Mobile payment service ImpulsePay has launched an age verification service for online content, enabling content owners to sell products and services to users aged over 18. Unlike other services that require a credit card to confirm the user's age, ImpulsePay checks the user's mobile phone account with their mobile operator to make sure they're old enough to buy the content.
ImpulsePay says its new service is seven-and-a-half times quicker than using a credit card. Consumers click on the ImpulsePay 'Buy Now' button – which can be added to almost any web site – and enter their mobile phone number. They're then sent a code by SMS, which they enter on the website. The mobile operator checks the user's handset is registered to an 18+ user; authorised transactions are completed and charged to the user's mobile account, while customers who aren't registered as over 18 will be sent to a help page.
Chris Newell, CEO of ImpulsePay, said "This is the next step for us. Our service, which combines the benefits of Payforit and SMS billing, has proven to be really popular with a wide variety of content owners and website users. What we’re doing now is opening it up to all content providers. The age-verification service will allow content owners offering certain film or music clips, or games that are 18+ rated, as well as the betting and gaming sites, to accept mobile payments for their content or service. The off-line world can easily see if a person is old enough to purchase over-eighteen content. We bring that peace of mind to the online world as well."