Another new idea... Is this possible yet?

[KingRichard]

Can we bill mobile phone service providers for the use of services?

Ie: The caller authorises payment to be added to their phone bill, rather than use a credit card etc.

Was just thinking about a public safety angle - if your daughter was stranded with no cards and no money in the middle of nowhere, would you appreciate a cab service that could bill to mobile phone network?

I'm sure I've heard of the concept.

Cheers

[jon-]

Yep, I'm fairly sure it's already in trials.

Obviously huge security aspect of it and at the moment they're just looking at micropayments (ie a few pound) but it's certainly the way things are going.

[SystemParanoia]

whatabout just using a premium txt service ?

charged at £1.50 a pop, just tell them how many txts to send before you will send a cab out to em.

?


ETA: decimal point!

Edited by SystemParanoia on Monday 20th October 14:57

[Adam T]

I've used a service that just got added to my mobile bill. internet based... but Im sure that its used.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Yes, perfectly possible, think Vodafone were big in it, think their service was m-pay.

[russ_a]

Just paid for a Nokia Subscription via the phone and the charge (£3) had to be split into two £1.50 payments. Not sure what the commision charge for this would be.

[BigBen]

I seem to recall that the limiting factor is that OFCOM put a cap on the most you can be charged for a call therefore it is only suitable for small purchases. OFCOMs intent is to stop scammers having £55 a minute 'phone lines but it also limits the potential for mobile payment.

I think the trials being held at the moment are in fact based on electronic wallet type technology where the value is stored in a different account to your 'phone with your 'phone providing a conduit between the point of purchase and said account for billing.

Ben

[Plotloss]

Google MO/MT Billing

Can never remember which way around it is.

Think the issue with it for cabs will be the transactional cost hitting the cap.

[Pappa Lurve]

Complex area so here goes, and I hope this covers it;

Generally you are moving into an area called m-payment.

Premium SMS is one way - maximum allowed on that is about £10 although £1.50 is more common. The network will take 40-60% of the take for running the service so you will end up with very little.

It is possible to link the users bank details, credit card etc to a mobile account to allow an automated payment that way with unlimited value but this has a number of regulatory issues although t can be done and indeed has been, with great effect, by a number of companies. However, generally these companies are regulated, which makes life a bit easier.

Either of these services can be purchased in or developed internally although often it is a better idea to outsource than to develop.

If you want a little more insight and advice, feel free to PM me any time. I have just finished setting up exactly this kind of service for two very large UK banking groups.

HTH

PL

[Minnsy]

Hi,

We do just this in the mobile space already. However the price of the goods or service that the user is paying for is applied to the users chosen credit card, rather than to their mobile phone bill. You really want to stay under the networks radar, as our friends at Vodaphone, Orange etc will want a healthy slice of what ever the bill is...

Could our solution be applied to your market - quite possibly..

By all means PM me for more details..

Cheers

[KingRichard]

Minnsy said:

Hi,

We do just this in the mobile space already. However the price of the goods or service that the user is paying for is applied to the users chosen credit card, rather than to their mobile phone bill. You really want to stay under the networks radar, as our friends at Vodaphone, Orange etc will want a healthy slice of what ever the bill is...

Could our solution be applied to your market - quite possibly..

By all means PM me for more details..

Cheers

Hello

We currently take credit card bookings. How does your service differ? Do they not have to carry a card?

Regards
Dave

[Minnsy]

Correct - no card need be carried.

The application is currently being trialed in the takeaway food business, and also the cinema booking/ticketing business.

This is a fully branded application that sits on the users handset.

As to how it would work in the taxi environment, that really depends on what exactly you want. The ability to order taxi's via the mobile and take payment in advance? Just the payment? Or a variation of the two...

Cheers

David

Edited by Minnsy on Tuesday 21st October 16:45