Three Japanese wireless carriers — NTT Docomo, KDDI, and SoftBank — have announced that they're creating the Japan Mobile NFC Consortium to help ensure the smooth transition to internationally-compatible NFC systems. While NFC has been used in Japan for years, the contactless payment systems there use the Osaifu-Keitai standard, which is based on Sony's FeliCa RFID chips. The problem is that FeliCa-based systems are not compatible with the Type A and Type B standards that are being implemented around the world — a problem that this new consortium hopes to solve. As TechCrunch points out, in addition to making lives simpler for international travelers, the move may make it easier for Japanese manufacturers to market their products around the world.