RIM and Indosat Bring Carrier Billing to BlackBerry App World

Canadian mobile phone carrier Research In Motion and wireless services provider Indosat have just announced the availability of direct billing for the operator’s customers who purchase content from the BlackBerry App World.

This feature should offer Indosat’s BlackBerry customers the possibility to have all apps and games purchases from the BlackBerry App World charged directly to their monthly bill at the wireless carrier, which offers both prepaid and postpaid wireless services to users in Indonesia.

Furthermore, the new option will provide users with the possibility to have in-app purchases charged on their monthly bills, the two companies announced.

“Operator billing will allow Indosat’s BlackBerry customers to conveniently and securely purchase apps from BlackBerry App World and charge the purchases directly to their Indosat bill,” the two stated.

“Customers will also be able to charge in-app purchases to their Indosat bill, which allows for the purchase of digital goods, such as additional content or more levels to a game, to be made without interrupting the application experience.”

The new payment option has been made available courtesy of BlackBerry ID, a secure device-independent user identification (ID) destined to be used with the BlackBerry App World and with other services from RIM.

The BlackBerry ID also provides users with the possibility to easily transfer their personal library of free and purchased apps to a new BlackBerry smartphone when they are switching devices.

“Furthermore, BlackBerry ID requires the user to enter their password when making a purchase, providing an added layer of security that can help protect a user from unauthorized purchases in the event their smartphone is lost or stolen,” RIM announced.

Indosat is only one of the wireless operators that provide carrier billing options for the BlackBerry App World. RIM is working with its partners to expand the availability of this option, in an attempt spur app purchases from the storefront.