The two parties have agreed to jointly market customized Smart Money-MTV cards which, aside from allowing Smart subscribers to make payments using their mobile phones, will also enable them to receive discounts and privileges in selected MTV partner-merchants as well as invitations to special MTV events.
The especially designed cards, which were launched last Saturday, simultaneously with the new Smart Center in Virra Mall, Greenhills, is part of the "Simply Amazing Treats" campaign of Smart Communications this holiday season.
"We are pleased to partner with MTV. This co-branding is definitely an innovative marketing program for the youth that complements our existing marketing promotion for Smart Money," said Anastacio Martinez, head of Smart Communications’ personal communications and mobile services division.
"The chance to partner with Smart in the Philippines on the Smart Money-MTV card is an exciting one, and reinforces MTV as the leading youth lifestyle and entertainment brand. Together with MTV Philippines, MTV Ink, mtvasia.com and our MTV-syndicated radio programs, the Smart Money-MTV card is yet another effort on our end to give our viewers a 360-degree MTV experience," said Peter Bullard, managing director of MTV Southeast Asia and senior vice president of MTV Asia.
Subscribers who wish to obtain the Smart Money-MTV card need to buy the Smart Money/MBS SIM. He or she can personalize his standard or existing Smart Money card by choosing from four especially designed MTV cards. The card is auto-enrolled in the P200 per annum Smart Money Loyalty program.
Current cardholders can apply for the customized card by simply filling out an information sheet. A P200 annual fee will be deducted from the Smart Money balance if they are not yet enrolled in the Loyalty Program.
If the cardholder has previously enrolled, the fee is reduced to P100. He or she will also carry over his current MCOM No. and loyalty points. Upon delivery of his new MTV Card, he or she will have to call the Smart Money hotline to activate his or her new card.
"What’s good about having the MTV card is that one can be eligible for the promos and discounts open to existing Smart Money cardholders as well as to those exclusively for MTV cardholders," said Dennis Gatuslao, Smart e-services manager.
"The e-cash card then becomes a discount card to MTV merchants and event pass to MTV concerts and presentations," he added.
Developed in cooperation with the 1st e-Bank and MasterCard, Smart Money is the world’s first prepaid cash card linked to a mobile phone. It works like an electronic wallet in the form of a MasterCard into which cash can be loaded from various sources such as bank accounts and other Smart Money cards through a Smart GSM cell phone, or over-the-counter reloading centers.
The Smart Money card can be used for face-to-face payments in the 20,000 MasterCard Electronic establishments nationwide.
Used with a Smart cell phone, Smart Money can be used for remote payments of pizzas, flowers and other deliveries from wherever a subscriber is. It enables subscribers to reload "Buddy" airtime over the air, inquire about their available Smart Buddy balance and transfer money from one card to another. It also supports Internet-based online payments.
MTV is Asia’s Most Wanted Music Channel, viewed by more young adults than any other music channel. MTV Networks Asia owns and operates five 24-hour programming services – MTV Southeast Asia, MTV Philippines, MTV Mandarin, MTV India and MTV Korea – which have a combined distribution of more than 130 million homes.
It also has programming blocks on local cable stations in China. MTV Networks Asia is a joint venture of MTV Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. and Universal Music. MTV Networks International reaches more than a quarter of the world’s households.