Telefonica Digital and mobile payments company Bango signed a deal to create a direct-to-bill payment option for mobile app stores.

The global framework agreement will see Bango combine its technology with Telefonica’s BlueVia payment APIs, which will connect 314 million customers around the world to the Bango Payments Platform.

The ability for mobile users to pay for digital goods and services via their phone bill or using prepaid credit is a key way for developers and content owners to generate revenue. Developing markets in particular will benefit due to the lower penetration of bank accounts and credit cards.

A major aim of the partnership is to boost the availability of a standardised and open payment platform for all app stores and content providers, as well as improve customer experience.

“Through this partnership, we are delivering a mobile billing ecosystem that empowers the app store and content owners to achieve mass scale in their business through global reach and a payment method far broader than credit cards,” said Jose Valles, head of BlueVia for Telefonica Digital.

Telefonica has previously announced global framework agreements for direct billing with Facebook, Google, Microsoft and RIM.