News Release
The Members of the Press
New Service
Android App
October 29, 2014
SOURCENEXT Corporation
SOURCENEXT to Collaborate with ÆON and BIGLOBE
To Provide a New Subscription-based App Downloading Service,
"Apps CHOU HODAI"
http://www.sourcenext.com/houdai_app/
(Tokyo, Japan –October 29, 2014) SOURCENEXT Corporation (Headquarters: Toranomon 33 Mori Building 6F, 3-8-21, Toranomon, Minato-ku Tokyo;CEO and President: Noriyuki Matsuda) announced today that starting October 29, 2014, they will be providing a new monthly subscription-based app downloading service called "Apps CHOU HODAI", which allows users to freely download smartphone apps from the "Apps CHOU HODAI" line-up at a fixed monthly rate. SOURCENEXT plan to collaborate with MVNO smartphone dealers and SIM-related businesses to market the service to consumers as an added service for MVNO smartphones and also as bundled deals for SIM card sales. The service allows MVNO smartphone users to use over 50 premium selected apps –ranging from security apps to popular games, all for a monthly fee of 360 yen*1 per month.
Currently, major players such as ÆON RETAIL Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 1-5-1 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba;CEO: Kazunori Umemoto), BIGLOBE Inc. (Headquarters: Gate City Ohsaki, West Tower, 1-11-1, Osaki Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo;CEO: Yoshiyuki Koseki) and 8 other companies which deal in SIM-related businesses have signed up to provide the service. SOURCENEXT aim to continue expanding on the titles available in the service, and expect to have over 100 titles by March of 2015, and also hope to have over 1 million users subscribed within 1 year from service start.
*1 Price may vary depending on service provider.
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[WHY SOURCENEXT Decided to Start Providing a Subscription-based App Downloading Service]
In Japan, each of the 3 major mobile carriers, KDDI, Docomo and SoftBank provide their own monthly subscription-based app downloading services –"au Smart Pass" by KDDI, "SugoToku Contents" by DoCoMo and "App Pass" by SoftBank. Although recently, there has been rapid rise in the sales of low-priced MVNO smartphones (the "fourth player" in the carrier market), these MVNO smartphone providers faced difficulties in setting up their own monthly subscription-based downloading services because of the fact that they were "network operators" and not "software / app publishers". SOURCENEXT - having knowledge and experience in developing their own Android apps and also in helping to provide apps from around the world to these 3 major mobile carriers, was the answer for them. By collaborating with SOURCENEXT, these MVNO smartphone providers finally have an infrastructure with which they can provide "subscription-based app downloading services" along with their low-priced smartphones. The introduction of this "Apps CHOU HODAI" offers merits and new values to users, MVNO providers (retailers who sell MVNO smartphones) and to the Contents Providers alike.
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[Comments from Collaboration Partners]
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ÆON RETAIL Co., Ltd. Digital Business Development;Manager, Shouichi Hashimoto The "Apps CHOU HODAI" is the perfect solution that we were looking for. With this service, our customers no longer need to worry over the pricing of apps or wander around trying to decide which apps to install. All that our customers need to do is to subscribe to the service and enjoy the best selected apps, all at one simple, easy-to-understand price. By providing this "Apps CHOU HODAI" as an optional service for our "Aeon Smartphone", we hope to enrich the lives of our customers and to help them to better enjoy their smartphone experience. |
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BIGLOBE Inc. President and CEO: Yoshiyuki Koseki The "Apps CHOU HODAI" provided by SOURCENEXT, is a new service which allows users to download and try out all the apps they want for a fixed monthly fee. Premium apps selected by SOURCENEXT, made available through the safe BIGLOBE payment system, is what makes the service so appealing to users. I believe that this "Apps CHOU HODAI" is a wonderful service that I would strongly recommend to all BIGLOBE smartphone "URE-SMA" users, as well as to any other smartphone user. |
[Other (expected) "Apps CHOU HODAI" Partners]
The "Apps CHOU HODAI" is a service to be provided to users as optional services in collaborations with MVNO smartphone providers and also bundled with SIM card sales. SOURCENEXT is currently collaborating with companies such as AEON and BIGLOBE, and other collaborations (with companies listed below) are expected to begin within 1 year.
