direct carrier billing

UK Regulation – the biggest change in a decade for mobile paid services?

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

The UK is open for business and the time for opportunity is now

Joanna Cox of aimm on the right of the image chairs a panel of experts to discuss changes in the UK regulation and new business opportunities at the Carrier Billing & Mobile Payments Summit

Experts discuss some of the biggest shifts to hit the UK mobile paid-for content and carrier billing services market in a decade.

 

Summary of Carrier Billing & Mobile Payment Summit Panel

UK Regulation – are you ready for the  biggest change in a decade? With Ofcom taking on the regulation of the interactive media, mobile and carrier billing services from next year, are businesses ready?

“The UK is very focused on regulation because we’ve had to be, and there has been lots of change in the last 5 years but most of it for the better.” The UK has now created an environment focused on consumer trust and longevity around mobile paid-for content and carrier billing services.

 We’re coming to the end of a long regulatory  journey and this is why it is a good time to join the UK market. We’re now in a place where we have collaboratively produced a market that is healthy and sustainable.

Consumer complaints have reduced by over 90% in the last few years due to regulatory changes AND those made by industry. The focus is now analysing how customers feel about and respond to 3rd party content and continually widening and improving the offering.

Upcoming changes in Regulation

With the change in regulators from the PSA ( who have been the incumbent for decades) to Ofcom, there will be some differences, but with such a strong base the market will continue to be a healthy environment in which to do business. Ofcom taking over the regulatory space is the right direction for industry. 

Risk Management and Due Diligence is a focus for Ofcom and all those in the value chain now take on this responsibility. However there is lots of guidance available on getting this right. aimm have run several workshops over the last two years for our members, making sure there is clear understanding of the requirements.

Globally the rest of the world can learn from the UK model. The UK is often where regulatory changes happen first but that means that now we have a commercial marketplace that will welcome and nurture quality business.

This new UK regulator and regulatory model offers new opportunities that will provide a stable foundation for many years to come. With a Statutory Instrument now coming into force there is stability in the regulation ahead, as this cannot be changed. This also removes any concerns about correctly interpreting regulatory codes.

What does this mean for the UK?

 What this means is that the UK is ripe for innovation and growth. Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) has grown every year, and this new regulatory framework will make it easier to understand how to enter the UK market. 

So what should merchants do to prepare? It is for important for new entrants to understand the regulation and to collaborate with others in the value chain through Trade Associations such as aimm, who are sharing knowledge, providing opportunities for collaboration and keeping communication open. Everyone from Network Operators, Intermediaries, Merchants and Anti-Fraud Providers are at the table ready to help.

There is support across industry for new merchants.  aimm will work with newcomers to be the bridge between the regulators and industry offering. We do this through our working groups, advice, best practice guides and documentation templates.

If there are businesses wanting to consider entering the UK, take the time to look at all the information that is available and we’ll help you get an understanding of the regulatory landscape. aimm has members from across the value chain and from within and outside of the UK.

There is nothing to be scared of. 

Google Ads Guidance

Industry are working together to create clarity around the expectations around Google Ad creation such as the content and quality of the adverts and the consumer journey. 

If you are new to the market this information allows you to get a head start as aimm and MCP Insight are working with members to create a live document – a handbook and guidance, so consumers are protected and businesses can make the best returns on their investments.. 

The guide will tackle the challenges faced when creating responsive banners, such as regarding the placement of key information and how it displays. Compliance and consumer protection are key here.

aimm’s new Google Ads Working Group is another example of industry collaboration which is merchant led, allowing the opportunity to react quickly when issues are identified, and be proactive in solving them. 

We want to help the responsive ads industry to understand how to address issues by sharing information and sharing experiences to improve the environment for Industry and as such, consumers. This will avoid longer term issues or unrequired regulatory management helping businesses to thrive. 

When the value chain contributes and participates in working groups and forums in this way, it creates great balance for industry and helps make regulation user friendly and easy to implement. 

Why come to the UK?

It is now a level playing field with a stable future for mobile and carrier billing services due to this new shift in regulation.

Globally new acquisitions are being turned off due to bad practice and poor regulatory practice. There is not the same concern in the UK with a new framework in place and an environment that supports teamwork.

This means that businesses are growing in the UK. Complaints have reached an all time low, and less complaints equals more repeat business which in turn brings further growth. The opportunity for carrier billing is unrivalled.

Joanna Cox of aimm summarised by stating “The UK has long been known for being robustly regulated but with this new era of regulation AND market collaboration, the time to enter our market is now.”

 

This panel at the Carrier Billing & Mobile Payments Summit was chaired by Joanna Cox, General Manager of aimm. The panel members were: David Ashman of MCP Insight, Victoria Hull of Dynamic Mobile Billing, Peter Garside of EE and Leon Dijksman of Sam Media

 

Watch the whole panel session from The Carrier Billing and Mobile Payments Summit 

 

aimm chairs panel of experts to discuss changes in UK regulation at Carrier Billing & Mobile Payments Summit in Amsterdam. Photo shows Joanna Cox of aimm beside panel banner

For more information please contact Joanna Cox at joanna@aimm.co

 

Sam Media launches a Marketing Agency branch

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

Sam Media Expands Horizon with Launch of Sam Agency

Sam Media celebrate the launch of their new agency Branch

Sam Media, a renowned leader in mobile content innovation, was proud to announce the official launch of Sam Agency, its sister company, during an exclusive event at World Telemedia in Marbella on Monday, October 9, 2023, at 4 PM. With an impressive track record in making the next generation of mobile content, Sam Media is extending its expertise to the Mobile Payment, DCB (Direct Carrier Billing), and mVAS (Mobile Value Added Services) sectors through Sam Agency.

