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Starz will let you pay for streaming TV with prepaid cards
Conventional TV networks, as a rule, are very fond of subscriptions. Don't tell that to Starz CEO Chris Albrecht, though. He told guests at the Code Media conference that the premium channel will soon offer prepaid cards for its streaming service. It's a matter of accessibility, he argues: there are people who want to watch premium TV shows but can't justify the cost of a cable subscription (or buying show downloads, for that matter) and don't have a credit card.
T-Mobile's 'Mobile Money' blends prepaid Visa cards and no-fee checking features
T-Mobile's latest service seems to fit its 'UnCarrier' agenda perfectly, since it has little connection to wireless and doesn't actually require users to have the company's phone service. Called Mobile Money, the personal finance product combines a smartphone app (iOS or Android) with a branded prepaid Visa card. Without paying a single fee, T-Mobile wireless customers can deposit checks into their Mobile Money account by taking a picture of them with their smartphone, withdraw money from 42,000 in-network ATMs and reload the cards with cash at T-Mobile stores (non-T-Mobile customers would pay additional fees). There are also no maintenance fees, minimum balances or activation fees. While many already have free checking accounts with their bank or credit union that offer similar features, this is aimed at people who for various reasons can't get a traditional checking account, and rely instead on check-cashing or payday loan services that charge high fees. It's very similar to the service Boost Mobile launched last spring with a similar focus, and T-Mobile Chief Marketing Officer Mike Sievert says households currently using check cashers can save up to $1,500 per year in fees. What it isn't however, is a mobile payment service like Isis Mobile Wallet, which it has no connection to. Interested customers can sign up now online or in T-Mobile stores, and next month it will expand to include Safeway locations.
PayPal now supports prepaid gift cards for online purchases
A prepaid gift card may not be the proper substitute for a well-chosen present, but at least the beneficiary will have an easier time using it online this Christmas. That's because PayPal now supports such cards, meaning they can be used at any online emporium signed on to its Checkout platform -- and that's quite a few, we're told. PayPal says prepaid cards with no associated billing address sometimes create problems when that part of the payment form pops up, which its new service avoids (on PayPal-friendly sites, anyway). Maybe you can just persuade your Grandparents to send their gift via bank transfer and keep it digital in the first place. It's the money thought that counts, after all.
Skype now selling prepaid cards in Mexico, makes it easier to get unlimited calling plans
Believe it or not, prepaid cards are indeed a thing south of the US border. In fact, the majority of folks in Mexico often choose to go this route rather than sticking with some sort of monthly contract. Not surprisingly, Skype's done its homework and has taken note of this situation, as the Microsoft-owned service has announced its plans to start selling a couple of prepaid card options in Mexico. For starters, there's a 100 pesos (around $8) per-month deal which offers an unlimited calling plan to both mobile and landlines in the US, while the pay-as-you-go sheet costs 150 pesos but charges by the minute at a modest .30 pesos and includes calls to more than 170 countries. According to Skype, these cards will be available at multiple stores all over Mexico, such as Best Buy, Radio Shack, 7 Eleven and El Palacio de Hierro.
