NEC launches portable terminal for electronic money payment

NEC Corporation announced today the launch of a new portable terminal for electronic money payment, the "Multi-Service Terminal / Portable," which enables retailers to conveniently expand the availability of electronic money payment.

This new portable terminal supports a broad range of electronic money and credit card payment methods, including the NFC international standard for next generation contactless IC cards. NEC aims to provide this portable terminal to markets throughout the world by capitalizing on its broad support for a wide variety of different payment systems.

Currently, Japan's mainstream contactless IC card communications standard is represented by FeliCa(R), while International markets have largely adopted the ISO 14443 Type A and Type B standards.

NEC's new portable terminal, equipped with an NFC reader/writer, supports all 3 of these standards, which enables it to support both international electronic money, such as MasterCard PayPass and Visa payWave, as well existing FeliCa services.

The use of electronic money in Japan is currently undergoing rapid expansion and the need for payment devices is continually increasing, particularly within the retail, food service and events industries. NEC provides for these various needs with terminals that enable the use of electronic money throughout a broad range of locations. Furthermore, NEC will expand this business to overseas markets where electronic payment is advancing with Type A and Type B standards.

Features of the Multi-Service Terminal / Portable are as follows:

• Supports Electronic Money Payment Services Anywhere
Mobile communications modules and compact printers that are equipped with these portable payment terminals enable merchants to easily support and provide electronic money payment at events and locations where it is difficult and inconvenient for conventional stationary payment devices to provide support.

• NFC Compatible
In addition to the mainstream Type A and Type B international cards, the new portable payment terminal also supports FeliCa.

• Supports a Variety of Electronic Money
Support various electronic money services through NEC's Marketing & Payment Platform Service (MaPS), which is provided to leading convenience stores, movie rental chains, electronics retailers and others.

• Supports Credit Card Payment
Equipped with a magnetic card reader that enables magnetic credit card payment in addition to contactless IC card payment.
Shipments of the new portable terminal for electronic money payment are slated to begin in July 2011.

NEC will exhibit the Multi-Service Terminal/Portable at RETAILTECH JAPAN 2011 from March 8-11 at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center (Tokyo Big Sight).