The telco Zain Group, active in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa, will add services to let customers pay for digital goods through their monthly bill. Zain said the solution, provided by carrier biller SLA Mobile, is among the first in the region and will let customers purchase apps across various operating platforms, including Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry.

In a news release, Zain Group CEO Scott Gegenheimer said the solution will let customers use mobile payments safely while positioning the company to capitalize on increased mobile content revenue opportunities in emerging markets such as the Middle East and Africa.

SLA Mobile CEO Nic Stirk said his company's solution is convenient for customers and a way for companies to monetize digital consumption. "Mobile operators have many assets that can be monetized, and direct operator billing is the stepping stone to greater things in terms of improving competitiveness and increasing customer loyalty and retention," he said in the release.

Zain said it will launch in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Saudi Arabia initially, with Iraq, South Sudan and Sudan to follow.

Learn more about direct carrier billing.