New Zealand's mobile phone operators announced they have agreed to a framework that supports the mobile purchase of digital content through a direct carrier billing model. The companies — 2degrees, Telecom, TUANZ and Vodafone — are members of the Telecommunications Carriers' Forum (TCF) Working Party, which has developed the Payforit Trusted Mobile Payments Framework, the announcement said.

"We anticipate that this will encourage consumer confidence in paying by mobile for content and services, and in turn generate repeat business and growth in conversion rates for content providers," said TCF CEO David Stone, in the announcement.

Stone said that by adopting the new Payforit scheme, the country's wireless carriers will continue to ensure a consistent, transparent and user-friendly experience for customers making purchases by mobile phone.

According to the announcement, customers using Payforit do can use the service without a credit card or bank account and don't even need to sign up or register. The process can be done using only a phone.

The framework for the news system is based on the British Payforit service, the announcement said, which is managed by Accredited Payment Intermediaries (APIs). Participating APIs will have to adhere to the framework standards and guidelines including displaying the PayforitNZ logo on payment pages to show customers they're with the Trusted Mobile Payments Framework environment.

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