The country’s undisputed mobile services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), in an arrangement with BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO), announced today that it is bringing more digital content closer to Filipinos by rolling out Smart Pay-With-Mobile, a groundbreaking service that allows mobile users to charge their App Store, iTunes and Apple Music purchases straight to their postpaid account – a first in the Philippines.
Through Smart Pay-With-Mobile, Filipinos may now buy apps, books, games, magazines and movies on the App Store and iTunes, as well as pay for their Apple Music subscription – even without a credit card, which has long been a barrier for many mobile users in maximizing their Apple devices.
Smart Pay-With-Mobile will initially be available to Smart Postpaid subscribers on Plan 599 and up, as well as Smart Bro subscribers on iPad Plans.
Smart offers the service as an official iTunes affiliate, putting the telco in the best position to deliver Apple content and services to more mobile users in the country.
Through the service, Smart subscribers can fully enjoy apps and games like Clash of Clans, Minecraft, Hearthstone, Candy Crush, and Grand Auto Theft III, as well tune into the latest Apple Music hits from chart-toppers like Taylor Swift, Sam Smith, Maroon 5, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, among many others.
Smart Life with Smart Pay-With-Mobile
Smart Pay-With-Mobile is part of our overall strategy to make engaging and exciting digital content increasingly accessible to more Filipinos, who are now more empowered than ever to live the Smart Life and turn their smartphones into an all-access entertainment portal anytime, anywhere,” said Mellissa Limcaoco, Head of Innovation and Product Development at Smart.
“Mobile users are consuming more and more digital content now, and we are optimistic that Smart Pay-With-Mobile will further increase the Filipino appetite for more mobile content in general – not just streaming videos and music, but also playing mobile games and downloading digital books and magazines – and further boost the remarkable performance of our mobile data business in the process,” added Limcaoco, referring to the 170 percent year-on-year surge in mobile data usage on the Smart network during the first half of the year.
This expected surge in mobile data activity among subscribers is one of the reasons the telco is expanding its network infrastructure this year, allocating P43B in its 2015 CapEx.
“We are developing this from a total ecosystem perspective: we continue to expand our physical telecommunications network for the transport of rich digital content, then we create more access and delivery systems to make it more convenient for subscribers to consume digital media,” said Ariel P. Fermin, Executive Vice President and Head of Consumer Business for PLDT and Smart.
One-time, text-based registration
Smart Pay-With-Mobile can be activated by texting REG to 4949 – a one-time, text-based registration. After which, subscribers will be given a unique Virtual Credit Card number which they can use exclusively with their iTunes accounts. The whole registration takes just a few clicks – no required financial documents, no waiting in lines, and no hassle.
“Our goal is to eventually make Smart Pay-With-Mobile available to all our users, including our prepaid subscribers, who for now can rely on Smart Money, an innovative electronic mobile wallet, to purchase Apple content and services even without a credit card,” said Fermin.
To know more Smart Pay-With-Mobile visit www.smart.com.ph/paywithmobile.
*15% will be charged on top of the published App Store and iTunes rates to account for VAT (value-added tax) and convenience fee.
Karina is not your ordinary supermom. She juggles her time bonding with her three amazing kids while being in the loop on the latest happenings in the tech and lifestyle scene. Follow me on Instagram (@digitalfilipina) regularly visit www.digitalfilipina.com for daily dose of updates not just for moms but for everyone!
