Teleglobe in McLean, VA, a global telecommunications carrier, and StarMedia Network, Latin America’s only pan-regional online network, signed a marketing agreement to sell telecommunications products and services via the Internet.
Co-marketed under the name “Galafon powered by Teleglobe,” the companies
will initially offer prepaid calling cards to nearly 1 million Latin American
online consumers who regularly visit StarMedia.
The companies said they will offer additional services, including collect
calling and Internet-to-phone international long distance in the near future.
Internet users can access the new telecom services site through banners on
StarMedia’s home page where consumers can obtain details in Spanish or
Portuguese on products, dialing instructions and calling rates as well as place orders online. Teleglobe’s electronic commerce platform allows immediate processing of credit card purchases.
“StarMedia brings to Teleglobe a built-in customer base that is expanding
exponentially,” said John Cahill, vice president and general manager of the
Americas for Teleglobe Communications. “Through the development of our
interactive e-commerce platform for StarMedia, we have also proven that we can deliver new emerging technologies and applications on a commercial basis.”
“Nearly one-third of Latin American Internet users made purchases online
in 1997 and whether it is traditional web-based services such as chat, e-mail
or bulletin boards, or new services such as prepaid calling cards, new
services are being embraced there at a rate that far outpaces any other region in the world,” said Fernando Espuelas, chairman and CEO of StarMedia Network