Press Release
Blackhawk Network Honored by Boost Mobile at First Annual Platinum Players Awards
Lifestyle-Based Telecommunications Brand Recognizes Company with Technology Service Provider Award
PLEASANTON, CA ( April 16, 2007 ) – Blackhawk Network, a market leader in card-based financial solutions and the largest provider of third-party gift cards in the United States and Canada, today announced that the Company, along with Blackhawk Network's EWI Division, recently won Boost Mobile's Most Valuable Technology Service Provider award. Blackhawk Network was recognized for their Real Time Replenishment (RTR) technology, a direct interface with billing systems to add funds directly to customers’ accounts in real time, at Boost Mobile's first annual Platinum Players Awards ceremony held at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, Calif.
The Technology Service Provider Award recognizes measures of innovation and cost efficiencies with service providers currently supporting Boost Mobile. Blackhawk Network acquired EWI in fall of 2006, adding robust capabilities to Blackhawk's existing solutions, addressing the specific needs of retail partners and accelerating rapid growth.
“Blackhawk Network won the award for their collaborative approach to improving the market," said Michael Lanzon, vice president of sales, Boost Mobile." "We chose to partner with the Blackhawk Network because of their cost efficiencies and innovation. Their technology has created seamless real time replenishment nationwide for Boost Mobile customers.”
“Blackhawk Network and its EWI Division are honored to be chosen as the first company to receive Boost Mobile's Technology Service Provider Award," said Don Kingsborough, chief executive officer of Blackhawk Network. "We believe that developing collaborative partnerships and trying new things is what will allow us to remain an exclusive network, enabling us to assist 135 million consumers a week to shop conveniently for prepaid cards in grocery, mass, convenience, drug and specialty retailers.“
About Boost Mobile
Based in Irvine, California, Boost Mobile, LLC, a division of Sprint Nextel Corporation, (NYSE: S), is a lifestyle-based telecommunications brand focused on offering premium Pay-As-You-Go wireless phones and services to the youth market. Boost is among the fastest growing wireless services in the U.S. and now has more than four million customers - the majority of which are under the age of 25. Boost-branded wireless phones with its exclusive BoostTM Walkie-Talkie service and Re-Boost® Cards are available nationwide at locations where youth prefer to shop, including national retailers and convenience stores, and merchants that focus on fashion, music, and action sports-related activities. Experience Boost on the Web at www.boostmobile.com
About Blackhawk Network
Blackhawk Network, a subsidiary of Safeway Inc., is a prepaid and payments network, a market leader in card-based financial solutions and the largest provider of third-party prepaid cards. Blackhawk Network develops unique products in easy-to-use formats and delivers them to consumers through an exclusive retail network of leading grocery, mass, convenience, drug and specialty retailers. The network includes more than 60,000 store fronts and reaches more than 135 million consumers each week. Headquartered in Pleasanton, California, Blackhawk Network has offices in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.