Gerhard Fasol wrote:
>Christopher:
>
> > How about the FeliCa/Suica? I haven't analyzed any numbers, but it
> > seems like there are more Suica users.
>
>We have analyzed the numbers. There are about 8 million SUICA
>users.
>
You mean you red the press releases (^_^)
> > Would DoCoMo need to partner
> > with both Edy and Suica to get the 'Wallet phones' going ...
>
>Yes, DoCoMo has already partnered with Edy and Suica many months
>ago. 4 Walletphones will be rolled out next month, July. Unless
>consumers reject them, I am pretty confident DoCoMo will get the
>wallet phones off the ground quickly.
>You'll find a lot of the details here:
>
>
Gerhard, Sorry if this is covered in the links you mention below, but
this is to give a short
answer to Christopher :
Basically, Suica, Edy and NTT DoCoMo's IC are all the same technology
applied to different
sectors. It comes from Sony, and is managed partly by the company they
set-up around the
FELICA technology called BitWallet.
Suica offers contactless card for transportation and proved hugely
popular as
(1) it does not cost anything more (nor less) than buying regular
tickets or pass
(2) it is easy to use ("sui sui")
(3) it is faster than using a ticket
Thus, it proved very popular and has become the "de facto standard".
Edy has been used in AM/PM convenience stores for a while (as well
as in shops in Shinagawa where Sony has its headquarters) but did not pick
up too much because (in my opinion) people do not feel the same need for
speed
in convenience stores than in the subway, even if it is more convenient
than cash.
Thus, as those applications are already more or less successful, I do
not see any reason
for people to "reject them" unless the handsets really suck, which is
unlikely now
with the improvements made on FOMA recently.
If shops start to use this electronic cash (equip with a contactless
reader) rapidly
then people will start to use it (if they know that their phone is
equipped with it...
see GPS @ KDDI for a good example of non-client-awareness and initial
bad performances and ergonomics...)
Cheers,
Benjamin
[ excessive quoting removed by moderator ]
Received on Thu Jun 24 20:13:00 2004