Convergence is changing the internet access market. Consumers increasingly access the internet via both fixed and wireless connections. Mobile operators, fixed internet access providers and cable services providers all find themselves competing for the same customer who is already (or soon will be) consuming any digital content via any device – desktop, notebook, tablet, smartphone and smart TV.

 € 65 million purchases via Internet+ in 2010

Netsize mPayment Internet+ billing enables content providers to benefit from this convergence. Netsize mPayment Internet+ reaches some 40 million users in total, 93% of the Internet population in France. It is available on Alice, Bouygues Telecom, Free, Orange and SFR. A single connection to mPayment allows providers of for example video on demand (football, movies, music) to develop innovative services and monetize their content to the largest possible audience – using mobile and online payment methods.

In 2010, 65 million euros worth of transactions has been billed through Internet+, a growth of 60% from the year before. It is the fastest growing payment method in France.

5 reasons to choose Internet+

1. Cardless payment method
2. 40 million potential users
3. Accellerating adoption
4. 82% conversion ratio
5. One-shot, pay-per-use as well as subscription models

With Netsize mPayment, you quickly deploy Internet+ as well as all available carrier billing methods in your web store and mobile stores. Convenience for your customers, revenues for your business.

Retailers are waking up to the imperative to harness mobile – as they did the Internet – to interact efficiently and effectively with their customers. The end-game is no longer about enabling one-off interactions that result in the sale of goods and services. The winning approach is the one that turns a transaction into a customer conversation.

Against this backdrop, an effective mobile payment system must do much more than manage and enable transactions. It must also enable the retailer to communicate with its customers and build mutually profitable relationships.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) takes a central role in strategies aimed at optimizing customer relationships to boost both business profitability and customer satisfaction.

After all, it costs much more to acquire new customers than it does to sell (again) to existing ones. Delight the customer? Mobile brings a new dimension – and a new immediacy – to this best practice.

What can a mobile payment solution do to enable online retailers to implement an efficient CRM strategy using mobile?

Let´s analyze the case of MPME: pay with your mobile in France.

MPME (Mobile Payment & Mobile Enablers) is a new scheme focused on enabling and enhancing remote mobile payment in France. The solution, which launched last year, allows customers to pays for low-cost items using their mobile phone.

Using Netsize´s platform for mobile payments, mPayment with MPME – which runs on the mobile Web and across Wi-Fi networks – retailers can easily add mobile payments on their online and mobile web and WAP store fronts.

In practice, MPME ensures that consumers can make a payment using their mobile phone without revealing their mobile subscriber number.

This is unlike, for example, Payforit, the framework for carrier-billed mobile payment in the United Kingdom, that does pass on the mobile subscriber number to the merchant.

Instead, MPME provides each consumer a unique ID number, a classification that allows the retailer to recognize the customer again without having to know the customer’s precise mobile subscriber number.

Knowing how to serve

The benefits are two-fold. For retailers, the solution allows them to collect key customer insights (such as past purchases) that will enable them to better know and serve their customers.

Building up knowledge of what customers prefer and purchase over time is key when the goal is encouraging repeat buys and long-term customer loyalty.

For consumers, the pay-off is all about convenience. Retailers – because they can make the connection between the transaction made and the customer who made it – have a much clearer idea of what goods and services would likely appeal to a particular customer. Additionally, retailers can also identify and reward return customers.

Since data is collected and enriched using a unique ID number, customers don’t have to be worried about privacy concerns. The retailer doesn’t know exactly who the consumer is; they just know how to serve her best.

Transaction follows conversation follows transaction follows …

But the interaction doesn’t stop there. Beyond enabling payment, Netsize mPayment with MPME also allows merchants and retailers to connect and communicate with their customers.

Specifically, this solution enables merchants to carry on a conversation, sending SMS text messages that are delivered to each customer’s unique MPME identification.

More importantly, this CRM approach also encourages customers to answer back. In practice, users can simply send a text to the merchant´s mobile service to reply to offers, ask for more product information or just react to a merchant’s call to action.

The result: a form of valuable and effective two-way text communication that allows retailers to better serve their customers – and encourages consumers to respond to the messages they receive.

Service discovery and promotion with MPME

The loop feeds back

Thus, the discussion (and the relationship) can continue long after the consumer has made a purchase in the online store, mobile storefront, or via a mobile application.

It’s easy to imagine scenarios where the merchant can use this solution to text consumers and inform them about similar deals, new products and services, or simply ask permission to follow-up with alters announcements or newsletter updates.

Indeed, merchants and retailers can use the solution to send text messages to customers who are likely to respond based on their past purchasing behavior.

