While ChargeMyMobile is owned by the U.K.-based Vidicom Ltd., Kaplan will be working out of the company’s new San Diego offices.
Prior to joining ChargeMyMobile, Kaplan helmed Xobile, AEBN’s mobile division, and most recently ran mobile operations for FriendFinder.
“ChargeMyMobile provides a clear and easy path for increased revenue in an untapped market for webmasters and payment processors,” Kaplan said. “We are very encouraged by the enthusiastic reception we are getting for the program even before we have officially announced its availability.”
ChargeMyMobile is an alternative form of payment that uses mobile phones like credit cards. The product is offered to website operators in addition to current billing solutions.
It works when a surfer enters their mobile phone number using an interface the company provides on the website, and clicks the submit button. ChargeMyMobile sends the user a text message confirming their order, and the user replies to start the billing process. The subscriber is then sent a unique PIN code to gain access to the site.
“We are delighted that Harvey will be representing our company in the U.S. with ChargeMyMobile,” Vidicom’s Glyn Smith said. “We have worked with him on assignments over the past two years and found his knowledge and contacts in the industry to be invaluable.”
The benefit of using ChargeMyMobile is twofold, Smith said. There are no chargebacks, eliminating the hassle of costly credit card processing, and the user can subscribe to adult sites anonymously through the use of a PIN code provided by the mobile billing company. This eliminates the user having to enter their credit card number on adult sites.