BILL.L Regulatory News (BILL)

9 Oct 2006 07:01

Billing Services Group Limited09 October 2006 NEWS RELEASE Contacts:Julian WalkerGainsborough Communications Consultancy - Investor relations+44 (0) 20 7190 1705jw@gainsboroughcomms.com Erin Brennan GilmoreBlanc & Otus Public Relations - US media relations+1 512 372 6653ebgilmore@blancandotus.com BSG and Travelling Connect Partner to Offer Roaming Rewards Services to Mobile Operators BSG's turn-key clearing solution allows mobile operators to achieve faster implementation of Travelling Connect's Inbound Roaming rewards program Russelsheim, Germany - October 9, 2006 - BSG Clearing Solutions (BSG), asubsidiary of Billing Services Group Limited (AIM:BILL), the telecom industry'sclearing and settlement provider, and Travelling Connect, a worldwide providerof loyalty services for mobile operators, today announced a partnershipagreement to offer roaming loyalty services to mobile operators. Under theagreement, BSG will offer a turn-key clearing solution for Travelling Connect'sInbound Roaming loyalty rewards service. Travelling Connect will promote BSG asa preferred clearinghouse to prospective clients worldwide. Travelling Connect's Inbound Roaming Service allows international travelers toearn miles or points when making international mobile calls on affiliated mobilenetworks. End users can redeem points for free flights and hotel accommodationswith partners that include Air France/KLM, Alitalia, Hilton, Marriott, ThaiAirways and Malaysia Airlines. BSG's turn-key solution provides an interface toensure roaming subscriber information is accurately tracked and allocated, whileenabling mobile operators to quickly implement Inbound Roaming Service withminimal operational impact. According to a March 2006 Gartner report, charges for international roaming areexpected to decline dramatically from 2006 through 2008 because of regulatorypressures and competitive reasons. By rewarding callers for internationalroaming, the Travelling Connect program gives operators an effective way toprotect and attract inbound roaming traffic. "Travelling Connect offers an exciting way to make roaming more rewarding anduseful for consumers, while increasing traffic and revenue for mobile operators,said Atul Devani, CEO of BSG's wireless services. "By providing this specializedback-end clearing solution, we're allowing mobile operators to more quicklylaunch and benefit from Travelling Connect's roaming rewards program. We'reconfident the new service and partnership will be beneficial for our respectivebusinesses and the adoption of new industry initiatives and technologies." Travelling Connect's Marketing Director, Marc Jurgens commented, "BSG'sexperience, existing infrastructure and interface make them the perfect choicefor implementing our service. We look forward to developing our relationshipwith BSG as the Inbound Roaming Service continues to grow." About BSG Clearing SolutionsBSG Clearing Solutions is a leading global provider of clearing and settlement,payment services, and financial risk management solutions for communicationsservice providers. The company processes over 20 billion transactions annuallyfor 750 of the world's largest communications companies throughout NorthAmerica, Europe and Asia. With a ubiquitous, scalable platform and an extensiveportfolio of clearinghouse services for fixed-line, wireless, Wi-Fi, andbroadband networks, BSG monetizes network transactions by facilitating thefinancial exchange of its customers' services. BSG meets the needs of today'scomplex network interconnections and anticipates the requirements of convergingtechnologies, allowing for rapid and reliable deployment. BSG Clearing Solutionsis an operating subsidiary of Billing Services Group Limited, which is publiclytraded on the London Stock Exchange (AIM) under the ticker symbol BILL. For moreinformation, visit www.bsgclearing.com. About Travelling ConnectTravelling Connect helps mobile operators to stimulate their internationalinbound roaming traffic. Travelling Connect achieves this by closingpartnerships with (international) loyalty programs that market the service ofaffiliated mobile operators to their loyalty program members (end-users). Thoseend-users then select the network of the affiliated mobile operator when theytravel abroad, thereby earning miles or points for themselves and creatingadditional inbound roaming traffic for the affiliated operators. Currently, wellover 60.000 end-users are using the networks of mobile operators affiliated withTravelling Connect. Customers of Travelling Connect include major mobile groupssuch as T-Mobile, Orange and Orascom. The service of Travelling Connect is livein 12 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. Partners of Travelling Connectinclude: Hilton, Air France/KLM, Alitalia, Marriott, Royal Brunei Airlines, SNBrussels, TAP Portugal, Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines. Today, itspartnerships allow Travelling Connect to reach out to more than 25 millionhigh-value business travellers world-wide. For more information, visitwww.travellingconnect.com All company or product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks. XXX This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange