Payments companies team up to strengthen carrier billing as a credit card alternative
By John Heggestuen From Business Insider
Welcome to the new Payments Insights newsletter, a morning email with the top news and analysis on the digital payments industry, produced by BI Intelligence.
FORTUMO PARTNERS WITH PAYELP. Today, U.S.-based carrier billing company Fortumo announced a partnership with global merchant services provider, Payelp. Fortumo offers carrier billing in over 70 countries, but its focus is on emerging markets. The company currently works with over 100,000 app developers including big names like Rovio, Electronic Arts, and Gameloft.
Payelp offers merchant services, — i.e., payments technology and credit card processing help — in 74 countries and specializes in working with merchants who offer digital goods. (Fortumo)
WHAT THE DEAL MEANS FOR CARRIER BILLING. Carrier billing allows mobile users to purchase goods and services by adding the cost of the items to their mobile bills. This payments option is especially attractive in emerging markets where credit cards are not widely used. To date, carrier billing is mostly used by app developers who want to sell in-app virtual goods, like tokens and stickers, in markets with 
little credit access. Carrier billing platforms need more access to merchants if they’re going to become more widely used for payments. Payelp will provide Fortumo with those relationships.
MASTERCARD ACQUIRES A LEADING TURKISH PAYMENTS PROCESSOR. MasterCard announced that it has acquired Turkey’s leading independent credit card processor, Provus.
“The acquisition of Provus … increases our processing presence in Europe.” says Javier Perez, President MasterCard Europe. (MasterCard)
NEW BI INTELLIGENCE REPORT: In our most recent payments report we look at each piece of the complex credit card-based payments system.
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PHOTO: BII Gerri Kodres, senior vice president at Fortumo
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