Budget Wireless, National Lifeline Provider, Adds Airfair to Consumer Top Up Options

HIAWATHA, Iowa, April 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ready Wireless, a premier provider of white label wireless services, in partnership with InComm, a leading prepaid product and transaction services company, today announced that Budget Mobile now offers Airfair Lifeline Reload services through participating retail outlets.  Airfair allows Lifeline-Eligible Telecommunication Companies (ETC) like Budget Mobile a simple reload option for eligible customers through one, easy-to-use universal retail product.   

Fred Haumesser, Co-founder and Chief Sales Officer at Ready Wireless, shares, "Many Lifeline consumers are unbanked or under-banked. Consumers can pay cash to reload their Lifeline phones with additional minutes, texts or data by purchasing the Airfair card, which is activated at the point-of-sale (POS).  The service is available through national chains, as well as local, neighborhood independents."

Lifeline is a government-benefit program that helps low-income Americans gain access to phone services, find employment, be safe and connect to health services.  There are over 13 million consumers receiving the Lifeline benefit today, with 32 million estimated eligible households. Budget Mobile is amongst the national leading Lifeline service providers.

Until now, ETCs have struggled to provide an easy way for cash-based consumers to reload their phones after they have used their Lifeline-supported minutes and texts. Managing distribution and merchandising across large retail footprints is complicated.  "Our Lifeline customers want to use their wireless Lifeline phone as their primary phone," said Greg Hough, VP Indirect Sales, of Budget Mobile. "Beyond the initial minutes provided through the Lifeline phone, they want to purchase more minutes, texts and data. This partnership enhances the service level we can provide to our customers, making it very easy for them to purchase the extra air time they need.  This solution addresses a national footprint which supports our companies groing, national footprint."

The process is easy for consumers: they walk into a participating retail location and choose from $5, $10, $20, $30 and $50 payment options. After purchasing the Airfair Lifeline Reload card they then simply call a redemption number on the back of the card to receive their additional minutes. 

"Convenience stores and small independent stores often serve as one-stop shopping destinations for consumers," said Frank Squilla, senior vice president of sales, InComm. "It was a natural fit for us to make the Airfair program available to cash-based customers who would otherwise not have access to this product. Lifeline service providers can now pull together around this one card and make it available for purchase at thousands of retail locations around the country. ETCs can increase sales opportunities, consumers now have significantly more flexibility, and retailers have the opportunity to increase foot traffic in their stores." 

About Ready Wireless
Ready Wireless is a privately held, wireless telecommunications provider that powers voice, text and data product solutions on a multi carrier network MVNE (Mobile Virtual Network Enabler) platform. White label & MVNO partners have access to an integrated, scalable and flexible solution. Components include:  CDMA & GSM network partnerships; complete billing & operational system support; device procurement and provisioning; infrastructure warehousing, logistics & regulatory expertise. Ready Wireless also partners with third parties to integrate innovative and complementary services to enhance consumer experience and build incremental revenue.  Learn more at www.readywireless.com.

About InComm
Leveraging deep integrations into retailers' point-of-sale systems, InComm provides connectivity to a variety of service providers that allow consumers to conduct everyday business at more than 450,000 points of retail distribution. Whether those consumers are activating prepaid products, paying bills, enjoying real-time discounts through a membership card, purchasing digital goods in-store or adding funds to an online account, InComm is there to provide unique gift-gifting opportunities, cater to on-the-go shoppers, deliver added value through loyalty programs and serve cash-based consumers. With 186 global patents, InComm is headquartered in Atlanta with a presence in 30 countries. Learn more at www.incomm.com.

About Budget Wireless:
Budget Mobile provides low-cost prepaid communication services throughout 46 states.  Budget Mobile operates on a nationwide GSM and CDMA network.  Budget Mobile has been in the prepaid space since 1996 and is established as a prepaid industry leader.  The continued success of products and services has allowed Budget Mobile to grow into one of the nation's largest prepaid products companies with a range of telecommunications products. The Budget Mobile Corporate Office is located in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Contact Ready Wireless:
Dana Pinter Karasek
VP, Administration
319-294-6064
Email

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/budget-wireless-national-lifeline-provider-adds-airfair-to-consumer-top-up-options-300069897.html

SOURCE Ready Wireless

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