UK independent ATM operator Cardpoint has begun trialling mobile telephone prepayment on its estate of cash machines.
The firm - which already operates a network of 4000 electronic top-up terminals at retail stores - is also reporting a record number of transactions across its ATM network in August this year, despite charging for withdrawals.
In its trading update CardPoint says the average number of transactions per machine and its operating margins were boosted by the removal of ATMs from low transacting sites from its network.
CardPoint recently announced plans to aquire 816 off-site cash machines from UK banking group HBOS for £75 million, some of which it would convert to its fee-based model. The migration will start in October 2004, says CardPoint, and should be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2005.
Rival independent ATM operator Moneybox earlier this week reported a number of bid approaches after warning of a shortfall in revenues for the year.