(Press Release)

August 27, 2002 Kokuyo Co., Ltd. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.

Begining Joint Tests Targeting Ubiquitous Services Verifying the potential of Shared PC systems that recreate PC environments with personalized settings using a portable IC card

Kokuyo Co., Ltd. (Kokuyo; head office: Higashinari-ku, Osaka; President: Akihiro Kuroda), and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT; Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Norio Wada) will conduct joint tests of a shared PC system that will provide users with a safe, reliable, convenient, and comfortable operating environment. The system, which will be tested for three months starting from September 2, will enable users to quickly recreate PC environments with personalized settings for Shared-use PCs (such as those operating in a short-term rental locations) simply by carrying an IC card. Background and goals of joint tests In 1998, Kokuyo began operating a rental space called "DESK@" (see Attachment 1), which offers an IT environment where businessmen on the move can rent working space by the hour. Since then, based on user needs for expansions in mobile working environments and other infrastructures and for reductions in office costs, the company has been investigating ways of setting itself apart in terms of service content. Since April of last year, it has been expanding the scale of its outlets based on the concept of "providing venues that support the intellectual activities of businesspersons in a ubiquitous society." The NTT Group, meanwhile, has been promoting research and development on the theme of "Ubiquitous Services(*1)" as one of the main pillars that will support telecommunications services in the 21st century. An important element of ubiquitous services is that services must overcome the limitations of space, and must be accessible from any location. NTT Cyber Solutions Laboratories (NTT Labs) have been promoting R&D in Shared PC systems, one of the methods of making these services a reality. In the joint tests, Kokuyo will verify the potential for Shared PC systems as a new part of DESK@'s service menu targeting businesspersons who prefer not to walk around carrying a PC with them. NTT Labs will verify numerous technical aspects of the Shared PC system, including operating environments and security functions, and will investigate the need for new functions in the future. Outline of tests In these tests, the Shared PC system will be installed in two business rental spaces--"DESK@ Shinbashi" and "DESK@ Tokyo" (see Attachment 2). In the early stages of the tests, current DESK@ members will act as monitors; use of the system will be expanded in November to included the general public. Persons wishing to become monitors can apply to participate via the DESK@ homepage (http://www.kokuyo.co.jp/desk/index.html). Monitors will be issued an IC card for use with the shared PCs, which will enable them to use the Shared PC system. Features of the Shared PC system (1) Create a PC environment with your own personal settings simply by inserting an IC card Simply by inserting a dedicated IC card and entering a password, the user can automatically recreate a PC environment on the PC being operated using personalized settings stored on a server. (2) Powerful security enables safer, more reliable PC environments The system achieves a high-security PC roaming(*2) environment--the user's identity is authenticated using the IC card and the password, and the user's data contents and environment settings are stored on the server in an encrypted format using a key that is read off of the IC card, so even the server administrator cannot access those contents. After the work is complete, the data is automatically erased from the hard disk, so the user's data and setting environment are not left behind. (3) Video chatting and smooth playback of video files and other media Video chatting and other multimedia applications can be operated smoothly on high-performance client PCs. Plans for the future In order to maintain an understanding of usage status, both companies will conduct evaluations and analyses of performance aspects through surveys targeting monitors as well as evaluations of system performance as part of continued efforts to pursue greater convenience for users. <Glossary> *1 Ubiquitous services The term "ubiquitous"--derived from the Latin word for "everywhere"--means "to be everywhere at the same time." Recently, it has come to be used to describe applications and services that are accessible from any location, as in the case of "ubiquitous computing" and "ubiquitous networks." NTT has named "optic software services" and "ubiquitous services" as the two main pillars of its operations in the context of telecommunications services for the 21st century. By establishing mutual connections not only between users but among a wide range of devices via networks, ubiquitous services enable users to enjoy safe, reliable, convenient, and comfortable services anytime and anywhere. *2 PC Roaming A function that uses IC cards and networks to support PC environments with personalized settings regardless of the usage location or usage style.

- Attachment 1 DESK@ - Attachment 2 Usage image of Shared PC System in Joint Tests

For further information, please contact: Kokuyo Co., Ltd.; PR Dept. Tokyo PR Group; Mr. Ono TEL: 03-3474-6324 e-mail: masaki_ono@kokuyo.co.jp Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. NTT Cyber Solutions Laboratories PR Section; Yamashita / Hagino TEL: 0468-59-2032 e-mail: ckoho@lab.ntt.co.jp

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