SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BOKU, Inc., the global leader in online mobile payments, today announced that they are an approved carrier-billing gateway for the T-Mobile Mall, T-Mobile's digital storefront. T-Mobile USA is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG (OTCQX: DTEGY). The partnership enables T-Mobile’s app and game developers to accept in-app payments from T-Mobile’s 34 million subscribers. Applications and games will be distributed and marketed through the T-Mobile Mall, and transactions completed using BOKU will be billed directly to a subscriber’s carrier bill.
By leveraging BOKU’s advanced payment technology, developers can integrate in-app payments into their Android app with BOKU’s 1-Tap™ SDK for Android. Game developers increase consumer conversion and expand their global customer reach simply by dropping the BOKU Android SDK into their application. BOKU’s highly developed technology that’s integrated across over 60 countries and hundreds of carriers handles everything from localization to payment authorization. Integrating with BOKU simplifies the purchase experience for consumers, eliminating the need to manually enter credit card information. Through a simple two-step process called 1-Tap Billing, customers will be able to easily and securely purchase and upgrade games without leaving the gaming experience.
“Our merchants find significant value in the high conversion rate of mobile payments with in-app purchases.” said Ron Hirson, President of BOKU. “By combining our bank-grade technology with the access to millions of customers who regularly use the T-Mobile Mall, we’re confident this global billing and distribution method will add tremendous value to game developers seeking a wider audience and increased revenue.“
“BOKU is a strong partner and a key part of our strategic vision to offer our consumers payment options that add value to and simplify the transaction experience,” said Venetia Espinoza, T-Mobile USA’s director of Digital Stores and Mobile Payments. “Our quality games and gamers combined with BOKU’s strong connection to T-Mobile APIs, simple 1-Tap SDK integration and access to the Android developer community will undoubtedly bring in more people to our app store ecosystem and benefit everyone in the process."
With this agreement T-Mobile customers will be able to access the T-Mobile Mall’s portfolio of games and use mobile payments to purchase a wide variety of in-app content within downloaded apps, including virtual goods found in online games from publishers. Game-insight International is one game developer already taking advantage of the T-Mobile app store billing relationship with BOKU. “We selected BOKU because great technology is critical to our success, and they run a cutting-edge technology focused business. Their sophisticated Android SDK lets us quickly and easily access payment systems that handle complex transactions across multiple currencies with maximum uptime, and that’s what we want in a billing partner,” said Game Insight’s CEO, Alisa Chumachenko. “Our business is driven by quick and easy in-game transactions. BOKU’s 1-Tap SDK keeps players in the game with less time navigating transaction menus; something everyone can appreciate. This new partnership will extend BOKU’s 1-Tap convenience to even more loyal gamers across our growing network of titles.”
About BOKU:
BOKU, the leading online mobile payments company, brings bank-grade payments technology and mobile users together, creating a trusted, accessible platform for consumers, merchants and carriers alike. Based in San Francisco with offices in Europe, Australia, Latin America and Asia, BOKU reaches nearly 4 billion consumers worldwide, across 66 different countries. Leading Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and venture capitalists fund BOKU including Andreessen Horowitz, Benchmark Capital, DAG Ventures, Index Ventures, Khosla Ventures and NEA. For more information visit: www.boku.com
About Game-insight International:
Founded in 2010, Game Insight is one of the leading social and mobile gaming studios in Russia, with a strong brand representation globally. Game Insight's portfolio includes games on Android, iOS, social, Web, and HTML 5. The studio is committed to creating high quality, free-to-play games on all platforms. Find more information on Game Insight at the official Web site: http://www.game-insight.com/
About T-Mobile USA:
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG (OTCQX: DTEGY). By the end of the third quarter of 2011, approximately 129 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.7 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS and additionally HSPA+ 21/HSPA+ 42. T-Mobile USA’s wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit www.telekom.de/investor-relations.
Useful Links:
BOKU website: http://www.boku.com
Media Kit: http://www.BOKU.com/press/media
Game-insight International website: http://www.game-insight.com/
T-Mobile website: http://www.t-mobile.com