Mobile Suica: 20,000 subscribers in one week

Credit: k-tai.impress.co.jp

According to Japan's train operator JR East, 20,000 train commuters subscribed for Mobile Suica service just in one week after the service was first launched in January 28 (before Mobile Suica there were Suica contactless payment cards). Offered by NTT DoCoMo, Mobile Suica allows Tokyo commuters to board trains by waving their phones over a sensor in turnstiles. The ability to pay for the subway ride by cellphone is one of the examples of the mobile wallet concept.

The concept of the mobile wallet is clearly defined by DoCoMo, which relies on this service as a potential booster for its revenues. The service is intended to replace not only money, but other items that usually reside in a wallet such as tickets and identification cards as well.

Meanwhile, in the U.S. Motorola is planning to market it's "M-Wallet" service, which allows shoppers to purchase products by waving their cell phone with an embedded chip over scanners at cash registers.