Lotaris gets Microsoft boost, seals mobile payment partnership

• Lotaris in-appCommerce only endorsed alternative to default Microsoft Commerce engine in Windows Store
• Partners with mobile payments company Fortumo for carrier billing on Windows 8 and Windows Phone

SWISS-based Lotaris says its in-appCommerce service is the only endorsed alternative to the default Microsoft Commerce engine in the Windows Store, and also announced a partnership agreement with a mobile payments company.
 
Microsoft recently published its directory of Windows Store Partners, featuring a select group of Windows Store tools for Adobe, Bing, Microsoft Live, App Annie, Localytics, Distimo, Buddy, Parse, Fortumo and Inmobi developers, Lotaris said in a statement.
 
“We are extremely pleased to be selected by Microsoft as the only partner to provide a comprehensive commerce service to the Windows Store developer community,” said Lotaris chief executive officer Robert Tibbs (pic), who is based with the company’s regional headquarters in Singapore.
 
“Microsoft has demonstrated commitment towards Lotaris, and the reverse is true as we are committed to extending our technology to address [the] Windows 8 [operating system].
 
“We are delighted to help it build a more developer-friendly ecosystem around its Windows Store,” Tibbs said, adding that the Microsoft recognition “puts Lotaris in the league of companies that are considered leaders in the mobile content space.”
 
Lotaris says it provides application developers, ISVs and distributors a more cost-effective and intelligent way of managing and monetising their mobile applications.
 
Independent of device, network or channel, the Lotaris platform allows applications to be licensed according to the behaviours and preferences of their users, maximising both the usability and profitability of the application.
 
Lotaris said it has also partnered with mobile payments company Fortumo for carrier billing on Windows 8 and Windows Phone.
 
Carrier billing by Fortumo will enable developers using Lotaris’ in-app Commerce solution to charge end-users in 80 countries for both traditional applications and apps in the Windows Store and Windows Phone Store by charging purchases to their phone bill, Lotaris said in a statement.
 
“This alliance between Fortumo and Lotaris brings two industry-leading and award-winning mobile content monetisation platforms together to form one seamless, flexible solution,” said Miika Kettunen, Lotaris (Europe) general manager and head of product development.
 
“Our combined solution allows content developers – from the smallest ‘indie’ to the largest global players – the ability to offer their users the broadest range of business models smoothly integrated with every major payment option, including the widest coverage of mobile operator payment in the world,” he claimed.
 
Lotaris will integrate Fortumo’s mobile payments SDK (software development kit) for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 into its in-appCommerce solution at the end of July.
 
“Mobile payments give developers access to end-users who would otherwise not be able to pay for premium apps, features and in-app purchases – growing the potential user base tenfold,” said Fortumo chief operating officer Martin Koppel.
 
John Richards, senior director of Windows App Marketing for Microsoft, concurred. “Mobile payments give consumers an alternate payment method to credit cards, which can greatly benefit Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 users and developers.
 
“We are happy to see companies like Lotaris and Fortumo working together to create attractive financial opportunities for developers and seamless purchasing experiences for users,” Richards added.
 
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