Travel by Keitai

[Mulboyne]

"Suica Sisters"
AFP via Yahoo: NTT DoCoMo, East Japan Railway to launch hi-tech train pass
DoCoMo, Japan's top mobile phone carrier, said it and JR East will launch a hi-tech handset service designed to allow hassle-free train rides from January 2006. The new service called 'Mobile Suica' will be backed by Sony's chipmaking technology and combine DoCoMo's i-mode FeliCa smart-card handset and Suica, JR East's IC-based train pass. Mobile Suica will be used initially in the Tokyo metoropolitan area, enabling customers to recharge stored fares and purchase commuter passes anytime and anywhere. The user can check the balance of stored fare on the screen of the handset.
FG Thread: Touch 'n' go bank card
FG Thread: Suica Card Diet

[IkemenTommy]

Has anyone signed up for this since it took off?

I thought about signing up for this mobile phone touch 'n go service, but then there is the catch.. you have to sign up for the View Suica credit card. Fine, but signing up for anything here is a huge pain in the ass and I've noticed that credit card companies love to deny gaijins without offering a good solid reason (besides assuming that all f'ed gaijins are delinquent on payments). Anyone currently use this?

[omae mona]

I've been using this since earlier this year, and I'm surprised that it hasn't caught on more (penetration is very low, apparently due to security concerns which don't bother me). The JR "View" credit card is very definitely NOT required. There are two services:

EASY Mobile Suica: usable for regular train fares. Can be charged via bank transfer online if you have a Mizuho, Mitsui Sumitomo, or Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ account. Can be charged with cash at the cash register of NEWDAYS kiosks, FamilyMart, Ministop, and some Aeon stores.

Mobile Suica: same as EASY Mobile Suica but also can charge via credit card (from your phone or from the internet). Can be used as Teikiken (train pass), can reserve green car tickets, and can be replaced if lost. I have this hooked up to my US-issued American Express and it worked perfectly. It was actually very easy since I already had my credit card registered on my Eki-Net account for web-based transactions, and they let you tie your Mobile Suica and Eki-Net accounts together.

This is even more useful this year since the Suica IC works alongside Pasmo, so I can swipe my phone to pay fare for virtually all trains and buses in Tokyo now.


I also just turned on Edy electronic cash in my phone, which I've been using on konbini visits for quick payment at the register (when I'm going back for my 4th or 5th can of happoshu I'm usually in no condition to pull the right bills out of my wallet, so this is a great help).

Nobody else using these osaifu-keitai services?

[GomiGirl]

Nobody else using these osaifu-keitai services?

Me - but then I am the keitai geek girl.

[omae mona]

Me - but then I am the keitai geek girl.

I am so happy! Mrs. Omae Mona rolls her eyeballs and tells me I am a geek every time I wave the phone at an IC reader. Can't wait to tell her I'm not the only one