SVoD service provider iflix has launched direct carrier billing for all of its subscribers across Asia-Pacific via a partnership with mobile payments company Fortumo.
The deal enables iflix subscribers in four APAC markets to use their airtime balance or monthly phone bill to pay for the service. Carrier billing for iflix via Fortumo has been made available for subscribers of mobile operators Smartfren and 3 (Indonesia), Telenor and Zong (Pakistan), Smart and Globe (the Philippines) and DTAC (Thailand).
Iflix and Fortumo expect to announce support for more carriers in Asia as well as the Middle Eastern & African region (MENA) over the upcoming months.
iflix – which typically partners with local operators to launch services – has leveraged Fortumo’s Payments API to expand its payment reach across its Asian markets, allowing iflix to roll out direct carrier billing for multiple mobile operators at once, utilising Fortumo’s pre-existing integrations with the carriers. iflix can simultaneously use advanced features of direct carrier billing such as free trials dynamic pricing with a fully iflix-branded payment flow to increase user acquisition and payment conversion.
Fortumo says that in the emerging markets where iflix operates, less than 10% of people own a credit card while smartphone ownership is already around 40% of the population. This means direct carrier billing allows a significantly larger portion of people the ability to pay for iflix subscriptions.
“We are always looking to offer customers the best and most seamless iflix experience possible from content to service to payments,” said Tim Whelan, iflix’s global head of payments. “As we continue rapid expansion into emerging markets globally, we are confident that Fortumo will provide seamless payment integration in our markets.”
Be the first to comment