Mobile iD readers to be installed into 5,500 of Tokyo’s taxi cabs

Having launched iD credit payment service in December 2005, NTT DoCoMo is expanding the service to Tokyo’s taxi cabs. Together with partners from Mitsui-Sumitomo bank and Tokyo Wireless Cab Association (TWCA), DoCoMo will provide iD reader/writer devices to around 5,500 taxi cabs in Tokyo area, members of the TWCA.

iD is an enhancement to DoCoMo’s mobile-wallet cellphones, adding the ability to make credit card purchases. Before, DoCoMo’s mobile-wallet users had to deposit money into their mobile-wallet accounts in advance to conduct micro-payment transactions such as paying transit fare or buying a soft drink from a vending machine.

Tokyo is not the only place where taxi cab drivers accept payments made by cellphones. A cab company from Kanagawa prefecture uses QUICKPay, another mobile credit card service from JCB bank. Several cab companies across the country also accept pre-paid electronic money payments via mobile-wallet cellphones, utilizing Edy or Mobile Ii Card services.

Source: ITmedia (Japanese)