Carrier biller BilltoMobile is providing services in North America for massive multiplayer online company NCSOFT . The company has been providing mobile payment services to NCSOFT's Korean operations for more than a decade.

Using the BilltoMobile option, gamers can purchase in-game currency, called NCoins, simply by entering their mobile phone number to receive a PIN. Once verified, players get their  NCoins and the purchase goes on their monthly phone bill.

"Not everybody has or wants to use a credit card for online games, but most people have a mobile device," said Richard Zinser, senior vice-president of technology and online operations for NCSOFT. "And that's why the BilltoMobile service offering appealed to us. Companies can no longer offer customers a singular path to purchase in-game items, and in today's fast-paced and connected world, a mobile platform just makes sense."

Like many social media and game providers, NCSOFT is using direct carrier billing to provide a low-friction purchase option for younger consumers who may not have access to credit and debit accounts.

"This partnership between NCSOFT and BilltoMobile demonstrates the natural fit of mobile payments ... within the online gaming industry," said Jim Greenwell, president and CEO of BilltoMobile. "We are very excited to bring our mobile payment platform that provides coverage in more than 80 countries to a global leader in online games."

Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, NCSOFT is a developer of massive multi-player online games such as Aion and Guild Wars.

BilltoMobile, based in San Jose, Calif., is a subsidiary of Korean company Danal Co. Ltd.

Read more about direct carrier billing.