Launching Japan-Korea Collaborative Operation Test of Mobile NFC Service

KDDI Corporation
SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp.
Credit Saison Co., Ltd.
Orient Corporation
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.
T-Engine Forum

February 9, 2011

From February 2011, KDDI Corporation, SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp., Credit Saison Co.,Ltd., Orient Corporation, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., Toppan Printing Co., Ltd., and T-Engine Forum will start collaborative operation tests of mobile NFC services [1], which can be used both in Japan and Korea.

Since July 7, 2010, KDDI, SOFTBANK MOBILE have discussed with SK Telecom on realization of services that utilize mobile NFC technology and are adoptable both in Japan and Korea, as well as mutual usage of facilities. Based upon the discussions by mobile carriers and service operators in Japan and Korea, inner operation tests of following services will be conducted in the two countries.

  • [1] NFC (Near Field Communication): International standard for near-field wireless communication system set by ISO (International Organization for Standardization). It is compatible with Type A, Type B, and FeliCa® Communication system. It adopts contactless IC card function, reader/writer function, and inter-machine communication function.

1. E-money service

(1) MasterCard® PayPass [2]

Content of service Electronic payment is available by waving a mobile phone with a USIM card that encompasses MasterCard PayPass over a register.
Places and number of stores where the service is available [Japan] About 300 shops at shopping malls in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, and other places.
[Korea] About 25,000 shops including convenience stores in Seoul and Busan, and other places
participant KDDI Corporation, SK Telecom, SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp.
MasterCard Worldwide , Credit Saison Co., Ltd. and Orient Corporation
  • [2] MasterCard® PayPass: Contactless payment system developed by MasterCard Worldwide. As of Q3 2010, over 83 million PayPass cards and devices are used in 36 countries in the world, including Japan and Korea.

(2) T-Cash [3]

Content of service By waving a mobile phone that is equipped with a finance-enabled USIM card on a dongle, users can electronically pay for goods or pay public transportation fares using their mobile phone. T-Cash application also allows users to check mobile money balance and recharge via credit card or phone bill.
Places and number of stores where the service is available [Korea] Trains (except for some lines), bus, taxi, and convenience stores, and other places in Seoul
participant KDDI Corporation, SK Telecom, SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp.
  • [3] T-Cash: SK Telecom's mobile payment service utilizing pre-paid cash credits. Launched in January 2009, T Cash was originally developed for transportation payments, but quickly developed into Korea's most pervasive mobile payment system. T Cash is now joined by some 40 franchise businesses, allowing more than 730,000 mobile users to pay for bus, train and taxi fares, as well as the services and products at 30,000 affiliate stores and online sites in Korea. T Cash service is provided through partnership with transit service operator and financial institutions.

2. Smart poster service

Content of service Information can be easily obtained by waving a mobile phone with an NFC tag, which services as a reader and writer, over a poster or a map.
Places and number of stores where the service is available [Japan] About 110 places including DNP GOTANDA SHOWROOM (SOLUTIONS SQUARE) and Printing Museum, Tokyo, and street lamps in Ginza, Tokyo
[Korea] About 150 places including COEX and restaurants, and other places in Seoul
participant KDDI Corporation, SK Telecom, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., Toppan Printing Co., Ltd., T-Engine Forum, and SK Telecom

The companies will aim for early commercial adoption of services that are experimented in the tests, and expansion of countries where the services of waving a mobile phone using NFC technology will be available to improve the convenience of users and promote international development.

  • * The information contained in the news releases is current at the time of publication.
    Products, service fees, service content and specifications, contact information, and other details are subject to change without notice.

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