Smart.fm Fundraises USD3.37M From NTT

Japanese telecom giant NTT and Cerego Japan, an owner of a UGC-based social learning site Smart.fm(previously known as iKnow!), announced both had reached the agreement of the partnership in boosting online education business.   NTT is now considering to set up a new subsidiary focusing on online education business, and will create a number of mash-up… Continue reading Smart.fm Fundraises USD3.37M From NTT

Japan’s First Android Phone HT-03A By NTT DoCoMo

Last night, before the release of the first Android phone in Japan [J], NTT DoCoMo, Google and HTC Nippon(=Japan) had a “touch and try” event with 70 bloggers at Roppongi Hills. The new phone HT-03A [J] is based on HTC Magic, with some customization for Japanese market. Japanese Input Method Omron’s iWnn is bundled. Wnn… Continue reading Japan’s First Android Phone HT-03A By NTT DoCoMo

Two Ventures Jointly Introduce E-Publishing Business Targeting Android Users

Probably this move must prepare for the market deployment of a brand new Android phone from NTT DoCoMo[J], which is scheduled to start tomorrow, Celsys, a Shinjuku-based developer of e-book online viewer, and Voyager[J], a Shibuya-based e-book and e-magazine publisher, jointly announced today they would release an online publication viewer for Android handsets on the… Continue reading Two Ventures Jointly Introduce E-Publishing Business Targeting Android Users

Ad Agency Giant Lets Publishers Digitize Their Business, Now More Than Ever

Dentsu, the world’s largest ad agency, announced today it would join forces with Yappa, an iPhone/iPod software developer which is strong in developing e-publication online reader, and launch a marketplace dealing with digital periodicals this summer.  Twenty publishers will put their thirty magazines on sale at the marketplace called Magastore[J]. Magastore uses an original DRM… Continue reading Ad Agency Giant Lets Publishers Digitize Their Business, Now More Than Ever

Rakuten To Start P2P Online Political Donations For The First Time In Japan

Rakuten, one of Japan’s e-commerce giants, announced it would start a service enlightening voters on political participation in late July. The website accepts credit cards to donate your money to politicians whom you support. In the previous U.S. presidential election last year, Barack Obama carried a large amount of money from individual fundraisers on the… Continue reading Rakuten To Start P2P Online Political Donations For The First Time In Japan

Chinese newspapers (in their entirety) to come to the iPhone in Chinese, English and Japanese

Beijing-based mega technology conglomerate Peking University Founder Group Corporation has announced a new iPhone application that will make it possible for iPhone users in Japan to read five major Chinese newspapers in their entirety. Founder’s Japanese arm [JP], based in Tokyo, will launch the app as early as next month (press release in Japanese). For… Continue reading Chinese newspapers (in their entirety) to come to the iPhone in Chinese, English and Japanese

iPhone 3GS Keeps No.1 In Japan On Its 2nd Week

This is a follow-up article on the news of iPhone sales in Japan. BCN weekly ranking [J] is updated and now we are seeing a weekly ranking for June 29th to July 5th. The newly introduced iPhone 3GS 32GB stays at the top position, whilst the 16GB loses No.2 position taken back by Sharp SH-06A.… Continue reading iPhone 3GS Keeps No.1 In Japan On Its 2nd Week

NAVER, Korean based new communication search services landed on Japan, again

Yes, they come again. This time with solid determination and good amount of resources in Tokyo. NAVER, number one Web search service in Korea has started open beta service for Japanese market.It is their second entry for Japanese market since their first attempt which was ended 2005 due to focus on domestic market, or simply… Continue reading NAVER, Korean based new communication search services landed on Japan, again

If iPhone Were No.1 in Japan, Sony Would Be No.1 Music Player

Fortune reported an interesting survey on iPhone sales in Japan. Mashable, CrunchGear and some other blogs have also reported the news. From Japan, I am trying to provide some more detail for people who want to better understand this news. Is the ranking legitimate? Yes. The shops which give their POS (point of sale) data… Continue reading If iPhone Were No.1 in Japan, Sony Would Be No.1 Music Player

Mail Order Giant To Release Wardrobe iPhone App

Osaka-based catalog mail order giant Senshukai[J] is going to introduce an iPhone/iPod app allowing you to check up showcases filled with fashionable clothes.   It is now under Apple’s consideration for upcoming release and will be available at AppStore next week. Senshukai has an experimental website, which is called Bellmaison Lab[J], developing and demonstrating new services… Continue reading Mail Order Giant To Release Wardrobe iPhone App