Handheld RFID readers

Japan – McDonald’s now lets Japanese customers pay for their Big Macs and Happy Meals with their mobile phones.

McDonald’s Japan has announced the deployment of its e-wallet coupon and payment system using Felica and NTT DoComo RFID readers. The development of the system took nearly a year.

Under the Kazasu Kuupon (no contact coupon) program, DoCoMo subscribers can register on McDonald’s Japan’s mobile Web site. Upon receipt of the digital vouchers on their mobile phones, subscribers can then redeem their vouchers at the RFID reader placed at McDonalds counters. The McDonald's tally will show up on the clients’ next DoCoMo phone bill.

Another way customers can pay for food orders via their mobile phones is through DoCoMo’s mobile e-wallet system “iD”.

The technology is being tested in 175 McDonald’s stores in Japan, and is projected to reach 3,800 stores by 2009.