
Boardwalk to launch NFC in Japan
Japanese entertainment ticketing agencyBoardwalk, whose shareholders include mobile network operator NTT Docomo, has announced plans to upgrade its system to support NFC. The company already offers customers the option to store tickets in their Osaifu-Keitai mobile wallets. The move to NFC, says the company, will enable it to expand internationally.
Boardwalk Inc. (Head office: Shibuya, Tokyo; President and CEO: Akira Ichikawa) will begin Near Field Communication (NFC) research and development of ticket-related applications.
NFC is global standard for short distance wireless communication prescribed by International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which allows multi-faceted services compatible with the FeliCa, a contactless IC card technology widely used in Japan, and the Type A/B, prevailing technology in Europe and the U.S. By adopting this international NFC standard, it is possible to implement mobile payment services within global reach.
As a new ticket service for the entertainment business, Boardwalk provides “ticket board,” a mobile ticketing service. “ticket board” utilizes the Osaifu-Keitai (“mobile wallet” using the FeliCa technology) feature that turns the mobile phone itself into paperless ticket, and QR code for users who don’t have the Osaifu -Keitai-enabled phone. Following introduction of the service in Japan, Boardwalk believes that NFC compatibility is necessary for future core technology of ticket board in order to implement mobile ticketing service in overseas.
NFC implementation will improve usability of ticket board service overseas.
Moreover, with this research and development, Boardwalk will be able to receive the following specific support from its investor, NTT DOCOMO, INC.
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