Mobile commerce and communications enabler Netsize has launched Smart Application Billing, a global billing solution for application stores. Netsize Smart Application Billing enables app stores to use operator-based billing to charge for application downloads and usage, and permits charging from the mobile application itself.
The solution combines three operator-based billing methods: Direct Operator Billing (where an installed application on a mobile handset initiates a billing transaction via Netsize directly to the users mobile operator); Premium SMS Messaging; and WAP Billing.
Depending on the characteristics of the consumers network operator, Smart Application Billing dynamically proposes the preferred billing method to the application. Direct Operator Billing and Premium Messaging allow the user to make the payment while remaining in the application. WAP Billing is used when the other methods are not available. The user makes the payment outside of the application on a mobile Internet payment page.
Reaching the largest consumer audience and making it easy to buy content are the key success factors for application stores, says Netsize Chairman and CEO, Stanislas Chesnais. With Smart Application Billing, they reach 1.3 billion consumers globally, and consumers can conveniently purchase applications and application extensions via their mobile operator phone bill in both pay-per-use and subscription business models.
Our Application Store customers observe an increase of their revenues by 400% as soon as they add operator-based billing. Having an alternative for credit card billing clearly removes an obstacle in the purchasing process. On application store visits that use a mobile device over a wi-fi connection, we record a 30% increase in payment transactions. It proves the business case for operator-based billing as a successful Internet payment method.
Netsize providee operator billing solutions to some of the largest app storesm, and Sony Ericsson has chosen Netsize mPayment for its PlayNow arena, to cover multiple countries in Europe