Prepaid Calling Cards

9:30 – Panel Discussion
21st Century Marketing
Viral marketing, Twitter, Facebook, App Store – These are all new terms representing new opportunities in the marketing and sale of prepaid telephony, whether it be wireless, long distance, data or specialized services. If you are not using these social media, you are missing a major opportunity. In this session, experts in using 21st Century tools will give you the benefit of their experience, explaining how they are supplementing their “brick and mortar” marketing strategies with today’s virtual tools.  Learn how effective marketing can help you find new markets and distribution channels for your products.
Moderator - Gene Retske

Bruce Burke, Director of Business Development, iPayStation
Len Bittner, President, Maverick Telecom Consultancy
John Gill, CEO, Phoenix Telecom
Eric Chan, COO, Embee Mobile

10:45 – Break

11:00 – Town Hall Meeting
The Future of Prepaid Calling Cards
To say that the prepaid calling card business is in turmoil is to seriously understate the reality of the situation. This Town Hall Meeting will involve all participants in an open and frank discussion of the issues impacting the industry. The floor will be open to hear what the leaders, doers and watchers have to say. How will regulation, taxes and consumer laws impact prepaid telephony?
Moderator - Gene Retske

12:00 – Lunch Break
 
1:00 – Shoot Out
Virtual Switch vs. Facilities Based, How to Make the Right Decision
There is a range of choices for providing calling card services, and this panel discussion will feature industry leaders representing the different business models that support the distribution of prepaid telecom services.  From virtual switches to partitioned switches to facilities based, come and hear the pros and cons for each of the choices so you can make the best decision for your prepaid business. 
Moderator - Ken Osowski

Pete Pattullo, CEO, NetworkIP
Arnie Goodstein, CEO, WCGS
Ben Winnie, VP-Sales, NACT
Curt D. Barnes, VP, KIT Managed Telecom Solutions
Freddy Sidi, COO, Auris Technology
 
2:00 – Panel Discussion
New Technologies = New Opportunities
One thing that is constant in prepaid telephony is change. Every new technological innovation brings new opportunity for entrepreneurs. In this session, meet and talk with some of those who are at the forefront of technological innovation and hear what they think is coming next and where the opportunities lie.
Moderator - Ken Osowski

Jayesh Patel, VP – Business Development & Strategy, iBasis
Pete Pattullo, CEO, NetworkIP
Rod Ullens, CEO, Voxbone
Peter Kramer, VP-Product Development, RecargaX
Darren Lu, CEO, Lunex
Justin Norris, CEO, Digitalk

3:00
You be the Judge!
Over the past several years, many prepaid calling card providers have grown accustomed to the additional burdens and costs associated with regulatory compliance, in particular regarding FCC registration and Universal Service Fund (USF) contributions. The industry has come to find out that USF compliance isn’t the burden it once appeared to be, mostly thanks to the Limited International Revenue Exemption or “LIRE,” which excludes revenue from international services from the contribution base. Much to the surprise of the industry, however, has been the high cost of complying with another FCC program, the Telecommunications Relay Services Fund (TRS).

In this session, Communications Attorney Jonathan Marashlian will explain how the TRS Funding mechanism works and why this program is fundamentally different than the USF. Marashlian will explore the options available to companies who have unexpectedly received large invoices from NECA for annual TRS Fund contributions. The audience will then decide which option they would most likely pursue if confronted with a similar circumstance.

Moderator - Gene Retske

Jonathan Marashlian, Partner, The CommLaw Group
 

Day Two (Wednesday, August 25): Prepaid Wireless

9:00 Welcome by Conference Host
 
9:00
Perspective on Prepaid Markets
Fedor Smith, VP of the highly respected ATLANTIC-ACM research firm, shares the results of his research of prepaid wireless markets, trends and major players. Come to this session and bring your questions. This is your time to get free information and advice.

Fedor Smith, VP, Atlantic-ACM

10:00 – Town Hall Meeting
The Future of Prepaid Wireless
Experts, participants and analysts convene to discuss and debate the future of prepaid wireless. This directed discussion will involve the experts, entrepreneurs, analysts and the entire audience in an free-wheeling discussion of where prepaid wireless is headed.
Moderator - Gene Retske
Featured Guest - Frank Squilla, SVP Sales, InComm

10:45 – Break

11:00 – Product Roundup
Prepaid Wireless Top Up
From the point of sale, to hybrid, to international top up, the prepaid wireless user has more methods than ever for adding their monthly minutes – to their phones, as well as those of friends and family abroad.  Which top up methods should you be employing to maximize margins and meet customer demand?  Some of today’s most successful prepaid wireless providers explain the particulars of top up, and how these methods can affect the user experience, as well as your bottom line.  
Moderator -Joe Pawlikowski

Martyn Fricker, Director – Marketing & Business Development, Emida
Enrique Hirlemann, Director, US Sales & Marketing, ezetop LTD.
 
