Bango solidifies its carrier billing role in Indonesia

Bango tightened its hold on the carrier billing market in Indonesia, adding leading mobile network provider Smartfren as a user of one-click payments on Google Play, the app store for Android devices.

Smartfren represents the 15^th app store carrier billing activation through Bango in Indonesia.

U.K.-based Bango, which connects digital merchants like app and game developers to the billing platforms of mobile network operators worldwide for its one-click mobile pay technology, says it now operates through the top five operators in Indonesia.

For Bango, the coverage in Indonesia continues a strategy of securing carrier billing deals in emerging markets. This push started four years ago when the company raised $10.2 million by selling 3.2 million shares of its stock on the London Stock Exchange.

"Indonesian operators recognize that carrier billing is a mainstream payment method for digital content," Ray Anderson, CEO of Bango, said in a May 2 press release. Carrier billing is gaining popularity in the region because of its large smartphone market of 55 million users — yet only four million people carry a credit card, Anderson said.

"The relationships Bango has in Indonesia have created a country-wide standard for app store billing," he added. "Bango's technical and operational experience in the market makes it easy for stores and merchants to launch mobile payments in this large and vibrant economy."

However, Bango's vision extends far beyond emerging markets. A year ago, Bango made its strongest move in the U.S. market by acquiring BilltoMobile and its contracts, cementing the company's spot as a processor of carrier billing across all major mobile networks in the country.