Utilizing the Premium Short Message Service (PSMS) protocol, the new payment system was rolled out in the U.K. first for all FriendFinder.com programs. In the U.S., PSMS billing will be available for FriendFinder.com and Passion.com only, starting in September.
“We are turning on a PSMS billing system that enables members to buy special services or upgrade to a premium membership without using a credit card or other payment system,” FriendFinder.com Partner and Spokesman Legendary Lars said. “Members can handle the entire transaction simply by entering their mobile phone number in a box on our billing page.”
Over the next few weeks, the service will be made available in Australia, Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Korea, Taiwan and China.
Using the PSMS system, a billing confirmation message is sent to the member’s mobile phone. When the member replies to the confirmation alert the cost of the service they requested is charged to their cellular service provider, providing an alternative method of payment for people who prefer not to use a credit card.
Paying monthly membership dues is not the only feature that can be paid for using PSMS. Service upgrades that can be purchased with PSMS include placing a member at the top of buddy lists so that visitors can spot them quickly when browsing the site. Premium members also get personalized lists of suggested member contacts, a “super search” tool to find people with specific profiles or body types, speedier photo and profile reviews and ICQ, AIM, YIM and MSN instant messaging. They also get access to the Cupid service highlighting new members with matching profiles.
“We are seeing very quickly that this is what people want,” Lars said. “Immediately after putting the PSMS payment option provided by Vidicom.co.uk on the billing page of just one site, we received transaction requests that averaged $250 every 15 minutes. The best part is that we achieved this reaction without any advertising or marketing at all. We simply put a link on the bottom of our payment page and let the surfer pick the transaction method.”
