NEC, Suntory, Kirin Eye Vending Machines That Take Multiple Forms of E-money

Posted by Bill Belew on April 18th, 2010 in Japanese Products | Comments Off

NEC, Suntory, and Kirin are eyeing vending machines that take multiple forms of E-money.

Some 10 other firms are in on the plan as well.

By next year the group wants to deploy the beginning of 500,000 vending machines that will have an e-money reader that can accept up to eight kinds of e-money including Suica, Edy, and iD.

Coca-Cola can accept e-money but no one company can handle all e-money types.

NEC will process payments.

With e-money, there is no need to collect coins and the risk of theft is reduced.

E-money will also be able to keep track of buyer's age and gender.

The 12 Japan Automatic Merchandising Association (JAMA) members own and operated about 1.3 million vending machines, half of the total in Japan.

Each year Japan sells Y2.5 trillion worth of soft drinks via vending machines.

Sanden Corp will make the new e-money vending machines. 

 

 


 

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