bank account, credit or debit card. …”

The full article is available here.

m-Via at MobileCampSF – San Francisco – November 3

On November 3, 2007, m-Via’s Ken Kruszka will be conducting a session entitled “Mobile Payments: Showing Value to Overcome Consumer Doubts” at MobileCampSF.

m-Via at Prepaid Cards Europe – London – October 24-25

This October 24-25, m-Via’s Chris Sorensen will be presenting “Stars and Mag Stripes: what lessons can Europe learn from US prepaid successes?” at Prepaid Cards Europe.

So, if you’re going to be attending the conference, please introduce yourself to Chris!

m-Via at CTIA – San Francisco – October 23-25

This October 23-25 several of the m-Via team will be attending the CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

This year has a great line up of speakers and panels including keynotes by Steve Ballmer (CEO, Microsoft) and Dustin Moskovitz (VP of Engineering, Facebook).

So, if you’re going to be attending CTIA we’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Western Union’s entry is good for mobile remittances industry

Western Union, GSM Partner for Global Mobile Money Transfer Service was the headline of a press release a couple days ago.

We expected to see this announcement some time ago (even before the GSMA announcement in February). It will be very interesting to see how Western Union launches a mobile offering without creating conflict for their franchisees.

This is good news for the mobile payments industry – the most difficult and expensive part of building a new market is converting non-customers into potential customers. Western Union will spend a significant amount of money educating their consumers about the safety and convenience of mobile remittances. Once they have done the heavy lifting, it wil be easier (and cheaper) for competitors to lure away the converted users with better services and pricing.