HispanicBusiness

System Design Co., a computer device developer in this central Japan city, has developed a device that allows the iPhone smartphone to make electronic payments.

Payment can be completed by holding the iPhone over System Design's ultrasonic receiver-transmitter, with details such as the cash amount displayed on the iPhone screen, officials of the Japanese firm said.

The iPhone of Apple Inc. of the United States has no noncontact electronic money payment system such as the "Osaifu-Keitai," or mobile wallet, that is increasingly used in Japan at such outlets as convenience stores.

The new device uses the iPhone's microphone and speaker for ultrasonic data communication. Special application software ensures safety of the system.

System Design President Mitsuhiro Iida said that "this is the first time in the world that the technology has been put into practical use."

The company plans to urge KDDI Corp. and Softbank Corp. , which sell iPhones, to adopt the new device.

The receiver-transmitter could also be applied to "smart appliances" such as refrigerators, for optimization in power consumption, according System Design.

Iida said that he hopes ultrasonic data communication will become widely used technology for the iPhone.END