Hyderabad, July, 2004:  E-Charge (Tech) Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of Mercantile Pacific Group, Australia joins hands with BPCL(Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd) to distribute Electronically Pre-paid products like Mobile Cards, Internet Cards & Calling Cards. These cards are made available electronically through BPCL’s In & Out Stores in India for the first time from Hyderabad/Andhra Pradesh.

Disclosing this addressing a joint press conference by E-Charge and BPCL, Mr. Praveen Dhabhai, Regional Head Electronic Distribution Division of e-Charge Tech Pvt. Ltd said that the company has developed a proven solution called "e-Charge" for electronic distribution of prepaid products that replace the current physical scratch card distribution. Thus effectively addressing the distribution problems attached to the old process, he informed.

According to the newly made available e-Charge system which involves placing a small terminal and printer into the retail premises. When a customer requests either a prepaid mobile, long distance or internet card, the terminal can issue any carrier’s product of any denomination available by the carrier via a voucher printed from the terminal. The voucher carries the same information as carred by the physical card.

The biggest benefit to the customer is availability and convenience of buying pre-paid products throughout the day and night(wherever applicable) from BPCL outlets. Another benefit is customer can now buy any pre-paid product of any denominations as these terminals will never run out of stock.

The benefits to the retailers are many fold as there is no need to carry stocks, increased security. No capital outlay or running out of stock, improved cash flow and availability of multi carriers/products from one terminal. This helps retailers to add value and improve service to their customer, informed Mr. Praveen.

Established in 1998 in Australia, The Mercantile Pacific Group with a focus on creating a distribution network to market various pre-paid telecommunications products through retail channels. In Australia, it has grown to become one of the largest distributors of pre-paid mobile cards, start-up kits/bundles and international calling cards.