Smart unveils world’s1st pay-with-load service

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications Inc., the flagship wireless arm of dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), unveiled yesterday the world’s first pay-with-load service for the App Store and iTunes.

Through “Pay-With-Mobile,” Smart vice president for innovations and value added services Lloyd Manaloto said the need for a credit card to get paid content and make in-app purchases through the App Store and iTunes is now eliminated.

Manaloto said the low credit card penetration rate of three percent in the Philippines has long been a barrier for many Philippine users in maximizing the full potential of their Apple devices.

“This service will unleash the full potential of Apple devices,” Manaloto said.

Charles Lim, executive vice president and Wireless Consumer Division Head at Smart, said the company understands that not everyone owns a credit card.

“This should not stop people from realizing the full potential of their mobile devices. This is why we have worked hard to bring this groundbreaking service to Filipino users, which we believe will further revolutionize the way they enjoy their favorite lifestyle apps and content on their devices,” Lim added.

The Pay-With-Mobile service is just the latest in Smart’s commitment to bring users the best Internet for all their needs, with instant and convenient access to their favorite books, movies, music, apps, and gaming content using their cellphone load or postpaid accounts.

With the service fully available on Feb. 18, subscribers of Smart could now add to their monthly bill or use load credits to pay for App Store and iTunes purchases including apps, games, books, magazines, music, and movies on their Apple devices.

 “With more than one million apps available in the app store, as well as tons of music and movie content downloadable via iTunes, users will have endless amounts of entertainment wherever they go using their Apple devices,” Lim added.

Smart head of games Anthony Esporlas said the service works by giving subscribers the ability to sign up for a Pay-With-Mobile number that they could use exclusively with their iTunes accounts.

Esporlas pointed out that all app downloads, in-app purchases, and digital content bought using Pay-With-Mobile would be deducted from users’ prepaid load, or charged on top of their monthly postpaid bills.