eCharge

eCharge

A Web payment service from eCharge Corporation, Seattle, WA (www.echarge.com). Initially specializing in digital content and monthly ISP charges, eCharge bills customers via a 900 number on their telephone bills. It later added a revolving line of credit just like a credit card and a prepaid account to support micropayments. Funds can be transferred from the customer's bank via the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. eCharge uses digital certificates on the user's PC, at the merchant site and at eCharge, and all three are verified before a transaction is completed. See Web payment service.