CEO of Sam Media, Alexis Bartelds, expressed excitement about the launch, stating, “Sam Agency represents an exciting new chapter for us, as we bring our passion for innovation and our expertise in mobile content to the world of performance marketing. We look forward to helping clients in the Mobile Payment, DCB, and mVAS sectors achieve their sales goals.”

Sam Agency’s team possesses a deep understanding of both the business needs and the market nuances necessary to deliver the most effective performance marketing campaigns. Their fully-managed marketing process covers the entire spectrum, from conceptualization to projection, discovery, and scaling. Services offered by Sam Agency include:

  • Creative Production: Crafting compelling and engaging creative content to capture your target audience’s attention.
  • Effective Marketing Strategies: Designing and executing performance-driven marketing strategies tailored to your business goals.
  • Traffic Management: Optimizing traffic sources to maximize exposure and conversions.
  • Analysis and Optimization: Continuously analysing campaign performance and making data-driven optimizations for improved results.

The official launch of Sam Agency took place during an event at World Telemedia in Marbella and all industry professionals and media attending World Telemedia were invited to join their celebration.

 

For more information about Sam Agency, please visit the Sam Agency website or contact them.

aimm speaking at MEF Connects – Digital Transformation

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

Next week is MEF Connects – Digital Transformation a two day online event July 18th and 19th. As a Trade Association in the same space we are pleased to be able to support this event. We have been invited to speak on 19th July, Day 2 on Regulatory Frameworks at 12pm UK time.

“The increasing growth of mobile payments has provoked a response from regulators. The intersection of financial, telecommunication and technological regulation make this a complex and challenging question. Leaders in the field are ready to share insight and knowledge.”

As our members will know we have spent a lot of time over the last few years working with the Regulators to ensure that the regulatory space our members work in is protected, fair and encourages innovation and growth, especially with the launch of Code 15 this spring.
We will be joined by Mobile Ecosystem Forum, Three UK, MCP Insight Ltd and Empello

This event is free to attend and you can register for your ticket online. Join the event to get the latest information and news on all things, IoT, Identity and Authentication, Security, Direct Carrier Billing [DCB], OTT Sports, NFTs, Crypto and so much more.

Asiacell Iraq choose MCP Insight to protect their 16 million customers from fraudulent DCB traffic

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

 

Asiacell, the prominent Mobile Carrier in Iraq, has selected MCP to provide their anti-fraud and compliance monitoring solutions for Asiacell’s Value Added Services and Direct Carrier Billing services.

MCP will be working closely with IQ Services, the Carrier’s internal Master Aggregator, who manage all merchants offering services on Asiacell’s network.

MCP’s combined Scanner and Shield solutions enables Asiacell to detect fraudulent and non-compliant traffic on all advertising campaigns from the initial banner right through to billing. It is this cross analysis of data gathered that provides the 360 degree picture of what is happening at every click throughout the user’s journey. This is all collated in and controlled by MCP’s on-boarding portal, Net–which stores all tests, manages the resolution process and provides all the compliance/fraud performance reviews.

Declan Pettit, Director of MCP:

“We are delighted to have been selected by Asiacell to help in the fight against fraud. It shows they have serious intent to protect their customers against this current threat that affects the whole Carrier Billing Industry worldwide. It is only when all Carrier’s actively take this lead in the fight against fraud that bad actors will finally get the message that their efforts are futile.”

Chra Hussain, CCO of Asiacell added:

“At Asiacell, we understand that customer confidence in our systems and processes is absolutely essential to maintain our reputation of excellence. MCP have been selected as they have shown, throughout a lengthy trial, that their solutions are up to the essential job of protecting the whole Value-Added Services and Direct Carrier Billing value chain”

 

 

 

About MCP:

MCP was founded in 2014 and provides anti-fraud services across 35 countries currently. With 55 staff and offices in UK (Head Office), Dubai (Tech), South Africa (Regional)& Pakistan (Operations), MCP cater for the needs of a large selection of Carriers. 100% of MCP’s technology is built internally.

 

About Asiacell:

Asiacell “Brings Us Together” is the leading mobile telecommunications and digital services provider in Iraq, exceeding a subscriber base of 16 million satisfied customers as of January 1st, 2021. Asiacell is recognised as the first mobile carrier to operate in Iraq and the first to achieve full nationwide coverage, offering quality 4G services across all Iraqi governorates. Asiacell’s network covers 99%+ of the Iraqi population, making its national network the most extensive among the other two mobile operators in Iraq. Since January 2015, Asiacell is proud to be the best internet service provider offering the highest quality network in Iraq.