Rakuten Mobile to Offer Same-day Services for
New and MNP Contracts at Rakuten CAFE

TOKYO, January 22, 2015－Fusion Communications Corp., the telecommunications company of the Rakuten Group, today announced that it will expand its service offerings at the application/consultation counter inside the Rakuten CAFE located in Shibuya, Tokyo, starting today, making it possible for new Rakuten Mobile customers to complete a new or Mobile Number Portability (MNP) contract*1 on the same day. 

Until now, the application counter on the first floor of Rakuten CAFE only accepted applications from customers. However, it will now begin offering same day completion of new and MNP Rakuten Mobile contracts as well as handset purchases. Customers will be able to receive their Rakuten Mobile handset in as little as one hour*2 on the same day*3.

Rakuten Mobile has received applications from a large number of customers since launching its services. During this process, many customers noted that they wanted to purchase their new mobile phone on the spot, and to have the time it takes to complete a MNP contract shortened. Although an increasing number of consumers are using MVNO services such as Rakuten Mobile, many consumers still feel unsure about switching over. To eliminate this uneasiness and provide peace of mind, Fusion Communications decided to begin offering services at a brick-and-mortar store, in addition to its existing online services. As part of this decision, Fusion Communications began receiving new Rakuten Mobile applications at the Rakuten CAFE in December 2014. By becoming one of the few MVNO providers to offer same-day MNP contracts at a brick-and-mortar store, Rakuten Mobile will encourage larger numbers of consumers to switch over to its service. 

Fusion Communications is committed to continually improving its service offerings to ensure it accommodates the needs of its customers going forward.

■Name： Rakuten Mobile Application/Consultation Counter
■Location： 1F, Rakuten CAFE, MA MAISON Shibuya Koen-dori Building, 1-20-6 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
■Hours： 11:00am to 7:00pm
■Services*4：
・New Rakuten mobile contracts (SIM card only or handset and SIM card)*3
・MNP contracts (SIM card only or handset and SIM card)*3
・Provision of other information about Rakuten Mobile and its services
■Required items at the time of contract：
・Credit card issued in the name of the contracting party
・Personal identification documents (either a driver’s license, National Health Insurance card, or passport issued by the Government of Japan)
・MNP reservation number when requesting a MNP contract
・Bank account information when requesting for the handset to be paid for in installments*3
■Website(*Japanese only)： https://mobile.rakuten.co.jp/shop/ 

*1 MNP is a system in which a consumer can use their current mobile phone number when changing to a new mobile telephone provider.

*2 MNP contracts can be completed in as little as one hour, but actual service time may vary depending on how busy the application/consultation desk is.

*3 Only customers paying for their handset in full will be able to receive it on the same day. Customers paying in instalments cannot receive their handset on the same day. As of January 22, 2015, the Rakuten Mobile application/consultation counter will accept new contract applications, MNP contract applications, and applications for the ZenFone 5 and Ascend Mate 7 only. Applications for the AQUOS SH-M01 will be accepted from the end of January 2015.

*4 Rakuten Mobile application/consultation counter cannot process mobile phone plan cancellations or changes to registered information by current Rakuten Mobile customers.

About Rakuten Mobile
Rakuten Mobile is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) service started on October 29, 2014 and provided by Fusion Communications utilizing NTT DoCoMo’s LTE network. Rakuten Mobile offers SIM-free handsets with a low-cost SIM card package for calling, in addition to offering a low-cost SIM card by itself. Rakuten Mobile’s lineup of handsets include the easy-to-use ZenFone 5 by ASUS Japan, featuring a large amount of memory, the waterproof One-Seg AQUOS SH-M01 by SHARP, and the high-spec Ascend Mate 7 by Huawei Japan.

Rakuten Mobile service website(*Japanese only): https://mobile.rakuten.co.jp/

*All prices above, excluding those that specifically mention tax is included, exclude tax

About Fusion Communications Corporation
Fusion Communications Corporation is a telecoms provider in Rakuten Group that provides fixed-line telecommunications (private lines), IP telephones, mobile services (Rakuten Mobile), and Internet-connected services under the concept of achieving “Everything over IP.” It is aiming to further develop and grow its business in order to create new possibilities in audio, data, content, and applications over its IP platform. For more information(*Japanese only): https://www.fusioncom.co.jp/.

*The company names, product names, and logos used in this press release belong to each respective company.
*Information appearing in this press release is current as of the date it was released. Specifications, services, or contact points may be changed without prior notice.