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JCB to Launch Wireless 'Mobile Offica' Corporate Solution
For Immediate Release
Tokyo, June 18 2004 - JCB, a leading international credit card
brand, has announced that it will formally launch Mobile Offica,
its wireless corporate solution, in the fall of this year. The commercialization
of Mobile Offica, which incorporates a broad range of OfficaTM administrative
functions into a wireless handset, follows a successful eight-month
site trial, run in association with NTT DoCoMo’s “i-mode®
FeliCa® Preview Service”, which concludes in July.
“At this stage, we are focusing on the pursuit of convenience
and user-friendliness in terms of usability of Mobile Offica. However,
in the future, with the experience and expertise acquired during
the preview and the rollout, we can look into providing further
unique and unconventional solutions, utilizing the advantages of
mobile phone features”, said Mr. Go Masaki, Assistant Vice
President of Advanced Technologies at JCB.
JCB's Offica solution is designed to meet the increasing administrative
and security needs of corporations with advanced employee convenience
and usability. Built around Sony's FeliCa contactless IC chip technology,
Offica includes a suite of functions including employee identification,
office and network access, and cashless payment. Mobile Offica is
the latest in a line of customer applications, and will mark the
first time that mobile phones incorporating a contactless chip enabling
credit card payment will be available in Japan.
“The advantage in utilizing the mobile phone lies in the
fact that it can show information on a handset display, and can
send and receive data quickly. Combining these features with payment
functionality, we can create new, higher value services. Payment
with the mobile phone is a practical and convenient alternative,
and is fun and entertaining, as well”, Masaki added.
Advanced postpay functionality is provided by linking to the employee’s
own credit card account, eliminating the need to carry cash, and
allowing the employee to earn loyalty points or mileage for spending
in company restaurants or stores. Mobile Offica also enables users
with i-mode capable phones to monitor outstanding credit card balances
and view detailed transaction histories, and users may be able to
request increases in their credit limits on-line.
JCB is committed to taking advantage of the latest chip and information
technology to provide corporations a ‘best fit’ solution
in functionality and media, whether in the form of plastic card,
key chain token, PDA, wristwatch or mobile phone, while employees
enjoy greater convenience and personalization. JCB Corporate Solutions
offer a technical edge that complements its expertise in domestic
and international payment systems.
NTT DoCoMo, the world's leading mobile communications company,
will itself be releasing i-mode FeliCa Service for mobile wallet
applications, including train pass and e-money, on four i-mode smart-card
handset models, in early July.
Offica is a trademark of JCB Co., Ltd. i-mode is a registered trademark of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and other countries.
FeliCa is a contactless IC chip technology developed by Sony Corporation
and a registered trademark of Sony Corporation.
About NTT DoCoMo, Inc
NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications company,
with more than 48 million customers. The company provides a wide
variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia services. These include
i-mode®, the world's most popular mobile internet service, which
provides e-mail and internet access to over 41 million subscribers,
and FOMA®, launched in 2001 as the world's first 3G mobile service
based on W-CDMA. In addition to wholly owned subsidiaries in Europe
and North America, the company is expanding its global reach through
strategic alliances with mobile and multimedia service providers
in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. NTT DoCoMo is listed
on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM), and New York (DCM) stock exchanges.
For more information, visit www.nttdocomo.com
About JCB Co., Ltd.
JCB is an international credit card brand and the largest card issuer
and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in
1961 and began expanding overseas in 1981. Its merchant network
includes 11.4 million merchants and spans 189 countries and territories.
JCB cards are now issued in 18 countries and territories, with 49.6
million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy,
JCB has formed alliances with more than 320 leading banks and financial
institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and cardmember base.
JCB's corporate philosophy of "Service from the heart",
a commitment to responsive and high-quality service, continues to
guide it as it creates the future together with its customers, merchants
and partners. For further information, please visit the JCB Co.
Ltd. home page at :
www.jcb-global.com/english
or www.jcbinternational.com ¡¡
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