JCB to Launch Offica Watch with Casio

Twenty-five JCB employees will use the Offica Watch instead of the current Offica card to access the JCB tower in central Tokyo, make purchases at company restaurants and stores, and carry out a variety of administrative functions. The introduction of a wristwatch-based solution incorporating a suite of contactless chip functions is a first for Japan, and follows the trial of JCBs innovative Mobile Offica. Mobile Offica is a mobile phone based corporate solution through mobile phones in cooperation with NTT DoCoMo at the beginning of this year. Both Mobile Offica and the new Offica Watch utilize Sonys FeliCa contactless interface chip. The corporate environment, with a limited range of equipment and infrastructure, allows for faster, easier implementation of chip-based information and payment technology in media such as Mobile Offica and Offica Watch. JCB is committed to developing solutions that provide superior functionality via the most suitable media - conventional plastic cards, mobile phones, key chains or PDAs. JCBs Offica solution offers corporations a diverse and flexible menu of functions including access control, network authentication, employee identification and attendance tracking, and cashless purchasing at the office. A major advance over conventional, prepaid applications, Officas postpay function links to the employees own JCB brand credit card.