Monday, October 31, 2011
WIRELESS services pioneer Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart will soon make it possible for subscribers to pay for mobile apps, products, and services with their airtime load instead of credit cards or online payment accounts.
As demonstrated by the recently launched Chikka TopApp for Android smartphones, Smart now makes it possible for software developers to charge subscribers directly through their prepaid "load" or postpaid account.
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«There are still a lot of mobile phone users in the world who do not own credit cards or online payment accounts, and are thus, not able to purchase apps and other digital products,» Smart president Napoleon L. Nazareno said.
«By turning our subscribers' airtime accounts into a means for payment, we have made it possible for developers to reach out to more potential customers,» he added.
A 2008 survey by the Bank for International Settlements states that in the Philippines, only 3 percent of Filipinos own a credit card. (http://www.bis.org/publ/bppdf/bispap46m.pdf
A world first, Chikka TopApp was developed in conjunction with the Wholesale Applications Community (WAC, a coalition of leading mobile operators from around the world.
Chikka TopApp was made possible by a new Network Application Programming Interface (Napi created by WAC. The Napi allows developers to charge users without having to connect separately with each mobile operator's billing system.
«The opening up of network APIs is a key focus for WAC," said WAC CEO Peters Suh. «This demonstrates our commitment to making it easier for developers to innovate and drive revenues and proves that successful collaboration between operators is a reality,» Suh said.
Smart has been taking the lead in developing applications based on the WAC platform. Last September, it launched the WAC-enabled Netphone 701, which features the ground-breaking SmartNet platform.
SmartNet is a service delivery platform, which includes several patented technologies such as Safe Browse and the Global Directory.
Instead of turning off the phone's data connection altogether to avoid unintended data use, Safe Browse makes available whitelisted sites and services. Once users try to visit unauthorized sites, Safe Browse even warns them of potential additional charges.
The Global Directory, meanwhile, is a service that allows Netphone users to search for other users on SmartNet. As soon as they have found the person they wish to connect with, they can send a friend request similar to what is done in popular social networking sites.
«We have the devices now; it's as easy as making the applications available to the users,» said Nazareno. «In the near future, we will be introducing more features to WAC applications as we improve on the Napi,» Nazareno said.
To install Chikka TopApp on the Netphone, download the free app from the Google Android Market.
The Smart Netphone 701 is now available free at Smart Data Lite Plan 800 or on prepaid for P9,900.
Smart is the only Philippine telecommunications company that holds a seat in the Wholesale Applications Community's board of directors.
Published in the Sun. Star Davao newspaper on November 01, 2011.
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