NTT DoCoMo is in talks with Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and JCB about investing in their credit card businesses in a step forward for the cellular company's vision of integrating mobile communications with financial services.

Japan's largest mobile phone operator is looking to pay about Y100bn ($938m) for a 33.4 per cent stake in SMFG's 100 per cent-owned card business, Mitsui Sumitomo Card, Japan's number two credit card operator, and a smaller stake in JCB, the country's number one card provider.