Direct Carrier Billing
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Mach inks carrier billing deal with Everything Everywhere, O2, Vodafone and Three in the UK
Not a month after Mach's last carrier billing deal, UK network providers Vodafone, Three, O2 and Everything Everywhere are getting in on the action. The company's direct billing solutions will initially allow the networks to charge app and online purchases straight to your bill, with in-app sales joining them at a later date. Don't expect this to be implemented immediately, however, as the agreement covers the back-end processing -- the individual carriers will be responsible for turning it on customer-side. They'll likely inform you when they hit the switch and your phone bill becomes a monthly surprise.
Skype strikes deal with Mach to expand direct carrier billing for credit purchases
Skype is always finding new ways of making it easier for users to spend money, and now it's extending its carrier billing options in a new deal with Mach. From October, more users than ever will be able to buy credit for the VoIP service then forget about it -- at least until the phone bill arrives. Purchases will initially be available through a web browser, but in-app functionality is expected in the future, although there's no word on exactly which network providers will be involved. We hope, however, that sometime next month, at least a few of those who enjoy Skyping on the move will appreciate sending the bill to their carrier.
Google Play adds carrier billing for music, movies and books
Don't feel like having media purchased through Google Play billed directly to your credit card? Well, now you can have those charges simply added to your monthly phone bill, provided you're on T-Mobile here in the US, or NTT Docomo, KDDI, or Softbank in Japan. According to Google's posting about the move, Sprint will soon be offering the option to pay for movies, books and movies purchased through Big G's market along side your voice and data plan. For T-Mobile subscribers that means both apps and content can simply be added to your tab, while AT&T is sticking with carrier billing for apps only at the moment. Conspicuously absent from the whole shebang, however, is Verizon, which has been one of the more prominent Android pushers here in the US. For a complete list of carriers with at least some direct billing features check out the more coverage link.
T-Mobile hails Direct Carrier Billing to fulfill your digital shopping desires
T-Mobile doesn't seem too wild about playing with Google Wallet, but for its part, the Bellevue-based carrier keeps dipping its toes into the mobile payment pond. As you're probably aware, its customers have been able to apply Android Market purchases to their wireless bills for a couple years, and later this month, they'll be able to do the same with digital content such as music, movies, and videos. Shopping online without needing a credit card is an obvious benefit, and the company is hoping its two-step authentication process will keep customers feeling secure. All Magenta subscribers will see the option at the time of checkout on T-Mobile's partner websites -- regardless of the device they connect with -- and they'll receive an itemized statement of purchases with their monthly bills. The feature can be disabled if you'd rather not participate, and if you're not sold yet, read the full story in the PR just past the break.
