INFORMATION SERVICE TERMINAL

An information service terminal includes: a key input means 1, having a key arrangement in which a plurality of alphabetical characters or Japanese syllabary characters are allotted to each of numeral keys, for sequentially selecting and determining desired alphabetical characters or Japanese syllabary characters from the plurality of the prospected characters in accordance with the numbers of key operations; a password storage means for storing a password used for authentication; a determining means 4 for determining matching between the password and alternative data representing the password; and a processing unit 2 for, at a time of authentication, when the alternative data is inputted by an operator, determining matching between the alternative data and the password by the determining means to thereby perform authentication processing based on a result of the determination.