Fortumo is working with Smart Communications, Inc. and Digitel Mobile Philippines, Inc. (DMPI), the mobile subsidiaries of Philippine digital services provider PLDT, are launching carrier billing on the Windows Phone Store app store.
Fortumo’s direct carrier billing platform allows users to make payments over a data connection by confirming purchases with one click on their phone. Payments are processed without any additional information required from the mobile user. The new partnership provides the opportunity to reach more than 70 million customers of Smart and DMPI’s Sun who can now charge purchases of apps and games from the Windows Phone Store to their phone bill.
According to data from World Bank, less than 3 million Filipinos have access to credit cards while the country is estimated to reach 40 million smartphone owners this year. Therefore in emerging markets like the Philippines, direct carrier billing significantly increases the coverage of users who have access to payments.
Over the past years, Fortumo has been heavily expanding its presence in Asia, having opened an office in Singapore in October 2014, an addition to existing offices in Beijing, Delhi and Mumbai. Recently the company announced partnerships with Thai carrier Dtac and with Huawei, a global smartphone manufacturer. In total, Fortumo mobile payments are available to end-users in 15 markets across Asia.
In addition to the Windows Phone Store, Fortumo’s platform is powering platforms and digital content providers in Asia, including Gaana, UCWeb, Box TV, Ditto TV, Mobogenie, Boyaa, Octro, Games2Win and Huawei. To enable global carrier billing for these merchants, Fortumo has partnerships with more than 350 mobile operators across the world, including mobile operator groups such as Telefónica, Telenor, Singtel, Turkcell and Kyivstar, as well as leading mobile operators in India and China.