| quantum-x |
02-02-2009 02:12 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by LiveDose
(Post 15423057)
Call a certain number from your phone and you get billed. It's very common. You can even use it to get drinks out of vending machines. Call the number on the machine and your drink drops out. Pretty cool stuff.
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It's even more advanced than that, they use RFID tech, so you can just swipe your phone.
Quote:
Contactless RFID cards have been widespread in Japan for years now. It was started by the train companies, but now you can use them in buses, convenience stores, vending machines and some eateries.
They are easy to use and reliable. The RFID part requires no power source apart from the reader's field. You just wave the card over the reader (you can leave it in your wallet) and it just works.
The system works by you storing money "on" the card (actually on a server). People buy and recharge cards from vending machines at train stations. The classic model is just like cash... lose the card and the money is gone.
You can now register a card in your name and have it cancelled if lost/stolen, and get any remaining balance back.
Most people, however, now have the RFID function embedded in their credit card or phone. They still work as stored value cards... when the balance drops below a threshold it is topped up automatically from your credit card (typically by around $30). Nothing is charged to your phone bill, as has been erroneously suggested.
The security on the Sony Felica cards used in Japan is basically built on 3DES secret keys. Yes, you can conceivably build a reader and mine data like balances and the last 5 transactions while walking around the room. Adding and subtracting money is hard. While probably possible (I'm thinking side channels or implementation bugs), you will leave a trail due to discrepancies with server records. Enough to quickly mark the card as compromised and flag the next use as "call the cops".
Overall, these devices are a huge win. They get rid of the need to carry pocket change. They reduce transaction costs for retailers. They are safer than cash. You still have anonymity if you want it (the Japanese still believe in civil rights).
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Source: http://mobile.slashdot.org/article.p.../01/26/0526248
I've got my Hong Kong 'Octopus' card - RFID metro card, which you can use pretty much everywhere too. It's great to roll into a 7/11, and instead of fumbling for change to buy some gum, you swipe and roll.
This is opposed to RFID credit cards, which are just an accident waiting to happen [IE, huge value cards, and your bank account, vs low value cards] |
