Mobile phone solution provider K Laboratory has announced that it has developed FeliPo, an interactive advertising system designed for use with FeliCa-enabled public posters. Users of FeliCa mobile phones will be able to receive detailed information and special discount coupons online from a FeliPo-enabled advertising poster by simply holding their handsets against the ad.
Further to the announcement made by Vodafone Group Plc (“Vodafone”) on 25 May 2004, Vodafone announces that the offer made by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vodafone International Holdings B.V. (“Vodafone International”), for the shares which Vodafone and its subsidiaries (“Vodafone Group”) did not already own in Vodafone K.K. (the “Vodafone K.K. Offer”) closed for acceptances on 21 July 2004.
Japan’s telecommunications ministry reportedly plans to introduce a new tax for spectrum used by home information appliances and high-bandwidth wireless local area networks. The proposed fee would be collected when users purchase LAN products, according to a media report. We’re waiting for the ‘crats to propose a tax on garage door openers next.
Launched on 20 July by Yamaha, MTV Movies features mobile content that is closely tied to movie programs broadcast by MTV Japan. The i-mode site offers ring tunes, i-Motion movies, and movie trailers for titles including both old and new. The content service initially features 2,000 ring tunes and 200 songs, and Yamaha adds 40 titles every month. It costs 315 yen/month; the company is aiming for first-year sales of 100 mn with a total of 50,000 subscribers.
JCB, the international payment brand, AEON Credit Service, the retail-affiliated credit card company, and NTT DoCoMo jointly announced today that JCB and AEON have developed the QUICPay payment solution for cards with contactless IC chips. The QUICPay service is also compatible with NTT DoCoMo’s smart-card handsets. A trial project for the new QUICPay solution will begin this autumn.
Japan, China, and South Korea are likely to reach an agreement to standardize integrated circuit tags in fiscal 2006, sources said Saturday. A single tag consists of an IC microchip, each side measuring 1 millimeter thick or smaller, which includes an antenna for wireless communication. The product’s details are entered into the chips and can be read by a device through a signal emitted from the antenna. The technology, which may replace bar codes, provides a better method to monitor stock and manage distribution.
