Most of us don't
leave the house without checking that we have our keys, wallet and phone. But
soon our pockets may be a little lighter. New technology will let us leave
our wallets behind and pay for goods and services with our mobile phones.
But mobile-wallets
have now been available in Japan for more than six years, so it is an ideal
place to see how this technology works. Over 70 million people in Japan own
tap-and-go phones, and their use is on the rise. The country's rulers and
other vested interests have pushed
the new technology hard so a robust network is now in place.
However, despite the availability of this technology, this is still a country
that loves cash – and plastic cards, particularly the dreaded foreign visa/debit card, can be looked on askance.
So where better to
set a challenge to test this new payments set-up? Could I get from one side
of Japan to the other and survive, if not thrive, while packing no plastic or
cash, just my trusty keitai mobile?
The first test is a
taxi to the railway station. This was easy, as most of Japan's cabbies carry an e-wallet reader and
require no tip. Feeling thirsty on the platform, I'm able even to persuade one of Japan's omnipresent vending machines to cough
up a coffee using my phone. At the airport, boarding was going to be a snap
as I had downloaded an app that talked to airline ANA's Skip service,
allowing use of the phone as ticket and boarding pass. Paying for
accommodation by phone wasn't any problem either. Currently I am staying in a
more traditional part of Tokyo, where again there are far fewer places –
particularly restaurants – that will let me pay by phone.
Life in the age of
the e-wallet may be more convenient. But just don't forget to take your Smartphone
with you when you leave the house.
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VOCABULARY
1.
Vested
(adj.) - having full rights to own or have something
2.
Robust
(adj.) - strong and not likely to have problems:
3.
Dreaded
(adj.) - making you feel afraid or anxious
4.
Askance
(adv.) - you do not approve of it or think it is good
5.
Cabbie
(n) - a taxi driver
6.
Persuade
(verb) - to make someone decide to do something
7.
Omnipresent
(v) - present everywhere at all times
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1.
What do you know about e-wallet?
2.
Do you use your mobile phone as your wallet?
What services do you pay using your phone?
3.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
using mobile wallet payment system.
4.
Which do
you prefer cash, credit card or mobile wallet? Why? Why not?
5.
Talk about the features of your phone.
