: VOD by So-Net

So-Net is Sony's ISP service (Sony Network or something like that) and they will soon put a VOD or Video On Demand box on the market that will offer HDTV or SDTV braodcasts. The interesting aspect is that you can make secure payments in real time! And you don't have to take out your VISA card, you just put your Felica card (electronic wallet) on top of the device (this system is very practical, I use it quite often here in Japan, and in Hong-Kong it has been in use for ages under the Occtopus name, and it's based on a Sony technology). The box needs to be connected to the Internet and you have to go online via the SO-NET ISP service (so cool for Totoro and myself). An excellent idea in my opinion, and it might bring the barriers down for this service as not everybody is keen on providing their VISA number on the net or not everybody is knowledgeable on purchasing goods and services on the net. In this case, it's really like going to the movies or renting a movie, a simple and immediate transaction.