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Press Release -- September 5th, 2012
Source: Skype
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Skype Chooses MACH For Direct Operator Billing

MACH to enable new mobile payment option for Skype Credits globally

Luxembourg, 5th September, 2012 – MACH, the world leader in direct operator billing, announced today that it has been selected by Skype as the first vendor to deliver direct operator billing to new and existing Skype users in key markets across the globe, starting in October. The rollout will enable Skype to offer its customers a fast and convenient way to purchase Skype Credit, creating new revenue streams in existing markets, as well as in new markets where other payment methods have low penetration rates.

When the solution is live in October, Skype users will be able to purchase Skype Credits from desktop PCs and mobile devices, through browser-based purchases and in the future, through in-app functionality. Direct Operator Billing from MACH will enable Skype to bring a vital alternative payment method to these channels: Skype users will be able to charge their Skype credit to their mobile phone bill or pre-paid account, and enjoy the frictionless user experience gained from this payment method. Direct operator billing will also reflect the same price points as current payment methods, ensuring a consistent user experience.

Neil Ward, General Manager, Business Operations, Skype Division – Microsoft, commented: “MACH’s strength in direct operator billing, as well as its heritage in delivering cloud-based communications solutions to over 650 operators, led us to select MACH as our first direct operator billing vendor. Delivering a strong user-experience has been at the heart of Skype’s adoption by millions of users globally, and we want to extend this philosophy to the payment options we provide. We expect ease of payment to attract new users, while existing users will become more profitable customers as they increase their spend with us.”

Morten Brøgger, Chief Executive Officer, MACH, added: “With MACH’s Direct Billing Gateway, Skype has a far more flexible, secure and reliable billing solution than, for example, premium SMS. Our Direct Operator Billing solution also provides a great boon for the operators we work with by allowing them to enter the e-commerce value chain and start to win market share from the major credit card brands and companies, which have traditionally dominated the space. Being able to play in this value chain will be critical to raising operator revenues in the future and it’s fantastic to have a high-profile merchant like Skype on board.”

MACH’s Direct Billing Gateway provides an operator billing service for mobile applications, content and mobile internet services, allowing providers to charge subscribers for services direct to their mobile phone bill or pre-paid balance. This creates a signficantly improved user-experience through the enhanced ‘One-Click’ purchase process and delivers greatly enhanced transaction completion rates.

-ENDS-

About MACH’s Direct Billing Gateway

MACH’s Direct Billing Gateway provides an operator billing service for global application stores and developers to generate revenues from in-application billing with a frictionless buy user experience. Unlike traditional operator billing methods, such as PSMS or WAP billing, the Direct Billing Gateway offers a comprehensive real-time, frictionless, cross-platform direct billing service for application providers, app stores and websites. The Direct Billing Gateway is supported by a global network of direct billing integrations to mobile operators and delivers real-time authentication and authorisation within the application, minimising the risk of revenue leakage or abandoned transaction.

About MACH

MACH is the leading provider of cloud-based, managed communications services for monetizing mobile data, simplifying interoperability between networks, optimizing wholesale processes and protecting revenues. It is fast becoming the provider of choice for real-time, value added services that are essential for communications service providers around the globe to enhance customer experience, optimize wholesale processes and monetize their businesses in 3G and 4G mobile ecosystems. With its long heritage in data and financial clearing, settlement and hub based connectivity models, it provides its 650 operator customers with state-of-the-art tools needed to align business processes. Headquartered in Luxembourg, MACH has offices in 12 countries. Its customers include Orange, Telefonica, T-Mobile, Telus, Verizon Wireless and Microsoft, as well as enterprise messaging customers like KLM. For more information, visit www.mach.com, follow MACHconnects on Twitter or read The MACH Blog.

Enquiries

MACH
Eileen Preston, Global PR Manager
Eipr@mach.com, +44 7860 456193

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