Japan launches wallet phone

Dom · Jul 13, 2004, 10:22 PM

TOKYO (Reuters) - Look inside almost anyone's purse or pocket, and it probably contains at least a mobile phone and a wallet bulging with bank receipts, credit cards, IDs, train or bus passes, and any number of membership cards.

In Japan, that may soon be a thing of the past as the mobile industry aims to combine the phone and wallet with a small embedded chip that can store money and personal information.

NTT DoCoMo, Japan's largest mobile operator, on Saturday became the first to launch a wallet phone. The new product is equipped with Sony's FeliCa smart chip, which is quickly read when passed over a scanner.

KDDI, the nation's second-largest operator, plans to launch phones with similar functions next year, and the Japanese unit of Vodafone is testing the technology.

"FeliCa is going to be a basic requirement for me when I upgrade my phone," said 31-year-old Norihiko Fujimori, who works for a Japanese Internet start-up in Tokyo. "It'll be extremely convenient if my phone can contain everything."

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Source: Reuters

MSX · Jul 13, 2004, 11:56 PM

Because not just can a cellphone company rape you every month they can also be in your wallet and be in charge of all your money.

Thats a great idea for corperate america.

All in all the things coming out of japan of late cause me to be a bit worried. I mean werent there sci-fi's novels with this concept and these things had disasterious consequenes? I seem to remember so.

Add that the the fact that the only person they have reccomending the phone is some nobody. If it comes over here its matress time with my money. And if they phase out money I'll request to be paid in gold bars thanks.

Jul 13, 2004, 10:22 PM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Japan launches wallet phone TOKYO (Reuters) - Look inside almost anyone's purse or pocket, and it probably contains at least a mobile phone and a wallet bulging with bank receipts, credit cards, IDs, train or bus passes, and any number of membership cards. In Japan, that may soon be a thing of the past as the mobile industry aims to combine the phone and wallet with a small embedded chip that can store money and personal information. NTT DoCoMo, Japan's largest mobile operator, on Saturday became the first to launch a wallet phone. The new product is equipped with Sony's FeliCa smart chip, which is quickly read when passed over a scanner. KDDI, the nation's second-largest operator, plans to launch phones with similar functions next year, and the Japanese unit of Vodafone is testing the technology. "FeliCa is going to be a basic requirement for me when I upgrade my phone," said 31-year-old Norihiko Fujimori, who works for a Japanese Internet start-up in Tokyo. "It'll be extremely convenient if my phone can contain everything." Read More... _____________________ Source: Reuters

Jul 13, 2004, 11:56 PM	#2
MSX Burning the frozen... Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,201 Rep Power: 0	Because not just can a cellphone company rape you every month they can also be in your wallet and be in charge of all your money. Thats a great idea for corperate america. All in all the things coming out of japan of late cause me to be a bit worried. I mean werent there sci-fi's novels with this concept and these things had disasterious consequenes? I seem to remember so. Add that the the fact that the only person they have reccomending the phone is some nobody. If it comes over here its matress time with my money. And if they phase out money I'll request to be paid in gold bars thanks.