Nikkei Reports Docomo To Copy KDDI’s Successful Android App Subscription Program “Smart-Pass”

Nikkei Business reported as a “breaking news” today [J] that Japan’s largest telco NTT Docomo is planning to start the fixed rate Android app subscription service such like #2 KDDI’s au Smart Pass earliest in June. KDDI’s Smart Pass, which charges 390 yen (US$4.00) every month for variety of Android apps set, recently passed 5… Continue reading Nikkei Reports Docomo To Copy KDDI’s Successful Android App Subscription Program “Smart-Pass”

KDDI And Gijutsu Hyouronsha Hold AR Development Contest

Gijutsu Hyouronsha Inc. [J] and KDDI Inc. [J] are hosting the Dai Nikai Sacchi Ningen Contest [J] (Second Time Sense Human Contest), a contest for AR (Augmented Reality) applications developed using KDDI’s AR application development environment “SATCH SDK”. “Dai Nikai Sacchi Ningen Contest” is an app contest targeted for engineers and creators.  The first screening… Continue reading KDDI And Gijutsu Hyouronsha Hold AR Development Contest

The Nikkei: KDDI To Start Offering The iPad Mini From November

The existence of a smaller version of the iPad hasn’t even been confirmed by Apple yet, but here is something fresh from the rumor mill in Japan: according to a report published in The Nikkei today, KDDI is currently “finalizing a deal” under which the company will start offering the “iPad Mini” from November. So… Continue reading The Nikkei: KDDI To Start Offering The iPad Mini From November

SoftBank Starts Using The 900MHz “Platinum Band”

There can be no doubt that SoftBank is the mobile carrier with the weakest network among Japan’s big three telcos, following that of NTT Docomo and KDDI. But now there is hope that things will finally change for the better. Back in March this year, the Japanese government decided to allocate the 900-megahertz band (also… Continue reading SoftBank Starts Using The 900MHz “Platinum Band”

KDDI’s Subsidiary Wire And Wireless To Offer Free WiFi At Starbucks, Starting From Tokyo

Wire and Wireless (wi2), a subsidiary of Japan’s second largest cellphone carrier KDDI, announced [J] its new free WiFi program at Starbucks Coffee chain-store in Japan. Free WiFi at cafe? If you have ever tried to find free WiFi in Japan, you know this is a news. The free WiFi program, “at_STARBUCKS_Wi2”, is sponsored by… Continue reading KDDI’s Subsidiary Wire And Wireless To Offer Free WiFi At Starbucks, Starting From Tokyo

KDDI Releases Pilgrimage Application for Android

KDDI’s [J] consumer Shikoku branch has released Itsu Demo O Henro [J] (Anytime Pilgrim), an Android application which allows you to experience pilgrimage in everyday life using smartphone’s GPS function.  Download is free. “Anytime Pilgrim” is a public app in which prioritizes au Smartpass, and depending on the distance walked in everyday life, you can… Continue reading KDDI Releases Pilgrimage Application for Android

Three Of Japan’s Top Telcos Standardize Display Of Email Emoticons

Three of Japan’s four biggest mobile carriers, namely NTT Docomo, KDDI au, and eAccess, are about to make it easier for their combined subscriber base of roughly 90 million people to exchange emails with other. The plan is to standardize the display of emoticons, or emoji in Japanese, across handsets offered by the three networks. As… Continue reading Three Of Japan’s Top Telcos Standardize Display Of Email Emoticons

KDDI Releases New AR Brand SATCH, Comes With SDK For Free

KDDI released new AR brand SATCH yesterday, in order to expand AR (Augmented Reality) Market. SATCH is a new brand to expand AR market with KDDI’s new AR technology. SATCH sounds ‘sacchi’ in Japanese, which means ‘detect’, or cover cell phone quickly over the item and check it out. KDDI also made a partnership with Total… Continue reading KDDI Releases New AR Brand SATCH, Comes With SDK For Free

Hard Times May Come For Softbank After KDDI Gets iPhone5

Some days ago we reported KDDI may distribute the next iteration of the iPhone. Now the reactions are coming: Goldman Sachs predicts hard times may come for Softbank [J], Softbank falls a 5% at Tokyo Stocks Exchange. Softbank, with a 21% share of the market, is the third leading mobile service provider in Japan, trailing NTT DoCoMo (48%) and KDDI… Continue reading Hard Times May Come For Softbank After KDDI Gets iPhone5

KDDI’s “Android au” Site Terminated, Not Telling Why But Likely By iPhone 5

KDDI’s Android handset promotion site “Android au” has been shut down today. The site shows a very short message “Android au site has finished.” in plain HTML, then visitors are redirected to KDDI au’s top page after 5 seconds. The special page has been promoting KDDI’s Android handset with a popular boys group Arashi, with… Continue reading KDDI’s “Android au” Site Terminated, Not Telling Why But Likely By iPhone 5