An Post sees the point of a top-up for all mobile networks


15 Aug 2008

From Monday consumers in Ireland will be able to buy a mobile phone top-up that works for all networks from PostPoint retail outlets around the country.

With the current split between pre-pay and post-pay standing at 71pc and 29pc respectively, this is a welcome development for mobile phone users.

An AllCall voucher can be used to top up anyone using Vodafone, O2, Meteor or 3 and it’s valid for 12 months from purchase.

Irish company Xelcius Digital Interactive is behind the technology that will supply the AllCall vouchers through EPOS and terminal systems in PostPoint outlets.

Xelcius are providing PostPoint with generic codes that relate to the €10 and €20 denominations. A customer who buys a top-up gets a voucher with a unique code on it. Customers text the voucher code to a short code number. The texter then receives a text message with the top-up PIN number for the network they’re on and they top up in the normal way.

PostPoint was set up initially to complement the Post Office network and allow An Post to offer its services in a wider, more consumer-friendly fashion to the traditional network.

It enabled An Post to win a contract to provide electronic top-ups to Eircell (now Vodafone) through its network, as well as at post office counters. In April 2007, PostPoint became a subsidiary of the new retail bank Postbank, as part of the joint venture between An Post and European financial services provider Fortis.

By Sorcha Corcoran

Pictured L-R: model Samina Zhia; Enda Kelly, managing director of PostPoint; and Mark Grainger, Director, Xelcius Digital Interactive