eBillit Gets Green Light From BlueLight

Billing software provider eBillit has worked a deal with Kmart's ISP that allows BlueLight to charge ISP fees through customers' phone bills.

by Michael Singer of siliconvalley.internet.com [November 8, 2001]

Payment service provider eBillit Tuesday says it has inked a deal with Kmart (NYSE:KM) to give its BlueLight.com Unlimited Internet Service users a different way of paying online.

BlueLight's formerly free Unlimited Internet Service is one of the lowest-priced major ISPs in the country at just $8.95 per month.

San Jose, Calif.-based eBillit says it has come up with a system of billing goods and services purchased online to a customer's credit card, local phone bill or as an automatic monthly deduction from their checking or savings account. The company says it will also be responsible for supporting the registration process and customer management services.

The partnership is based on a July 2001 survey of San Francisco-based BlueLight customers. Out of those polled, 45 percent said they would prefer a monthly payment via their phone bill as the preferred alternative to paying by credit card.

"We are pleased to offer our customers the convenient ability to pay for the BlueLight Unlimited ISP through their phone bills," says BlueLight Unlimited ISP general manager Heidi Gibson. "eBillit's expertise and back-office support enables us to offer payment options consumers truly want, along with the high level of service they demand in this competitive ISP market."

The news also comes at a time when Americans are looking at the Internet as a viable bill-paying option in light of the Anthrax scare.

"Consumers are eager to explore alternate methods of payment, making eBillit's offer appealing to both Internet Service Providers, like BlueLight, and individuals using the Internet every day," says eBillit vice-president of sales and marketing Don Teague.

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