12:00 – Lunch Break
 
1:00 – Panel Discussion
How to Prosper from the Evolution of Prepaid Wireless
Winston Churchill said, "To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." While not many participants would deem prepaid wireless to be perfect today, most would agree that changing strategies is very common. What strategies are working? MVNO? Work with the big guys? Content? Handsets? This session will provide a panel of experts who have been there and will share their experiences.
Moderator -Joe Pawlikowski

Joshua Gordon, President, Red Pocket Mobile
Eric Chan, COO, Embee Mobile
Gene Cohen, CTO, VooDooVox

2:00 – Panel Discussion
Prepaid Wireless Plans
From per minute to all-you-can eat, options for prepaid wireless plans have rapidly expanded over the last few years, and now include a flat rate unlimited option. What are these new options and what is their impact on prepaid wireless? In this discussion, we hear from the major players on their offerings.
Moderator -Joe Pawlikowski

Jeff Flynn, Director - Strategy & Business Planning, Sprint Prepaid

 
3:00
You be the Judge!
“The Universal Service Fund is broken. Consumers currently pay more than thirteen percent of long distance revenues into the fund and have at times this year contributed over fifteen percent.” This was the assessment provided by Representatives Boucher (D) and Lee (R) along with the introduction of the Universal Service Reform Act of 2010 earlier this summer.

News that the USF is broken is nothing new for the industry, which for quite some time has recognized that 13, 14 and 15% contribution rates are unsustainable for their customers. The big question is, what will Congress and the FCC do about it?

In this session Communications Attorneys Jonathan Marashlian and Rob Carter will lay out the 4 models that the FCC is currently considering, namely: 1. Numbers-based methodology 2. Connections-based methodology 3. Revenue-based methodology 4. Hybrid-methodology After providing details each of the 4 models and how they might work. The audience will be given an opportunity to question, discuss and pick the model that they think is best.
Moderator - Gene Retske 

Jonathan Marashlian, Partner, The CommLaw Group
S. Roberts Carter, Partner, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP

Day Three (Thursday, August 26, 2010):
Payments, Gift Cards & Loyalty Programs

9:00 Welcome by Conference Host
 
9:00 – Lightning Round Showcase
New Opportunities in Prepaid Payments
There are more opportunities for prepaid payment products than ever before, and new innovations are popping up almost daily. In this session, we will present a baker’s dozen of the most unique, original and promising of the new ideas as selected by The Prepaid Press editorial staff. Each presenter will be limited to 5 minutes, so stay alert for this one!
Moderator -Gene Retske

Alison Colquhoun, Senior Director – Payment Product Group, MoneyGram
Bruce Bower, President, Plastic Jungle
Karen Sobie, VP- Retail Sales, nFinanSE
Allen Preslar, VP & GM-ePay Division , Coinstar
Kevin Grieve, CEO, Mocopay
Sean Ryan, Founder, Zeus Research
Greg Keough, CEO, RegaloCard
Gene Cohen, CTO, VooDooVox
Peter Quadagno, President & CEO, Quadagno & Associates
Alex Cooper, Managing Director, Paysis LLC

10:30 – Panel Discussion
Pay Cards: Deliver and Save
There are compelling reasons for organizations – enterprise, NGO and government – to use pay cards for payment.

First, fulfilling payroll for employers is becoming more expensive and troublesome due to bank charges, labor regulation, check replacement and employee needs. Paying employees and subcontractors using prepaid debit cards is an option that can overcome many of the payroll pitfalls and dramatically lower costs. For employees, especially the underbanked, payroll cards offer a myriad of benefits, including fast delivery, avoidance of check cashing charges and convenience.

Another opportunity involving pay cards is for travel and expense disbursement. Use of pay cards avoids the problems of employee credit card abuse, advances and simplifies the record keeping for expense allocation and tax purposes.

How can you capitalize on this opportunity? Our panel of experts offer their insights.
Moderator -Brent Watters, Senior Analyst, Mercator Advisory Group

T. Jack Williams, President,Paymentcard Services, Inc.
Steve Karp, SVP, Enterprise Payments Strategy, SunTrust Bank
Dr. Don Barbacovi, CEO, mFunds Global Payment Solutions
 
11:30 – Panel Discussion
Loyalty: The New Frontier
Loyalty programs present prepaid providers with two opportunities. First, packaging prepaid offerings for use by organizations to build a loyal customer base can be a significant new market. Second, prepaid companies can use these programs to build their own programs for increasing customer loyalty. In this discussion, both of these opportunities will be covered, and more.
Moderator - Lori Breitzke

Matt Kerper, VP – Rewards Strategy & Innovation, Parago
Render Dahiya, CEO, Arroweye Solutions
Martin Hood, VP - Partnership Sales, InteliSpend
Mark Johnson, CEO, Loyalty 360
 
12:30 – Lunch Break
 
1:00 – Panel Discussion
Mobile Payments
More people leave home without their wallets than without their cell phones. There are many options and methods for using mobile phones to make payments. From retail payments at the point of sale, to online, and P2P money transfer, this group of experts will include some of today’s leading vendors in the mobile payments space, who will explain the methods and technologies that are rapidly changing the payments landscape. 
Moderator - Lori Breitzke

Dennis Andrews, CEO, Emida
Oscar Muñoz, President, Uni-Mas Corp.
Daniel Csoka, CEO, aKos Technology
Kevin Grieve, CEO, Mocopay

2:00 – Panel Discussion
The Credit Card Act of 2009: A Prepaid Opportunity?
The Credit Card Act, signed into law in 2009, makes sweeping revisions in the way that credit cards work and how charges can be applied. There is a divergence of opinion on the likely impact of this law once it is fully implemented. On this panel, you will hear from industry experts, marketing mavens and legal beagles who will answer your questions about the impact of this law on prepaid debit card services. Is it an opportunity, or a ho-hum? Come to this session and find out.
Moderator -Ben Jackson, Senior Analyst, Mercator Advisory Group

Daveed Schwartz, Of Counsel, Bullivant Houser Bailey PC
Carol R. Van Cleef, Partner, Patton Boggs LLP