In other terms, operators are trying for some years now to widen their network of points of sale and information without investing in new agencies. They first constituted networks of affiliated merchants, but this approach is limited, too.

HPS was among the first software editors to gather the situation and set up a global solution combining sales and information services. HPS’ PowerCARD-Telco solution takes advantage from various and widespread interactive channels in order to provide a self-service with strong added value, low investment cost and quasi-permanent availability.

Standard PowerCARD-Telco package is based on PowerCARDe-Payment server. It includes innovative services: top-up of prepaid numbers, top-up of limited-bill postpaid numbers, pending invoices request, real-time consumption request, invoice payment and advance deposit. The solution optionally implements the loyalty product PowerCARD-Loyalty.

The PowerCARD e-Payment server is build to acquire any electronic payment transaction from any third-party payment channel, like Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) or mobile phones, and any private channel, like points of sale terminals (POS) and the Internet.

Thanks to its open architecture and the supported communication protocoles, HPS' solution easily plugs with new payment channels and new features.

PowerCARD-Telco solution involves the telecom operator information system and its PowerCARD e-Payment server, as well as the acquiring partner's information system in the case of third-party payment channels (ATM or mobile phones).

The offered services that are top-up of prepaid numbers, top-up of limited-bill postpaid numbers, pending invoices request, real-time consumption request, invoice payment and advance deposit, can be run either online or online and offline.

e-Recharge: Prepaid numbers and limited bills top-up

This service allows e-recharge and top-up automatically or manually through various channels (ATM, POS, Internet, Mobile…).

The automatic recharge takes place at the telecom operator level. The customer has just to ask for the recharge and pay it. The manual recharge is less innovative : the customer receives in real time a receipt with recharge code to use. This receipt is used exactly like a classic scratch card.

In both cases, e-recharge service allows the telecom operator to balance two competing necessities improving customer service and lowering operating costs. However, automatic e-recharge remains more attractive for the user (subscriber) thanks to its easy way to use which does not require to type a confidential code.

PowerCARD e-recharge service also enables the telecom operator to develop continuously its market-share thanks to multiple channels and partners.

Bill-Payment

This service is handled by PowerCARD e-payment server as described in the solution PowerCARD-Utilities.