Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Japanese mobile phone carrier SoftBank Corp. and smartphone payment firm PayPay Corp. are considering investing several hundred billion yen in major retailer Seven & i Holdings Co., it has been learned. The two SoftBank Group Corp. affiliates intend to expand their reward points ecosystem through a possible capital alliance with Seven & i, which owns Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Japan's largest convenience store chain operator. The companies will discuss an investment scheme, possibly involving a third-party allotment of new shares. SoftBank has been expanding its points ecosystem by partnering with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., allowing users to exchange PayPay points for the banking group's V points. Meanwhile, Seven-Eleven Japan has fallen behind rivals Lawson Inc. and FamilyMart Co. in payments and points services. It apparently hopes to improve customer services by strengthening its ties with SoftBank and PayPay. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]