[MobileRatty] tag: wachovia

AT&T and Firethorn Bring Mobile Banking to iPhone Customers

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:26:23 +0000

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Firethorn Holdings, LLC, a Qualcomm company (Nasdaq: QCOM), announced the availability of their market-leading mobile banking application for iPhone.

Mobile Banking on AT&T lets users securely and efficiently manage their finances, including checking balances and transaction history, transferring funds, receiving offers, viewing and paying bills, and tracking rewards points.

The service is now available for all Firethorn financial institution partners, including America First Credit Union, Arvest Bank, BancorpSouth, Carolina First, FirstBank, Mercantile Bank, SunTrust, Synovus, USAA and Wachovia. Additionally, iPhone customers will have access to any new financial institution added in the future.

"Our customers are increasingly using their mobile phones as a hub from which they can manage nearly all aspects of their lives, and in addressing that trend, we've made it a priority to give them flexibility and control in managing their finances," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility & Consumer Markets. "The extension of this convenience and functionality to iPhone customers is further delivery on our commitment to this space."

AT&T and Firethorn have collaborated since 2006 to provide best-in-class usability and reliability in mobile banking.

"Mobile Banking on AT&T with iPhone embodies the exciting evolution that mobile financial services must undertake to keep pace with consumers' busy lifestyles," said Tripp Rackley, chief executive officer, Firethorn. "Our partners expect us to offer them the best technology available to help their users manage their finances. The Mobile Banking application promises ease of use, security and high visibility — all strategically designed to achieve mass market adoption — and we are proud to help make it a reality."

The Mobile Banking on AT&T application is now available as a free download from Apple's App Store on iPhone or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

AT&T brings mobile banking to the iPhone users

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:19:07 +0000

AT&T has recently announced the launch of a mobile banking application for iPhone and iPod Touch users. Using it, users can manage their finances — including checking balances and transaction history, transferring funds, receiving offers, viewing and paying bills, and tracking rewards points — while on-the-go, right from their shiny gadgets.

The service is available for all Firethorn financial institution partners such as America First Credit Union, Arvest Bank, BancorpSouth, Carolina First, FirstBank, Mercantile Bank, SunTrust, Synovus, USAA and Wachovia. Additionally, iPhone/iPod Touch customers will have access to any new financial institution added in the future.

The application is available for free, and you can grab it through AppStore.

Related News:

Microsoft HQ Listing Hijacked on Google Maps, Briefly Becomes 'Microsoft Escort Service' [Fun With Google Maps]

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:00:00 +0000

As we become increasingly reliant on location-aware handheld devices, and on GPS or other map-based software services, claiming one's local search business listing on platforms like Google Maps becomes incredibly important. Why? Well, as was the case with Microsoft's Redmond HQ over the weekend, if you neglect to take local search seriously, you can easily have the listing hijacked and replaced with a Microsoft Escort Service, complete with a new URL and a fake "review." Something tells us the software engineers were very happy that day.

This is exactly what blogger Mike Blumenthal did recently, and if it doesn't seem like that big a deal to you now, know this: In September Blumenthal interviewed a San Francisco florist who had the same thing done to him. Business tanked to the tune of 30%, as customers were redirected or misdirected when searching for floral arrangements or those "sorry I boinked my secretary bouquets" that are all the rage today. That super-connected device you're carrying in your hip holster? It really is a weapon now, so be wary.

So Blumenthal, whose blog is dedicated to talking about Google Maps and Yahoo Local Search, "hijacked" Microsoft's listing to prove a point. Most businesses, big or small, have not yet warmed to local search, nor do they understand the power of that tool (see: the 30% anecdote, above).

Who else was guilty of negligence on the Google Maps front? Try Apple, Morgan Stanley, Coca-Cola, GM, Lehman Bros. and Wachovia (although those last two probably aren't worried about a 30% drop in local business). The ultimate irony is Google has not claimed its local listing either, although Blumenthal doubts this local search loophole will exist too much longer after his investigation.

The lesson in all this is be careful. Next time you pull out the ol' iPhone and do a search on local mega-powerful software companies (e.g. for a job interview), you might end up at the Bunny Ranch. [Blumenthals]

Sprint Nextel Completes Tower Sale to TowerCo for Approximately $670 Million in Cash

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:03:00 +0000

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) announced it has completed the previously announced sale of approximately 3,080 towers to TowerCo for an estimated $670 million in cash, with the number of towers and sale price subject to post-close adjustment. The two companies have also signed a long-term leasing agreement for TowerCo to provide Sprint Nextel with wireless communications towers to support the company's CDMA, iDEN and WiMAX networks.

"Leasing rather than owning these network facilities is a more efficient use of resources and allows us to focus more closely on our core business of providing communications services to our customers," said Bob Azzi, Sprint senior vice president - Network Services. "This deal also gives Sprint additional liquidity and greater flexibility in managing our business."

Richard Byrne, president and CEO of TowerCo, stated, "We are very excited that we have completed the purchase of the Sprint Nextel towers. Wireless carriers continue to grow and enhance their networks, creating strong demand for the towers we've just acquired. Given that demand and the major metropolitan market concentration of the towers, we have every expectation the portfolio will perform exceptionally well."

