14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung has just announced that its application store for bada phones, Samsung Apps, is expanding its payment options with the addition of phone billing payment option.
Basically, customers will be able to purchase any application from the Samsung Apps store and the price will be charged on their phone bills or deducted from the SIM card balance.
According to the Korean manufacturer, the new options will be rolled out gradually to customers during 2011.
Initially, the phone billing payment option will be available in the UK and other countries including Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Ukraine, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and India.
Although there is no schedule available for the roll-out, Samsung stated that the new phone billing payment option for Samsung Apps would be expanded to more countries later this year.
“At Samsung Apps we're committed to doing all we can to provide our customers with an enhanced user experience” said Kang-Hyun Kwon, senior vice president of Media Solution Center, Samsung Electronics. “The new payment method offers flexibility, choice and ultimately a simpler purchase journey.”
In celebration of the new payment option, Samsung Apps is running a promotion beginning May 19, which will offer Samsung Apps customers who make a purchase the opportunity to win various prizes.
Called 'Buy Hot Apps, Get Cool Gadgets!' the promotion will run through June 20 and the winners will be announced on June 27.
All Samsung Apps customers using Samsung Wave smartphone and made a purchase during the promotion are eligible to win any of the prizes randomly selected.
Launched in June 2010, Samsung Apps offers more than 15,000 applications in 120 countries, and managed to reach 10 million downloads in its first three months.
Only ten months after Samsung Apps opened, the Korean manufacturer announced that it had reached 100 million downloads in March 2011.