PORTLAND, Ore, May 21, 2008 — As citizens throughout China focus on assisting refugees displaced by the devastating earthquake of May 12, Vesta Corporation, a global pioneer and leader in electronic payment solutions, is enabling international relief organizations to accept donations via SMS through its Chinese subsidiary, China Dot Man (CDM).
CDM is working with the Red Cross, China Unicom, China Mobile and the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation to process millions of donations received through wireless handsets. Using designated “short codes”, users are able to make donations to the various relief efforts in real-time via SMS messages.
CDM is providing the service free of charge to the relief organizations, and in addition, providing on-going monetary donations. For example, CDM donated RMB 10,699.99 to raise awareness for the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation short code “1069999”, and is donating a percentage of every purchase through its travel service, ticket.9588.com. To date, CDM has processed over 64 million donations worth over RMB 172,360,000 from citizens throughout the country. At peak times, CDM is processing as many as 1.7 million donations an hour.
“We are grateful to be able to assist in this very important effort,” said Doug Fieldhouse, CEO of Vesta. “We are glad that our SMS gateway can be put to work enabling the citizens of China to make donations quickly and securely.”
Established in 2000, CDM is one of China’s leading electronic payments companies, facilitating mobile payment solutions via SMS, MMS and WAP, and online payments via debit cards, credit cards and stored value solutions.
Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with operations in Europe and China, Vesta has been a pioneer and worldwide leader in electronic payment solutions since 1995. Vesta has established long-term, successful relationships with leading international companies including AT&T, Boost Mobile, China Mobile, China Unicom, Ericsson, Meteor Mobile Communications, Payzone, Sprint, T-Mobile, Tele2, and Verizon.
ChinaDotMan Co. Ltd. is one of China's leading virtual payments companies. CDM combines mature network, communications and software technologies to develop practical and beneficial applications and services including wireless subscriptions and online travel for over seven million registered users. For more information, visit 9588.com.
Scott Boucher
Manager, Corporate Communications
info@trustvesta.com
+1 503.790.2500