The Utilita Group has launched an SMS payment system for gas and electricity ‘top-up’ payments. Developed my Eckoh, a company that specialises in speech-recognition systems for call centres, the new service enables Utilita’s customers to buy gas or electricity via SMS. The EckohPAY product is PCI-compliant, and can be deployed through speech, web, mobile and smartphone apps.
Utilita customers that have pre-pay meters can buy gas or electricity using the EckohPAY SMS service. Customers register their mobile number online and when they want to top-up, they send an text message with their gas or electric card number and the amount they wish to pay to a dedicated shortcode. Once the details are validated and authorised, the customer is issued a code to activate the gas or electricity they have bought.
Bill Bullen, founder and managing director of Utilita, says: “Following the successful launch of Eckoh’s web payment solution last year, we were keen to work with them to expand the scope of services offered to our customers. With this new mobile payment facility, our customers have another convenient and secure method for purchasing their electricity or gas, and we expect to add further services during the course of our contract.”