New Smart product allows online purchases

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications Inc. is offering postpaid subscribers without credit cards another option to make App Store, iTunes and Apple Music purchases through its Smart-Pay-With-Mobile service.

Smart said the Smart-Pay-With-Mobile which allows users to charge their App Store, iTunes and Apple Music purchases to their postpaid account, is a first in the country and is being made possible through a partnership with BDO Unibank Inc.

The Smart-Pay-With-Mobile service was launched to allow Apple users, particularly those who have no credit cards, to maximize their devices.

The payment service will initially be available to Smart Postpaid subscribers on Plan 599 and up, and to Smart Bro subscribers on iPad Plans.

To register for the service, Smart subscribers just need to text REG to 4949.

After sending the text for registration, the subscriber will receive a unique virtual credit card number which they can use exclusively with their iTunes accounts.

Subscribers can learn more about the service by visiting www.smart.com.ph/paywithmobile.

Mellissa Limcaoco, head of innovation and product development at Smart, said the new payment service is line with the firm’s overall strategy to enable more Filipinos to access and enjoy digital content.

“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,” she said citing the 170 percent year-on-year surge in mobile data usage on the Smart network during the first half of the year.

While the Smart-Pay-With-Mobile-Service is initially available to postpaid subscribers, Ariel Fermin, executive vice president and head of consumer business for PLDT and Smart, said the plan is to expand its coverage later.