NTT DOCOMO Launches Mobile Card Acceptance Device

• Japan-based mobile operator NTT DOCOMO is getting ready to roll out a low-cost card acceptance device. This dongle should cost 10,000 to 20,000 yens (100 to 200 euros) to merchants.

• The new tool should be made available to retail stores, restaurants, hotels, etc. in partnership with financial institutions.

• NTT Docomo also intends to take roughly 15% stakes in Link Processing by the end of September. The start-up specialises in handling settlement devices and services.

Source: Telecom Paper

• The Japanese operator pioneers through focusing on card acceptance, and tracks back a mobile-based innovation trend materialised in 2007 through its m-wallet Osaifu-Keitai.

• The number of Smartphones keeps increasing in Japan and one in four mobile users now own such devices (43% more than in the beginning of the year according to comScore). About two-third (64.1%) of these users have opted for Android.