TOKYO, December 2, 2013 - Rakuten Edy, Inc. and Rakuten Card Co., Ltd. will launch a new service starting December 3 that will allow one-touch, over-the-counter charging of Edy on specialized devices.
The new service targets Edy users with Rakuten Cards that have an Edy function allowing the saving of Rakuten Super Points. Specifically, it will allow presetting of the charge amount (3,000 yen, 5,000 yen or 10,000 yen) on “Itsudemo Edy Charge (Anytime Edy Charge” of “Rakuten e-NAVI,” an exclusive online service for Rakuten Card members. Users then only need to place their Rakuten Cards with the Edy function on the “Itsudemo Edy Charge” specialized device, found at FamilyMart convenience stores or Pronto shops around Chiyoda-ku and Chuo-ku in Tokyo, to receive the pre-designated amount once a day.
Rakuten Edy is a type of pre-paid e-money that requires charging in advance. For this reason, Rakuten Edy has provided a variety of ways of charging, such as through over-the-counter payments and cash charging machines at convenience stores, cell phones and smartphones installed with the Osaifu-Keitai®1 function, etc. One of the reasons people do not use e-money is because it is considered to be “troublesome to charge,” but the prior setting of “Itsudemo Edy Charge” will now offer a new means of one-touch, over-the-counter charging of Edy on dedicated terminals.
Furthermore, a campaign will begin offering up to 15% in Rakuten Super Points on the same day the service is launched for people who set their “Itsudemo Edy Charge” on “Rakuten e-NAVI,” then charge their Edy using an “Itsudemo Edy Charge” dedicated terminal at a FamilyMart store or Pronto café and bar in Chiyoda-ku or Chuo-ku, and use it for shopping purposes.
In the future, both companies are planning on creating more ways of charging. For example, through expansion of installment of the “Itsudemo Edy Charge,” in order to provide users with a highly convenient transaction system.