Research in Motion (RIMM) on Monday announced that is has partnered with more than 50 carriers to bring direct billing to its BlackBerry App World. Integrated carrier billing lets customers purchase apps through their BlackBerry smartphone and charge them directly to their regular monthly bill. The service is fully integrated into the BlackBerry Payment Service, which offers developers the chance to utilize in-app purchases and subscriptions.
“We’re delighted to announce that over 50 of our carrier partners are now offering integrated carrier billing to customers on BlackBerry App World,” said Ronjon Nag, Vice President for the BlackBerry App World storefront. “We remain committed to developing innovative ways to support our carrier partners, while providing a platform that benefits the whole mobile ecosystem.”
BlackBerry App World is available in 170 markets and offers more than 100,000 BlackBerry smartphone apps. RIM’s press release follows below.
BlackBerry App World Integrated Carrier Billing Now Implemented with More Than 50 Carriers
Benefits of integrated carrier billing extend to carriers, developers, content providers, and customers
WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Nov. 26, 2012) – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced that more than 50 carriers have now implemented integrated carrier billing on the BlackBerry App World™ storefront for their customers. The announcement marks a great milestone for RIM, and a big benefit for carriers, developers, content providers, and customers.
Integrated carrier billing enables a customer to purchase apps or digital goods on their BlackBerry smartphone, and simply and conveniently have the purchases put directly on their regular monthly bill from their carrier. Integrated carrier billing is also integrated with the BlackBerry Payment Service, which enables developers and content providers to offer in-app purchases (such as additional levels in a game), as well as supporting one-off and recurring (subscription-based) purchases, without interrupting the customer’s app experience.Carrier billing services have proven to drive significant value for the whole mobile ecosystem, including carriers, developers, content providers, and customers. Aggregated data indicates that customers’ propensity to purchase apps on BlackBerry App World increases when carrier billing is offered, with an average of 75% of gross sales transacted through the carrier and average carrier revenues derived from apps increased between 100%-300% after launch.
Ronjon Nag, Vice President for the BlackBerry App World storefront at RIM, said, “We’re delighted to announce that over 50 of our carrier partners are now offering integrated carrier billing to customers on BlackBerry App World. We remain committed to developing innovative ways to support our carrier partners, while providing a platform that benefits the whole mobile ecosystem.”
Ray Anderson, CEO, Bango, whose mobile payment platform enables charge-to-bill payments in BlackBerry App World, said, “Our relationship with RIM goes from strength to strength and we’re delighted to see the integrated carrier billing experience Bango enables on BlackBerry smartphones in the hands of more and more customers. We’ve seen smartphone users rely increasingly on the ability to charge the costs of digital goods to their carrier bill, and with RIM, we’re providing them with a frictionless payment experience.”
Dario Talmesio, Principal Analyst, Informa Telecoms & Media, said, “Mobile operators recognize that RIM works closely and constructively with them and with more than 50 operators now offering integrated carrier billing it’s a great milestone that shows these relationships are productive. Mobile operators recognize the business benefits this service provides and the opportunities for repeated customer engagement on BlackBerry App World.”
BlackBerry App World is now available in 170 markets and territories worldwide offering more than 100,000 BlackBerry smartphone apps.
