Mobile communications and commerce enabler Netsize today announced that Gameloft, a leading developer and publisher of video games on mobile phones and consoles, will be implementing its mPayment mobile payment solution. This major pan–European agreement enables Gameloft customers to purchase games directly via premium SMS or from the Gameloft WAP shop.
In choosing Netsize, Gameloft is taking advantage of the company´s pan–European coverage in WAP billing wherever the offer is available at operators. In the UK, Netsize is an accredited payment intermediary and has implemented the latest proposed Payforit features in its mPayment solution
Netsize mPayment for Payforit lets mobile phone users buy goods and services using their mobile phones and charge the amount directly to their phone bill or deduct it from their pre–pay credit. Gameloft customers will benefit from greater pricing flexibility and more transparent billing. Netsize makes it easier for publishers to integrate mobile payment into their games because of a single integration API. This provides access to all available operator WAP and Premium SMS billing methods, as well as alternative payment methods.
"Mobile payment is critical to our business and our decision to work with Netsize is based on how their platform enables us to give our customers the best buying experience," says Eve Arakelian, B2C Director, Gameloft. "Netsize provides a solid platform solution that does just that while at the same time being able to handle very large transaction volumes in the most efficient way."
The new agreement builds on a long and close working relationship between the two companies. Gameloft has grown its European business using Netsize mobile solutions including Premium SMS, Standard Bulk SMS and WAP Billing since 2003.
Ludovic Maupain, VP Marketing and Operator Partnerships, Netsize added: "We´re delighted to be deepening our relationship with Gameloft. Gaming is a key growth segment in mobile value added services globally and Netsize has supported Gameloft in its successful deployment across Europe based on the breadth of our offering in bidirectional messaging, SMS billing and WAP Billing".
The Gameloft agreement highlights the even wider global opportunities for Netsize in supporting mobile game operators and services. Informa Telecoms and Media estimates that the number of mobile game users worldwide will exceed 100 million in 2009 and is growing by 15% annually. Total mobile game revenues are estimated to reach US$ 4.8 billion globally in 2009 (Source: Informa)
Netsize recently announced that its online payment solution is now fully Payforit 2.0 compliant, making Netsize one of the few accredited payment intermediaries across all UK operators. Payforit is an online payment service that provides a common framework for charging consumers for content and services through the mobile internet and is supported by mobile operators including Vodafone, Orange, O2, 3 and T–Mobile.
Netsize´s mobile payment solutions allow merchants to bill customers from 25 countries directly on their mobile phone bill or prepaid account. Currently being used by 800 customers, Netsize offers a portfolio of billing methods including Premium SMS, MMS and WAP. The Netsize solution allows both pay–per–transaction and subscription–based recurring billing and payment services that offer flexible business and revenue models for different services.
About Gameloft
Gameloft (EPA:GFT) is a leading international publisher and developer of video games for mobile phones and consoles. Established in 1999, it has emerged as one of the top innovators in its field. The company creates games for mobile handsets equipped with Java, Brew or Symbian technology. The total number of games–enabled handsets is anticipated to exceed four billion units by 2012. Gameloft games are also available to players on WiiWare and DS, Microsoft´s Xbox LIVE Arcade, Apple´s iPod, iTouch and iPhones, and PCs.
Through agreements with major telephone wireless carriers, handset manufacturers, specialized distributors and its online shop, Gameloft has a distribution network in over 80 plus countries.
About Netsize
Netsize is a leading mobile communications and commerce enabler. Netsize solutions include Mobile Messaging, with SMS and MMS delivery in 200 countries; Mobile Payment through operator–based billing (Premium SMS, MMS, & WAP) in 25 countries; and Mobile Content Management platforms with publishing & editing tools to manage messaging services and mobile Internet portals. Netsize manages more than 60 million mobile transactions per month for 800 customers worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies. With 200 employees in 11 offices worldwide, Netsize provides both robust technical infrastructure and marketing expertise to support this successful deployment on a global scale.
For more information, visit http://www.netsize.com
