Boku Brings Mobile Payments to Smart TVs with Partner PlayJam
Boku, Inc., the global leader in online mobile payments, today announced a partnership with PlayJam the premier global platform for games on TV. The partnership brings carrier billing to smart televisions and other consumer electronics around the world, including devices from Samsung, Panasonic, LGE, Vizio, Western Digital, Google TV and VESTEL.
This agreement allows more than 90 Million consumers to use their mobile phone number to purchase games, upgrades and other services on PlayJam’s global marketplace. PlayJam’s network represents over 45% of all games played on Smart TVs in over 100 territories worldwide and serves over 150 TV apps on a wide variety of CE manufacturer devices. Users can checkout simply by entering in their mobile phone number with the charges appearing on their carrier bill.
“We’re committed to bringing a seamless gaming and payments experience to all of our customers, regardless of market or device, and mobile payments through Boku will play a critical role in that commitment.” said Charles Tigges, Chief Commercial Officer for PlayJam. “In some instances, a customer in the United States might use Boku to checkout on an LGE TV with one of our game publishers. In Germany, a Samsung TV owner might purchase a new game directly from PlayJam using Boku. Regardless of device, market or game title, the reduced friction available through carrier billing offers a great experience for the consumer, and that’s a benefit to everyone.”
PlayJam-enabled devices offer customers access to the Boku® mobile payments platform in more than a dozen different markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Russia, Spain, Poland and others. The PlayJam platform SDK offers game developers an easy way to enhance and monetize their games across all Smart TV brands with features like mobile game controller application, pre-roll advertising, in-app payments, pre-paid card, save state, leaderboards, tournaments, social integration, gamer profile and more.
“Mobile payments has grown steadily in the past half decade, moving from online purchase of virtual goods into numerous different vertical markets,” said James Patmore, Managing Director EMEA for Boku. “Through our partnership with PlayJam, Boku is helping to further advance the mobile payments market, bringing the convenience and security of carrier billing directly to smart TVs in consumers’ homes around the world.”
About Boku:
Boku, the leading online mobile payments 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 and Latin America, Boku reaches nearly 4 billion consumers worldwide, across 68 different countries. 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
About PlayJam:
PlayJam is the world´s leading provider of games on Smart TV devices, representing over 45% of all games played on Smart TV in over 100 territories Worldwide. Monthly Active Users grew by over 1000% in 2012, and PlayJam Games Network now serves over 150 TV apps on Samsung, LGE, Panasonic and a number of other CE manufacturer devices, such as Western Digital.
The company recently completed a highly successful Kickstarter campaign to fund the launch of its dedicated games console - GameStick, which closed at 650% of the original target and is due to ship in April this year. GameStick is available for pre-order on Amazon as well as at GameStop (US) and Game (UK) stores now.