Western Union Network Offers First-of-a-kind Payment Channel
For AT&T Prepaid Wireless Customers
DENVER, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Union Financial Services, Inc. a
subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), and AT&T Wireless (NYSE: AWE)
today announced a multi-year contract, which will allow AT&T Free2Go
Wireless(SM) customers to use the Western Union(R) SwiftPay(R) service.
Beginning next month, AT&T Free2Go Wireless customers will be able to
present the SwiftPay card or their AT&T Wireless phone number at nearly
40,000 Western Union agent locations around the country to replenish their
prepaid minutes. Payments may be made in variable amounts over $25.00, in
$1.00 intervals, allowing AT&T Wireless customers even more flexibility in
airtime replenishment. Western Union charges a convenience fee for this
service. Airtime posted to the customer's account will be available for use
within minutes.
"The Western Union SwiftPay service is one of the most convenient,
value-added ways of making payments in the prepaid industry," says Joe
Jackson, president, Western Union Commercial Services. "SwiftPay allows
businesses to leverage the strength of the Western Union name and our vast
distribution network to provide value and convenience to their customers. By
making it easier for customers to replenish their services on a pay-as-you-go
basis, SwiftPay also makes it easier for prepaid service providers to expand
their business and better serve their customers' needs."
"Through this agreement, we can better accommodate a customer segment that
might not have easy access to our stores or web site," said Kim Whitehead,
senior vice president of marketing, AT&T Wireless. "Western Union offers
thousands of convenient locations around the country in retail establishments
like grocery stores, convenience stores and check cashers -- places where our
customers are already doing business."
With the SwiftPay service, Western Union leads the industry in providing
telecommunications and utilities clients with a unique payment alternative for
those prepaid services. The SwiftPay service facilitates consumer pre-payment
for any services or products where pre-payment is a requirement or an option.
Western Union provides a true end-to-end payment solution by reducing or
eliminating much of the back office work formerly done by prepaid service
providers.
About Western Union and First Data Corp.
Western Union Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of First Data
Corporation (NYSE: FDC), is a worldwide leader in consumer money transfer
services. The company provides rapid money transfer service through more than
100,000 agent locations in more than 185 countries and territories worldwide.
Famous for its pioneering telegraph service, the original Western Union dates
back to 1851 and introduced electronic money transfer service in 1871.
Western Union is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2001. For more
information please visit the company's web site at
http://www.westernunion.com.
First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), with global headquarters in Denver, powers
the global economy. Serving approximately 2.6 million merchant locations,
more than 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers, First Data makes it
easier, faster and more secure for people and businesses to buy goods and
services, using virtually any form of payment: credit, debit, smart card,
stored-value card or check at the point-of-sale, over the Internet or by money
transfer. For more information, please visit the company's Web site at
http://www.firstdata.com.
ABOUT AT&T WIRELESS
AT&T Wireless (NYSE: AWE) is the largest independently traded wireless
carrier in the United States, following its split from AT&T on July 9, 2001.
Operating one of the largest digital wireless networks in North America with
more than 16.4 million subscribers and full-year 2000 revenues exceeding
$10.4 billion, AT&T Wireless is committed to being among the first to deliver
the next generation of wireless products and services. AT&T Wireless provides
customers with high-quality wireless communications services, whether mobile
or fixed, voice or data, to businesses or consumers, in the U.S. and
internationally. AT&T Wireless Customer Advantage is the company's commitment
to ensure that customers have the right equipment, the right calling plan, and
the right customer services options -- today and tomorrow. For more
information, please visit http://www.attwireless.com.
SOURCE Western Union Financial Services, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.westernunion.com
CONTACT:
Wendy Carver-Herbert of Western Union
Financial Services, Inc., +1-303-967-6416,
wendy.carver@firstdatacorp.com; or Michelle Shyne of AT&T
Wireless, +1-561-775-4201, michelle.shyne@attws.com
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