A week in Japanese tech
Telecommunications
- JR East is in talks with handset makers to install commuter cards in cell phones. East Japan Railway Co. has launched talks with NTT DoCoMo, KDDI and J-Phone to equip cell phones with IC chips used in its Suica IC commuter passes and prepaid cards. The new handsets would allow passengers to use their phones to go through the automated ticket gates, thereby replacing the staff-operated ticket sales system with cell phones. If cell phone companies agree to install Suica IC chips in their handsets, JR East intends to open up the IC functions to airline and other public transportation companies. JR East aims to offer the new service by fiscal 2004. About 3.6 million Suica cards have been issued since the system's debut in November 2001.
