FeliCa NFC technology confirmed for Apple Pay in Japan

Apple Pay Japan
LUCKY SEVEN: Sony FeliCa NFC technology will be fitted to the iPhone 7 for its Japan launch

Apple has confirmed that its new flagship smartphones — the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus — and the second generation Apple Watch will be equipped with Sony FeliCa NFC technology. The move will allow for Apple Pay transactions in-store, in-app and online as well as for transport when the payment service makes its launch in Japan in October 2016.

“iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and Apple Watch Series 2 sold in Japan will support FeliCa Type-F NFC contactless technology, which is used every day for more than 160 million transactions across Japan,” the company has confirmed.

Apple Pay will be supported by “many of the most popular” Japanese credit and prepaid cards issued by AEON, Credit Saison, JCB, Mitsubishi UFJ Nicos, Orient Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Card, Toyota Finance, UC Cards and View Card, representing “more than three-quarters of all credit card spending” in Japan.

Mobile network operators KDDI, NTT Docomo and Softbank will also support the service, along with payment networks American Express, Mastercard, iD and QuicPay.

“Users can commute and pay for everyday items with Suica from JR East, and make convenient and private credit and prepaid card purchases in stores, apps and on the web with a single touch,” Apple says.

Travel

“Apple is also introducing support for transit in Japan with Maps in iOS 10, so commuters can easily find ride details, including fare breakdowns that automatically show Suica pricing right on their device, making their commute more seamless and simpler than ever.

“Apple Pay is accepted anywhere Suica is available, so users can make quick everyday purchases and buy or reload a Suica card or commuter pass, all with their iPhone.”

“Beginning in October, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and Apple Watch Series 2 users will be able to make purchases in stores anywhere Suica, iD or QUICPay is accepted, encompassing nearly two-thirds of all transactions at Japan’s largest merchants,” Apple adds.

“In addition to Apple Stores in Japan, leading retailers that will accept Apple Pay include convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Circle K, Family Mart, Lawson, Ministop and Sunkus, supermarkets such as AEON, Apita and Piago, gas stations including ENEOS and Esso Mobil General, retailers like BicCamera, Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Uniqlo, and favorite local brands such as JapanTaxi and Sukiya.”

FeliCa

“You may know that in Japan there’s a different version of NFC called FeliCa,” Apple’s senior vice president Phil Schiller told attendees during the annual iPhone event, where the company unveiled its most recent flagship devices.

“So, for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus that we’re bringing to Japan, we’re including FeliCa technology. Apple Watch Series 2 will also include FeliCa technology. With that in place, we can roll out Apple Pay in Japan and we’re going to do that in October.

“At the same time, the Apple Maps team is going to roll out transit in Japan. That’s the perfect fit — transit in maps, the ability to figure out what it’s going to cost to get on your route and to be able to pay it automatically with your Apple Watch or your iPhone.”

“In the US, merchants tell us that over 90% of wireless transactions and contactless payment are now made with Apple Pay— it is a huge hit,” Schiller added. “With the advances with iOS 10, it gets even easier to keep all your credit cards and loyalty cards safely in your Apple Wallet on your iPhone.

“We’re trying to bring it around the world as quick as we can and the team are launching new countries this fall.”

Reports that Apple was planning to launch an iPhone in Japan equipped with FeliCa technology surfaced last month. FeliCa Networks, the joint venture between Sony and Japanese carrier NTT Docomo, has been working for several years to deliver mobile phone chipsets that support both its highly successful FeliCa-based Osaifu-Keitai mobile wallet service and international NFC payments services.

In 2012, the company partnered with Samsung and NXP to develop solutions allowing phones to work with both EMV services and Osaifu-Keitai.

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3 comments on this article

  1. While it’s nice Apple Pay now supports FeliCa, Apple Pay also need to support Hong Kong Octopus card network so it gives more reason for Hong Kong Octopus cardholders to have an iPhone or Apple Watch. In addition, Apple bring the same FeliCa NFC technology to Hong Kong iPhones and need to work with various transport operators such as MTR, KMB, CityBus and NFWB.

  2. Huge problem with this — only iphones 7/7plus and apple watch series 2 bought in Japan will work… any traveling tourist that has been used to using apple pay back home wont be able to use it…

    Maybe they can fix this by the 2020 olympics, otherwise there are going to be many confusing travellers…

    1. If the smart card operators of Suica, PASMO, nanaco, ICOCA, PiTaPa, and others can support the standard NFC used worldwide alongside with FeliCa like Hong Kong Octopus, then it’s easier for tourists and locals to use their devices with NFC, FeliCa, or both to pay for transit rides, meals, groceries, event tickets, etc.

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