Digital games marketplace Kinguin and direct carrier billing company Fortumo have announced a partnership that will enable Kinguin users to purchase games and in-game items from Kinguin by charging payments to their mobile phone bill, according to a press release from Fortumo.

"We give our customers the freedom to choose from our wide range of payment services we offer. We have noticed demand for mobile payment services from our customers. Partnering with mobile payment companies such as Fortumo enables us to reach customers who are willing to pay by phone with best possible fees,” said Faheem Bakshi, vice president of Global Expansion at Kinguin.

Fortumo noted research from SuperDataResearch that found carrier billing is the third most popular payment method for digital gaming transactions worldwide after bank cards and electronic wallet payments.

"A growing amount of gamers are located in countries where traditional online payment methods are scarcely available and where gaming growth outpaces traditional markets," said Andrea Boetti, vice president of Global Business Development at Fortumo. "Fortumo helps game developers, marketplaces and e-sports streaming platforms reach users in over 90 countries by giving anyone with a mobile phone access to online payments. We are very happy that Kinguin has selected us as their partner and look forward to growing their revenue from the unbanked audience."