Digi prepaid and postpaid customers can now pay for Android apps on Google Play via their Digi billing account.
How to set up Digi direct billing in the Google Play Store:
- Step 1: From the app you want to purchase, click on the “price” button
- Step 2: Accept the access condition
- Step 3: Click “CONTINUE” to set up Payment Method
- Step 4: Select “Enable Digi billing”
- Step 5: Enter your name and address – for billing reference
- Step 6: Select “BUY” to proceed with the purchase with Digi billing
- Step 7: Enter your Google password and select “CONFIRM”
For Digi Prepaid customers, purchases will be taken from their prepaid credit. Purchases for Digi Postpaid customers will be billed in the next bill cycle. All purchases made in Google Play will incur 6% GST charge as pricing in Google Play store excludes GST.
Customers who changed their mind after purchasing the app could cancel the purchase as long as it’s within Google refund policy window (2 hours). In Google Play Store, customers must select the purchased app and will be able to see the option to “Refund”.
The limit to purchase the Android apps on Google Play Store will depend on customer’s credit balance (prepaid) or credit limit (postpaid). Purchases for contents on Google Play Movies & TV, Google Play Books and Google Play Newsstand are capped at RM50 per month.
Digi is the first mobile operator in Malaysia to enable direct carrier billing on the Google Play Store. Previously, customers who want to purchase an app on Google Play Store will have to use credit or debit cards. Digi told MalaysianWireless that it has been working to enable the carrier billing with Google over the past 2 years.
“As the first telco in Malaysia to offer direct billing of purchases from Google Play Store to our customers, we’re clearly signaling our intention to lead the way in enabling internet services that enrich our customers’ experience online. Our aim is to be the best mobile internet provider for mass market and, on top of our current efforts to expand our high-speed 4G LTE network coverage, we will continue to introduce services like Direct Billing for Google Play Store which add value for our 11.8 million customers,” said Christian Thrane, Digi’s Chief Marketing Officer.
Digi also hopes this new service will have a positive effect for Malaysian mobile app and content developers. Speaking on this Thrane said: “With Direct Billing for Google Play Store, we hope to inspire mobile app and game developers as well as content providers to create more localized content for the Malaysian market because now they will have a more engaged target market with an easier and more convenient way to pay ensuring developers are suitably rewarded for their effort. We hope this helps cultivate innovation and drives the local app developer community.”
Google Malaysia Industry Head, Prashant Pathmanaban said, “We are pleased to announce this partnership with Digi where we are now providing an alternative payment solution for Google Play Store users through Digi’s Direct Billing.
“We’re also glad to announce the availability of Google Play Newsstand to Malaysians today; Newsstand brings together all of your favorite local and international digital content in one simple experience with over 2,000 different news and magazine sources both free and paid.” he added.
Google Play Store is the official app store for Android mobile operating system. There are over 1,000,000 apps on the Google Play Store, including free and paid apps.
