IPC Media and Boku Partner on Innovative “Text-to-Pay” Solution, Offering Print Magazine Subscriptions with ‘Marie Claire’, ‘InStyle’ and Many More via Text

UK publishing giant and Silicon Valley tech startup allow readers to subscribe to top print magazines using only a text message, charge the subscription to mobile

SAN FRANCISCO--()--Boku, Inc., the global leader in mobile payments, is announcing a new partnership with IPC Media that allows new subscribers to sign up for print magazine subscriptions, without the need for a credit or debit card, by simply texting a keyword to a short number. This innovative solution using text-to-pay is expected to significantly increase print magazine subscriptions, particularly among young, mobile-first, consumers. After confirmation via text the subscriber will complete the registration process via a mobile website. The charge for the magazine subscription appears on the subscriber’s carrier bill, or is deducted from their prepaid balance using Boku’s e-money product.

“Our company is always looking to take advantage of technological innovation,” said Beatriz Montoya, acting direct marketing director at IPC Media. “Creating a solution with Boku that gives readers the ability to immediately subscribe using their phone number has tremendous potential to grow our subscription business. Very soon our readers will start discovering keywords that they can subscribe with via insert cards, print ads and on the covers on their favorite magazines.”

Together, Boku and IPC Media have created a 21st century payments solution for a subscription model that has yet to adapt to the increased importance and adoption of mobile phones as a payment tool. The initiative is a significant step towards the widespread combination of both the physical and the digital, as offline paper inserts and magazine ads now offer an online sign up path for mobile payment-based subscriptions. Many of IPC’s iconic magazines will be available via text-to-pay including woman&home, Marie Claire, InStyle and Ideal Home.

“Providing IPC Media with the ability to capture payment easily and immediately in the physical world – in a doctor’s office, waiting on a plane to take off, or just relaxing on the beach – is the perfect integration for our service,” said Boku CEO Jon Prideaux. Mr. Prideaux continued, “Working with IPC Media to create such a simple, elegant solution for people to easily subscribe to their favorite magazines paves the way for ‘text-to-pay’ solutions for a variety of subscription based products. Our vision of using carrier based mobile payments in the physical world has come into its own.”

About IPC Media

IPC Media is the UK's leading publisher of print and digital magazine content. With more than 60 iconic brands - including Decanter, Country Life, Horse & Hound, NME, What's on TV and Wallpaper* - IPC creates content for multiple platforms, across print, online, mobile, tablets and experiences. IPC engages with almost half of all UK adults in print and its award winning websites reach over 28 million global users every month.

For more information, visit: http://www.ipcmedia.com/

About Boku:

Boku, the leading direct carrier billing mobile payment 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, Latin America, and Asia, Boku reaches nearly 4 billion consumers worldwide, across 67 different countries with more than 250 operators. Boku partners with global merchants including Facebook, Sony, and Electronic Arts. 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

Media Kit: http://www.boku.com/press/

Contacts

For Boku, Inc. in the United States
David Speiser, 650-516-6635
david@drsmedia.com
For Boku, Inc. in Europe
Ben Camm-Jones, +44 (0)7515 877 621
ben@clarity.pr
For IPC Media
Victoria Higham, 020 3148 5401
PR Manager
victoria_higham@ipcmedia.com

Contacts

For Boku, Inc. in the United States
David Speiser, 650-516-6635
david@drsmedia.com
For Boku, Inc. in Europe
Ben Camm-Jones, +44 (0)7515 877 621
ben@clarity.pr
For IPC Media
Victoria Higham, 020 3148 5401
PR Manager
victoria_higham@ipcmedia.com