Fortumo, a mobile payments company and Telenor Pakistan last week launched direct carrier billing in Pakistan, allowing more than 35 million of its subscribers to make easy online payments by charging purchases to their phone bill. The direct carrier billing service enables users to make payments over a data connection by confirming payments with one click on their phone, removing the need to send any text messages during the payment process.
UK's Telefonica O2 and Etisalat have launched similar services recently.
Telenor has also implemented Fortumo in-app purchasing in its Telenor App Store which features games from top developers like Gameloft, GLU Mobile and Creative Mobile. In addition to Telenor App Store, Fortumo’s Android SDK can be used in dozens of other Android marketplaces with just one integration. This latest development follows Fortumo's global framework agreement with Telenor Group which covers 12 countries in Europe & Asia, signed earlier this year.
"An enormous part of Telenor Pakistan’s subscriber base comprises of young population which represents a strong potential to reach apps, games and web services developers’ user base. Through the partnership with Fortumo, developers can start accepting purchases from these users through direct carrier billing – the most widely available payment method in emerging markets. The facility will play a big role in promoting online commerce through convenience and accessibility."
- Muhammd Farooq Shaikh, Director Digital Services, Telenor Pakistan
"Right now merchants are missing out on a great deal of revenue from emerging markets because very few users have credit cards which are needed to make payments in Google Play. Meanwhile, carrier billing can be used by anyone with a mobile phone. Together with Telenor, which is one of the most innovative mobile operators in the region, we are providing end-users with a means to pay for high-quality content while adding previously unavailable revenue to developers."
- Gerri Kodres, SVP of Business Development & Carrier Relations, Fortumo
