Wallet Phones

Cell phones that allow users to pay for their shopping just by holding them over a reader at the cash register, aptly nicknamed o-saifu keitai (wallet cell phones), went on the market in July 2004. Sold by NTT DoCoMo, the phones contain a noncontact IC chip called FeliCa developed by Sony Corp. Aside from functioning as electronic money, the versatile new phones are capable of replacing credit cards, membership cards, reward cards, and even the keys to the office or home.