Sprint will account for the transaction with TowerCo as a financing arrangement. For GAAP purposes, the total final proceeds received will be treated as a long-term debt obligation.

Equity financing for this transaction was provided by Tailwind Capital, Soros Strategic Partners II LP, Stone Tower Equity Partners and Vulcan Capital.

In this transaction, Sprint Nextel was advised by Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, Citi and the law firm of Jones Day. TowerCo was advised by UBS Investment Bank and the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison LLP.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving nearly 52 million customers at the end of the second quarter 2008; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

About TowerCo

TowerCo was founded in 2004 by Tailwind Capital and industry veterans Richard Byrne, Chief Executive Officer, and Scot Lloyd, Chief Operating Officer, to meet the infrastructure needs of wireless service providers by developing, owning and leasing communication towers. Soros Strategic Partners invested in TowerCo in December 2005. Currently TowerCo has exclusive contracts to build towers directly for carriers throughout the U.S. TowerCo is based in Cary, N.C. For additional information please visit www.towerco.com.

Visa tests SMS and email alerts on credit card transactions

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:42 +0000

Visa along with 8 North American financial institutions — including PNC Bank, SunTrust Bank, U.S. Bank, Wachovia, and Wells Fargo in the United States, and Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank Financial Group, and Vancity in Canada — is initiating a pilot program, involving 2,000 participants to test the delivery of real-time notification alerts on Visa accounts.

The program is designed to “enhance the consumer payment experience” by alerting cardholders in (near) real-time of transaction activity on their Visa account. Participants in the pilot may choose to receive the following notification alerts from Visa via email or SMS:

cash withdrawal from an ATM
a transaction initiated cross border
an Internet or telephone transaction, and
a transaction that exceeds an amount that has been chosen by the cardholder.

Once they receive an alert, cardholders can verify the transaction details and eventually contact their bank to help stop further transactions on the card. The service is designed to help cardholders keep closer track of their transactions and spending levels as they go about their daily routine.

[Via: slashphone]

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Related Articles at IntoMobile:

Visa and Eight Banks Test Real-Time SMS Notifications For Transactions [Credit Card]

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:40:00 +0000

Visas and eight banks ("PNC Bank, SunTrust Bank, U.S. Bank, Wachovia, and Wells Fargo in the United States, and Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank Financial Group, and Vancity in Canada") are testing real-time SMS notifications whenever your card makes one of a few types of transactions. The 2000 pilot beta customers can pick alerts for ATM cash withdrawals, internet or telephone charge, an out-of-country charge or a charge that's over a pre-defined amount. You can choose to have these alerts go to your phone or your email (if you're cheap like us and don't want to burn up all your messages), which you can then immediately use to alert Visa to any fraudulent activity. Great idea or greatest idea? You be the judge. [Slashphone]

Visa and U.S. Banks to Test Real Time Mobile Alerts of Credit Card Activity

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:55:23 +0000

Visa and eight leading North American financial institutions (PNC Bank, SunTrust Bank, U.S. Bank, Wachovia, and Wells Fargo in the United States, and Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank Financial Group, and Vancity in Canada) have agreed to initiate a pilot program with up to a total of 2,000 participants to test the delivery of real-time notification alerts on Visa accounts.

The program, which is being conducted in cooperation with some of the largest North American issuers, is designed to enhance the consumer payment experience by alerting cardholders in real-time or near real-time of transaction activity on their Visa account - typically within seconds rather than hours or days. Participants will receive notification alerts from Visa through email or Short Message Service (SMS) delivered directly to their mobile devices.

Based on Visa's state-of-the-art transaction authorization system, and its ability to analyze and conduct risk score transactions "in-flight," the service allows Visa cardholders to set thresholds that will trigger a transaction alert. Alert types that Visa cardholders may choose in the pilot include:

cash withdrawal from an ATM machine;
a transaction initiated cross border;
an Internet or telephone transaction and
a transaction that exceeds an amount that has been chosen by the cardholder.

Through the alert received via email or SMS text, cardholders can verify the transaction details, and if the transaction appears to be irregular, can immediately contact their bank to help stop further transactions on the card. The service is designed to help cardholders keep closer track of their transactions and spending levels as they go about their daily routine. According to a recent Javelin Strategy & Research report, consumers view timely alerts as a valuable resource to help detect fraud.

Visa's Mobile Platform

Visa began testing mobile notifications in 2007, beginning with an internal employee pilot. Mobile alerts are part of a suite of mobile services that are supported by the Visa Mobile Platform, which was created to help financial institutions tap into mobile technology to deliver enhanced products and services. This effort comes as consumers globally are relying on their mobile phones to do far more than just handle calls. A recent Pew Research Centre report found that more than 80 percent of consumers between the ages of 18 and 49 use their mobile devices to engage in activities such as sending text messages, taking pictures and accessing the Internet.

