National Technology Group launches Arab world's first multi-function prepaid card

OneCard is the first prepaid multi-function card in Saudi Arabia that includes all prepaid services in the Saudi market. It allows the user to buy an Internet connection from any Internet Service Provider, accessibility to all prepaid telephone cards such as ALO and Salam for making phone calls from their land-lines, as well as IP Telephony cards that allow users to make international PC-to-Phone calls. Additionally, OneCard can be used to access SMS websites, financial sites and other services. It can also be used to buy "MUBASHER..Live from Tadawul" cards which are used for obtaining real-time information on Saudi stocks.

OneCard is being initially launched in the Saudi market and will be available at 8,000 outlets in Saudi Arabia and will soon be extended to the rest of the Arab world.

Announcing the launch of OneCard at a press conference today, Engineer Mohammed Al-Ballaa, President of NTG, said: "We are launching OneCard as part of several initiatives to create value and benefit for Internet in the Arab world. OneCard is positioned to benefit both the site owners by generating revenue for them and the Internet users by ensuring a better quality of services paid for by one convenient and widely available prepaid card."

"The Saudi market has more than 30 different prepaid card Brands in multiple denominations for various services such as ISPs, telephone, IP telephony, SMS, Marriage Sites and Stock trading. This creates a lot of inconvenience among customers. On the other hand, every Service Provider has to invest in a distribution mechanism to sell a separate card for his service, which distracts him from serving his customers and providing a quality service. OneCard serves as a payment infrastructure to these Service Providers." added Al-Ballaa.

"The launch of OneCard is particularly significant in the Arab world, as people are still reluctant to use credit cards for online payment. Secondly, it addresses the large segment of Web users who do not or cannot have credit cards, such as youngsters. Further, there has been a high rate of credit card frauds in the Arab world. Additionally, websites find it expensive and difficult to integrate credit card payment gateway systems and it is mostly not feasible for them to invest in their own distribution networks for prepaid cards, because of which many bright ideas and services never see the light of day. These obstacles can all be surmounted through OneCard," Al-Ballaa concluded.

To explain more about OneCard, Rashid Al-Ballaa, General Manager of OneCard said: "We are offering a one-card solution in a market that is flooded with too many cards. OneCard offers convenience, ease of use and zero risk. The customer just buys OneCard prepaid card and fills up his account on the OneCard website to buy from numerous exclusive web services and subscriptions, as well as any other prepaid card of any denomination available in the Saudi market. On the other hand, a simple integration process, full account management, a transparent and foolproof system to settle payments is available for any website that wants to sell anything through OneCard."

"For maximum convenience, OneCard offers users free Internet Access to www.onecard.net to buy any service they may need and subscribe to the ISP of their choice. Furthermore, a round-the-clock customer care centre is available to handle user queries and inquiries on 800 124 6616," said Rashid Al-Ballaa.

"The paid services market, which was worth US$ 2.7 billion in 2003, is expected to touch US$ 5.7 billion worldwide by 2005. Almost all leading websites have introduced paid access services, including Yahoo, MSN, AOL, Terra, WSJ, Britannica and BigStep," added Al-Ballaa. "Significantly, more and more users are willing to pay for higher quality online services and content as long as these payments are secure, affordable, and give access to higher quality services or new services," concluded Al-Ballaa.

National Technology Group is the largest and fastest growing ICT conglomerate in the Arab world, with a turnover of over 800 million Saudi Riyals. The group has offices and investments across the Arab world and beyond. Other internet related initiatives of NTG include "NetAd-vantage" (netad-vantage.net) the largest online media sales representation company in the Arab world, and "MUBASHER..Live from Tadawul" (Mubasher.com.sa) the leading provider of live stock information on the Saudi Stock.