The arrangement took effect December 31, which means all three cellular providers are part of the arrangement.  "In essence, the Midas debit card has taken on the attributes of a phone card," said MiPhone, through its publicists.

"As Jamaicans become more dependent upon their debit cards, both industries have sought to create added value for clients.  Therefore, in an effort to meet customers at their financial source, the cell phone industry has created a link with the bank to enable clients to buy phone credit on the spot."

The arrangement holds for 80 of NCB's automated banking machines islandwide, but the service is to be ramped up to the bank's full complement of ATMs by the end of this month.  Last October, MiPhone also entered an alliance with Supreme Ventures Limited, for its cellular customers to purchase credit while buying lotto tickets.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Business/html/20050115T210000-0500_73225_OBS_MIPHONE_CREDIT_AVAILABLE_THROUGH_MIDAS.asp