NTT DOCOMO Tops 15 Million for iD Mobile Credit Payment Service

NTT DOCOMO has passed the 15 million subscriber mark for tis "iD" mobile credit payment service, which combines postpaid electronic money with DOCOMO handsets and compatible credit cards. The service was initially launched in December 2005 and reached 5 million subscribers in November 2007, 10 million in December 2008 and 15 million in August 2010.


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. Currently, there are approximately 481,000 iD-enabled payment terminals across Japan, allowing users to make payments just by waving compatible mobile phones or cards over them. This includes more than 90% of all convenience stores in Japan, including all am/pm and Seven-Eleven stores. 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.


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.
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