1. Startup

Sony Helps Indosat Providing SIM Cards for E-Money Transaction

It seems that Sony is really serious to make Indonesia its new potential market. After sealing the partnership with Telkom for NFC-based smart card last week, the company now collaborates with Indosat to use FeliCa tech to enable e-money function on smartphones.

Within this collaboration, Sony supports Indosat’s D-Tap e-money, which will be launched this coming November. This tech is claimed to be the first smartphone e-money ever to be planted directly in the SIM card.

The partnership allows Indosat to sell FeliCa-based  SIM cards. This way, users may access the e-money service as soon as they put the SIM card into NFC-based smartphone. A standalone app will then assist users to track transactions and access balance information.

Prior partnering with Telkom, Sony had closed a collaboration with PT KAI Commuter Jabodetabek. The partnership, which was sealed last February, covers the use of card and bracelets as media of e-money transaction.

FeliCa is Sony’s technology which takes form of a special chip that is installed on devices. To accelerate its global expansion, Sony attempts to integrate the tech with SIM cards so that the company may improve the production process.