FeliCa
FeliCa is a contactless RFID IC chip smart card system by Sony, primarily used in electronic money cards. The name stands for Felicity Card. First utilized in the Octopus card system in Hong Kong[1], the technology is used in a variety of cards also in countries such as Singapore and Japan.
Technology
FeliCa's encryption key is dynamically generated each time mutual authentication is performed, preventing fraud such as impersonation.
FeliCa is externally powered, i.e. it does not need a battery to operate. The card uses power supplied from the special FeliCa card reader when the card comes in range. When the data transfer is complete, the reader will stop the supply of power.
It was proposed for ISO 14443 Type C but was rejected. It currently meets ISO 18092 (Near Field Communication). It uses Manchester coding at 212kbps in the 13.56MHz range. A proximity of 10 centimeters or less is required for communication.
The UK IT security evaluation and certification scheme provides more detail as to the internal architecture of the FeliCa card.
Reliability
FeliCa supports simultaneous access of up to 8 blocks (1 block is 16 bytes). If an IC card is moved outside of the power-supplied area during the session, the FeliCa card automatically discards incomplete data to restore the previous state.
Mobile FeliCa
Mobile FeliCa is a modification of FeliCa for use in mobile phones by FeliCa Networks[1], a subsidiary company of both DoCoMo and Sony. NTT DoCoMo has developed a wallet phone concept based on mobile FeliCa and has developed a wide network of partnerships and business models. au and Vodafone Japan decided to license mobile FeliCa from FeliCa Networks.
The wallet phone developed by NTT DoCoMo, called the Osaifu Keitai, was introduced in July of 2004 and later licensed to Vodafone and au, which introduced the product under the same name. In January 28, 2006, au introduced Mobile Suica which is used primarily on the railway networks owned by JR East.
Reader/writers
Sony, the developers of FeliCa, have built in a FeliCa reader/writer known as "FeliCa Port" into their VAIO PC line. Using the device, FeliCa cards can be used over the Internet for shopping and charging FeliCa cards.
An external USB FeliCa reader/writer has been released as well and called PaSoRi. It is USB powered and allows to do online transation and top up EZ-link card in Singapore with VISA Credit cards or Debit cards anywhere with direct access to the internet.
Card usage
- Octopus cards, Hong Kong
- Shenzhen TransCard, Shenzhen, China
- Travel Card, India
- EZ-link, Singapore
- Metro Card, Bangkok, Thailand
- Japan: The system is de facto standard in Japan.
- Electronic money or mobile payment:
- Public transportation payment: (Some can be used as electronic money as well.)
- ayuca, Gifu Bus
- CI-CA, Nara Kōtsū Bus Line, NC Bus
- Hareca, Okayama Electric Tramway, Ryōbi Bus, Shimotsui Dentetsu
- ICa, Hokuriku Railroad
- IC e-card, Iyo Railway
- ICOCA, JR West
- IruCa, Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad
- Iwasaki IC Card, Iwasaki Corporation
- LuLuCa, Shizuoka Railway
- Miyakō Busca, Miyazaki Kōtsū
- Nagasaki Smart Card, 6 bus companies in Nagasaki.
- NicePass, Enshū Railway
- NicoPa, Shinki Bus
- PASMO, railways and buses in Kanto region (includes Tokyo)
- passca, Toyama Light Rail
- PiTaPa, private railways in Kansai.
- RapiCa, Kagoshima City Transportation Bureau, Nangoku Kōtsū, JR Kyūshū Bus
- Setamaru, Tōkyū Setagaya Line
- Suica, JR East
- TOICA, JR Central