Look at this CNN free video news "Cash, Credit Or Cell Phone?". That service is the prepaid e-money system named "Edy". We can use Edy on either a card OR A cell phone that has a function called "wallet cellphone" (OSAIFU KETAI, in japanese). Those wallet cell phones are using the technology called "FELICA", which was developed by Sony.
Edy is operated by Bitwallet inc. Since the HQ of both Sony and Bitwallet are in Osaki where I am working, we can use Edy in many places around Osaki. You will actually be able to see a supermarket, bookstore and convenience store in the movie which are all in this Osaki Gate City building. I use the them all everyday. When I go to lunch, I just take my cell and if the charge is almost gone, I charge it on the Internet before lunch.
I am using N901iC (C means Cash I suppose). Docomo has many kinds of Wallet CELL phones, KDDI (this page is good for getting to know know their new cell phones) and vodafone started to sell their model.
Although I am working at Osaki where we can tell the mecca of Japanese e-money and I was working for the cell phone section (now I changed), I am getting confused. I will be able to pay JR with my cell? okay that's fine. I will be able to use cell as my credit card? that is nice. But learning about them all is such a hassle...I will say MENDO-KUSAI in Japanese. Cell phones (especially DoCoMo!) are trying to be versatile!? Superman? I don't like that. Actually I am thinking about using this W-Zero3 which is the first Windows Mobile 5.0 device in the Japanese market, But I really hate typing on a cell.
The mobile phone industry (especially DoCoMo) seem to believe a LOT in the future of payments of different kinds with a cellphone. With their new credit card service, they will truly be unique in Japan (and the world) and they need to firmly establish themselves as the technology leader to beat off any current (Au, Vodafone) and future competition (BB Mobile, EMobile)
Personally I think its a good idea - you could get rid of your SUICA, Edy, and Passnet - all merged into your phone!
Posted by: Johan | Tuesday, December 20, 2005 at 01:24 AM
Wallet cellphone is a novel idea but the consumer pays for the cell phone company to help manage payments. Of course, businesses accepting cell phone payment must buy or rent electronics to do this. The only benefit may be to encourage people to spend money because of the novelty, ease of use and, electronic nature of money transfer.
Real money is more difficult to give up. ^^
Posted by: ブルース | Monday, December 19, 2005 at 11:32 PM
Mari,
The concerned American public must know: are these statistics correct -- is this wedded gaseous nature the reality of daily married life in Japan?!
http://whatjapanthinks.com/2005/12/14/does-your-wife-do-this-too
Chris
Posted by: Chris | Friday, December 16, 2005 at 01:55 PM
W-Zero3も面倒臭いと思います. ちょっと重いと思う。形態電話作くったら、ヘッドセットを着ていますか。
Most American cellphones are very simple compared to Japanese cell phones. I have the Motorola RAZR (in black...I do think they should not have put the silver logo on it, it makes it look cheap).
I like the design, but the software leaves much to be desired. It is far from elegant, not nearly as nice as the software on Samsung cell phones (3 prior phones I have had) or the Sharp prepaid keitai I have for traveling in Japan.
The software on Motorola cell phones looks very unprofessional and unpolished to me, as if it were a school project or something. I don't understand why they would put something as ugly as this on such a nice looking product like RAZR. At least the phone works (except in the building where I have my Japanese class...then I can't get calls from work either).
Posted by: Claire (クレア) | Friday, December 16, 2005 at 12:06 PM