Smart Communications, the mobile unit of PLDT, has launched a new service that allows its postpaid subscribers to charge their purchases in Apple’s App Store, iTunes and Apple Music to their mobile accounts.
In a statement, Smart said the Smart Pay-With-Mobile, with support from local bank BDO Unibank, is the first of its kind in the Philippines.
Through Smart Pay-With-Mobile, Smart customers can buy apps, books, games, magazines and movies on the App Store and iTunes, as well as pay for their Apple Music subscription – even without a credit card.
The service will initially be available to Smart postpaid subscribers on Plan 599 and up, as well as Smart Bro subscribers on iPad plans, the telco said in the statement.
“Our goal is to eventually make Smart Pay-With-Mobile available to all our users, including our prepaid subscribers, who for now can rely on Smart Money, to purchase Apple content and services even without a credit card,” said Ariel P. Fermin, executive vice president and head of consumer business for PLDT and Smart.
Mellissa Limcaoco, Smart’s head of innovation and product development, said the launch is part of the telco’s strategy to move into the digital content market.
“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,” Limcaoco said.
According to Limcaoco, Smart saw 170% year-on-year surge in mobile data usage on the company’s network during the first half of the year.
This expected growth has driven Smart to expand its network infrastructure this year, allocating 43 billion pesos ($923.8 million) in its 2015 capex, the telco noted.