Mobile credits to be used for payments soon?

Published February 28, 2012 4:14pm

Mobile phone users may soon be able to buy items with the prepaid credits on their phones, with a Philippine telecommunication firm joining an international effort to promote open standard Web technologies.

This possibility was raised as Smart Communications Inc. recently announced its membership in the Wholesale Applications Community (WAC). Created in 2010, the WAC targets the seamless interoperability of software, digital products and services for mobile devices, to "unite" a growing number of mobile phone models, operating systems, and applications.

In-app billing

Smart said one of its projects is the Chikka TopApp for Android, which it described as the first “Global Pasaload” app which features “in-app operator billing.”

"In-app operator billing allows software developers to bill users without having to connect separately to each WAC member-operator’s billing systems. This is made possible by the WAC’s Network Application Programming Interface (NAPI) which was exposed by Smart to developers worldwide," it said.

Thus, it said that instead of being charged via credit card or via an online payment account, the corresponding amount will be deducted directly from the sender’s load wallet or charged to the postpaid account.

“WAC is absolutely delighted that Smart is the first operator in the world to on-board for the WAC NAPI project. We applaud you on demonstrating the leadership, perseverance, and

creativeness needed to bring this project to fruition,” said WAC CEO Peters Suh.

Smart said other applications of WAC may include, for example, letting a mobile user in the United States have goods purchased for loved ones in the Philippines; and letting a software developer from the UK create an app that will work on several mobile operating systems even on a different network.

As a founding member of the WAC, Smart is committed to re-shaping the future of the industry by being active in several WAC endeavors.

It has participated in a number of efforts including network tests, software development, and service deployment, which seek to benefit not only those in progressive countries, but those in emerging markets as well.

Opening doors

Smart said the WAC-NAPI has also opened the doors to the creation of other Filipino-made applications.

In this year’s Mobile World Conference in Barcelona, Spain, Smart will demonstrate three other apps alongside Chikka TopApp.

These are Shoephoric by Shoephoric.com, iCare by Oks Pinoy, and the FHM Philippines Mobile App by Hand Interactive.

Shoephoric allows shoe fans to organize shoe collections and discuss these with other shoe fanatics.

Its most unique feature is its ability to gift friends with shoes by contributing small amounts towards the cost of dream shoes on their wish lists.

A second app, iCare, promotes “virtual bayanihan” by letting users around the world to make instant donations to the Philippine Red Cross and other non-profit organizations.

This is a very useful application especially for a calamity-prone country such as the Philippines, Smart said.

On the other hand, the FHM Philippines Mobile App grant magazine fans access to previously unseen photos and other exclusive content for a minimal fee.

“We are making it possible for all WAC-accredited Application Developers to reach out to more potential customers,” said Smart President and WAC Board Member Napoleon Nazareno. “We would like to specifically help and enable Filipino Application Developers to tap into this huge potential market and we hope to see many of them reach global stature,” he said. — TJD, GMA News

Tags: smartcommunications, smartphone, payment