Edy

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Edy provided by bitWallet, Inc. in Japan is a prepaid rechargeable contactless smart card. It uses Sony's FeliCa technology, also used by the competing Suica cards by JR East. While both cards can be used at participating stores, vending machines, and websites, Edy has been losing in popularity to Suica, which is the only contactless card that works with JR's ticket gates. While the name derives from euro, dollar, and yen, it works with yen only.

On April 18, 2006, Intel announced a five billion yen (approx. 45 million USD, or 35 million euros as of May 20, 2006) investment in bitWallet, aimed at further developing the technology for PC-based electronic money settlements.

[edit] Mobile phones

Edy can be used on Osaifu Keitai brand cellphones. Makers of these phones include au and SoftBank Mobile. The phones can be used physically like an Edy card, and online Edy features can be accessed from the phones as well, such as the ability to charge an Edy account.

[edit] Stores

The following stores are some of the stores that support Edy in Japan.

• am/pm (all stores in Japan)
• Circle K Sunkus (all stores in Japan)
• Daimaru Peacock (all stores in Japan)
• FamilyMart (Okinawa only; stores in the Kanto region accept Suica)
• Poplar (all stores in Japan)
• Yodobashi Camera (all stores in Japan)

[edit] External links

• Edy official homepage
  • A full list of stores that accept Edy
• Guide on using Edy