Mobile Billing Service Keeps Adult Content from Kids

ImpulsePay has launched a new age-verification service for online content, meaning that content owners can now sell over-18 content safe in the knowledge that the customer is old enough to purchase it. Using their mobile phone to pay for the content, the purchaser has their age verified by the operator and is blocked from the purchase if they are not old enough.

Using ImpulsePay’s service the content owner, whether they are a blogger, Web site manager or even product manager, can be sure that any content that is targeted at people over 18 won’t be accessed by those too young to view it.

Here ‘s how it works:

• The content owner inserts an ImpulsePay 'Buy Now' button.
• After clicking on that the purchaser enters their mobile phone number and is sent a secure PIN by SMS.
• The PIN is then entered online and the operator checks the users's handset is registered to an 18+ user.
• If the user is not registered as over 18, then they are sent to a help page.
• If the user is registered as over 18, the transaction is completed and the Web site updates automatically and redirects to the content.

ImpulsePay says this new age verification service will create opportunities for a variety of new online content and services to be provided. The company says its service will appeal to gaming and other betting sites, as the service is simple and easy to use and available to anyone with a mobile phone. However, the new age-verification service will also allow certain films, games and music content to be safely sold, as well as other, more traditional 18+ content.

“This is the next step for us,” said Chris Newell, CEO of ImpulsePay. “Our service, which combines the benefits of Payforit and SMS billing, has proven to be really popular with a wide variety of content owners and Web site users. What we’re doing now is opening it up to all content providers. The age-verification service will allow content owners offering certain film or music clips, or games that are 18+ rated, as well as the betting and gaming sites, to accept mobile payments for their content or service.”