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Batteries Plus Showcases Multi-Unit Growth and International Interest at 2025 Multi-Unit Franchising Convention

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Multi-Unit Deals Drive Franchise Growth as Brand Demonstrates International Appeal for Premier Battery Retailor

HARTLAND, Wis., March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Batteries Plus, the world’s leading consumer and business specialty battery franchise, is set to take on the 2025 Multi-Unit Franchising Convention (MUFC) in Las Vegas March 25 – 28, 2025. The event comes on the heels of remarkable multi-unit growth for the brand, with 80-85% of all signings in 2024 being multi-unit deals, and five out of six signings so far in 2025 following the same trend.

Multi-Unit Success
Batteries Plus continues to attract experienced multi-unit operators across diverse markets. A prime example is the multi-unit developments in Phoenix, where Tony Lutfi, a seasoned franchisee, acquired 11 operating stores and signed a multi-unit deal to bring an additional seven locations to the area. During last year’s MUFC, Lufti was part of a panel that shared strategic approaches to vetting emerging brands and industries, how to understand the criteria to anticipate their success, and explore actionable steps to seamlessly add new brands to your expanding enterprise.

In addition to the Phoenix expansion, Batteries Plus is proud to highlight its recent multi-unit deal with Power Fortune, Inc. in the Boston area, further demonstrating the brand’s appeal to experienced multi-unit operators throughout the country. The first Boston-area location is expected to open in spring of 2025, with additional locations planned for Dedham, Quincy/Braintree, and Brockton.

Established as a premier gathering for multi-unit franchise owners and operators, MUFC has evolved into a dynamic platform for sharing insights, fostering collaboration, and exploring the latest trends in the franchising space. Over the years, the conference has served as a catalyst for innovation, providing attendees with valuable networking opportunities, expert-led sessions, and inspirational keynotes. As the go-to event for multi-unit franchise professionals, the conference continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the franchising industry.

Growing Brand Awareness Globally
Leading up to MUFC this past Friday, Batteries Plus hosted 58 members of the Brazilian Franchise Association at franchisee Jimmy Lipp’s store in Miami Lakes, Florida. The immersive experience provided a firsthand look at Batteries Plus store operations, growing brand awareness with international investors looking to learn more about franchise opportunities in the United States. Victor Daher and Brandon Mangual, the brand’s Vice Presidents of Franchise Development, were also present to educate attendees on the franchise opportunity.

“This was a special opportunity to showcase the Batteries Plus franchise opportunity to our esteemed guests from the Brazilian Franchise Association,” said Daher. “The event not only demonstrates the global appeal of our brand but also underscores our commitment to fostering entrepreneurship across diverse markets.”

To learn more about franchising with Batteries Plus, please visit batteriesplusfranchise.com.

ABOUT BATTERIES PLUS:
Batteries Plus, founded in 1988 and headquartered in Hartland, Wis., is a leading omnichannel retailer of batteries, specialty light bulbs and phone repair services for the direct-to-consumer and commercial channels. The retailer also offers key programming, replacement and cutting services. Through a nationwide network of stores, the company offers a differentiated value proposition of unrivaled product selection, in-stock availability and customer service. Batteries Plus is owned by Freeman Spogli, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles and New York City. To learn more about one of Forbes®’ Best Franchises to Buy in America, visit https://www.batteriesplusfranchise.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Cole Koretos, Fishman Public Relations, ckoretos@fishmanpr.com or (847) 331-1190

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SOURCE Batteries Plus

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Melody Party Offers Over 20,000 Songs and Adds More Than a Thousand New Tracks Monthly, Enhancing Its Online Karaoke Experience

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SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Melody Party is a music social app featuring a variety of activities, including Mic Grab, Artist Mafia, and Singing Battle. Through its online karaoke feature, SING A SONG, the app brings the traditional karaoke experience online, removing time and location constraints and offering a music experience that combines real-time singing with social interaction.

SING A SONG features an extensive library of more than 20,000 songs, with over a thousand new songs added every month. Its diverse selection includes popular K-pop tracks, classic Korean songs, and karaoke favorites. The feature offers a free-use model, allowing users to start singing their chosen songs without paying a separate fee. This helps reduce the time and cost associated with visiting traditional coin-operated karaoke venues, making it easier to enjoy singing as part of everyday life.

In terms of functionality, SING A SONG supports pitch adjustment and independent volume controls for vocals and accompaniment, allowing users to customize their singing experience according to their preferences. Users can also create online karaoke rooms, invite friends to sing together in real time, and enjoy voice chat and social interaction.

