DIrect carrier billing company Bango and Telkom South Africa have partnered to launch carrier billing in Google Play, a first for Africa, according to a press release. Telkom SA is using the Bango payment platform to provide the service to its Android customers.

Google’s Android platform currently represents 89 percent of the smartphone market in Africa, according to IDC. Bango said Telkom customers using Android smartphones and tablets can now purchase their favorite apps, games, music and other digital content using one-click carrier billing, charging the cost to their phone bill or deducting it from airtime, without having to use a credit card or register personal details.

"Telkom is striving to make our customers' experience more streamlined and simple," Attila Vitai, marketing direactor of mobile and consumer at Telkom, said in a statement. "This partnership with Bango provides Telkom customers with a seamless experience for purchasing apps from Google Play and charging them directly to their mobile phone bill or airtime."