AMSTERDAM - World Telemedia and Adult Entertainment Online Conferences -
16 November 2005 - PayNowSMS announces the availability of a new
alternative payment processing service enabling merchants to accept card
payments for content. Merchants joining the new scheme can benefit from
lower cash collection costs compared to premium SMS and reverse billing,
where operators typically charge higher fees. End-users register their
details just once with PayNowSMS and may then purchase content from any
merchant displaying the PayNowSMS logo by sending a simple text message
from their mobile phones. The mobile payment processing platform which
powers the PayNowSMS service has been designed and is operated by Upaid,
the specialists in mobile payments.
PayNowSMS differentiates itself from other schemes by creating a single
mobile payment brand that both consumers and merchants can easily
recognise. Registered users know that anywhere they see the PayNowSMS
logo that they can purchase content directly from their mobile handsets
using their credit or debit card. Although PayNowSMS is initially
targeting merchants in the entertainment and online gaming industries,
the service can be extended to other types of merchants.
"The entertainment and gaming industries have always been the early
adopters of new technologies and first in offering offer innovative
services to the market. We will continue to extend the reach of
PayNowSMS to new entrepreneurial merchants which will in turn provide
more variety in services and convenience for PayNowSMS end-users,"
stated Aidan O'Kelly, Chairman of PayNowSMS.
Ashley Ward, CEO of Upaid, commented on how PayNowSMS represents
innovation in mobile payments: "Services such as PayNowSMS will catalyse
the mobile content industry, enabling more merchants to sell their
products at an affordable commission rate. This can only result in more
choice for end-users and unprecedented growth in the content market. We
are excited about its potential and the credibility and validation it
gives our technology platform."
PayNowSMS allows registered users to purchase both online and mobile
content from affiliated merchants and pay with a credit or debit card of
their choice. Users register their details, including mobile phone
number and optional e-mail address once only, and can purchase content
from a Web or WAP site, or by simply sending an SMS message. This
message contains a unique code for the merchant and product and is sent
to a mobile number dedicated to the service. The Upaid platform performs
the necessary financial authorisations for the card purchase and
instructs the appropriate PayNowSMS merchant to deliver the product to
the user. Users can have content delivered directly to their mobile
handsets or receive a username and password to access the content
online. The PayNowSMS website also offers account management features,
enabling users to track recent purchases and update their details via an
easy-to-use Web interface.
PayNowSMS merchants currently using the service to deliver content to
registered users include masktv.co.uk.
About PayNowSMS
The PayNowSMS team have long been recognised as leaders in the field of
online and offline acquiring of high risk merchant transactions. With
over 7 years experience in both on-shore and off-shore payment
processing, the transition to mobile was a natural progression rather
than a new concept. Leveraging existing client relationships in both the
entertainment and mobile gaming sector, PayNowSMS allows players and
consumers of content to finally play and pay mobile at the same time,
and deliver revenue fast and efficiently direct to merchants.
PayNowSMS is based Gibraltar, has subsidiary offices in Vancouver and is
opening a strategic office in Las Vegas in January 2006.
PayNowSMS(TM) is a registered trademark. For more information visit
www.PayNowSMS.com.
About Upaid
Upaid is a leading specialist in mobile payments, offering applications
and services which enable the transfer or value or funds from one
account to another using the mobile phone. Upaid expertise and
experience allows businesses to provide their customers with fast,
convenient and intuitive access to a wide-range of mobile payment and
information services. Our systems support a user interaction and
business logic that is tailored for the unique characteristics of mobile
technology. Applications range from the recharge of prepaid accounts to
the monthly payment of bills via SMS and second factor authentication
using the handset for risk alerts and authorisation for remote
purchases. Upaid also provides a platform to support a complete
eco-system for mobile commerce. The platform can be used for
operator-driven payments system giving users choice in how they pay for
content and other digital goods or as an operator-independent billing
system.
Upaid has offices in the UK, France and Brazil. Upaid(TM) is a
registered trademarks of Upaid Systems, Ltd. For more information,
please visit
www.upaid.net.
Press Contacts
Hotwire for Upaid / PayNowSMS
Sarah Baldry
Programme manager
Tel: +44 207 608 4629
Email:
[email protected]
Graham Gilmour
PayNowSMS
Tel.: +44 7764 575 372
Email:
[email protected]
Allen Ingram
Vancouver Office
PayNowSMS
604.696.6317x225
Email:
[email protected]
Mask TV was the first adopter of this extremely cost effective and easy to use web and wap payment solution. Hit me up for info.