The solution -- for which the technology is provided by Teletech --works by allowing customers to use their mobile handsets to access a menu, and choose a recharge option from that menu. After choosing the amount they wish to recharge their phone with, and entering a PIN, they receive a receipt by SMS and have the extra credit on their phone.
Transforming a fairly basic idea into a commercial solution has, however, been held up by difficulties in forging relationships between financial institutions and telecommunications carriers. "The technology around all that has been sorted out, it's the relationship part that needs to be resolved," Michael Lumsden, senior vice president for business development, Asia Pacific for Teletech told ZDNet Australia .
"I think there's probably a willingness at the moment for them to get together and talk about it. That willingness may not always have been there," said Lumsden.
In order for customers to use the service they will have to register, which involves creating a link between the customers' mobile phone ID and their bank account or credit card. "Making that linkage is the real sticking point, and it's not entirely solved yet," said Lumsden. "The solution is technically available but it requires the cooperation part to occur." He said the system could be up and running in the first quarter of next year, depending on whether the financial institutions and telcos were ready.
However, the system doesn't depend on all banks and carriers being involved, so initially it could be available only for customers of certain carriers and certain financial institutions. The charges for the service also need to be worked out.
"It could vary by carrier," said Lumsden. "There could be some fees involved for carriers, and the banks would want to charge transaction fees." He said it wasn't clear whether the carriers would pass the fees onto their customers.
"What is clear is the current distribution channel involving cards and vouchers is relatively expensive, so this would offer a net saving to carriers," said Lumsden.
