Japan Communications Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "JCI") is developing technology to support NFC contactless authentication using FPoS. JCI is pleased to announce that on September 17, 2025, JCI conducted a proof-of-concept of NFC contactless payment using FPoS at stores (JINS and Everypan) within JINS PARK Maebashi.
This proof-of-concept marks an important milestone toward the commercialization of NFC contactless payment using FPoS.

Background
FPoS is a system that uses a customer’s own smartphone (iPhone and Android) (hereinafter referred to as "smartphone") to authenticate the customer using the following method.

1. 1）Verifies customer’s identity by using the private key and digital certificate stored in the IC chip of My Number Card (the Public Personal Authentication Service: JPKI) when installing FPoS on the smartphone.
2. 2）A digital certification authority accredited under the Digital Signature Act generates a private key within a secure area built into the smartphone and issues a digital certificate.
3. 3）The combination of the public key and private key recorded in the digital certificate authenticates the customer (that the customer is who they say they are) and ensures authenticity (that the customer's intention has not been tampered with).

“Mebuku Pay”, the electronic local currency of Maebashi city in Gunma Prefecture, is making the most of FPoS's reliable identity verification and person authentication. Currently, “Mebuku Pay” supports a secure QR code payment service that uses FPoS, but in the future, JCI aims to support an even more convenient NFC contactless payment service.

JCI has been working to create a reliable authentication and payment system in which customers and stores exchange digital certificates via NFC communication, and signature verification is performed on the FPoS authentication server via the payment server.

Overview and Results of the Proof-of-Concept
In this proof-of-concept, JCI used an Android smartphone to confirm the speed that customers experience for the entire process of NFC contactless payment (round trip between smartphone, store terminal, payment server, and FPoS authentication server) during actual in-store purchases.

With the cooperation of JINS PARK Maebashi, Everypan, Mebuku Ground Inc., and FeliCa Networks Inc., JCI replaced QR code payments for Mebuku Pay, the electronic local currency of Maebashi City in Gunma Prefecture, with experimental NFC payments at stores within JINS PARK Maebashi (JINS and Every Pan), and had customers purchase products using NFC contactless payment utilizing FPoS.

As a result, both customers and retailers agreed that the payment processing speed was satisfactory, not only for small-value payments (completed with just a touch of a smartphone) but also for large-value payments (with signature verification by FPoS authentication server). This confirmed its practical viability.

Matsuda Shinichiro, Managing Executive Officer of JINS HOLDINGS Inc., commented:
“FPoS supporting NFC enables small stores to accept contactless payment using only their smartphones and allows large stores to link POS system with minimal modifications. JINS actively supports these initiatives and hopes to enhance our customers' experience while contributing to the local economy.” Future Outlook
In the next phase, we will continue the operation check and verification on NFC reader device of POS register and develop toward commercialization. At the time of commercialization, NFC function is scheduled to be implemented in FPoS Library (“Digital Ninsho Module”).

JCI will continue to pursue its mission of "carrying bit in safety and security" and will contribute to society through its services and products, aiming to build a sustainable digital society and enhance its corporate value.

About Japan Communications Inc. (JCI)
Japan Communications Inc. (JCI), founded in 1996, is a pioneer who created the MVNO market and has brought innovation to the telecommunications industry. While JCI has established a stable profit model in their main business, simple and rational mobile communication services, JCI is aiming for further growth. JCI has strengths in patented technologies such as the mobile leased line "Closed SIM-to-SIM Communication" and the digital authentication technology "FPoS," and is focusing on providing mobile communication services and digital authentication infrastructure based on the authentication technology. The PCI DSS-certified mobile leased line is adopted by high-security sectors, such as police and bank. The FPoS supports security at the highest global standards and convenience. Under the mission of "carrying bit in safety and security," JCI is aiming for developing social infrastructure such as secure mobile environment beyond national borders and is working on sustainable growth and improving corporate value.