What is the reality of the terminal of a terminal at a major carrier store?(Page 1/2) --Itmedia Mobile

　On April 26, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced an outline of the results of a "masked survey" on the sales of mobile phone terminals at a joint meeting of "Working Groups on Verification of Competition Rules" and "Study Concerning Consumer Protection Rules".It is said that there were quite a few mobile phone dealers that did not respond to mobile phone communication (line) contracts and non -stringed terminal sales.

　In this article, we will explain the background up to the survey and the results of the survey.

　The Telecommunications Business Law, which was revised in October 2019, regulates profits (discounts) in terminal sales as follows.

　However, there is an exceptional provision that eliminates discount restrictions even when the terminal sales conditions are "same" as "the same".The current terminal purchase support program ( * 1) provided by major carriers is provided using this exceptional provision.

( * 1) NTT DOCOMO's "Smartphone OK Program", au (KDDI and Okinawa Cellular Phone) "Kaede Program", SoftBank's "Toko Support +"

　In other words, in order for a major carrier to "legally" a terminal purchase support program, the distributor (carrier shop, consumer electronics retailer, and over -the -counter store) need to respond to single -term terminals.

　However, the following two major points have been pointed out over the terminal purchase support program.

　In response, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications made a request for DOCOMO, au, and SoftBank on May 29, 2020, "requests for sales methods for selling terminals by installments", and re -known the conditions for providing support programs.Thoroughly asked for a status report.

　The ministry conducted a masked survey to confirm whether the above problems have been resolved in the "action plan for the development of a fair competitive environment in the mobile market" announced on October 27, 2020.Was included.This time, the masked survey, which has been published in the outline of the results, is an initiative based on a plan.

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications was conducted from December 2020 to February 2021.As a result, the ratio of the target stores that refused sales (including the refusal to provide the terminal purchase support program) was as follows (the real numbers of the investigated stores were not disclosed).

　As a result, the ministry has requested three companies to investigate their terminal sales, and as a result, the ratio of the number of stores ( * 2) that were able to confirm the rejected fact was as follows.In addition, some careers continue to investigate, so the ratio may change.

( * 2) Calculate stores that can accept 3 or more contract procedures at the same time as denominator

　It is difficult to evaluate the divergence of the ratio (Kaiari) because the Ministry of ministry did not know the actual number (branch), but there are quite a few agencies that refuse to sell single terminals, and guidance of major carriers.There is no doubt that (control) is inadequate.

　According to the masked survey, sales were mainly refused for the following "reasons" (listed in summary).

　Based on the current laws and regulations, both are clear misconceptions.According to the example of refusing to provide a terminal purchase support program to a single terminal buyer, there were mainly the following explanations (listed in summary).

　All of these are inconsistent with the conditions of the support programs of each carrier.

　The ministry interviewed a major carrier to supervise the agency, and as a cause in the misconception, DOCOMO was "misunderstanding staff" and "other store guidance due to busy reception work", and KDDI and Softbank "lack staff knowledge."It is said that it was listed.However, on SNS, the following voices have been heard from users.

　Is these explanations really due to "misunderstanding" or "lack of knowledge" ...?

Copyright © ITmedia, Inc.All Rights Reserved.