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Feb. 27, 2007

NTT DoCoMo and McDonalds Restaurants are reportedly launching a joint venture to offer electronic payment services at the fast-food chain’s outlets in Japan.

As the growing popularity of NFC (Near-Field Communications) to make payments continues in Japan, McDonalds Restaurants has decided to take advantage of the technology that allows users to swipe their handsets over special readers to pay for fast-food meals.

The new joint venture will be launched in July 2007 with initial funding of $2.48 million.

McDonalds and DoCoMo's new joint initiative will begin promoting and marketing the service, which is based on the company’s Osaifu-Keitai e-wallet.

Overall, McDonalds wants to establish a membership club by October and will offer enhanced services to strengthen customer loyalty and brand recognition.

McDonald’s is putting up 70 percent of the money, and DoCoMo will supply the remaining 30 percent.

NTT DoCoMo and other mobile operators are working with financial companies to offer similar credit card-based services to customers, as growing competition lingers in the wireless segment.

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Source: Wireless Week