Boku Teams with Icebreaker: Mobile Payments on Mobile Networks

Posted by Kristen Nicole on July 16th, 2009 1:24 PM

Mobile and online payments platform Boku has announced its partnership with Icebreaker, maker of mobile social software. As part of the deal, Icebreaker has chosen Boku as its premier mobile payments provider. Through Boku, Icebreaker users can purchase “Coins,” the Icebreaker virtual currency. It appears that this virtual currency is used on the Crush or Flush mobile social network, powered by Icebraker.

With a reported 2 million members, Crush or Flush is a mobile social network that enables you to browse, chat with and arrange meetings with friends. With virtual gifting being a large aspect of the Crush or Flush network, it’s important for Icebreaker to be able to provide a seamless way in which this can be achieved directly through its mobile social network.

Boku itself, launched earlier this year, has set out since its inception to create standards around mobile payments. In doing so, Boku has raised funding and has acquired two other mobile payment platforms, giving Boku a running start and a global reach.

Mobile payments are also becoming an integrated option for several payment platforms, giving consumers an additional choice for ways in which they’d like to make payments for various virtual goods and services. One benefit being hailed by mobile payment platforms is the security provided by mobile payments versus entering credit card information online, especially if there’s a service that saves credit card information.

So in its attempt to establish itself as a mobile payments standard, Boku is likely seeking out strategic partnerships, especially those that will promote its services as the premier option or as an exclusive option. And perhaps the most notable aspect of the deal between Boku and Icebreaker is the fact that it is a mobile payment platform teaming with a mobile-based social network, granting developers out there an alternative to dealing directly with mobile providers for payment options and better able to monetize their products and virtual goods.

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