National retailer Retravision signs with SmartPay

MEDIA RELEASE

National retailer Retravision signs with SmartPay for electronic topups.

Auckland May 9 2006 – Nationwide retailer Retravision is the latest in a number of high profile chain/convenience stores to sign with electronic network distributor SmartPay NZ Ltd for mobile pre-pay topups.

The shift to electronic topup vouchers via dedicated counter terminals has been prompted by telco moves away from hard telephone cards for mobiles. Vodafone New Zealand scrapped cards from March 31 this year and Telecom New Zealand is expected to follow suit.

Retravision, an home appliance and entertainment goods retailer, has 54 owner-operator stores around the country. It follows other retailers/convenience stores such as Harvey Norman, Hill and Stewart, Smiths City/Powerstore and Gasoline Alley Services to switch to the SmartPay terminal network.

SmartPay chief executive Linc Burgess says further announcements of major customer wins are imminent.

The combined prepay topup and international calling card business in New Zealand is worth about $600 million annually – a significant market for retailers.

Retravision retail development manager Grant Morse said electronic topups provided the chain’s owner operators with huge benefits.

“Electronic topups provide us with a source of good business revenue in terms of sales of new phones and customers who require topups. There are no security issues such as fraud and theft, we never run out of product and the stores don’t have to pay for stock until it’s sold.

“SmartPay gave us the best deal after we sought responses from several players in the market.”

Morse said Retravision has helped to build its profile and marketshare in New Zealand and Australia by keeping abreast with the latest trends in retailing, particularly in terms of stock brands and innovation, customer service and POS technology.

“We view electronic topups and the benefits as part of that philosophy.”

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ABOUT SMARTPAY NEW ZEALAND LTD

SmartPay New Zealand Ltd is a leader in the distribution network of electronic pre-pay top-ups, international calling cards, and an EFTPOS terminal dealer. Established in 2004 under the name of Fonefill Ltd, SmartPay has signed contract agreements with telecommunications networks and product suppliers including Telecom New Zealand Ltd and Vodafone New Zealand Ltd.

SmartPay is establishing a network of merchants who supply products to a wide range of retailers, including a number of high profile, national retail chains and route/convenience store owners and operators. The company is also researching potential software business interests internationally including markets in Australia and Asia Pacific.

SmartPay is continually working with partners to investigate and introduce a range of new, retail industry based initiatives including pre-pay and bill payment facilities and other similar services. The success of SmartPay to date is attributed to its market independence and sales philosophy centred on assisting retailers in their businesses which, in turn, enables SmartPay to extract greater value from its network.

More information about SmartPay is available at www.smartpay.co.nz

ENDS

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