Mercari Inc. is entering Japan’s competitive mobile carrier market with a service that allows users to trade unused data with each other, mirroring the secondhand marketplace concept that built the company’s core business.
The new Mercari Mobile service, launched Tuesday, offers two data plans through NTT Docomo’s network: 2GB for 990 yen ($6.60) and 20GB for 2,390 yen ($15.93) monthly. What sets the service apart is its peer-to-peer data marketplace, where users can sell excess gigabytes starting at 200 yen ($1.33) or purchase additional data from others.
The company cited research showing 75% of Japanese consumers either don’t use all their mobile data or carry it over unsuccessfully, while 45.2% of those who regularly exceed their limits purchase additional data monthly.
“We’ve determined there is a disparity between what mobile data contracts offer and how consumers actually use these services,” Mercari said in its announcement.
The service initially launched on iOS with a staged Android rollout beginning simultaneously. Users manage everything within Mercari’s existing marketplace app, with proceeds from data sales added to their Mercari balance for use in the company’s ecosystem.
Mercari Mobile only supports eSIM technology at launch, with physical SIM cards and additional features planned for future releases. The company charges a 10% fee on all data transactions between users.
