The World Payments Awards for Excellence were announced at the 3rd GCMT conference

The World Payments Awards for Excellence were announced at the 3^rd Global Consumer Money Transfer conference on 29^th October at the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London.

Rt Hon Lord Lamont of Lerwick presented the Awards. Broadcaster Martyn Lewis announced the winners.

The prize winner for The World Payments Award for Excellence in Innovation 2007 was given to California-based VideoKall founded by Vince Waterson.

Introducing VideoKall, Mr Lewis said, "There is a heartbreaking moment repeated daily at remittance centres when migrants send money home to relatives. Theymay not have seen them for months or in many cases, years.

"Standing in line with their hard earned currency in hand these footsoldiers of western economies are isolated from their loved ones Above all they cannot see the faces of the very people they have made great sacrifices to support; they could be their wives, children, mothers or fathers.

"VideoKall is a massive shift because it transfers the isolated moment of sending into a joyous and personal event. Through technology they are able to have a face-to-face conversation with the aid of video payphones. A SMART card is inserted in the video payphone - sending the money to the recipient; while at the same time the recipient is able to lift the receiver and see the face of the sender.

"These terminals are largely set up in shopping malls linking the sender and receiver in their respective countries.

"For creative and imaginative services to the customer; both the sender and the receiver, IAMTN is proud to present this award."

The World Payments Award for Excellence - Top Manager, 2007 was given to Dr B.R, Shetty, founder and CEO of UAE Exchange Centre, Dubai, UAE in 1980.

In his citation Mr Lewis said,"Dr Shetty created a remittance service at a time when fund transfer mechanisms were disorganised and inadequate.

"Dr Shetty was the first in the Gulf to set up a system to provide money transfer channels for migrant workers - largely to India.

"He brought in the latest technology and was thus able to provide a wide variety of services.

"His logo was, 'Spreading Smiles Through Betterment of Service Delivery' with customer focussed services and a very comprehensive list of product lines including cash payouts via mobile phones.

"To boost the interest and as a form of promotion, he offered raffle draws with glittering prizes such as cars, gifts, cash - all of which proved highly popular.

"In the view of IAMTN Dr Shetty deserves the award because he understood right from the beginning the importance of putting the customer first and trying to understand his needs which may range beyond the service of remittances alone."