  We discuss several methods for unambiguous state discrimination of N
symmetric coherent states using linear optics and photodetectors. One type of
measurements is shown to be optimal in the limit of small photon numbers for
any N. For the special case of N=4 this measurement can be fruitfully used by
the receiving end (Bob) in an implementation of the BB84 quantum key
distribution protocol using faint laser pulses. In particular, if Bob detects
only a single photon the procedure is equivalent to the standard measurement
that he would have to perform in a single-photon implementation of BB84, if he
detects two photons Bob will unambiguously know the bit sent to him in 50% of
the cases without having to exchange basis information, and if three photons
are detected, Bob will know unambiguously which quantum state was sent.
