LINE Pay, Merpay and NTT DOCOMO have signed a letter of intent for a business alliance to make cashless transactions more widely available.
In addition, DOCOMO will join the Mobile Payment Alliance (MoPA), an alliance of merchant stores established by LINE Pay and Merpay to further popularize cashless payments in Japan. Through this business alliance, the three companies will promote the introduction of their mobile payment services, LINE Pay, Merpay, and NTT Docomo's mobile payment service, 'd Barai' to stores and businesses.
Each plans to make their own app capable of handling QR code scanning and payments for the other two partners' merchant-presented mode (MPM) code payment services. Businesses only need to set up a QR code from any one of the three services to begin accepting payments from users of all three, reducing both the burden of implementing a new system and enabling acquisition of many potential new customers.
Users will also benefit from being able to use their chosen payment method at more stores. With DOCOMO joining MoPA, the companies anticipate that DOCOMO's nationwide network of sales resources will further increase the number of merchants. Additionally, the three companies expect to mutually benefit from introducing the others' payment services to current merchants of their own service. By bringing the three companies and their large userbases together, the alliance envisions an even more convenient experience for both consumers and merchants.
