For the first time since the iTunes Store launched, iOS users are allowed to pay for their purchases without using a credit card, debit, or iTunes gift card. Instead, these users can now use carrier billing for purchases.
Apple has added a new way for iOS users to pay for iTunes content including apps, songs, TV shows, movies, and iBooks. Starting with German career O2, customers can link their phone numbers to their iTunes accounts and pay for purchases at the end of the month, along with their phone bills. Customers without a contract can still use this option but need to have a prepaid amount available.
The O2 parent company, Telefonica, confirmed availability of this payment option:
[quote]“Telefónica Germany is working with Apple related to carrier billing,” a spokesperson told us in an email. “Payment via the O2 phone bill is now available for Apple Music, iTunes, App Store and iBooks Store Purchases. The service is gradually being rolled out and will be available for all O2 customers (prepaid and postpaid) in Germany by the beginning of November 2015.”[/quote]
It is believed that Apple will expand carrier billing to additional markets in the future.
