According to SoCalTech, Los Angeles-based Payvia, which is developing mobile payment technology, and Mobile-XL, which develops software for providing access to digital services to people in Africa and India, are in a partnership, the companies. The two companies are integrating Payvia’s mobile payments technology with Mobile-XL’s service, which is used to deliver news, content, games, and Internet services to emerging markets. The partnership will allow consumers to purchase digital goods and services by using their prepaid carrier airtime, instead of requiring a bank account or credit card.
Mobile-XL’s services are offered i nIndia in conjunction with MTN:, Vodafone, Idea and Airtel. The new link with Payvia means that consumers can use their prepaid airtime on those various carriers to pay for digital services. Both partners are venture funded: Mobile-XL is backed by the Tech Coast Angels, and Payvia is backed by Silver Lake Sumeru, Montgomery & Co., and Trinity Ventures.
What this means
Since credit card usage is minimal among India’s 900 million mobile phone subscribers, the vast majority of which have prepaid accounts, this service could enable mobile commerce to expand exponentially.
