Japan Post to deliver packages to cellphone-operated lockers
Japan Post said Friday it will improve its package delivery service by allowing people to use cellphone-operated lockers at railway stations to receive parcels, beginning in September.
The new service for Yu-Pack parcel delivery costs no additional money and will initially be available at lockers in 55 locations, mainly railway stations and shopping centers in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture.
The service will be offered in collaboration with X-Cube Corp., an operator of coin-operated lockers that use cellphones as keys.
Japan Post said it will initially target users of mail-order services and young people who tend to be away from home so that they can easily pick up packages while commuting.
To apply for the service, a person needs to register his or her cellphone number, e-mail address and a package pickup location on X-Cube’s website.
An e-mail message will be sent when the package is delivered. The recipient can open the locker by dialing the number that appears on the locker display using the registered handset.
