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Takamatsu Shopping Mall Trials Nortel Wireless Technology for Smart Card Use
Takamatsu Shopping Mall Trials Nortel Wireless Technology for Smart Card Use.
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[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\n\nWireless Mesh Provides Cost Effective Solution at Japan's Longest Covered\nShopping Arcade\n\nTOKYO, Oct. 2 /CNW/ - Takamatsu City Shopping Arcade, the longest covered\nshopping mall in Japan, is trialing Nortel(x) (NYSE/TSX: NT) wireless broadband\ntechnology to provide mobile Internet access, VoIP and smart card transactions\nfor businesses and customers.\nNortel's Wireless Mesh Network will enable instant transfer of\ntransaction data for the new IruCa smart card - a fare collection system for\nthe Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad (KOTODEN) that can also be used for\nshopping as well as for bus and train travel. The Nortel solution will also\nprovide high-speed wireless Internet access and VoIP services in the 2.7-km,\n800-business arcade for wireless-enabled laptops and other communications\ndevices such as PDAs. Nortel is working with channel partner NextCom in\ndeploying and integrating the system for the Takamatsu trial.\n\"The use of smart cards for transport and shopping is a growing trend in\nJapan as the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) begins looking at\nwidespread adoption of the technology for a broad range of commercial and\ne-government services such as drivers' licenses and passports,\" said Nick\nVreugdenhil, president, Japan, Nortel. \"Takamatsu City Shopping Arcade\nselected Nortel's broadband wireless technology for this trial because\nwireless mesh coverage offers a cost-effective alternative to wireline\ninfrastructure for transfer of IruCa card transaction data from the card\nreaders in shops to the smart card's central settlement system.\"\nThe Takamatsu wireless mesh trial is a key component in a national\n\"Digital Community Demonstration Experiment\" project driven by METI to\ncontinue Japan's transformation into the world's most advanced IT nation. METI\nexpects the Takamatsu City trial to help demonstrate how digitization can\nenhance convenience of shopping and traveling within the city, and help\nrevitalize the economy of the Kagawa prefecture region bordering the Seto\nInland Sea.\nThe Digital Community Demonstration Experiment for 2006 is being managed\nby Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation (NTT West) and will be\nfeatured at the Platform Business Area of the CEATEC JAPAN 2006 industry\nshowcase and exhibition held 3-7 October at Tokyo's Makuhari Messe.\n...