IPC Media Teams with Boku for Mobile Payment Subscriptions

sep-ukPublisher IPC Media has partnered with mobile payment company Boku to enable consumers to subscribe to its magazines simply by texting a keyword from their smartphones.

The text-to-pay solution, which does not require a credit or debit card, is expected to significantly increase print magazine subscriptions, particularly among young, mobile-first consumers. Among the IPC magazines that will be available using the system are Marie Claire, InStyle, Ideal Home and woman&home.

Once they have text the keyword to a short code, subscribers receive a confirmation via text, then can complete the registration process via a mobile website. The charges for the subscription are added to the subscribers carrier bill, or deducted from their prepaid balance if they also use Bokus e-money product.

“Our company is always looking to take advantage of technological innovation,” said Beatriz Montoya, acting direct marketing director at IPC Media. “Creating a solution with Boku that gives readers the ability to immediately subscribe using their phone number has tremendous potential to grow our subscription business.

“Very soon our readers will start discovering keywords that they can subscribe with via insert cards, print ads and on the covers on their favourite magazines.”