Boston Communications Group Inc. provided the technology for the sale of prepaid wireless minutes at 3,800 U.S. Bank ATMs in 24 states, the companies plan to announce today. The service, called Wireless Wallet, allows prepaid users to “top up,” adding time to their accounts by using debit cards and entering their phone numbers and desired number of minutes. If the carrier supports real-time purchases, the funds immediately are made available in users’ accounts; otherwise, a prepaid PIN is delivered for later redemption.
The companies said the service is the first of its kind through a major bank in the United States. Wireless Wallet is available for most prepaid wireless users, not just U.S. Bank customers, and through all major U.S. prepaid carriers.
Airtime is sold at the same prices as retail sales.
Service at the first ATMs was enabled about 10 days ago, and the companies plan to launch a marketing campaign in Seattle to make users aware of it.
“It’s going to be a pretty extensive campaign,” said James Anderson, vice president of bcgi Payment Services. “That’s a very strong market for U.S. Bank; it will be very effective to leverage their brand presence.”
