Previously, the outlets could be used only by AIS subscribers to pay for post-paid call services and those related to its business group.

AIS assistant vice-president for service channel, Sakchai Piyavidtayakarn, said, at its launch, the Pay Station service covers about 20 items, including utility bills, leasing payments and credit card bills.

"We plan to expand the services to 45 items next year," he said.

Users of the service pay a processing charge of Bt10 to Bt15 per item, depending on the kind of bill being paid.

The Pay Station service is currently available at 700 AIS customer service shops and Telewiz handset and service shops around the country. Sakchai said this number would be increased to include its partners, including M Link handset shops.

He said the aim of the Pay Stations was to provide a better service to customers and help boost revenue at its handset shop franchise operator Telewiz. AIS and Telewiz will share the processing fee on the basis of 20:80.

AIS has 17 million mobile-phone subscribers, of which about two million fall into the post-paid category.

Sirivish Toomgum

The Nation