Boku

News Byte

Telefonica Signs BOKU to Aid With In-App Payments

Ina Fried in Mobile on August 29, 2011 at 6:16 am PT

Global wireless carrier Telefonica is aiming to make it easier for developers that want to enable in-app payments on their network, tapping BOKU to aid in the effort.

The move is the carrier’s latest effort to enable network-specific features such as Internet telephony, text messaging and carrier billing, all tapping directly into Telefonica’s network. (This NewsByte has been updated, correcting an earlier mischaracterization of the service.)

News Byte

Boku Launches Carrier Billing in France for Digital Goods

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on August 24, 2011 at 3:01 pm PT

San Francisco-based Boku, which enables consumers to charge digital items to their wireless bill, is launching with French carriers Bouygues Telecom and SFR, in addition to already working with Orange France. Now most mobile-phone owners in France will be able to charge things, such as virtual goods in an online game, up to 10 Euros. Boku operates in 65 countries and across 230 carriers. Its main competitor, Zong, was acquired by eBay last month.

Verizon Wireless and American Express Find an Intermediary Path to Mobile Payments

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on August 1, 2011 at 5:30 am PT

Verizon Wireless is announcing a partnership with American Express that will enable its 100-million-plus mobile subscribers to pay for goods online using their phone numbers.

What’s in Their Wallets?

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on July 14, 2011 at 6:30 am PT

That’s the question I asked some digital money experts, whose job it is to push the creative boundaries on payments.You’d think they would be on the cutting edge, right?

Why PayPal Paid $240 Million for Zong

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on July 8, 2011 at 6:29 am PT

PayPal has spent the past 13 years making payment easier for anyone who has an email address. With the acquisition of Zong, its focus can now shift to anyone who has a phone number.

eBay Acquires Mobile Payments Provider Zong for $240 Million in Cash

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on July 7, 2011 at 6:34 am PT

EBay said this morning that it is acquiring Zong, a well-backed mobile payments provider, for about $240 million in cash.

American Express Continues Push Into Mobile Payments With Investment in Payfone

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on April 12, 2011 at 5:00 pm PT

Two weeks after launching an all-new digital payments platform called Serve, American Express is doubling its efforts in the emerging space with an investment in Payfone, a mobile-payments provider.

American Express Launches All-New Digital Payments Platform to Attack PayPal's Bread and Butter

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on March 28, 2011 at 5:00 am PT

American Express is launching an all-new Internet-based payment system that will go up against PayPal as part of the company’s plans to expand beyond its briefcase-touting business clientele.

News Byte

Boku Signs Direct Billing Relationship for Physical Goods with Telefonica

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on March 23, 2011 at 10:21 am PT

Boku, a mobile payments provider, said it has signed a direct carrier billing relationship with Telefónica’s O2 in Germany. That means that O2 customers can charge virtual, digital and physical goods ranging from .09 Euros to 30 Euros to their carrier bill by entering their phone number into an app or other form. In general, the trend has been for carriers to increasingly lower the fees they charge for physical goods to make charging lower margin goods to the carrier bill more feasible. Boku says it’s connected to 230 operators in 65 countries, although not all carriers support physical payments.

Zong Extends Mobile Payments to Game Consoles and More

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on March 17, 2011 at 7:00 am PT

Zong, one of the many startups trying to address carrier billing as a viable payment option for digital goods, is expanding its platform to other technologies, including game consoles.