This fact-finding survey, whose results were announced as "Competitive Policy Issues in the Mobile Phone Market (FY3 Survey)", is the market for mobile phones (including smartphones) that has become indispensable to people's lives. It was carried out for the purpose of grasping the competition situation of the smartphone and examining the problems of competition policy. We also have issues related to creating an environment that makes it easy for consumers to select the optimal rate plan, issues related to mobile phone terminals, issues related to securing a competitive environment for MVNOs, and issues related to transactions between MNOs and distributors. It is being investigated and examined.
Based on the above survey, the request for inspection and improvement by the Fair Trade Commission, which the three companies announced the details of their response, was inspected regarding "how to provide a terminal purchase support program" and "optimization of transactions with sales agents". And asked for improvement.
The contents of the correspondence announced by the three companies are as follows. In addition, KDDI / Softbank is said to have reported the details of the response to the Fair Trade Commission.
Regarding the terminal purchase support programs provided by each carrier (NTT DoCoMo "Smartphone Welcome Program", KDDI "Kaetoku Program", "Smartphone Toku Program", SoftBank "Toku Support +"), support for non-line subscribers Improvements have been made to the conditions that make it unnecessary to pay the remaining bonds.
In order to make it more recognized that non-line subscribers can also use the terminal purchase support program for all three companies, terminals are placed near the terminal purchase support program logo in advertising and promotional materials, even if no communication contract is signed. Improved to clearly show that the purchase support program is available.
In addition, let us know in the explanation of important matters at the time of purchase, the application form for the terminal purchase support program, the user page / email / direct mail / SMS, etc. that you can be exempted from the remaining debt even after canceling the line contract. I made it. In addition, NTT DoCoMo plans to respond to e-mail notification from November.
In addition, KDDI has made improvements that allow users to subscribe to the terminal purchase program online even if they do not have a line contract. Softbank also plans to sell online terminals to non-line subscribers.
Regarding the improvement of the condition that the payment of the remaining debt is not required, SoftBank has abolished the condition that the subscribers after September 24 are required to repurchase the terminal in order to make the payment of the remaining debt unnecessary. Similarly, KDDI stopped accepting the "Kaetoku Program" that requires replacement with a new terminal on September 16, and started offering the "Smartphone Toku Program" that does not require replacement on September 17.
Regarding the evaluation system of sales agents, all three companies have established rules to provide a sufficient notice period when changing the evaluation criteria of sales agents, and have established a system to solicit opinions on the evaluation system from sales agents. It is said that it was built and improved to a mechanism that makes it easy to reflect the opinions of sales agents.
In addition, since June 2021, KDDI has removed indicators related to the number of sales contracts such as large-capacity plans from the distributor evaluation system. NTT DoCoMo does not have a system to evaluate the number of sales such as large-capacity rate plans, and will continue to strive to create an environment where users can select the optimal rate plan.
Regarding the terminal selling price, we confirmed that it did not prevent the sales agent from setting the free terminal selling price for all three companies, strengthened the dissemination, and conducted training for sales staff to set the terminal selling price. It is said that awareness and dissemination regarding rule compliance will be made so as not to make compulsions, instructions, requests, etc. that may lead to the restraint of.
In addition, NTT Docomo has set the price so that the wholesale price to the distributor is lower than the online direct sales price as an improvement measure, and Softbank is a terminal so that the distributor can freely set the selling price of the mobile phone terminal. Revised sales incentives for single sales. KDDI also said that it has been implementing improvement measures since September 2021 to ensure the degree of freedom in setting the selling price of terminals at distributors, although details are not specified.
Regarding the handling of original products by retailers, NTT DoCoMo has relaxed the restrictions on the standards that have been set so far from the viewpoints of ensuring the safety of products, maintaining quality, and maintaining the brand image. It has been confirmed that the standards so far have been properly operated, and it is said that it will continue to strive for appropriate operation in consideration of sales agents.
KDDI has set standards for the handling of its own products, and plans to implement improvement measures that allow handling if the standards are met by application from the sales agent. SoftBank also plans to reexamine the approval criteria from the perspective of the needs and needs of distributors and the way support should be provided to distributors.