Worldwide, Visa's Mobile Platform is supporting mobile trials of:

mobile payments made both at the point of sale (using Visa payWave technology) and away from it by permitting remote payments via text message or the Internet;
value-added services, which in addition to account notification can include the delivery of offers, coupons and rewards directly to a consumer's mobile device;
mobile acceptance, enabling mobile devices to accept Visa payments, thus extending the flexibility of merchants and
money transfer, which allows cardholders to use their mobile device to electronically transfer money to family and friends around the world directly from their Visa accounts.

Visa has announced mobile trials and commercial rollouts in Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Sprint Nextel Announces Tower Sale to TowerCo for Approximately $670 Million in Cash

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:21:44 +0000

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) announced an agreement to sell approximately 3,300 towers to TowerCo for approximately $670 million in cash. Additionally, the two companies have entered into a long term leasing agreement where TowerCo will provide Sprint Nextel with wireless communications towers to support the company's CDMA, iDEN and WiMAX networks.

"By leasing rather than owning these network facilities, we can better focus on our core business of providing communications services to consumers, businesses and government customers," said Bob Azzi, senior vice president, Field Engineering and Operations, Sprint Nextel. "Significantly, this transaction provides Sprint Nextel with additional liquidity which gives us greater flexibility in managing our company."

"These are great towers concentrated in large metropolitan markets throughout the U.S. and will benefit as wireless communications continue to grow," said Richard Byrne, TowerCo's CEO.

The specific number of towers and final purchase price will be determined at closing. The transaction, subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close in 90 days.

Equity financing for this transaction will be provided by Tailwind Capital, Soros Strategic Partners II LP, Stone Tower Equity Partners and Vulcan Capital.

In this transaction, Sprint Nextel was advised by Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, Citi and the law firm of Jones Day. TowerCo was advised by UBS Investment Bank and the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison LLP.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving nearly 53 million customers at the end of the first quarter 2008; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

About TowerCo

TowerCo was founded in 2004 by Tailwind Capital and industry veterans Richard Byrne, Chief Executive Officer, and Scot Lloyd, Chief Operating Officer, to meet the infrastructure needs of wireless service providers by developing, owning and leasing communication towers. Soros Strategic Partners invested in TowerCo in December 2005. Currently TowerCo has exclusive contracts to build towers directly for carriers throughout the U.S. TowerCo is based in Cary, N.C. For additional information please visit www.towerco.com.

The End Of Era For The Spectrum And The Aud

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:00:00 +0000

Despite the legacy the two venues have, it has been officially declared to sports fans that both the Wachovia Spectrum and the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium will be demolished.

Verizon Launches Mobile Banking for BlackBerry 8330, 8130, 8830

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:11:09 +0000

Verizon Wireless customers with the BlackBerry Curve 8330, BlackBerry Pearl 8130 and BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphones can now stay connected to their financial information while away from home with Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Banking application. Also available on a number of popular Get It Now-capable phones, Mobile Banking offers customers the following capabilities and features on their handsets:

Account Balance and Transaction History – Get account balances and account transaction history.
Transfers – Transfer funds between eligible accounts at the same financial institution.
Bill Payment – View and pay bills when enrolled in their financial institution’s Bill Pay service.
Mobile History – View the last five transactions successfully completed on their mobile devices.

Verizon Wireless customers must be account holders of a financial institution that offers Mobile Banking to enroll in the application.

Currently Wachovia, Regions, SunTrust, USAA, Synovus, America First Credit Union (AFCU), Arvest, Bancorp South, FirstBank, South Financial and BECU offer the service. Once customers sign up for Mobile Banking through their financial institutions’ online banking site, they will receive an eight digit secure initialization code that will allow them to access the Mobile Banking application on their phones.

Mobile Banking is a safe and secure application, offering customers the following security measures: multi-factor authentication including initialization codes and six-digit PIN requirements; lock out after three invalid PIN entries; use of account nicknames instead of account numbers; encrypted transactions; time out of application after two minutes on Choose PIN screen and 10 minutes on other screens; and lost device functionality, which disables the application. In addition, funds can only be transferred between accounts that are set up with online access, and Bill Pay payees cannot be set up or edited on the phone.

To get Mobile Banking, Verizon Wireless customers with the BlackBerry Curve 8330, BlackBerry Pearl 8130 and the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition can go to the Home screen on their handsets and select the BlackBerry Browser icon to go to the VZ Start home page. Once there, click on the Mobile Banking link to download the application. VZ Start home page can also be accessed by going to https://mobile.vzw.com from the browser. There is no monthly charge for the application, although data charges may apply.

Mobile Banking is also available on a number of Get It Now-capable phones in the Tools on the Go shopping aisle of the Get It Now virtual store for no additional monthly charge. Mobile Banking-capable phones include the Voyager by LG, Venus by LG and LG VX9400; MOTORAZR maxx Ve and MOTORAZR2 V9m; and Verizon Wireless FlipShot by Samsung, Verizon Wireless Juke by Samsung and Alias by Samsung. Airtime or megabyte charges apply for sending and receiving data using Get It Now, depending on the plan. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled phone and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store.