StarHub Signs MOU for Osaifu-Keitai
Singaporean telecommunications service provider StarHub plans to release a mobile wallet based on NTT DoCoMo’s Osaifu-Keitai (mobile wallet) system. Accoring to this announcement StarHub has signed a memorandum of understanding with NTT DoCoMo to explore a mobile wallet concept similar to the Osaifu-Keitai system for a near future implementation in Singapore. Singapore will be the first market outside of Japan to launch an official study and eventual pilot of this service.
In Singapore, StarHub recently completed an near field communication (NFC) trial with EZ-link which involved 1,000 participants. During the trial, participants could pay for public transport utilising NFC-enabled mobile phones, check balances and download information from smart posters. StarHub is in talks with EZ-link to explore the integration of the EX-Link purse in the mobile wallet service. The EZ-Link purse is a contactless chip with a prepaid function that is able to transact payments at over 20,00 readers and terminals on Singapore’s public transport and at retail locations such as McDonalds restaurants and 7-Eleven stores across Singapore.
DoCoMo launched Osaifu-Keitai trials here in late 2003 and introduced the service in July 2004.