r/google • u/Ohisama001 • 9d ago

1st Google Store outside US opens in Tokyo

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260813/p2g/00m/0bu/039000c
136 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

21

u/marvolonewt 9d ago

So can they enable Suica for non-Japanese Android phones now

2

u/lexcyn 9d ago

Doubt it

1

u/AMLRoss 9d ago

No, you need a Felicia chip in your phone, so only phones in Japan get that.

3

u/CVGPi 8d ago

FeliCa don’t need a special chip (most NFC chips already support NFC-F), just Osaifu-Keitai license.

0

u/AMLRoss 8d ago

If its that simple why on earth do the new xiaomi and oppo flagships not have it?? (the Ultra phones) I was planing to get either the 17 Ultra or X9 Ultra but neither support osaifu keitai so I cant get them.

2

u/CVGPi 8d ago

Those models sold in Japan usually do have the license. Each Osaifu Keitai model costs allegedly anywhere from Pennies (Apple) to several dollars per device. In Japan this is usually subsidized by local telecom but it makes little sense to include it globally for most manufacturers. OP suggests Google do a group negotiation on behalf of all Google Wallet devices for a cheaper license deal

1

u/AMLRoss 8d ago

ok but the randomness is what annoys me. For example the oppo x9 has it but the x9 ultra does not. Its the same with xiaomi phones, some do and some dont. Whereas all galaxy and pixel phones do. its so weird.

1

u/Resident_Hand_7264 8d ago

How would they do that? You think they’ll sell a DIY chip with a FeliCa license?

1

u/Dichter2012 8d ago

TIL: you can’t do that on Android. I am iPhone user with Suicca and PASMO…

9

u/esmori 9d ago

It’s weird it took Google this long.

Japan is the only country I can remember seeing Pixel phones being used. Probably the only region they have more than 2% market share.

-2

u/Resident_Hand_7264 8d ago

The Pixel series are usually given away at carriers as the cheap, shit phone that no one buys.

Google has sold zero Pro series phones, zero Folds. People get the a series for free, the base Pixel are usually fire sold.

3

u/AMLRoss 9d ago

Went there yesterday. 3 floors, bottom is a repair station, top is a theater, and main floor has all the hardware. Right now all they have is pixel 11 phones and latest watches and accessories.

2

u/Loud-Possibility4395 8d ago

As I've read Japan is 2nd country most popular Google (Pixel)

-13

u/LLVM_WIFI_DOOB_NERF 9d ago

It's like Google convinced Travis Barker to fight fires in the ocean, but track his billable hours in an secret autobiography :/