Mobile Payment: NTT DoCoMo Acquires Werther Bank
- The Japanese telecom operator NTT DoCoMo buys a European financial institution through a controlling stake in Bankverein Werther. Implanted in the North of Germany, the private bank has recently refocused on payment services and, most of all, e-commerce services. It is now owned by net mobile, subsidiary of DoCoMo Deutschland, who intends to use its information systems as well as its banking and card licenses.
- Until recently, net mobile has been concentrating on traditional operator-based billing systems (premium SMS payments and surcharged phone numbers, etc.). It can now boost its payment options with debit and credit card payments as well as several emerging alternative means of settlement (e-wallet, online credit transfers.., etc.).
- Net mobile was created in Germany in 2000 and is both an e-PSP and a digital content retailer (e-books, cultural goods, mobile apps, interactive TV). It is also present in several other Western European countries (Switzerland, UK, Spain and Belgium).
- Standing as a pioneer in mobile Internet with iMode, DoCoMo has long been present in Europe. With London-based headquarters, the company performs market studies and regulatory lobbying through its Paris-based teams. Its Amsterdam offices are dedicated to strategic expansion and its R&D unit is located in Munich.