PrePay Phones Can Be Recharged Via TV Channel

The UK based digital satellite TV service, Sky has launched a service that enables its customers to top-up their PrePay phones directly via the TV screen. The service has been launched with the T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile networks, but should soon allow users of the other major UK mobile networks to top-up their pre-pay phones.

Sky TV viewers press the red button on their remote control whilst tuned into Sky One, Sky Sports, Sky News or Sky Movie channel and select the "Your Mobile" category from the Sky Active menu. New Users must enter their name, address and mobile phone number to register. They then provide their credit or debit card details and select their mobile network and the top-up amount they would like to purchase. They will be asked to provide a PIN for this service to make subsequent purchases quick and easy.

Roger Craven, Ampay Managing Director says, "No one in the UK has ever offered top-ups online in this way before. The service offers direct to network top-ups - that means it links through to the networks' billing computers from the set top box. We have worked closely with Sky and the network operators to ensure the service is a secure, and convenient way for viewers to top-up their phones."

Ampay's top up service is the first product to be launched by Amplefuture's new subsidiary Ampay, and was developed for Sky Active, while useing the existing e-Top-Up infrastructure to connect to the mobile networks. Your Top-Up is available to Sky's 6.6 million digital TV users."

Posted to the site on 21st February 2003