This feedback loop opens the door to a multitude of cross-sell and up-sell opportunities because it helps the merchant to develop (and deliver) services that are relevant, valuable, and sure to retain and grow the customer base.

And isn’t this the goal of CRM in the first place?

More on Mobile Payments & Mobile Enablers: Association Française du Multimédia Mobile AFMM (www.afmm.fr)
More on Payforit: www.payforituk.com

Paris, July 19, 2010 — Netsize, the leading mobile commerce and communications enabler, today announced the key to unlocking micropayments online: Netsize mPayment with Payforit version 3.

Click image to view mPayment with Payforit v3 product details

For the first time UK consumers will have a simple, straightforward and trustworthy route to buy digital as well as physical goods and services. Consumers can make transactions online and via WAP using any mobile phone. Merchants benefit via a simplified route to market that accelerates ARPU.

Payforit v3 offers trust, convenience and ease of use. It is supported by all mobile network operators in the UK. Payforit enables consumers to make online purchases from their PC or mobile phone and securely charge the payment amounts to their phone bill. Payforit v3 supports payments from all mobile devices, including WiFi-connected phones.

Netsize mPayment enables Payforit on Web, WAP and Web Lite transactions and also supports single click purchases and subscription services billing with Payforit.

“Netsize mPayment with Payforit v3 provides merchants with a ‘country on a plate’”, says Stanislas Chesnais, Chief Executive Offer, Netsize. “Now merchants can easily start with mobile payments in the UK and focus on promoting their offer, while mPayment with Payforit handles the technical complexities and helps ensure regulatory compliance.”

mPayment with Payforit offers merchants increased pricing flexibility. The easy check-out process significantly improves the rate of successful transactions. The number of clicks and keystrokes needed to make a payment is reduced by more than 50 percent compared to credit cards.

As SMS payment for web based transactions is now not allowed in the UK cross-network, Payforit v3 is the single mobile payment alternative available to merchants, offering a superior user experience.

“For the first time, merchants can take advantage of a mobile payment product in the UK that is secure, easy to use and offers payout rates similar to cards. mPayment with Payforit v3 enables them to do business online with consumers who have no credit card, debit card or PayPal account,” Stanislas Chesnais adds. “Payforit v3 has the potential to expand the UK market. It marks an important step towards an m-commerce economy.”

Visit www.netsize.com for more information about Netsize mPayment with Payforit v3, and sign up for a trial account.

The largest mobile network operator is Vodacom (52% market share, source: Vodacom), MTN is second (35% market share, source: MTN) and Cell C, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Oger Telecom, is third (4.2 million subscribers, 8.8% market share, source: Cell C). Some 7% have 3G subscriptions.

Mobile, anyone?

South Africa is a very attractive market for mobile services. According to a report from Frost & Sullivan, demand for mobile content services in South Africa will grow by an average of 15 per cent per year until 2013.

It is also the most advanced mobile territory in Africa, with a European-style infrastructure, and consumers whose first introduction to telecoms and the web comes from mobile. Mobile broadband usage is as common as fixed line.

The Mobile Marketing Association recently released some interesting statistics about the phenomenal growth in this market and the current state of mobile adoption in South Africa, as summarized in an article by 20fourLabs.

South Africa is a nation sparkling with confidence, higher than many parts of the world (source: Bureau for Economic Research), and with great ambitions as the 2010 World Cup is gripping this sports mad country!

Launching mobile content services in South Africa

In November Netsize launched its mPayment operator-based billing solution with South Africa coverage with MO premium and MT premium billing. On Vodacom and MTN (total 87% market share) both MT and MO premium are available, and a long number for sending and receiving messages.

Multiple price points per short code are possible. MO premium is available on Cell C with a single price point per short code. For the most common price points shared short codes will be available.

Applications …

Popular mobile applications include banking (money transfer services), advertisement (mobile marketing) and entertainment (content/infotainment and social networking).

Whereas traditional direct marketing and online marketing is costly and less effective due to the language situation and lack of broadband access, mobile is providing an alternative marketing channel. Direct and personal, it has the widest reach of all in this vast country.

With 4 times more people using sms than email, it is clear that in this country the mobile is everyone’s “first screen.”

Regulatory aspects

As most countries, South Africa has put in place industry self regulation. The WASPA Code of Conduct promotes fairness and decency in dealings with subscribers and members in the content value chain.

Advertising must follow the rules in the Advertising Code of Conduct, with clear communication on pricing matters. Operators have set some specific rules as well in particular for MT subscription services.

Online seminar

If you would like to know more on how to launch mobile content services in South Africa and Netsize mobile messaging, billing and marketing solutions, we invite you to view the Netsize online seminar on South Africa at www.netsize.com.

