Harvey Kaplan has been named chief executive officer of ChargeMyMobile Inc., a proprietary mobile billing platform that allows consumers to use their cell phones as they would a credit card when they want to pay for content on the Web. Transaction charges appear anonymously on the customer’s mobile phone bill.
The platform is offered as an additional option to current billing solutions, and there are no chargebacks. The service offers stats with guaranteed payouts every 34 days.
“By allowing a user to charge products or services to their mobile phones anonymously, virtually every barrier to entry is eliminated,” says Kaplan.
ChargeMyMobile is the exclusive North American provider of the platform and is provided in conjunction with U.K.-based mobile technology company Vidicom Ltd., which owns the technology for the service.
“ChargeMyMobile provides a clear and easy path for increased revenue in an untapped market for webmasters and payment processors,” says Kaplan. “We are very encouraged by the enthusiastic reception we are getting for the program—even before we have officially announced its availability.”
Prior to joining ChargeMyMobile, Kaplan was a consultant to adult online dating company FriendFinder, Inc. and to industry-related firms on delivering movies and still photos to cell phones and other wireless devices. In addition, he organized and led the Xobile wireless division for global video-on-demand company Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network.
“We are delighted that Harvey will be representing our company in the U.S. with ChargeMyMobile. We have worked with him on assignments over the past two years and found his knowledge and contacts in the industry to be invaluable,” says Glyn Smith, managing director for Vidicom.
ChargeMyMobile.com is an alternative payment solution that uses mobile phones like a credit card through proprietary billing software. The company has business relationships with telecommunications companies in more than 50 countries.
Kaplan says the company’s primary billing focus will be for gambling sites and online adult entertainment. The company had a soft launch at Internext Summer in Hollywood, Fla., this month.
“I was able to network at Internext and display the service to several interested billing processors, as well as a number of affiliate programs,” says Kaplan.
Kaplan, who has had a successful relationship with Vidicom through the years, says he chose to partner with the company because of its constant professionalism and success with premium SMS technology. Kaplan says the timing for venture was perfect for both companies.
“[The mobile market] is an untapped resource for companies that want to generate revenue off of existing technology. This platform allows companies to reach markets not only in the U.S., but globally.”
According to mobile resource site Mobiledia, a market study from Portio Research predicted that half the world’s population will be using cell phones by the end of 2009.
