Soriana Signs Emida as Logistic Electronic Operator
FOOTHILL RANCH, California and MIAMI, Florida, March 22, 2006 (Business Wire) – Emida Technologies, through their Mexican subsidiary Red de Prepago de Mexico, has finalized an agreement with Soriana, one of Mexico’s largest retail chains, for exclusive electronic transaction processing of prepaid wireless recharge at all 198 Soriana stores in 89 cities throughout Mexico.
Soriana, a publicly traded company, was the first retailer to offer wireless top-up via ePINs over Emida’s Puntoflex network nearly two and a half years ago. Soriana will now move exclusively to electronic top-up within the next thirty days, being among the first major retailers to eliminate the use of ePINs. Wireless carriers Movistar and Telcel have already completed the necessary integration to be able to offer 100% electronic top-up at all Soriana stores, and two additional carriers, Unefon and Iusacell, are in the final stages of integration to also allow 100% electronic top-up of the services at all Soriana locations.
In the new agreement between Emida and Soriana, Emida becomes Soriana’s logistic electronic operator for an undisclosed per-transaction fee. Soriana chose Emida’s Puntoflex network based on the successful history between the two companies.
“We needed to move quickly from ePINs to electronic transactions, and Emida has proven themselves to be a knowledgeable, responsive and technically competent partner throughout our history together,” said Pedro Mejía Mendoza, Investor Relations Director, Soriana. “We trust Emida and are glad to be working with them as we continue to evolve and improve our product offerings to our customers.”
In addition, as Soriana makes the change from ePINs to electronic recharge, they have launched their new convenience store chain, Supercity, in Mexico. This strategic move will help Soriana pursue prepaid wireless opportunities in the convenience store sector, the largest reseller market of wireless top-up in the country. Soriana expects to have about 300 Supercity stores opened by the end of 2006. All Supercity stores will exclusively offer electronic top-up.
“Soriana has clearly put a lot of trust in us, and we appreciate that,” commented Manuel Nunez, Emida’s General Manager of Mexico. “Puntoflex has proven to be a robust, secure and reliable electronic distribution network for Soriana, and as another key element to Soriana’s success with their all-electronic strategy, we will provide Soriana and all cellular carriers integrated into Soriana’s network with precise, clear and timely snapshots of the transactions being processed.”
More information on Soriana can be found on their web site www.soriana.com.mx.
About Emida
Emida is a leader in the global prepayment and value transfer market, operating in 17 countries, including North America, Mexico, Peru, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana and the much of the Caribbean.
Emida’s technology allows for the domestic and international distribution and value transfer of many types of prepaid products including prepaid wireless, long distance, lottery and stored value. The company’s strategy is to build profitable, robust distribution networks for many prepaid products in identified operating geographies and introduce unique cross-border value products between regions. Emida’s POSA solutions, Debisys and Puntoflex, provide robust revenue solutions for distributors and carriers alike.
For more information, please visit the company web site at www.emida.net or email info@emida.net.
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