Bermuda-based wireless service provider Digicel has come up with a new system that will allow US and Canada residents credit the cell phone accounts of their less well-off friends and relatives in Haiti.

Living in the poorest country in the western hemisphere, funding the cell phone account is often not high on the list of priorities of the average Haitian.

But Digicel, through a strategic partnership with money transfer company Caribbean Air Mail (CAM) is trying to help its customers boost their accounts with help from abroad.

The initiative gives the Haitian Diaspora communities in USA and Canada the ability to purchase mobile handsets and pre-paid minutes for friends, family and associates located in Haiti.

When call credit is purchased on behalf of a customer, it is immediately sent to the friend or family member's Digicel mobile account. Any amount, ranging from $0.77 to $138, can be sent and the Digicel customer receives a text message notifying them of the top-up and new balance.

In the space of 12 months operating in the French-speaking Caribbean country, Digicel has signed up 1.4 million customers.

"At Digicel, we believe in making mobile technology accessible for everyone and are continuously exploring new product innovations and partnerships to ensure that we can bring down telecommunications barriers," said Ben Atherton, Digicel Group marketing director.

The Haitian Diaspora community population in both the US and Canada is comprised of some two million people, according to Digicel. A recent report from Inter-American Development Bank also revealed that global remittance to Haiti topped $1.65 billion in 2006.

"We are delighted to join with Digicel in this initiative as it allows us to offer more value and services to our customers. CAM brings to this alliance a quarter century of experience and reliable service, over one million loyal and satisfied customers and a common track record of first-to-market innovations," said CAM general manager, Jean-Claude Saliba.