BOKU mobile payments
Boku Inc.[1] is a global, mobile payments[2] company headquartered in San Francisco, CA. The company provides a mobile payments platform, enabling consumers to pay using their mobile phone, with purchases billed to a consumer's mobile phone bill. Boku launched[3] in 2009 with the acquisition of both Paymo and Mobillcash businesses – two providers in the mobile payments industry, as well as $13 million USD in investment from venture capital firms.
Overview
Boku carrier-billing (charge to mobile phone bill) provides a secure and easy-to-use payment method. Carrier-billing enables unbanked[4] consumers who may have a mobile phone, but no credit card or traditional bank account, to make purchases online.
The majority of transactions processed through Boku carrier-billing are for digital and virtual goods[5] and services, including social and free-to-play games, virtual goods, social networks and other online experiences. Boku focuses on making the mobile phone number a viable payment option not only for virtual goods, but for digital goods (i.e. MP3's, eBooks, movies, etc.) and physical goods.
Partnerships
Boku has established partnerships with hundreds of game publishers and online services. Many gaming companies enable Boku's service, including Electronic Arts, Playfish, Playdom, Cie Studios, GameDuell, Cyberstep Communications, IGG, King.com, NHN USA, Ntreev, Outspark, Perfect World, Aeria Games, Games-Master (Cabal Online), K2Networks/GamersFirst, Meez, Three Rings and WeeWorld,Stardoll among others.
Investment and finances
Boku has raised more than $75M in venture capital[6] funding from Benchmark Capital,[7] Index Ventures,[8] Khosla Ventures,[9] DAG Ventures,[10] Andreessen Horowitz,[11] New Enterprise Associates, and Telefónica.
Recognition and awards
In 2009, Frost & Sullivan named Boku for their Best Practices award. In May 2010 the San Francisco Business Times named Boku a top 25 Tech and Innovation award finalist. In 2010, Mobile Trax awarded Boku their Mobility Award.
References
- ↑ boku.com
- ↑ Mobile Payments
- ↑ NY Times
- ↑ Unbanked
- ↑ Virtual Goods
- ↑ Venture Capital
- ↑ Benchmark Capital
- ↑ Index Ventures
- ↑ Khosla Ventures
- ↑ DAG Ventures
- ↑ Andreessen Horowitz
External links
- http://www.boku.com Boku Homepage
- http://blog.boku.com/ Boku Corporate Blog
- http://www.crunchbase.com/company/boku class Crunchbase company profile
- http://techcrunch.com/2010/06/02/mobile-payments-startup-boku-launches-in-app-billing-library-for-android/ Mobile Payments Startup Boku Launches In-App Billing Library For Android - Techcrunch June 2, 2010
- http://mobile.venturebeat.com/2010/06/02/boku-and-zong-launch-mobile-payments-for-android-devices/ Boku and Zong launch mobile payments for Android devices - VentureBeat, June 2, 2010
- http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_10/b4169064668421.htm - Who Wants to Buy a Digital Elephant? Business Week, February 25, 2010
- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/technology/22pay.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=boku%20mobile&st=cse Investors Bet on Payments via Cellphone - NY Times, June 21, 2009
- http://feedroom.businessweek.com/index.jsp?auto_band=x&rf=sv&fr_story=f0733abd8ddb8ae064ec58d4593e92398f7096c0 BOKU Interview on Bloomberg TV - Bloomberg Business Week, January 29, 2010
- http://kara.allthingsd.com/20100726/the-boku-founders-talk-about-mobile-payments-competitors-and-more/ The Boku Founders Talk About Mobile Payments, Competitors and More! - WSJ, All Thing D, July 26, 2010
- http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20100119/another-big-bet-on-mobile-payments-boku-raises-25-million/ Another Big Bet on Mobile Payments: Boku Raises $25 Million - WSJ, Media Memo, January 19, 2010
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_commerce_service_provider Mobile Commerce Service Provider
Boku Gets $35 Million From Telefónica, NEA to Expand Service