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Apple Adds Carrier Billing to iTunes, Starting With O2 in Germany
For the first time since the iTunes Store launched in 2003, Apple has added a way for customers to pay for purchases without using a credit, debit or iTunes gift card. Starting with German carrier O2, customers can now link a phone number to their iTunes account and use carrier billing for purchases, per TechCrunch.
Apple's new mobile phone bill option for iTunes accounts (Image: Carsten Knobloch)
The new payment method enables customers to pay for apps, songs, TV shows, movies, iBooks and other iTunes content without needing a credit or debit card, or even a bank account. Instead, purchases are added to a customer's mobile phone bill and paid off at the end of the month.
Customers without a contract can have purchases debited from a prepaid amount applied to the iPhone.
O2 parent company Telefonica confirmed it is working on carrier billing with Apple:
The new payment method enables customers to pay for apps, songs, TV shows, movies, iBooks and other iTunes content without needing a credit or debit card, or even a bank account. Instead, purchases are added to a customer's mobile phone bill and paid off at the end of the month.
Customers without a contract can have purchases debited from a prepaid amount applied to the iPhone.
O2 parent company Telefonica confirmed it is working on carrier billing with Apple:
“Telefónica Germany is working with Apple related to carrier billing,” a spokesperson told us in an email. “Payment via the O2 phone bill is now available for Apple Music, iTunes, App Store and iBooks Store Purchases. The service is gradually being rolled out and will be available for all O2 customers (prepaid and postpaid) in Germany by the beginning of November 2015.”Apple may be working with carrier billing provider Bango, used by rivals like Amazon:
We have heard on the grapevine, however, that Apple has been talking for a while with Bango, a carrier billing provider, to roll out carrier billing functionality on iTunes.TechCrunch believes Apple will expand carrier billing to additional markets in the future.
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51 months ago
This is crap. Apple should work on bringing Apple Pay to germany and don't support these evil carrier billing.. As of today the eu also brought a new law that net neutrality is no more in the eu... that opens the door for the carriers to press the last penny out of our pockets.. its a sad day. and this "news" made is even more sad... unlucky to live in the EU at the moment.. (still lucky that we can help poor Syrians which problems we helped to develop - thats at last a good thing the "Flüchtlinge")
You do realize it's an OPTION, not a requirement? Or did you just want to rant for the sake of? Sheesh.
51 months ago
hope I'm able to use my iTunes account to pay for my T-Mobile bill ... if so I'll end up getting 22% off, which is my running average discount received on iTunes gift card purchases.
51 months ago
I'm sure some carriers are all for this. It will let them add a bunch of line items to the monthly bill and stick a couple of "miscellaneous charges" in the middle of the list that most people won't notice. I'm looking at you, AT&T.
51 months ago
And here I am, feeling like I want to get rid of my phone.
Guess some people might like it, though?
Guess some people might like it, though?
51 months ago
Can i pay my home mortgage, car notes, and student loans at no interest rate through my carrier too?
51 months ago
I'm all for it.
In fact, I would love if I could pay my rent in iTunes too.
51 months ago
Provided they're still notified by Apple of what things are bought every few days via email this should be fine. If that doesn't happen, and it ends up at the end of the month attached on the phone bill, imagine some surprised customers who are unsure of their spending spree/habits.
51 months ago
"The new payment method enables customers to pay for apps, songs, TV shows, movies, iBooks and other iTunes content without needing a credit or debit card, or even a bank account."
I don't get it! How do these people pay for their cell phone bill if they don't have a credit card, debit card or a bank account? Who would use that service when indeed you can get discounted iTunes cards?
I don't get it! How do these people pay for their cell phone bill if they don't have a credit card, debit card or a bank account? Who would use that service when indeed you can get discounted iTunes cards?
51 months ago
It's a nice addition for people who want to use it, but it's nothing that I need. I think it's not my carriers business to know what sort of films I watch or what sort of music I prefer. And I think it's more difficult to keep track of my expenses when they are billed only once a month. I would much more appreciate if Apple would finally allow to pay via Paypal!
And of course Apple Pay in Germany :D
And of course Apple Pay in Germany :D
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