Commerce Platform Bango Acquires NTT Docomo’s Payments Arm for $4M

Commerce technology provider Bango has acquired the global payments business of Japanese mobile phone operator NTT Docomo for 4 million euros (about $4 million) and signed a long-term platform agreement with the company to provide payment services in Japan for the world’s largest merchants.

Bango’s existing cash and operating activities are funding the acquisition of Docomo Digital, which had a cash balance of 3.1 million euros (about $3.1 million) when the deal was signed, according to a Tuesday (Aug. 30) press release. Docomo Digital offers payment services to app stores and digital merchants around the world.

As part of the platform agreement, NTT Docomo’s carrier billing services for app stores and merchants will migrate to the Bango platform, the release stated. Bango and NTT Docomo also have an existing Amazon physical goods carrier billing agreement.

With Docomo Digital, the United Kingdom-based Bango will expand its payments ecosystem and add new users and transactions to its platform, which will bring more data to its customers, according to the release.

“Acquiring Docomo Digital strengthens our position as a world leader in data-driven commerce,” said Bango CEO Paul Larbey in the release. “…Through the Bango platform, telcos can leverage the universal appeal of the world’s biggest online brands, and digital merchants can immediately reach new customers. Both will benefit from data-driven insights, giving consumers greater access to goods and digital services.”

NTT Docomo Wallet Service Department General Manager Tsutomu Tahara said in the release the digital payments space can benefit from a “common platform technology,” and Bango is in the right position with “market leading technology” that will be beneficial to customers in Japan.

“Bango’s role as an independent platform and trusted partner presents a great opportunity to accelerate growth of the global payments ecosystem,” Tahara added in the release.

See also:

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