Ericsson has announced that it is to provide its global Internet Payment Exchange (IPX) payment and messaging service to eight network operators across India.

Ericsson's Internet Payment eXchange (IPX) facilitates the payment and distribution of mobile content by interconnecting content providers and mobile operators. IPX handles the payments by making use of the existing billing relationship between operators and consumers. The eight networks to offer the services within the coming months are Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications, Bharat Sanchar Nigam, Vodafone Essar, Aircel, MTNL Delhi, TATA Teleservices and Idea Cellular.

Mats Granryd, Managing Director, Ericsson India, said, "We are happy that these networks have added Ericsson IPX services to their offering and will be joining Ericsson's global network of IPX-enabled mobile operators. This is an important step in bringing a true global payment solution to India where operators and content providers can fully benefit from the reach of Ericsson."

Using Ericsson IPX, mobile subscribers in India will now be able to purchase mobile multimedia content such as music, games, wallpapers and ringtones from mobile content companies.