DoCoMo iD Hits 15M Subscribers

DoCoMo announces their post-paid iD platform, both mobile and DCMX credit card version, hit 15M subscribers in August http://bit.ly/afSN0t

Eds note: these stats should not be ‘confused’ with the pre-paid Osaifu Ketai NFC platform which does not require pre-approved credit card and would most certainly have far more transactions with partners such as Japan Rail (JR). Also, the mention related to iD purchases are 20% higher than average amount, according to Japan Franchise Association. Their latest report [.PDF in Jpn] states the average was 558.4 yen/person in July 2010 so that means avg iD payment per person would be about 670jpy.

NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced today that subscriptions to iD, its branded platform for using postpaid electronic money with DOCOMO handsets and compatible credit cards, had topped 15 million and reached 15.09 million at the end of August nationwide in Japan.

Launched in December 2005, iD reached 5 million subscribers in November 2007, 10 million in December 2008 and 15 million in August 2010, just 4 years and 9 months since the launch. The number of subscribers using handsets equipped with contactless IC chips (Osaifu-Keitai) compatible with iD has surpassed 37.5 million, representing over 60% of all DOCOMO subscribers.

DOCOMO, which is offering a credit payment service known as DCMX, and 67 credit card companies such as Sumitomo Mitsui Card Company, Limited are currently offering credit payment services via iD. A number of companies provide iD-enabled plastic credit cards in addition to Osaifu-Keitai handsets. Currently, there are approximately 481,000 iD-enabled payment terminals nationwide which allow users to make payments just by waving compatible mobile phones or cards over them.

Today, iD can also be used at McDonald’s locations, Coca-Cola vending machines, and electronics retailers as well as in taxi cabs and shopping malls. As a result of expanding opportunities and the benefits of using iD, over 16 million transactions were made in June 2010 alone. According to a survey by the Japan Franchise Association, the average purchase amount is over 20% higher if the customer pays via iD only. Full PR Here >>