Topic: NTT DoCoMo
Category: Mobile Phones
Technorati: Linking Blogs

This 3rd and likely final part in the FeliCa series outlines a few of the services that will launch with the release of the FeliCa support phones as reported yesterday.

The "i-Mode FeliCa" service, a new service that uses cellular phones containing contactless IC chips, will begin in the first part of July. At the announcement event o­n the 16th, demonstrations from the 11 companies that would offer supporting services from the beginning were carried out.

Currently, a total of 39 companies have made clear their intentions to offer "i-Mode FeliCa" supporting services. Of these, 11 companies' services are scheduled to start with the release of the "i-Mode FeliCa" supporting phones.

-Preinstalled "Edy"

"Edy," BitWallet's electronic money system, will be preinstalled o­n supporting phones from the beginning. Avoiding security and such, the maximum amount that can be registered is set to 50,000 yen. When the balance of electronic money gets low, users can "charge" (add) money to their phone through an i-Mode connection offered by BitWallet. In order to use cash to "charge" their units, a special computer terminal must be used. To use the machine, the phone is placed in a set location, money is inserted, and the "deposit button" is pushed. Until the deposit button is pushed, the phone will not charge, and a sound will play after the phone has completed the charging process. As the time it takes to charge the phone isn't more than 1 second, the company has said "cases such as those were users take their phone off the charger too early, and the charge process doesn't work correctly shouldn't happen."

But what about the case when, you're sitting there operating your phone, and accidentally delete the "Edy" i-Appli? According to DoCoMo Public Relations, "Although we haven't made the decision yet, we are planning to offer the i-Appli o­n both the cellular makers' and BitWallet's i-Mode sites. If by any chance you accidentally delete it, you can simply download it again." Also, there could be cases in which the phone gets submerged or somehow breaks; these are also supported by BitWallet. Users can register with a "balance return" service beforehand, so that in the event that they break their phone somehow, their balance will be returned to them. The registration cost is 105 yen, and the re-registration (after the service has been used o­nce) cost is 315 yen.

The ability of Edy to offer the "balance return" service lies in the fact that all data is stored server-side. However, the company is not able to offer the balance return service when a phone is lost or stolen.

-Even corporations such as am/pm offering services

The am/pm convenience store, which previously supported card-type Edy purchases, i-Mode FeliCa will also be supported. Before the end of May, there were 1,420 stores that will support the service. Edy can be used to settle purchases, and small character-raising games can be obtained per 500 yen purchase.

If o­ne registers for the "club ap" service aimed at Edy users, they will get 1 point per 100 yen spent. Points saved can be redeemed for presents during a particular period of every month. A scratch-card game can also be played by club ap members per 500 yen spent.

Instead of stopping with just convenience store purchases, the company is attempting to turn convenience stores into spots where users can have fun. Keeping with this, the company also plans o­n placing i-Mode FeliCa supporting vending machines in locations such as offices and large apartment complexes. The vending machine at the demonstration even contained sandwiches and such just like a real convenience store. It is a shame, though, that the machines will be placed o­nly in offices and apartments, rather than all throughout the city.

-i-Mode FeliCa supporting facility in Osaka Minami

In Osaka's Doutonbori, otherwise known as the "Minami" shopping district, the "Sammy Ebisu Plaza" amusement park supporting i-Mode FeliCa will open o­n July 2nd. In this facility, which features the "Ebessan" (of the Seven Deities of Good Luck inviting business prosperity) motif, floors o­ne and two will be the "Sammy Zuregno Doutonbori Shop," the third floor will be the "Total Workout Ebisu Hashi Shop" training gym, the fourth floor "aria blu OSAKA" with karaoke and food, and finally floors five through seven will be the "Doutonbori Paradise Shopping District" with a shopping district theme. When i-Mode FeliCa officially starts, all stores inside this building will accept Edy as a form of payment.

-Secure printing environment with i-Mode FeliCa

NTT DoCoMo and Fujitsu Xerox plan o­n offering a print solution aimed at corporate customers, which supports i-Mode FeliCa. This is so that o­nly the person who printed out a document can actually get the printer's output in their hand.

This setup consists of the connection of contactless IC card readers in both the PCs that the office staff uses and the printers. i-Mode FeliCa verification is carried out for the PC to send the printing order to the printer, and when a user walks over to the printer and it detects the same i-Mode FeliCa signal, it will actually begin printing. This not o­nly decreases the risks of printing out classified documents, it cuts down o­n paper usage in the office. Both companies plan o­n beginning trade proceedings shortly.

Inspired by:
http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/19339.html

FeliCa Services:
http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/p_s/service/felica/