Zong Delivers First One-Click Payment Service to Android Developers

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zong (www.Zong.com), the leading mobile payments platform for sellers of digital goods and services, announced today it has created the first one-click mobile payment solution for Android and is opening a private beta for developers to integrate this payment option into their applications. The new payment solution creates a seamless experience for users who can now make a purchase within an application with just one click; no registration or log-in is required. The Zong platform automatically verifies the user, bills their mobile phone account and returns them to their application or game without delay.

“Zong already boosts revenues for many merchants of online goods and services and now we intend to bring the same benefits to handsets.”

Android handset sales have exceeded previous leader iPhone in the US, reports The NPD Group (1), while iPhone applications accounted for 99.4% of mobile application downloads in 2009 according to Gartner (2). Many developers have cited a lack of payment options as one of the major barriers to development and revenue generation on Android.

“Mobile developers have customarily focused on the iPhone because it has been difficult to monetize applications on Android. But now with over 100,000 new Android handsets activated daily, the market opportunity is growing rapidly and with an easy payment tool, developers will now be able to easily generate revenue from that market," said Zong CEO David Marcus. “Zong already boosts revenues for many merchants of online goods and services and now we intend to bring the same benefits to handsets.”

Android developers can visit www.zong.com/android to request an invitation for the private beta. Approved Android developers will be able to download the Zong Android SDK for easy integration of in-app payment. Zong will work with participating developers to ensure that the software is integrated in a way that optimizes the user experience and meets the developer’s needs.

Zong works with thousands of merchants in popular virtual worlds, online gaming, social networking and digital content properties. Zong is the only mobile payments service that combines carrier billing with credit, debit and prepaid cards and therefore the first company to allow multiple payment options via the mobile phone. For more information on the private beta or request an invitation, go to www.zong.com/android.

(1) The NPD Group, "Mobile Phone Track, 2010"

(2) Gartner, Inc., " Magic Quadrant for Mobile Consumer Application Platforms, 2010"

About Zong

Zong is the leading mobile payments platform for sellers of digital goods and services. Its frictionless payment experience converts shoppers into buyers at rates up to 10 times greater than traditional payment methods. Zong leverages direct connections with mobile network operators around the world to provide a secure payment solution with unrivaled connectivity and service quality. Zong is the mobile payment provider for Facebook Credits and also works with hundreds of leading destination sites, such as Gaia Online, IMVU and Playdom. Reaching over 2 billion mobile users, Zong provides localized payment capabilities in over 30 countries in 16 languages. Zong is the only mobile payments platform that combines the high conversion rates of carrier billing with the low costs and flexibility of payment card networks. Zong is based in Menlo Park with offices in Paris and Geneva, and is backed by Matrix Partners, Advent Venture Partners and Newbury Ventures. For more information, please visit www.zong.com.