YNOT EUROPE – There are more cell phones than people in the UK today. UK mobile network operators have embraced the trend in a big way, developing micropayment schemes that enable consumers to use their mobile phone accounts or prepaid balance to purchase online goods and services securely. The newest model provides a consistent and transparent standard that allows consumers to make one-off payments or establish subscriptions without fumbling for credit cards or bank account information.

According to Mike Hunt of Adult Mobile Solutions, webmasters who aren’t embracing the new mobile landscape are leaving significant revenues unclaimed. Mobile micropayment, known as carrier billing in the U.S., is easy and quick for consumers to use, and they’re using it in ever-increasing numbers.

Transactions from mobile devices are available to any mobile user who has sufficient credit on their account. Compared with alternative payment mechanisms such as credit cards, debit cards, virtual currency and vouchers, mobile micropayment provides a frictionless environment for both the consumer and the merchant while ensuring security for both parties, Hunt said.

“Gone are the days when customers needed to dial a premium-rate, or 900, number in order gain access to their desired content,” he said. “Furthermore, making such calls from mobile devices was prohibitively expensive. Now, a simple single click that enables consumers to opt-in to a simplified checkout for second and subsequent purchases from the merchant is possible.”

Even better, according to Hunt: HTML5-based payment iFrames offering secure transactions now are possible, allowing consumers to pay securely without leaving the merchant’s website.

“This mechanism is actually now becoming the de facto market standard in the UK for web billing, and all merchants will need to process payments using this payment solution,” Hunt noted. “All UK networks are supported, and any UK mobile subscriber can use this new payment mechanism.

“Monetizing web or mobile adult sites this way means discreet billing and adult verification with one frictionless payment.”

Adult Mobile Solutions can help webmasters, content owners and affiliate programs navigate the changing face of mobile interaction by providing billing integration and settlement, customized branding, content management and chat solutions to fit almost any application.

“Webmasters who sign up with us to add this new [mobile micro]payment method need pay no commission in the first month of going live,” Hunt said. “This means they will receive 100 percent of network pay-out for that first month.

“With access to approximately 52 million UK mobile users, internet-based merchants with transaction values in the sub-£10 (about U.S. $15) range should seriously consider this convenient payment mechanism as part of their e-commerce and m-commerce strategy,” he added.

For more information, visit AdultMobileSolutions.com.