payvia Brings Carrier Billing Mobile Payments to Emerging Markets Through a Partnership with Mobile-XL

LOS ANGELES--()--payvia, the leading direct carrier billing mobile payments and messaging provider, today announces a partnership to integrate its mobile payments technology with Mobile-XL, whose feature phone browsing platform provides access to digital services such as Facebook, Twitter, email, news, sports and games for millions of people in Africa and India.

Mobile-XL browsers use SMS as a data channel, creating an innovative solution that gives feature phone users access to a wide range of digital content. By adding payvia’s mobile checkout into services on the Mobile-XL browser, the partnership will let consumers purchase digital goods and services with two-click payments made from their prepaid carrier airtime. This means that millions of feature phone users will have a fast and secure way to transact across services like social media, communications, news and games, without requiring a bank account or credit card.

Mobile-XL is directly connected to leading carriers including Orange, MTN, Vodafone, Etisalat, Idea and Airtel and provides consumers with fast and affordable access to popular, everyday content without needing a data service and with just a small fee taken from their carrier airtime. Unlike other mobile payment solutions, payvia’s direct carrier billing mobile payments technology has a frictionless two-click checkout process that works on any device, including feature phones, for consumers across 40 global markets. payvia is committed to dramatically simplifying the process for consumers to purchase the products and services they want on their mobile device, and this partnership extends its ability to deliver on that commitment across a range of emerging markets.

“With over 800 million mobile subscribers in Africa alone, fewer than one-third of whom have access to traditional banking or credit card solutions, we believe that payvia’s technology will soon be the preferred way for both consumers and merchants to buy and sell digital goods throughout Africa,” said Darcy Wedd, CEO, payvia. “Our partnership with Mobile-XL, whose emerging market expertise is unrivaled, is testament to our commitment to provide consumers with greater mobile access to the digital goods and services people want.”

"Mobile-XL is breaking down the barriers of Internet access, enabling users to enjoy the mobile web at the low cost and convenience of messaging,” said Guy Kamgaing, CEO of Mobile-XL. “Our partnership with payvia is an example of innovation to solve the challenge of providing affordable access to valuable digital services to people without smartphones, data plans, bank accounts or credit cards.”

About Mobile-XL

About Mobile-XL™: Mobile-XL™ is a California-based technology company focused on building value added services to mobile users worldwide. Mobile-XL's™ mission is to bridge the digital divide by connecting families, friends, communities and businesses using the ubiquitous SMS channel. Mobile-XL™ products are revolutionary in providing connectivity and tools for empowerment to areas with limited, unreliable or expensive Internet access.

About payvia

payvia is a leading mobile payments and marketing company whose payments and rich media messaging platform allows business of all sizes to target, transact and engage with consumers via their mobile device. By connecting directly to the carrier network payvia lets consumers make simple and secure payments via their mobile phone, adding purchases directly to their carrier bill. Thousands of businesses use payvia's solutions to target and engage consumers through branded rich messaging communication, offers and mobile relationship management and to transact with them through two-click mobile payments. Visit us at www.usepayvia.com. payvia is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in San Francisco, Seattle, Boston and Chicago. payvia is backed by leading investors Silver Lake Sumeru, Montgomery & Co., and Trinity Ventures.

Contacts

payvia
Carolyn Guss, 818-245-2652
carolyn@usepayvia.com
or
Mobile-XL
Ronnie Atlas, +12026778836
ronnie.atlas@mobile-xl.com
Dana Mech, +16612882625
dana.mech@mobile-xl.com

Release Summary

payvia today announces a partnership to integrate mobile payments technology with Mobile-XL to provide direct mobile carrier payments to millions of people in Africa and India.

Contacts

payvia
Carolyn Guss, 818-245-2652
carolyn@usepayvia.com
or
Mobile-XL
Ronnie Atlas, +12026778836
ronnie.atlas@mobile-xl.com
Dana Mech, +16612882625
dana.mech@mobile-xl.com