Osaifu-Keitai

Osaifu-Keitai (おサイフケータイ, Osaifu-Kētai), literally "Wallet Mobile", is the de facto standard mobile payment system in Japan. Osaifu-Keitai services include electronic money, identity card, loyalty card, fare collection of public transits (including railways, buses, and airplanes), or credit card. The term "Osaifu-Keitai" itself is a registered trademark of NTT Docomo.

Osaifu-Keitai compliant mobile phone from NTT Docomo.

The system was developed by NTT Docomo but the system is also supported by other mobile phone operators. It uses Sony's Mobile FeliCa ICs.

Operators
  • NTT docomo Group: i-mode FeliCa
  • KDDI (au/Okinawa Cellular): EZ FeliCa
  • SoftBank Mobile: S! FeliCa
  • Willcom: WILLCOM IC Service

Advantages

FeliCa, developed by Sony, is the de facto standard technology used for Japanese smart cards. Many of these cards accept Osaifu-Keitai (Mobile FeliCa) system as well, or plan to accept it in future. Osaifu-Keitai can provide more convenient services than plastic FeliCa cards. For instance, it can automatically recharge itself via the Internet, or provide the latest information. It can also be used as a ticket for an airplane or an event, by downloading an electronic ticket. Unlike plastic cards, a single Osaifu-Keitai phone may accept multiple applications, each equivalent to different cards.

Disadvantages

Osaifu-Keitai provides many functions on a single mobile phone. Therefore, there is a great risk if the phone is lost, broken, or stolen. Osaifu-Keitai basically functions even without radio transmissions, so the applications can not be terminated just by closing a phone account. A user has to contact each service provider to stop all the functions. There are some phones that can lock the functions via a phone call or an E-mail.

Since Osaifu-Keitai can function as identity card (such as member card, company card, or keycard), there is also a risk for those who authenticate it.

Services
NameProviderFunctionIntroduction
NTT DoCoMoauSoftBank
EdyRakuten EdyElectronic moneyJuly 10, 2004September 9, 2005November 11, 2005
ANA Mobile AMC AppliAll Nippon AirwaysMember card, airplane ticketJuly 10, 2004September 9, 2005November 11, 2005
club ap AppliampmMember cardJuly 10, 2004Works as a card without application
eLIO Mobile ServiceSony FinanceCredit cardJuly 10, 2004December, 2005－
Sega Mobile FriendsSegaMember cardJuly 10, 2004September 15, 2005November 11, 2005
Bic Point Kinō-tsuki Kētai (Bic Point Function Mobile)Bic CameraMember cardJuly 10, 2004January 12, 2006January 18, 2006
vit AppliTŌHŌ CinemasEvent ticketJuly 10, 2004－－
Mobile J-WAVE PASSJ-WaveEvent ticketJuly 10, 2004－－
club DAM MEMBERS AppliDaiichikōshōMember cardJuly 10, 2004－－
JAL IC ServiceJapan AirlinesMember card, airplane ticketJanuary 11, 2005－－
Gold Point CardYodobashi CameraMember cardAugust 30, 2004September 9, 2005November 11, 2005
Matsukiyo Point AppliMatsumoto KiyoshiMember cardSeptember 4, 2004March 23, 2006December 2, 2006
Cmode (Shīmo2)Coca-Cola (Japan)Electronic moneySeptember 24, 2004November 30, 2006April 2, 2007
GEO Mobile Member CardGEOMember cardNovember 15, 2004October 14, 2005November 16, 2005
KazaponFeliCa NetworksInformation downloadNovember 15, 2004Accepts－
kesaka ServiceKESAKA SystemKeycardNovember 22, 2004－May, 2006
Smartplus (VISA TOUCH)Mitsubishi UFJ NICOSCredit cardDecember 22, 2004September 15, 2005February 1, 2006
FeliCa Pocket MobileSonyMember cardAccepts－－
Toku Toku PocketNECMember cardApril 1, 2005October, 2005February 15, 2006
QUICPay MobileJapan Credit BureauCredit cardApril 4, 2005September 9, 2005February 15, 2006
Edy Charge ApplieBankElectronic moneyMay 15, 2005October 17, 2005Accepts
Plus Mobile for Edy-StyleCYBIRDMember cardJune 6, 2005Accepts－
TOWNPOCKETTechfirmMember cardAugust 8, 2005September, 2005November 11, 2005
Mobile e-cardIyo RailwayPublic fare collectionAugust 23, 2005－－
Hawks IC TicketFukuoka SoftBank Hawks MarketingEvent ticketAugust 29, 2005－March 29, 2006
ToruCaNTT DoCoMoCoupon ticketNovember 11, 2005－－
iDNTT DoCoMoCredit cardDecember 1, 2005－－
Mobile Nagasaki Smart CardPublic transit operators in NagasakiPublic fare collectionDecember 12, 2005－－
Mobile SuicaEast Japan Railway CompanyPublic fare collection, electronic moneyJanuary 28, 2006January 28, 2006December 2, 2006
Mobile NicoPaShinki BusPublic fare collectionFebruary 1, 2006－－
Okudake NinshōBIGLOBEUser authenticationFebruary 27, 2006February 27, 2006February 27, 2006
MoCoCaNTT Business AssocieKeycardMarch 8, 2006－－
χsmartNTT TeleconOffice authenticationApril 1, 2006－－
WonderGOO Mobile Member CardWonderCorporationMember cardAcceptsAcceptsAccepts
au Kētai CouponKDDICoupon ticket－January 16, 2007－
nanaco MobileSeven & I HoldingsElectronic moneyApril 10, 2007April 12, 2007September 12, 2007
Gurunavi TouchGourmet Navigator (Gurunavi)Coupon ticketSeptember 3, 2007September 3, 2007September 3, 2007
Mobile WAONAeonElectronic moneyNovember 5, 2007March 1, 2008March 1, 2008
TacchanipocaCoupon ticketFebruary 1, 2008February 1, 2008February 1, 2008
McDonald'sTHE JVCoupon ticketMay 1, 2008May 1, 2008May 1, 2008
Kazashite stampLarge hillMember cardJune 23, 2008June 1, 2009April 1, 2009
Rakuten appRakutenMember cardJuly 8, 2008July 8, 2008July 8, 2008
T Point appCCCMember cardOctober 14, 2008February 5, 2009February 2, 2009
Touch SuiteLady bugMember cardMarch 25, 2009March 25, 2009March 25, 2009
Moba hanKanko maruMember cardMarch 1, 2010March 1, 2010March 1, 2010
e-AMUSEMENTKonamiUser authenticationNovember 11, 2010November 11, 2010November 11, 2010
PontaLawsonMember cardJuly 15, 2011July 15, 2011July 15, 2011
Mobile Starbucks cardStarbucks coffee JapanElectronic moneyMarch 26, 2014March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

See also
  • (in English) Osaifu-Keitai from NTT DoCoMo official website
  • (in Japanese) EZ FeliCa from au official website
  • (in English) S! FeliCa from SoftBank Mobile official website
  • (in Japanese) WILLCOM IC Service from WILLCOM official website
  • (in English) FeliCa from Sony official website
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