 |
|
|
KDDI Announces New Advanced au Handset Lineup, New "EZ-TV", "Song Search", and "Safe Navi" Services <Attachment>
Details of the "EZ-TV", "Song Search", and "Safe Navi" Services
 | 1. Interactive "EZ TV" Television Service |
| | | |
"EZ TV" is the ultimate television service users might expect from a mobile phone, combining communications functions with the ability to view terrestrial analog television broadcasts.
The W32SA and A5511 models, which include a TV tuner, allow users to record programs being broadcast or viewed, view information related to the broadcast program provided by the broadcaster in the "Notice window", or search for programs in the EPG (Electronic Program Guide). Also, the "Song Search" service allows users to search for the songs and background music in commercials and television programs, and purchase the CDs or download them as an EZ "Chaku-uta Full™" or EZ "Chaku-uta®" files.
The W32SA has a reservation function that can automatically start the TV before the desired program starts by making a viewing reservation for the program using the EPG. The phone can also be used as a television remote control, for total television viewing enjoyment.
The "Deluxe Menu", an optional service, allows users to register favorite programs or actor's names and receive notification emails regarding programs matching these keywords (data fee: 210 yen, tax incl.). Beyond the "Deluxe Menu" service, the "Premium Menu" service allows remote recording, a function which allows users to make recording reservations while away from home (data fee: 315 yen, tax incl.).
Basic "EZ TV" TV Service |
Free |
"Deluxe Menu" |
210 yen per month (tax included) |
"Premium Menu" |
315 yen per month (tax included) |
|
Services begin in mid-June, with the release of the new supporting phone line.
Separate communications charges apply.
Member registration is required for "Song Search" which allows searches for music from commercials or television programs being broadcast.
| 2. "Song Search" Music Search Service Featuring Sound-recognition |
| | | |
"Song Search" is a service whereby users may let their mobile phone listen to music they hear on television or in the street, and the phone records the audio, encodes and compares it with a large database to find the song name, and displays the search result on the "Song Search" Appli or notifies the user via email. Based on the search result song name, the user can purchase a CD, or download the song as an EZ "Chaku-Uta®" or EZ "Chaku-Uta Full™" file.
This music recognition solution was developed combining the music encoding technology owned by the American company Gracenote Inc. and KDDI's large music database. The EZ Appli (BREW®) and system development was done by Media Socket Inc. to create the "Song Search" service. The song being searched for may not be recognized in cases where there is a lot of noise, or the volume is low.
Services begin in mid-June, with the release of the new supporting phone line.
Supporting handset models are the W32SA, W31T, A5511T (the A5511 does not support EZ "Chaku-Uta Full™")
Fees are 210 yen monthly, including tax.
"Song Search" Music Search Service |
210 yen per month (tax included) |
|
About Gracenote Inc.
Name |
Gracenote, Inc. |
Head-office |
Emeryville, California, USA |
Established |
September, 1998 |
Director |
Craig L. Palmer |
Branch offices |
Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Berlin, Mumbai |
|
Gracenote manages and operates CDDB, the world's largest music information database, and develops and provides a variety of music recognition technologies. Gracenote's music recognition applications are used in many PC software applications, on-line services and audio products by about 40 million people in 160 countries world-wide. It has become the world-wide standard in music recognition services.
About Media Socket Inc.
Name |
Media Socket Incorporated |
Head-office |
Minato-ku, Tokyo |
Established |
June, 2000 |
CEO |
Koji Urabe |
Branch offices |
USA |
|
Media Socket provides mobile phone communications application development and communications services. Content such as music, video, and games are delivered to users through communications applications. The Media Socket company mission is connecting individuals' emotions using services and technology, and with the new "Sound Search" service, Media Socket brings people and music together. Mobile phone messaging applications developed by Media Socket are used by around 1.5 million people in Japan and the USA.
| 3. "Safety Navi" Simple Location Search Service |
| | | |
"Safety Navi" is a service which employs the GPS function to allow users to easily check the location of family members or other people they are concerned about. Location checking directly between au mobile phones provides stress-free, immediate responses. With no basic fee [1], it is an affordable service that can be used without hesitation. "Safety Navi" provides both "Safety Navi Area Notification" and "Safety Navi Location Check".
| [1] |
A basic fee applies for "Always-on Location Check". |
Safety Navi Area Notification
This service provides automatic notification to family members (or others) when the user enters (or leaves) pre-registered areas. The notification can include a pre-registered message. Ten types of area notifications are possible.
The service can be used to automate the sending of day-to-day messages to family members' mobile phones such as when leaving school or prep-school, arriving at the nearest train station, or sending notification when a child goes out of the watched area while playing at the park. Being able to watch over family members' activities this way is convenient, and reassuring.
|
Notifying party |
Notified party |
Basic Fee |
Free |
Free |
Per Notification |
3 yen [2] |
Free |
|
| [2] |
Separate packet charges apply. |
Safety Navy location checking
This service has two varieties. "Location Check Mail", allows the user to check the location of someone in their address book without prior registration by sending an email. Then, with the receiver's consent, location information is sent back. The second service, "Always-on Location Check" allows automatic location checking of pre-registered parties.
"Always-on Location Check" can register up to three partners (who's location can be searched), and up to five permitted users (who can search for the phone). The service also includes a security feature which allows users to disable sending of location information.
"Location Check Mail"
|
Searching Party |
Searched-for Party |
Basic Fee |
Free |
Free |
Per Search |
3 yen [3] |
3 yen [3] |
|
| [3] |
Separate packet charges apply. |
"Always-on Location Check"
|
Searching Party |
Searched-for Party |
Basic Fee |
315 yen monthly (tax incl.) |
Free |
Per Search |
3 yen [4] |
3 yen [4] |
|
| [4] |
Separate packet charges apply. |
Services begin in mid-June, with the release of the new supporting phones.
Supporting handset models are the W32SA, W31T, and A5512CA. The service is only available between supporting handset models.
|
|