By continuously expanding its song library and offering diverse music-based interactive experiences, Melody Party continues to strengthen its music ecosystem. Through SING A SONG, the platform aims to create an accessible, highly interactive online music social space.

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SOURCE Melody Party

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Drawing new strength from 20-year legacy, IAACA calls on global counterparts to join annual conference to fortify integrity

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MARRAKECH, Morocco, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA), an independent and non-political anti-corruption organisation with over 190 member anti-corruption authorities (ACAs) worldwide, will co-host IAACA Annual Conference 2026 in Marrakech, Morocco next month together with the Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong, China (ICAC) and the National Authority for Probity, Prevention and Fight Against Corruption of Morocco (INPPLC) to chart a path for the global graft fight and explore cutting-edge approaches to tackle emerging corruption challenges.

Themed “Building on 20 Years of Legacy: Drawing Strength from the Past, Guarding Global Integrity for the Future”, the international event will not only mark the 20th anniversary of the IAACA, but also provide a dynamic forum for IAACA members to exchange insights and enhance co-operation.

Calling on international counterparts to participate in the conference scheduled for November 25, IAACA President Mr Woo Ying-ming, who also serves as ICAC Commissioner, said that “As the IAACA marks its 20th anniversary, the conference will bring together global anti-corruption community at a pivotal moment for collective action. I anticipate that the valuable insights and new approaches generated through the international synergy will chart a resilient strategic path for us to navigate integrity risks and draw strength from our shared legacy to guard global integrity for generations to come.”

During the conference, renowned international experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Basel Institute on Governance, the International Anti-Corruption Academy, and global anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies and institutions will shed light on harnessing artificial intelligence in the fight against corruption, safeguarding integrity within global climate and biodiversity frameworks and analysing global corruption measurement and systemic effectiveness.

Following the conference, the ICAC, the INPPLC, the IAACA and the UNODC will co-organise a training seminar on leveraging AI in combating corruption.

While the ICAC and INPPLC will share how AI and new technology can reshape the future of anti-graft enforcement and corruption prevention, the UNODC will provide a global perspective on using AI models in financial crime investigations and addressing the operational relevance, legal robustness and adaptability across jurisdictions.

For details of the conference and training, please visit:
https://www.icac.org.hk/icac/iaaca-morocco-2026/index.html

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SOURCE International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA)

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Viettel moves 100 million subscribers to home-grown cloud-native charging in three months – with zero downtime

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HANOI, Vietnam, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Viettel High Technology Industries Corporation (Viettel High Tech), part of Viettel Group, has migrated more than 100 million subscribers and some 5,000 tariff plans at Viettel, Vietnam’s largest mobile operator, to vOCS 4.0, its in-house cloud-native charging system. The three-month cutover ran on a live national network with no service disruption.

Replacing a charging system is one of the riskiest projects an operator can undertake, which is why many stick with legacy platforms. Viettel High Tech reduced the risk through real-time data synchronization, parallel running and a phased cutover, with instant rollback at every stage.

The project won the Telecom Review Excellence Awards 2026 prize for Best Technology Deployment in Asia, a first for a Vietnamese company.

What it means for operators:

Scale: more than 300,000 transactions per second at latency below 5 milliseconds, across 2G–5G and fixed services on one platformLower cost: up to 50% less hardware investment than the previous generation, by sharing infrastructure with the networkAgility: new tariff plans in hours instead of days, new features three times faster and deployments about 30% fasterResilience: two active data centers about 2,000 km apart and automatic recovery in under two minutes

Viettel High Tech developed every core layer in-house, from a telecom-grade cloud-native platform and NFV-MANO orchestration to real-time charging, subscriber and balance management.

“Passing rigorous tests of real-time self-diagnosis and self-recovery is what allows an operator to keep its promise of 24/7 service to customers,” said Luu Manh Ha, CEO of Viettel Networks, which operates the system on Viettel’s network in Vietnam. “Above all, owning the charging system means an operator is not dependent on foreign vendors – it safeguards digital sovereignty and preserves business flexibility.”

“The charging system is where an operator’s business strategy turns into revenue in real time,” said Nguyen Minh Quang, CEO of Viettel High Tech. “We believe vOCS 4.0 is ready to help operators worldwide capture the value of 5G and digital services.”

In 2017, vOCS 4.0’s predecessor, vOCS 3.0, replaced a foreign vendor’s platform for 90 million Viettel subscribers. Across both generations, vOCS serves more than 220 million subscribers in 11 countries. Viettel High Tech now offers vOCS 4.0 to operators worldwide.

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SOURCE Viettel Group

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