Smartcard developer Axalto and virtual commerce vendor Vesta are to team up to offer real time payment upload services for prepay mobile phone customers in the US.
The SIM-based top-up solution adds to Vesta’s suite of virtual payment capabilities for prepaid telecommunications products, which include phone, web, WAP and SMS.
Wireless consumers have demonstrated an interest in making payments using a broad range of methods, and our objective is to make it as easy as possible for consumers to pay their service providers, said Matthew Hall, vice president business development at Vesta. SIM technology is a key component of the mobile commerce landscape and we view Axalto as an ideal partner to optimize Vesta’s solutions.
This solution from Vesta and Axalto enables any North American GSM carrier to offer customers the ability to make payments via credit card, debit card or direct withdrawal from a checking account through a feature directly on the phone.
Payment capability is embedded in the SIM card through simple and intuitive drop down menus, creating a mobile transaction environment that is highly secure, can be remotely managed and is tightly integrated with other features on the handset.
Offering consumers the option of making a payment directly from their mobile device enhances the convenience of Vesta’s current recharge services, which already eliminates many of the obstacles associated with recharging a prepaid phone, such as finding a retail store to buy minutes, and then having to call an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) line and enter a PIN code to redeem them.
