Monday, April 23, 2007
Nanaco - e-cash and m-cash for Seven-Eleven
This week two of Japan's largest retail chains roll out electronic and mobile cash: Monday April 23rd the Seven & I Holdings Group started "nanaco" and tomorrow, Friday April 27th, 2007, the AEON retail group will start "WAON".
At first sight the massive roll-out of electronic cash and mobile payments systems during March and April this year here in Japan has been smooth and without problems (except for PASMO underestimating the success and running out of cards). However, when we look below the surface, clouds of a competitive storm are brewing. This storm might be followed by consolidation. Here are some examples:
PASMO cards were sold out within the first three weeks, and PASMO is now losing market share (and commission payments) to SUICA day-by-day - PASMO became a victim of it's own success.
7-11's "nanaco" offers twice as much discount as AEON Group's "WAON". Clearly "nanaco" is on a more aggressive course than "WAON". We expect competition to heat up.
Slashdot It!
At first sight the massive roll-out of electronic cash and mobile payments systems during March and April this year here in Japan has been smooth and without problems (except for PASMO underestimating the success and running out of cards). However, when we look below the surface, clouds of a competitive storm are brewing. This storm might be followed by consolidation. Here are some examples:
PASMO cards were sold out within the first three weeks, and PASMO is now losing market share (and commission payments) to SUICA day-by-day - PASMO became a victim of it's own success.
7-11's "nanaco" offers twice as much discount as AEON Group's "WAON". Clearly "nanaco" is on a more aggressive course than "WAON". We expect competition to heat up.
Slashdot It! Labels: e-cash, ecash, m-cash, mcash, mobile payment, nanaco, pasmo, seven eleven, suica, wallet-phone, walletphone, waon
Sunday, March 18, 2007
PASMO: IC cards for transport
On Sunday, March 18, 2007, about 100 transportation companies in the Tokyo region switched to the near-field electronic money and payment system PASMO. Electronic money is a new battle field which JR-East pioneered with SUICA. 7 & I is still to throw it's weight into the battle - read about today's status of the electronic money marketplace in our "Mobile Payment and Keitai Credit" report.
A new multi-billion dollar power? Here is the character for PASMO: with an antenna on the hat, a pocket on the chest to store PASMO away, and wheels on the shoes, and in cherry-blossom pink... Does this cherry-blossom-pink guy look like he represents a new US$ multi-billion economic power?
Slashdot It!
A new multi-billion dollar power? Here is the character for PASMO: with an antenna on the hat, a pocket on the chest to store PASMO away, and wheels on the shoes, and in cherry-blossom pink... Does this cherry-blossom-pink guy look like he represents a new US$ multi-billion economic power?
Slashdot It! Labels: ecash, electronic money, mobile payment, nanaco, nfc, pasmo, rfid, suica, tokyo
Sunday, January 28, 2007
IC tickets top the ranks
Every year Nikkei Marketing Journal publishes a ranking list of the most successful products of the past year in the form Sumo wrestling results are traditionally displayed: there is a Western side and an Eastern side, winners at the top are displayed in much larger print than also rans at the bottom.
IC tickets are the "Ooseki" (second place) winners on the Eastern side of the Sumo ranking of hit products for 2006.
On March 18, 2007, more than 100 transportation companies of the Tokyo region including 25 train operators which serve a population of around 30 million will introduce PASMO IC-Tickets. Introduction of PASMO will increase market share for IC-tickets and ecash in Japan - and globally.
Read more in the latest edition of our
Suica and IC-Ticket report.
IC tickets are the "Ooseki" (second place) winners on the Eastern side of the Sumo ranking of hit products for 2006.
On March 18, 2007, more than 100 transportation companies of the Tokyo region including 25 train operators which serve a population of around 30 million will introduce PASMO IC-Tickets. Introduction of PASMO will increase market share for IC-tickets and ecash in Japan - and globally.
Read more in the latest edition of our
Suica and IC-Ticket report.
Labels: ecash, felica, ic-ticket, mifare, nfc, pasmo, rfid, suica
Sunday, January 21, 2007
PASMO: IC cards for transport
On March 18, 2007, more than 100 transportation companies (26 railway companies and 75 bus companies) - moving 30 million people of the Tokyo region - will switch to the IC card ticketing and e-cash system named "PASMO". PASMO will interoperate and partially compete with SUICA.
Preparations go back more than 20 years, when Japan's national railways started research on IC cards for ticketing. SUICA IC-card tickets were introduced commercially in November 2001 at 424 JR-EAST rail stations in the Tokyo region.
Tokyo's PASMO is likely to develop into one of the world's biggest electronic payment and e-cash systems.
Preparations go back more than 20 years, when Japan's national railways started research on IC cards for ticketing. SUICA IC-card tickets were introduced commercially in November 2001 at 424 JR-EAST rail stations in the Tokyo region.
Tokyo's PASMO is likely to develop into one of the world's biggest electronic payment and e-cash systems.
Labels: felica, ic-ticket, nfc, pasmo, rfid, suica, wallet phone
