Prism Holdings, the JSE-listed trusted transactions company, took top honours in the Technology Top 100 large enterprise category for companies operating in the ICT software, services and solutions sector.
At the award ceremony held in Johannesburg on 1 November, Prism was awarded joint first place with Flextronics South Africa. Runners-up in this category were Digital Healthcare Solutions, NamITech and Pragma Holdings.
According to Alvin Els, CEO of Prism Holdings, the company was recognised for the advances it has made in the development of secure value transfer systems in the mobile telephony industry and specifically a solution that facilitates cellphone based prepaid airtime vending - Voucherless Top-Up (VTU).
VTU is a technology that enables the distribution of cellular airtime via a standard GSM handset with access to a cellular network; it enables a cellular network`s prepaid cellular subscribers to recharge their handsets almost anywhere, anytime and with absolute security.
In this system, a vendor (an entrepreneur with a cellular handset) purchases bulk airtime from the network operator. Airtime value, as opposed to a virtual voucher, is then `transferred` directly from the vendors` cellular handset to that of the customer. When the vendor runs out of airtime value, it is a simple task to purchase more to resell to customers.
Other than empowering individual entrepreneurs, VTU`s key differentiator is that airtime can be sold in small denominations as low as R1, as opposed to lots of R25 (minimum) today. The system also reduces the need for physical scratch cards in the market, thereby largely eliminating the precarious logistical aspects associated with traditional airtime vending.
This recharge solution enables network operators to contribute towards job creation in the region as it works through the establishment of a network of virtual vendors who can further distribute and vend airtime through sub-distributors.
"We are delighted that Prism has been recognised for its commitment to innovation in a highly specialised field. The TT100 Programme is one of the foremost business awards programmes in SA and while we received an honourable mention last year, this year`s award is particularly gratifying as our teams have worked really hard on developing technologies that complete - and even improve on - the best in the world," he says.
The award process identifies and recognises the 100 most technologically excellent large, medium, small and emerging companies in the country for having either developed new and commercially viable technologies or, for having innovatively applied technology to their business for commercial gain.
Run under the auspices of The Engineering Association (SAVI) since 1994, TT100 garners strong support from government - particularly the Department of Science and Technology - and the private sector.
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JSE-listed Prism Holdings Limited is a leader in the field of secure electronic transaction products, solutions and services. The group has a strong presence in SA and an established and expanding footprint across Africa and South-East Asia.
Prism has a proven track record in the delivery of secure electronic payment technologies and end-to-end solutions for the retail, utilities, banking, cellular and petroleum industries. The group has developed and implemented innovative payment-centric Intellectual Property that bridges the following technologies:
* Chip cards including SIM cards, financial smart cards and telephone cards.
* Point-of-sale frameworks, applications and devices.
* OEM transaction modules including PINpads, card readers and self-service terminals.
* Transaction security modules and servers.
* Payment servers, messaging gateways and value-added-services gateways.
* End-to-end secure electronic payment architectures for wired and wireless networks.
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