Japanese Cell Phones used as Credit Cards?

[CrazyJo82]

didn't that start in germany?? i saw a show and they were showing people in germany using their phone or watches (whichever one that has the "chip" option) as a trial run where people got onto the bus and just waved their phone and wait for the "beep"

[Musa-Revived]

Well, whatever technological rumors you hear in Japan could be true. Especially when their handphones are 5 years more advanced than any other countries. I mean they had webcam capabilities on their handphones when other countries just started to use cameras in their phones.

Now their handphones can scan these square barcode things (called the QR code) which allow users to access certain sites through their phones. If you go to Falcom's mobile site, you can see one of the codes there. It allows fans in Japan to access this feature called Falcom Handphone BBS and Pocket Falcom.

[Adol.Christin]

I haven't seen people paying with their phone in Japan. most transactions in Japan are still with cash. or Suica, the train and subway RF-ID card, but that's only for the shops in the stations.

QR-readers are already used for quite a few years now, and any phone wit camera and the right software can do it as well. sadly the software isn't available for download, or hard to find. I did find a QR-code on an express package I recieved a few days ago. so it is being used in Europe as well by companies.

by the end of the year the largest super market chain in the netherlands will start with a test, in cooperation with a certain bank. to use your phone as a bank card. I'm currently in possesion of such a capable phone, needs a proximity chip, and I have an account at the required bank. so I'll test it by the end of the year, I hope

[Adol.Christin]

true, but the rf-id chip will use the GPRS or UMTS capabilities of the phone to connect to your bank and check the balance and stuff.

[rocket]

willem said:

true, but the rf-id chip will use the GPRS or UMTS capabilities of the phone to connect to your bank and check the balance and stuff.

wow now that is a cool concept. thanks for the helpful input.