NTT DoCoMo and eight credit card companies in Japan plan to launch a co-branded chip card, as reported by Card Technology News. The card will award cardholders loyalty points for both phone usage and using the card for purchases.
The "DoCoMo Card," like the operator’s other membership services, will offer discounts on handset upgrades and subscription services, as well as coupons on travel. Cardholders will also get perks at some hotels and stores and priority service for online ticket reservations. Most of the issuers will waive first-year membership fees for cardholders. While the card carries the credit application on a chip, availability of smart-card reading terminals is still limited in Japan; so most cardholders are expected to use the credit application also stored on the card’s magnetic stripe for purchases.
