Collaboration with Obic Business Consultants (“OBC”) for provision of a safe and speedy environment for core corporate business operations

As computerization of core corporate business operations, such as accounting/taxation and human resources/salary payment, within small to medium enterprises grows to become accepted practice, NTT East and OBC reached an agreement to collaborate on providing a safe and speedy environment in which core corporate business operations of small to medium enterprises can be conducted through the NGN.
As a first step, they will deploy “Bugyo on FLET'S [Hikari]” a product combining the FLET'S Hikari^*1 and FLET'S VPN^*2 services provided by NTT East and the “Bugyo series” provided by OBC.
This collaboration will not only streamline customers headquarters administration, but will also provide a low-cost, highly secure and high-quality operating environment in which the operation of the whole company may be streamlined through the use of a network system linking the home office with branch locations to meet the needs of its corporate customers.

*1 Collective name for FLET’S Hikari Next and B FLET’S

*2 Collective name for FLET’S VPN Wide, FLET’S VPN Gate, FLET’S Group Access, FLET’S Access Port, FLET’S Office and FLET’S Office Wide.

Summary of Bugyo on FLET'S Hikari
Using FLET'S Hikari as the access line for receipt of new programs enables automatic updating of operational systems, delivery of tax systems upgrades and related support information, as well as other useful information, in a secure and speedy environment.

Summary of Bugyo on FLET'S VPN
Previous versions of Bugyo for conventional networks used Internet VPN and dedicated lines, which entailed concerns in terms of security and speed. This new service, however, enables highly secure, speedy and low-cost operations.

One-stop handling for home information appliance repairs
- Building a mutual cooperation framework for greater customer convenience in the field of home information appliances -

The spread of broadband services in recent years has led to an increase in the number of network-compatible information appliances for the home and greater complexity in our customers' operating environment. Because of this, when the user encounters trouble with network connections or appliances, customers are unable to identify the cause themselves, raising concerns that there will be an increasing number of cases when a customer does not know whom to ask for assistance or will end up having to consult more than one company. To address these concerns, NTT West, the six NTT West Home Techno firms, Sharp Corporation, and Sharp Engineering Corporation have agreed to build a cooperative framework under which each firm brings it own know-how and expertise, with the goal of providing greater convenience to customers. Even if a company determines that the cause of trouble does not lie with its own service or product, it will collaborate with the others, passing the information on, and in effect attending to the customers' trouble in a one-stop manner.
This kind of collaboration on a support system will help NTT West build up know-how and understanding of customer needs which will be used in its efforts to provide an appropriate support service suited to the ubiquitous age.

Specific details of the collaboration

“Setten”, a concept for a new service base for realizing cloud computing: the first field tests commence

Cloud computing^*1 has become the focus of much attention for its potential applications in the corporate ICT environment and for its ease of deployment and potential cost reductions. NTT Communications now proposes a new service platform concept called “Setten”, which will encompass the benefits of current cloud computing but will also enable the provision of everything from networks to applications with high quality, high reliability and high added value. NTT Communications is aiming to create a new market with this concept.
The field tests that began in June 2009 are aimed at building a remote office environment with a virtual desktop that enables a work style that is not restricted by place (available both in Japan and abroad) or time (available at all times) or connection environment. The field tests are being implemented with the help of distribution businesses, NPOs, educational institutions and companies with global businesses, and are examining system operability, issues that come up when carrying out operations on the service platform, and SaaS^*2 applications that should be considered as possible addition going forward.
Based on the results of the field tests, deployment of specific services is expected to start within FY2009 under the BizCITY brand.

“Setten” characteristics
- Connection to a service platform at any time and at any place, using a diverse range of access means
- By using current networks, the need for new investment is minimized and cost reductions are achieved
- Take advantage of the strengths of participating telecommunication businesses, to enable high quality, highly reliable operations throughout the system
- Collaborations with business partners are deepened, with on-demand connection to external environments
- Through centralized operation of virtual environments, reduction in corporate ICT operating costs is achieved

“MaDoRE®” undergoes a major renovation as it evolves into an SaaS-type service

Under the backdrop of accelerating corporate demand for SaaS-type services that enable reductions in investment costs, in July 2009, NTT DATA's map content distribution platform “MaDoRE” underwent a major renovation, and is now being provided as a new SaaS-type service. MaDoRE allows selection from, and one-stop use of, a diverse range of operational applications and a variety of content types.
Taking this renovation as an opportunity, NTT DATA is working to make the operational applications and content it provides to support marketing-related operations even more useful and attractive. NTT DATA will strengthen its collaboration with the platforms of other firms as it seeks to expand sales.

Operational applications and content
NTT DATA has prepared a diverse lineup of operational applications, focusing on marketing-related operations such as client relationship management (CRM), sales for automation (SFA) and business intelligence (BI), and has prepared a multitude of content types, including nation-wide residential maps with nameplates, land price data, and regional characteristics data. Using these in combination enables a more effective search for, or follow up on, sales leads, and thus provides robust support to clients in improving both their revenues and their operational efficiency.
In addition to SaaS-type services, system construction to match existing systems is possible, thus enabling the provision of services in an optimal form to match the requirements of individual clients.

“DOCOMO Keitai Sokin™” is launched

In July 2009, NTT DOCOMO, in collaboration with Mizuho Bank, launched a new mobile phone-based money transfer service called DOCOMO Keitai Sokin.
DOCOMO Keitai Sokin is a service that enables a DOCOMO subscriber to send money to a recipient simply by designating the recipient's cell phone number, without the recipient needing to open a bank account or register. The recipient can choose to receive the transmitted funds at any bank of his or her choice, or can apply the funds to his or her monthly cell phone fees. The remitted amount, together with the service use fees, are added to the sender's monthly cell phone bill.
NTT DOCOMO has received permission to operate “bank agency services” as an affiliate of Mizuho Bank, and will seek to develop a variety of new services using cell phones that will bring convenience to subscribers.