Kenyans have long waited for the feature that would allow them to buy apps from the Google play store using M-Pesa. Finally, the wait has come to an end after DOCOMO Digital, a provider of a global payments platform, recently entered into a partnership with Safaricom.
The integration, which is powered by DOCOMO Digital’s mobile commerce enabling platform using Google Play’s payment API, enables Safaricom customers to use their M-Pesa to pay for content from the application store.
According to Mahir Sahin, Head of Africa, Android Partnerships, Google, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Safaricom to bring Google Play carrier billing to Kenya. M-PESA has successfully demonstrated how important it is to offer financial services to the unbanked and deliver financial inclusion. Carrier billing is very important to the developer ecosystem in markets where credit card penetration is low. With this partnership, M-PESA will play a critical role in the app ecosystem.”
The service is now available to the more than 27 million M-Pesa customers who own an android Smartphone or tablet. This solution brings together the much experience that Kenyans have with using M-Pesa to purchase goods and services with Google Play.
Joseph Ogutu, director of strategy at Safaricom said, “This partnership will empower our customers to access Google Play content and further underlines our commitment to providing more choice and convenience to them.” According to Mr Ogutu, partnerships have been an integral part of the company because they have deepened the convenience and value of M-Pesa to the customers.
On the other hand, Hiroyuki Sato, CEO of DOCOMO Digital, said that one of their biggest goals is to break down barriers and develop ways in which the 5 billion global adult populations can engage with the digital ecosystem.
“M-Pesa has long been an innovator and leader in the mobile money space, and we are very excited to partner with them to bring this service to market. First steps like this are absolutely essential on the journey to connecting consumers, merchants, operators and service providers together to create a fair and inclusive ecosystem for everybody,” he said.
