Modern-day smartphones bear very little resemblance to the enormous bricks which masqueraded as mobile phones back in the day. The only thing mobile about them was that they were not connected to a landline. These early phones were barely portable and could not fit in a pocket or even a medium-sized backpack. They were more the size of a small dog and probably heavier.
Added functionality over the years
However, over those early years, phones did dramatically decrease in size. However, their functionality was so basic that uptake was still very low. In the late 1990s, you were more likely to have a pager than a mobile phone. You could get short messages on a pager or phone into a call centre to collect your urgent messages. The big game-changer was the arrival of Nokia phones with screens that allowed us to send and receive text messages. While still a long way from what we experience now, this was the beginning of the technology we are familiar with today.
Early adopters understood the potential
Even without the infrastructure or deliverable technology, early adopters were starting to see the potential mobile phones could offer. The use of texts exploded after 1998 when major phone companies introduced ‘pay-as-you-go’ technology. Major retail outlets started selling mobile phones, and the ability to text, talk and possibly pay for stuff was within everyone’s reach. When we say pay for stuff, we do not mean that your phone had any connectivity with your bank or that banking apps existed. However, you could top up the credit on your phone and use it to pay for a limited range of goods and services.
Payment security was an issue
Paying by phone has remained popular for charity donations, but other than that, we assume it has largely been surpassed by clever fintech apps that let you link your bank account to your smartphone in one way or another. Then through tech wizardry, bills are paid and purchases made. We are notified as money moves in and out of our bank accounts. There really is no excuse for not being on top of our finances.
Some companies were before their time
In the late 1990s, a company called ZagMe had a concept that involved turning mobile phones into billboards in our pockets. The plan was to deliver marketing messages directly to our phones. The idea that promotional codes would be redeemable in physical stores was almost laughable. While the company signed up retailers for tests, they ran out of money by 2001 and closed for business. Essentially, they were just ahead of their time and ahead of the technology, as we now use services like this all the time.
Using a mobile bill to pay can be a smart option
Paying for things with your mobile phone bill might seem outdated, but it is still an option for many services. You might wonder why anyone would choose to do this when we have easy-to-use banking and payment apps. There are many reasons, like wanting to keep payments for entertainment separate from everyday bills or because people do not have a bank account and can no longer pay with cash in a particular environment.
Some online casinos accept this method of payment
Both of these are reasons why people may search to find a pay-by phone bill casino Canada. Being able to pay by mobile phone is a great option; the main drawback is that you can only make relatively small deposits using this method. The other major issue is that it is not yet available for players in Ontario. Even in areas where it is available, you have to use an alternative to withdraw a balance or winnings. Customers who have a bank account can use all kinds of other options, such as Interac and PayPal.
Other cash alternatives
There are options for those who are unbanked as well; these include prepaid cards and vouchers which can be bought at participating retailers. While it is not possible to pay with your phone bill yet in Ontario, Paysafecard casinos offer an excellent alternative for players who want to pay with cash. You get a prepaid voucher that allows you to pay online. It is easy to use, and you can safeguard sensitive information.
Surprising areas where you can pay this way
While paying using your phone bill might not be what everyone chooses to do, there are some surprising areas where you can still use this technology. Here are somewhat unexpected places where you can use this technology.
Tesla Solar Panels
In some places in the USA, purchasers are able to pay a deposit for Tesla solar panels using their mobile phone bill as the payment option. Unfortunately, the value of the cars is too high to be able to be bought using this method – but it is cool that the solar panels have this option.
Video gaming
You can pay for your video games at both the PlayStation and Microsoft stores. They allow users to make purchases on their mobile phone bills. This offers gamers the chance to buy now and pay later without having to enter a new credit agreement. Customers have to pay what they owe when their next mobile phone payment is made. Depending on when the game purchase is made, this could be up to 30 days of interest-free credit.
Original art on your phone bill
Both MoMa and Saatchi Art, amongst other online galleries, allow customers to buy art online using their phone bill. You might think that original art is the preserve of the rich, but you can access galleries and auctions and find very reasonably priced works which are unique. You might not expect to be able to pay with your phone bill, but it is a trusted form of payment and accessible to most people.
You can also use pay by phone to pay for things like a monthly Twitch subscription or to pay for magazine and newspaper subscriptions.
A viable alternative to cash
Paying by mobile phone bill might seem like something from the past. However, it is a handy option, and many forward-looking online companies are happy to accept it. In a world where it is harder and harder to pay by cash, it is a way to protect sensitive data and limit online exposure to security issues.
