Internet Service Provider Wanadoo is to use e-wallet software from earthport to create a portal-wide, stored value micropayments solution for UK customers.
Under the agreement, earthport will handle all micropayment transactions for digital content between Wanadoo and its 2.6 million UK customers. The pre-paid electronic wallet will provide Wanadoo and its merchants with an alternative to Premium Rate SMS as a way to charge for content. The system is also designed to conform to FSA e-money regulations, providing an alternative system, should there be regulation of Premium Rate SMS services in the future.
Wanadoo in the UK says it will be introducing the new payment mechanism later this year to capitalise on growth opportunities in digital content, from sports results, horoscopes to news, music, video, ring tones & games.
The system will also enable up to 200 merchants to access the Wanadoo UK consumer base, promote special offers, track transactions and capture further marketing related data.
Justin Lunny, earthport head of business development, comments: "Digital content is a huge and growing business across Europe, and ISPs and content providers are looking to capitalise on this growth."
Shares in the vendor were up 11.1% on the deal to 2.5 pence from an overnight close of 2.25.