Finance:Waon
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Waon (ワオン) is a Japanese electronic money system introduced by ÆON in April 2007. It is a rechargeable contactless smart card. Like many other smart card systems in Japan, it uses RFID technology developed by Sony known as FeliCa. Its name comes from waon (和音), meaning chord.[1][2] The card's official mascot is a white dog.[1] The card reader makes a "waon" sound upon successful transaction, a Japanese onomatopoeia for dog barks.[1]
Unlike the nanaco card issued by Seven & I Holdings, the basic Waon card can be purchased without any registrations. Like other FeliCa-based systems, Waon has a mobile payment system, known as Mobile Waon.
Types of cards
- Waon Card: A basic prepaid card that does not require registration.
- Waon Card Plus: A card for ÆON Card holders. Accepts postpay as well.
- ÆON Card (Waon Card integrated): A credit card.
Waon Card is issued by ÆON, while other two cards are issued by AEON Credit Service.[1]
Usable stores
As of September 2007:
- 130 stores in Kantō region, Yamanashi, and Niigata
- AEON Shopping Center
- AEON Supercenter
- AEON Tower Pharmacy
- Carrefour
- Diamond City
- JUSCO
- Karadalab
- Kids Kyōwakoku
- Marinpia
- MaxValu
- Mega Mart
- Ministop
- My Basket
- MYCAL (Saty and Vivre)
Within 2008:
- 23,000 stores of AEON Group in all Japan[1]
In Kantō region, AEON Group stores accept Suica, iD, and PASMO as well.[2] For other regions, they plan to accept other cards such as ICOCA or TOICA.
All JAL Mileage Bank cards issued in Japan built-in with Waon. However, JAL Mileage Bank cards issued overseas does not feature this function.
See also
- List of smart cards
- Electronic money
- Edy
- nanaco
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Tsuda, Hiromu (4 April 2007). "イオン、非接触ICを使った電子マネー「WAON」導入" (in ja). Impress Watch. https://k-tai.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/33939.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "イオンから電子マネー「WAON(ワオン)」が生まれます" (in ja). AEON. 3 April 2007. https://www.aeonfinancial.co.jp/-/media/AeonGroup/Aeonfinancial/Files/news/2007/news070403.pdf.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
