Mercari introduces mobile service with unique data trading feature

Investing.com -- Japan-based marketplace app Mercari (TYO:4385), Inc. has ventured into the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) business with the launch of Mercari Mobile on March 4, 2025. The new mobile service integrates within the existing Mercari marketplace app, allowing users to sign up, manage daily usage, and make payments all from one platform.

A distinct feature of Mercari Mobile is the option for users to buy and sell unused mobile data, starting from 1GB. This feature, the first of its kind in Japan, mimics the listing of items on the Mercari marketplace, providing a flexible and affordable smartphone service.

Mercari Mobile is offering two mobile service plans: a 2GB plan priced at 990 JPY per month, and a 20GB plan for 2,390 JPY per month, inclusive of consumption tax. The service, which covers voice call, short message, and mobile data services, operates using Docomo connections.

As of today, Mercari Mobile is being gradually rolled out to users of the iOS version of the Mercari marketplace app, with a portion of Android users also gaining access in stages.

The launch of Mercari Mobile aims to address the challenges customers face when changing service providers. According to a Mercari survey, approximately 64.4% of respondents indicated they had never switched mobile service carriers or had switched only once, due to the complexity of contract procedures.

Moreover, the survey revealed a gap between what mobile data contracts offer and how consumers use these services. A total of 75.0% of respondents stated they either did nothing with their unused monthly mobile data or let it carry over to the next month, where it eventually went unused. Among users who frequently ran out of data, 45.2% reported purchasing additional mobile data every month.

In response to these findings, Mercari developed Mercari Mobile to offer a more customizable service. When asked about their preferred mobile service plan, 78.6% of respondents expressed a desire for a customizable plan that suits their needs.

Mercari Mobile, with its unique data trading feature and simplified procedures, aims to meet these consumer demands for flexible and affordable mobile service plans.

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