Next-generation telephone card "contactless IC telephone card" - Payphone system featuring improved security

The Payphone Service Division of NTT EAST and NTT WEST developed in March o f last year the world's first payphone system using contactless IC cards as the next-generation telephone card to replace conventional magnetic teleph one cards, and started service in the Tokyo and Osaka areas. Compared with conventional magnetic telephone cards, IC telephone cards feature improved security, while at the same time having the potential to support the develo pment of new types of services in the future. This article overviews the IC card payphone system.