Several ISPs in Thailand are promoting e-commerce in that country by introducing "cash cards" which will allow users to purchase products and services electronically.
Customers of participating ISPs will be able to purchase pre-paid "e-money," debit cards that will facilitate electronic shopping. They can also use the cards to pay for their Internet access; they can register online to get access and have their balance adjusted accordingly, depending on how much time they the spend online.
Those who purchase one of the three packages offered by Internet Thailand will receive a card containing a unique number needed to register online.
According to Internet Thailand President Trin Tantsetthi, the services will allow user to access to the World Wide Web economically and will allow users to purchase products and service from Internet Thailand electronically. Online vendors would then subtract the value of their sold products or services from the buyers' cards. The vendors will receive the actual payments the ISPs participating in the services.
The services have been soft launched in an attempt to pave the way for e-commerce.