We blogged several times about NHK‘s online efforts in the past few months (NHK is Japan’s national TV and radio network). And today, NHK World, the broadcaster’s international service that’s available worldwide except for Japan, has launched a channel on Ustream. NHK World, which broadcasts programs on Japan in English, is live-streaming its content for… Continue reading English Broadcaster NHK World Starts Free Ustream Channel
Author: Serkan Toto
KDDI To Bring Android Apps To China Mobile Subscribers
Japan’s second biggest telco and mobile carrier KDDI is planning to bring a set of made-in-Japan apps to Android users in China, in cooperation with China Mobile, the country’s biggest telco (over 600 mobile subscribers). Under the deal, KDDI will start offering an initial 22 apps, for example manga or games, in China Mobile’s Android… Continue reading KDDI To Bring Android Apps To China Mobile Subscribers
KDDI Buys 15% Stake In French AR Company Total Immersion
Japan’s second biggest telecommunications firm KDDI announced [JP] it has acquired an equity stake in French based Total Immersion S.A., an augmented reality (AR) software maker. Business daily The Nikkei says it has learned KDDI paid 100 million yen (US$1.3 million) for a 15% interest in the company. Total Immersion has offices in North America,… Continue reading KDDI Buys 15% Stake In French AR Company Total Immersion
Mobile Subscribers In Japan: The Latest Numbers
The Telecommunications Carriers Association (TCA) of Japan has released a set of statistics on Japan’s mobile market today, showing that the country had 122.44 million cell phone subscribers last month (out of a total population of 128 million). According to the organization, Japan’s carriers added 569,200 new customers between July and August. Breaking down the… Continue reading Mobile Subscribers In Japan: The Latest Numbers
Android App Karelog Lets You Spy On Your Boyfriend Remotely [Update: Pulled]
Are you a woman? Are you easily getting jealous? Does your boyfriend own an Android cell phone? If you answered all of these questions with “yes”, then a new Android app called “Karelog” [JP] (Boyfriend Log) might be the right thing for you. In a nutshell, it’s a piece of “spyware” that you secretly install… Continue reading Android App Karelog Lets You Spy On Your Boyfriend Remotely [Update: Pulled]
KDDI au Lets Subscribers Find Facebook Friends Through Cell Phone Mail History
Back in May, Japan’s second largest mobile carrier KDDI au struck a deal with Facebook under which the social network would be featured prominently on future smartphones, for example in the form of a widget. And now KDDI makes it possible [JP] for users of their proprietary email system EZweb to automatically browse their cell… Continue reading KDDI au Lets Subscribers Find Facebook Friends Through Cell Phone Mail History
Presentation: The Web, Social Games And Mobile In Japan
A few weeks ago, I gave a presentation on Japan’s web, mobile, and social gaming industries during an event in Tokyo. As I assume a large number of Asiajin readers should be at least a bit interested in the overview , I embedded the presentation (in edited form) below for your reading pleasure. The presentation… Continue reading Presentation: The Web, Social Games And Mobile In Japan
Japanese Entrepreneurs: Get The Last Spot In The “Tofu Project” To Go To America
Are you a Japan-based entrepreneur interested in taking part in a 7-day design thinking and innovation boot camp that will take place in October in California? Then you should head over to the website of the so-called Tofu Project. What is the Tofu Project about? Founded by Tokyo Mango blogger, tech writer and book author… Continue reading Japanese Entrepreneurs: Get The Last Spot In The “Tofu Project” To Go To America
Japan’s Biggest Location-Based Game Colopl Hits 2 Million Users
In 2005, long before Foursquare and other LBS became available in the US and elsewhere, cell phone users in Japan were able to play a GPS game called “Coloni-na Seikatsu Plus” (Colony life☆PLUS” or Colopl) on their cell phones. In the game, players build up a colony, which requires a virtual currency called Pura to… Continue reading Japan’s Biggest Location-Based Game Colopl Hits 2 Million Users
Japan’s Daily Coupon Market: Is Groupon About To Lose Its Top Position To Ponpare?
Japan’s market for daily coupon services is heating up. It has been pretty much a two-horse race for months now, with Groupon Japan as the top player in the market and Recruit’s Ponpare as a close second. In April, for example, Groupon Japan was estimated to have racked up $18.6 million in sales, while Ponpare… Continue reading Japan’s Daily Coupon Market: Is Groupon About To Lose Its Top Position To Ponpare?