Coda Payments in deals with SEA telcos, expands merchant network

• Partnerships with telcos in Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore
• Says 100K consumers across SEA have made purchases via Codapay

SINGAPORE-headquartered Coda Payments has announced partnerships with telcos and digital merchants which would allow their customers to make digital payments without the need for a credit card.
 
Such customers can use Codapay to purchase games, music, and other digital content using their existing pre- or post-paid mobile account, Coda Payments said in a statement.
 
The company said it works with mobile network operators and online merchants to allow customers to make purchases on the Web or in an app by charging it to their postpaid bill or by having the value of the purchase deducted from their prepaid mobile credit.
 
No registration is required, and the purchase process typically takes less than 10 seconds, it added.
 
In terms of telcos, agreements were reached with Globe Telecom in the Philippines; Indosat and Esia in Indonesia; and SingTel and M1 in Singapore.
 
This brings the total number of customers who can use Codapay to more than 100 million around Asia, the company claimed.
 
Coda Payments also announced that a number of new merchants have joined its network, including mobile game publishers Gumi, Efun and Thailand’s Winner Online; online music streaming service Guvera; and China’s online search giant Baidu.
 
“More than 100,000 consumers across South-East Asia have successfully made purchases using Codapay,” said Coda Payments chief executive officer Neil Davidson (pic).
 
“As our operator and merchant networks continue to grow, more users will be able to enjoy the convenience and simplicity of making a purchase using their existing mobile account,” he added.
 
Daniel Horan, senior advisor for the Consumer Business at Globe Telecom, said, “At Globe, we are committed to providing a wonderful mobile experience and serving the digital lifestyle of our customers.
 
“Allowing our prepaid and postpaid customers to purchase digital content online using their mobile phones – either by redeeming prepaid load credits or charging the purchase to a postpaid bill – is a great way for us to deliver on that commitment,” he added.
 
Gumi Asia chief executive officer David Ng said, “Owing to its simplicity, carrier billing is a popular way for customers to purchase in-game items.
 
“We are delighted that we are able to offer this option to users across the region in partnership with Coda,” he said.
 
Coda Payments was one of Singapore- and San Francisco-based Golden Gate Venture’s earliest investments in December 2012. A year later, Tech in Asia reported that the Singapore startup had secured US$2.3 million in Series A funding from GMO Global Payment Fund, Rakuten Ventures, CyberAgent Ventures, Golden Gate Ventures, and Skype cofounder Toivo Annus.
 
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