Osaifu keitai, which is Japan’s system for charging compatible 3G phones with Yen currency that can be used in shops across the country, has been around for a while. And so has Lawson, which is one of Japan’s most successful convenience stores. (There are three Lawson conbinis within walking distance of this Pocket Picker’s Kyoto home; it’s the McDonald’s of Japanese corner shops.)
Put the two phenomena together, introduce them to NTT’s new iD service (a variation of osaifu keitai that can turn your phone into a credit card), and you get the Lawson Pass. It’s a system designed specifically for regular Lawson customers (although eccentric Lawson customers can also sign up for it) and it enables shoppers to pay for items via their NTT phones with a phone-embedded VISA. The Japanese revolution in sarnie and newspaper buying is set for March 9th.
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