According to MACH, the partnership will enable Skype customers an easier way to purchase Skype credit and create revenue streams in new markets where payment methods have low penetration rates.
The service will go live in October, and Skype users will be able to purchase credits from internet devices, courtesy of apps and browser functionality. The service further allows Skype users to charge Skype credit to their mobile phone bill or pre-paid account, with operator billing working on the same price points as present payment methods, which will not alter the experience for users.
“MACH’s strength in direct operator billing, as well as its heritage in delivering cloud-based communications solutions to over 650 operators, led us to select MACH as our first direct operator billing vendor,” said Neil Ward, general manager, business operators at Skype division – Microsoft. “Delivering a strong user experience has been at the heart of Skype’s adoption by millions of users globally, and we want to extend this philosophy to the payment options we provide.”
MACH CEO Morten Brogger highlighted the benefits using MACH’s direct billing gateway for a Skype platform, and the potential it gave the company to enter the e-commerce arena. “With director billing gateway, Skype has a far more flexible, secure and reliable billing solution, than, for example, premium SMS,” he said. “Being able to play in this value chain will be critical to raising operator revenues in the future.”
