The ability to purchase products and services in Japan using nothing but your cell phone is becoming more and more common, both through credit and pre-pay systems offered by each carrier. These phones are equipped with IC chips that are read by special scanners used at retail checkout counters and built into vending machines, train entrance turnstiles and other devices. If you're a retailer that operates company-owned stores, you're going to have to begin equipping for this newest trend in consumer payment schemes. The above TV commercial for one of DoCoMo's latest phone models demonstrates how broadly this technology is spreading, with the featured consumer making payments at a convenience store, a Coke vending machine, a Tower Records shop, a restaurant, and in a taxi.
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Just came across this site - lots of cool stuff. It's interesting that everyone I talk to says they don't trust the electronic payment (and thus don't use it), yet adoption rates are obviously increasing.
Posted by: Ken | November 18, 2006 at 05:57 PM