Netsize, a leading mobile commerce and communications enabler, today announces that it has extended the network coverage of Netsize mPayment, its solution for global remote payments, with three mobile network operators in South Africa, Vodacom, MTN, and soon, Cell-C.

The expansion follows the acquisition by Netsize of Africa2you’s assets, a wireless services provider based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“South Africa is at the forefront of mobile, having one of the highest growth rates for mobile content services,” says Stanislas Chesnais, Chairman and CEO, Netsize. “With Netsize mPayment, content providers can use operator-based billing for charging pay-per-use and subscription services.”

In addition, Netsize announces the availability of subscription services billing with Netsize mPayment on the network of MTS, the largest mobile network operator in Russia with close to 66 million subscribers.

Netsize mPayment enables clients to define alias, end user price point, billing frequency, retry scheme and expiry date. End users confirm their subscription service opt-in by sending an SMS MO message. Opt-in through WAP or PIN-code authenticated web request will be available in the first quarter of 2010.

The new services will be presented in a live online seminar on November 26, 2009.
For more information and to register for this seminar please visit www.netsize.com

“Direct consumer charging by mobile operators remains the favorite purchasing method of consumers to get entertainment content or to access services over SMS or Mobile Internet/WAP media,” says Stanislas Chesnais, Chairman and CEO, Netsize.  “We witness 800% transaction volume growth year-to-year mainly held up by Mobile Internet/WAP services growth.  Our higher aggregation level enables the best revenue pay-out to publishers.  Covering more than 100 mobile operators in 28 countries makes Netsize the global market leader.”

“The Netsize mPayment solution enables publishers and content providers to achieve 12% more revenue in comparison with other implementations, thanks to an in-depth knowledge of the operator’s payment platforms,” says Stanislas Chesnais. mPayment also enables reaching any consumer worldwide over alternative methods such as credit card, PayPal™, and other e-Wallets.

“The automatic and transparent consumer authentication makes mobile purchasing easy and avoids users from having to open an online account.  The secured transaction is initiated from a single click without entering sensitive data which ensures the best transaction achievement ratio.  The ease of use and convenience quickly recognized by consumers enables mobile handsets to be the tool for purchasing physical goods,” says Stanislas Chesnais.

Analytics is an integral part of the mPayment solution.  mPayment Analytics provides customers with a billing and payment dashboard with three statistics views.  The summary view shows the key performance indicators such as revenue and transaction quantity split by country and handset model.  The real-time statistics view shows all processed transactions allowing users to filter up to twenty criteria.  The customized statistics view enables users to build his view by service, country, operator, or business model (subscription or pay-per-use).

Solutions include (see table below):

• Server platforms that can be integrated with enterprise application using the platform’s Application Programmer Interface (API) and standard protocols: mGateway, mPayment.

• Plug-in software packages for installation in specific third-party application environments without need for specific integration: Microsoft Dynamics CRM plug-in.

• Fully managed end user messaging applications that are easy to use and do not require any integration: mMarketing.

• Value added services for simplifying mobile service management and deploying and operating a solid, reliable and secure messaging infrastructure: mServices and Service Level Agreement.

Netsize platforms have been integrated successfully with business applications from many third party vendors including Microsoft, IBM, BEA, Oracle, Neolane, Optizen, QAD and others.

Hutchison 3G started in May 2003 with the brand Drei as the first sole mobile multimedia provider in Austria. Drei offers multimedia products such as video calling, music videos and mobile television on the UMTS-mobile and in addition provides the classic ways of communication such as voice calling, SMS and MMS.

With 94% of Austria covered with its UMTS service, and all its mobile handsets equipped with access to Facebook, Google and eBay, Drei is particularly targeting the heavy mobile internet consumer.

Netsize provides operator-based billing through premium messaging (MO as well as MT) on all four network operators. End user price points start from €0.20, up to €10.00.

The use of MT premium however is subject to a few operator regulatory limitations. Drei for instance does not allow MT premium charging for services where the user can use a web browser (mobile or PC) to make a purchase commitment or receive the content / information service.

Operators generally prefer that content providers use WAP billing instead of premium messaging for content services billing. WAP billing has many benefits, as it enhances the user experience, increases transaction clarity and trust, and improves campaign conversion rates. Netsize Online Payment, our platform for operator-based WAP billing in 15 countries, provides a single aggregated access to all operator billing systems.

Since summer 2008 A1 Mobilkom, Austria’s largest operator, has been banning the use of MT billing for new content services entirely, in favour of WAP billing. As of March this year, they have now revised this full ban to allow the use of MT premium again for pure text services that do not make use of a WAP push message to download content from WAP or web, and that cannot make use of WAP billing. As a most trusted Mobilkom partner, Netsize can help content providers with deploying new MT billing services, subject to strict regulations.

