The Wireless Watch Japan Web media project today released an exclusive video report from the December 15 DoCoMo press conference announcing the "i-mode FeliCa preview service" trial.

For the trial, 27 e-payment partners will distribute 5,000 i-mode phones equipped with Sony's FeliCa contactless IC chip technology. The phones will be used for public transport tolls, store purchases, personal ID authentication, and other trial services between December 17, 2003 and the summer of 2004. Participating retail service providers include banks, credit card companies, convenience stores, TV broadcasters, game software publishers, and retail ticketing outlets. NTT DoCoMo said that users, ervices, and service launch dates will vary depending on each provider's schedule.

In the this Wireless Watch Japan video report, NTT DoCoMo PR staff demonstrate how the system works, explain plans for the trial, and show how users can add cash to their handsets. Also shown are images of FeliCa compatible systems from provider partners, including point of sale payment sensors, canned beverage vending machines, ATM terminals, game kiosks, and physical access control systems. The program includes an interview with Norihiko Fujita, group leader in the M-Project Department at bitWallet, the Sony-DoCoMo joint venture developing FeliCa technology and services.
Watch Video Report (Run-time 3:00).

See Also:
DoCoMo Trials Sony Felica Smart Chip Mobile Phones
Gadget Finder and Kinder Finder Technology
Human Subdermal RFID Chip - VeriChip