TOKYO, JAPAN, June 3, 2003 --- NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and its eight regional subsidiaries announced today a trial payments service to enable customers using 2G and 3G handsets to enjoy on-line shopping at a dedicated portal site and receive bills for purchases together with their monthly mobile phone invoices. The trial will begin June 26 and last about six months, after which commercial services are planned to start.
Initially, three virtual shops will be offering GPS services, such as tracking and emergency-related services, with an additional five stores joining from September. In total, about 20 virtual shops selling such items as fashion goods, groceries and flowers will be participating in the trial. The online shopping portal site can be accessed at http://dcmm.jp/ (Japanese only).
Users are required to register in advance for the service via the official i-mode portal site. The service is free and users are only required to pay packet transmission charges. During the trial, purchases between 1,000 yen (minimum) and 10,000 yen per month will be accepted.
The payment service is available only for individual, not corporate, subscribers of mova 2G or FOMA 3G i-mode services.
NTT DoCoMo expects the new payment service, available to over 38 million
i-mode users, to help stimulate mobile e-commerce growth.
About NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications company with more than 46 million customers. The company provides a wide variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia services. These include , the world's most popular mobile internet service, which provides e-mail and internet access to over 38 million subscribers, and , launched in 2001 as the world's first 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA. In addition to wholly owned subsidiaries in Europe and North and South America, the company is expanding its global reach through strategic alliances with mobile and multimedia service providers in the Asia-Pacific, Europe and North and South America.
NTT DoCoMo is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM), and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. For more information, visit www.docomo.ne.jp/english
i-mode and FOMA are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo,Inc. in Japan and other countries.
mova is a registered trademark of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan.