KDDI and 5 firms to launch Japan’s largest mobile commerce test

TOKYO—KDDI Corp. and five other firms will jointly perform Japan’s largest field test for mobile commerce in November. Unlike other conventional mobile commerce services, their system will provide settlement services via a virtual bank account. These firms are planning to launch commercial service in the second half of next year and anticipate a subscriber base of 5 million within three years.
Participants in the field test are Itochu Techno Science Corp., IcePay Japan Corp., eBank Corp., Woori Technology, and Proseed Corp.
Itochu Techno Science Corp. is an IT (information technology) business unit of Itochu Corp., and Woori Technology is a Korean-based software developer. Woori Technology developed the encryption algorithm being used for the system.
KDDI mobile handset users can make payments for their shopping at either virtual or real stores with their KDDI mobile handsets by connecting to “icePay Module,” a module based on the Woori’s encryption algorithm.
During the field test period between November 2001 and January 2002, a total of 10,000 users will shop and make payments using the system. Seventeen content providers or service providers plan to participate to the test.