McDonalds by Mobile - Japan's RFID Contactless Coupon Program (GALLERY)

McDonald’s Japan has started an innovative new Contactless Coupon loyalty and payment program that has been under development for nearly a year. The program started with 175 stores and will expand gradually to all of Japan’s 3,800 stores by 2009.

The mechanism utilizes Felica RFID technology found in Japanese phones to allow customers to choose their meals, redeem coupons, and pay with their mobile phones. While this is not the first RFID system, the McDonald’s program is the first with such a broad selection and stores.

In order to use it, customers must download an application to their phones and register via mobile web. Transaction can then be performed by placing the phone near the RFID reader at the register.