3 Austria gets Android carrier billing

Hutchison Whampoa’s 3 group has successfully integrated Google Play direct carrier billing into the network of its Austrian subsidiary, 3 Austria.

The company used Dusseldorf-based systems integrator net mobile (net-m) as part of a framework contract with Hutchison. The company has already rolled out the system in Sweden, Ireland and Hong Kong, allowing apps and other digital goods such as books, music, games as well as the music streaming service Music All Access to be paid for  via the mobile bill.

Following the general European trend, Android dominates the smartphone market in Austria and with this integration and the availability of Google Play carrier billing, 3 expects to generate new revenue streams through the sale of digital content.

Edgar Schnorpfeil, CEO of net- m, said: “The conversion rate with Direct Carrier Billing is five times higher than for credit cards. For many non-credit card customers, the mobile payment system allows the purchase of paid content in Google Play for the first time.”

Schnorpfeil also predicted rapid market acceptance: “Austria has an equally low penetration rate for credit cards as in Germany. Which is why we expect that young customers in particular will increasingly use this payment method in the Google Play Store,” he said.

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