DoCoMo/Sony smartcard chip JV
Unconfirmed reports indicate that NTT DoCoMo and Sony may be about to form a joint venture for smart card chips:
The venture will develop a chip based on Sony's FeliCa non-contact smart card technology.The Nihon Keizai newspaper reported on Wednesday that DoCoMo, Japan's biggest mobile phone operator, will start selling third-generation mobile phones containing the smart-card chip in the middle of next year.
What this means is that it becomes possible to have train commuter passes and e-money in a cellphone, which can be passed over a reader to take you through the ticket barrier or settle a transaction. This has been mooted for a while, but this sharpens up the details of who's doing what when.
Posted by aragoto at October 22, 2003 05:24 PM | TrackBackDoCoMo's Comment on Today's News Report
Dear Sir/Madam,
It was reported by several news sources today that NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
has agreed to a tie-up with Sony Corporation on contactless IC card
business for mobile handsets.
Although DoCoMo believes that contactless IC card services will
enhance the world of mobile communications, we have not yet
finalized specifications or business plan.
An announcement will be made once such decisions have been
finalized.
Sincerely,
NTT DoCoMo Team
http://www.nttdocomo.com