Brightstar Acquires Mobile Phone Xchange

MIAMI and LONDON, Sept. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Brightstar Corp., the world's largest wireless distribution company and leader in services for the wireless industry, today announced that it has acquired U.K.-based Mobile Phone Xchange (MPX), a leading device buy-back & trade business. The acquisition allows Brightstar to offer mobile operators and retailers a fully-integrated, scalable technology platform that helps drive bottom line revenues, reduce churn, and reduce acquisition and retention costs by allowing both retailers and consumers to realize the value of used mobile devices.

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Brightstar has taken an early lead in this area in the U.S., where it is working with several of the nation's largest operators and retailers. MPX provides buy-back solutions to a leading European operator and to more than 450 retail outlets in Europe. By integrating the MPX platform into Brightstar's existing service portfolio, the company can offer a robust buy-back and trade in solution to thousands of customers worldwide.

"Buy-back and trade in programs allow operators to reduce device subsidies – with like-new devices – and reduce churn with instant in-store payment or credit for trade-ins that typically result in a new device purchase with a renewed contract," said Marcelo Claure, CEO of Brightstar Corp. "It's an all-around win, with cash back value to the consumer and upsell value to the seller; and at the same time, it helps reduce e-waste."

The MPX platform is known for its ease of use, broad functionality and flexibility. It is an end-to-end solution that manages all of the logistics related to device buy-back and trade in, from device collection to inspection and validation, recycling devices for resale. A key MPX strength is its ability to correctly value used mobile devices and access profitable routes to market. Mobile operators and retailers using MPX can provide real-time pricing for trade-in devices right at the point of customer contact, which can be built into new service and renewal contracts. Used devices can then be refurbished and resold – supporting new revenues and market growth.

The MPX solution works across multiple retail channels, including in-store, Web and call center; and is customizable to meet enterprise needs for managing corporate-owned devices. Backed by Brightstar's global distribution and supply chain infrastructure, the MPX solution will be rolled out in multiple markets around the globe.

About Brightstar
Brightstar is the world's largest specialized wireless distributor and a leading global services company, serving mobile device manufacturers, wireless operators and retailers, with a local presence on six continents. Brightstar's industry-leading services include value-added distribution, supply chain optimization, handset protection and insurance, buy-back and trade-in solutions and multi-channel retail solutions. Brightstar services help customers increase product availability, expand channel reach and drive supply chain efficiencies by getting the right products to the right place at the right time.

Brightstar's annual revenues exceeded US$5.9 billion for the period ended June 30, 2012. The company is ranked #70 on the Forbes 2011 List of America's Largest Private Companies.

For more information, please visit http://www.brightstarcorp.com.

SOURCE Brightstar Corp.