Mobile communications and commerce enabler Netsize today announced that Gameloft, a leading developer and publisher of video games on mobile phones and consoles, will be implementing its mPayment mobile payment solution. This pan-European agreement enables Gameloft customers to purchase games directly via premium SMS or from the Gameloft WAP shop.

In choosing Netsize, Gameloft is taking advantage of the company’s pan-European coverage in WAP billing wherever the offer is available at operators. In the UK, Netsize is an accredited payment intermediary and has implemented the latest proposed Payforit features in its mPayment solution

Netsize mPayment for Payforit lets mobile phone users buy goods and services using their mobile phones and charge the amount directly to their phone bill or deduct it from their pre-pay credit. Gameloft customers will benefit from greater pricing flexibility and more transparent billing. Netsize makes it easier for publishers to integrate mobile payment into their games because of a single integration API. This provides access to all available operator WAP and Premium SMS billing methods, as well as alternative payment methods.

“Mobile payment is critical to our business and our decision to work with Netsize is based on how their platform enables us to give our customers the best buying experience,” says Eve Arakelian, B2C Director, Gameloft. “Netsize provides a solid platform solution that does just that while at the same time being able to handle very large transaction volumes in the most efficient way.”

The new agreement builds on a long and close working relationship between the two companies. Gameloft has grown its European business using Netsize mobile solutions including Premium SMS, Standard Bulk SMS and WAP Billing since 2003.

Ludovic Maupain, VP Marketing and Operator Partnerships, Netsize added: “We’re delighted to be deepening our relationship with Gameloft. Gaming is a key growth segment in mobile value added services globally and Netsize has supported Gameloft in its successful deployment across Europe based on the breadth of our offering in bidirectional messaging, SMS billing and WAP Billing”.

The Gameloft agreement highlights the even wider global opportunities for Netsize in supporting mobile game operators and services. Informa Telecoms and Media estimates that the number of mobile game users worldwide will exceed 100 million in 2009 and is growing by 15% annually. Total mobile game revenues are estimated to reach US$ 4.8 billion globally in 2009 (Source: Informa)

Netsize recently announced that its online payment solution is now fully Payforit 2.0 compliant, making Netsize one of the few accredited payment intermediaries across all UK operators. Payforit is an online payment service that provides a common framework for charging consumers for content and services through the mobile internet and is supported by mobile operators including Vodafone, Orange, O2, 3 and T-Mobile.

About Gameloft
Gameloft (EPA:GFT) is a leading international publisher and developer of video games for mobile phones and consoles. Established in 1999, it has emerged as one of the top innovators in its field. The company creates games for mobile handsets equipped with Java, Brew or Symbian technology. The total number of games-enabled handsets is anticipated to exceed four billion units by 2012. Gameloft games are also available to players on WiiWare and DS, Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE Arcade, Apple’s iPod, iTouch and iPhones, and PCs.

Through agreements with major telephone wireless carriers, handset manufacturers, specialized distributors and its online shop, Gameloft has a distribution network in over 80 plus countries.

Netsize, a leading mobile communications and commerce enabler, today announced the expansion of its global mPayment mobile transaction and billing service with the coverage of all 25 nationwide and regional mobile network operators in Russia. Using Netsize mPayment, international content providers can now reach and bill more than 165 million subscribers in Russia.

Russia is the biggest single extension of the Netsize premium messaging network to date. “Russia is one of the largest and fastest growing mobile markets in the world and it has a mobile penetration of over 100%. The country will be one of the drivers of continued growth of the company,” said Stanislas Chesnais, Chairman and CEO, Netsize. He continued, “The addition of full coverage of Russia to our portfolio testifies to our position as leading global provider of mobile messaging and billing services.”

The Netsize mPayment Russia offer enables content providers to securely and reliably offer and bill mobile multimedia content and services such as gaming, and applications that target community services and user generated content. End user support is provided in local language, in full compliance with Russian operator regulations. Using Netsize mPayment content providers will benefit from a fast time-to-market and professional support of launching services in Russia.

The mPayment coverage of Russia comprises the mobile networks of MTS, VimpelCom (Beeline) and MegaFon, together representing approximately 84% of market share, and the networks of over 20 regional mobile operators with each up to 5% of market share, giving a total mobile subscriber reach of 100%. With the addition of Russia, Netsize customers can now reach and bill 1.3 billion subscribers globally through a single platform solution.

Register to attend the online seminar “Launching Mobile Services in Russia using Netsize mPayment”