Australian vendor Mobile Embrace signed a global framework deal with Telenor to provide direct carrier billing, while separately moving ahead with the soft launch of a similar service for Swisscom.

Telenor has operations in 13 markets across the Nordic region, Central and Eastern Europe and in Asia. There will be a separate annex to the agreement for each market once it is assessed and has agreed launch.

The vendor will offer Telenor subscribers mobile-optimised products and services across a number of verticals, as well as the ability to pay via direct carrier billing; particularly relevant to the operator’s emerging market base where credit card penetration is very low.

Meanwhile Mobile Embrace has now progressed from technical integration to a soft launch with Swisscom, a process which the vendor describers as “test and learn”. It will offer the Swiss operator similar-sounding services to Telenor, including direct carrier billing.