Martyn:
your description of the whole system is totally wrong.
This is not at all how it works.
> The system basically enables the wireless
> transmission of an ID number and what
> happens after that is up to whatever
> backroom system is in place.
No! Not at all! The system works totally differently!
Its a lot more complex than you think.
Understanding the whole system takes quite a bit of
effort, since it's quite complex. You can find it
explained on SONY's websites and also in our report:
http://www.eurotechnology.com/store/walletphone/
http://www.eurotechnology.com/store/suica/
(please forgive my shameless plug. Actually,
Faculty of the Harvard Business School uses our
Wallet Phone report for research and teaching, and
one of the big companies involved to my surprise
is recommending our report around the world...)
If IDG is interested in some arrangments, please
contact me offlist.
Gerhard
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Gerhard Fasol, PhD Eurotechnology Japan K. K.
fasol_at_eurotechnology.com http://www.eurotechnology.com/
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Martyn_Williams@idg.com wrote:
> Nick,
>
> Remembering that Felica is just the technology platform, I think its
> certainly more than possible. The system basically enables the wireless
> transmission of an ID number and what happens after that is up to whatever
> backroom system is in place.
>
> With Edy, I understand the units in the stores reconcile the transactions
> once a day, not in real time, so you're limited from the beginning with
> that. I'm also not sure whether times of transactions are reconciled. All
> BitWallet really cares about is that your total purchases and credits from
> the day match up and they are foregoing a certain amount of security to aid
> simplicity. It's intended as a replacement for cash after all, not for a
> credit card.
>
> But turn that system real-time and you've got tracking. I'm sure JR could
> easily do the same with Suica.
>
> It's probably not so much of a concern in Japan, where most consumers don't
> seem very bothered by what Europeans might consider technology capable of
> "big-brother"type surveillance.
>
> Regards,
>
> Martyn
>
> This mail was sent to address fasol@eurotechnology.com
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>
>
>
--
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Gerhard Fasol, PhD Eurotechnology Japan K. K.
fasol_at_eurotechnology.com http://www.eurotechnology.com/
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Received on Mon Feb 28 12:28:42 2005