Ericsson launches mobile content billing service

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 19 October 2005 18:59

IT Industry - Deals

Ericsson Australia has launched IPX (Internet Payment exchange), its content billing service, designed to "provide a simple means for content and application providers to collect revenue and communicate with their customer base."

Simon Gatward, director of global services for Ericsson Australia said: "IPX provides content providers with the simplest means of launching and gaining revenue from innovative mobile media services, such as ring tones, news, alert messages for classified ads, competitions and voting."

Existing IPX customers overseas include TV channels, broadcast media, newspapers, large corporations and content and application providers.

 "The launch of IPX in Australia today builds on the significant forecasted growth for mobile content, providing incredible opportunities for content and service providers," said Gatward. Ericsson estimates the Australian mobile content market to be worth $300 million and expects it will grow to exceed $1 billion by 2009.

Gatward added: "IPX allows consumers to purchase content from different content providers and pay using their mobile phone through existing charging relations with their mobile operator. For content providers and operators, IPX consolidates the billing through the existing financial relationship between operators and consumers, increasing usage and content revenues through improved ease of use."

According to Ericsson, use of the service requires no new relationship, extra hardware or complicated registration procedures. "Content providers using IPX can gain charging access to consumers connected to IPX connected operators world-wide."