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[Details of the "Apps CHOU HODAI" Service]
The "Apps CHOU HODAI" is a monthly subscription-based service which allows users to download apps such as games, security apps and many other apps from a wide variety of genres, all for a fixed monthly fee. The current 50 contents provided include apps such as "Smartphone Security" –boasting the highest detection rates in the world, and popular games such as "PuyoPuyo Fever Touch".
By March 2015, SOURCENEXT aims to increase the lineup to 100 total titles.
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[Simple to Subscribe]
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Subscribing to the service is simple. All users need to do is to install the "Apps CHOU HODAI" store app and enter his/her Serial Key and THAT’S IT! Once registered, the list of apps available for download will be displayed in the list and all users need to do is to select and download.
*Please note that the app line-up may vary depending on the retailers that provide the service. |
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APP LINE-UP
Below are the current titles in the "Apps CHOU HODAI". New apps, as well as updates for current titles to be provided continuously.
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No |
TITLE Name |
App Providers |
Category |
Release Date |
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1 |
IGO |
UNBALANCE Corporation |
Game |
10/29 |
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2 |
MAHJONG |
UNBALANCE Corporation |
Game |
10/29 |
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3 |
AQUA FISH |
UNBALANCE Corporation |
Game |
10/29 |
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4 |
Kanazawa Shogi Level 100 |
UNBALANCE Corporation |
Game |
10/29 |
|
5 |
THE OTHELLO |
UNBALANCE Corporation |
Game |
10/29 |
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6 |
THE HANAFUDA |
UNBALANCE Corporation |
Game |
10/29 |
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7 |
Street Fighter IV |
CAPCOM Co., Ltd. |
Game |
After Nov. |
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8 |
BIOHAZARD 4 |
CAPCOM Co., Ltd. |
Game |
After Nov. |
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9 |
Monster Hunter Dynamic Hunting |
CAPCOM Co., Ltd. |
Game |
After Nov. |
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10 |
GYAKUTEN SAIBAN 123HD (Phoenix Wright –Ace Attorney) |
CAPCOM Co., Ltd. |
Game |
After Nov. |
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11 |
RPG Eclipse of Illusion |
Kotobuki Solution Co., Ltd. |
Game |
10/29 |
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12 |
My Dog –Be My Master – |
Kotobuki Solution Co., Ltd. |
Game |
10/29 |
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13 |
Sonic Advance |
Sega Corporation |
Game |
10/29 |
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14 |
Sonic Jump |
Sega Corporation |
Game |
10/29 |
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15 |
Number Plate Trainer (SUDOKU) |
Sega Corporation |
Game |
10/29 |
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16 |
BAKUBAKU Animal |
Sega Corporation |
Game |
10/29 |
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17 |
PUYOPUYO Solitaire |
Sega Corporation |
Game |
10/29 |
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18 |
PUYOPUYO Fever touch |
Sega Corporation |
Game |
10/29 |
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19 |
LIFE the Game |
TOMY COMPANY, LTD. |
Game |
10/29 |
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20 |
Pop-up Pirate |
TOMY COMPANY, LTD. |
Game |
10/29 |
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21 |
Tap10 |
UNITED, inc. |
Game |
10/29 |
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22 |
THE Palm Reading |
UNBALANCE Corporation |
Entertainment |
10/29 |
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23 |
Home Cookin’ E-Recipe |
Excite Japan Co., Ltd. |
Entertainment |
After Nov. |
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24 |
Kazuko Hosoki Fortune Telling |
CYBIRD Co., Ltd. |
Entertainment |
After Nov. |
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25 |
Smartphone Melodies |
BIGLOBE Inc. |
Entertainment |
After Nov. |
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26 |
Genius E-J Dictionary MX 2nd Edition |
FUJITSU PERSONAL SYSTEM LIMITED |
Entertainment |
10/29 |
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27 |
Genius J-E Dictionary MX 2nd Edition |
FUJITSU PERSONAL SYSTEM LIMITED |
Entertainment |
10/29 |
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28 |
MEIKYO Japanese Dictionary MX 2nd Edition |
FUJITSU PERSONAL SYSTEM LIMITED |
Entertainment |
10/29 |
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29 |
NIKKAN Sports |
The Nikkan Sports News |
Entertainment |
10/29 |
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30 |
Sushi iQ |
UNITED, inc. |
Entertainment |
10/29 |
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31 |
Restaurant iQ |
UNITED, inc. |
Entertainment |
10/29 |
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32 |
Wine iQ |
UNITED, inc. |
Entertainment |
10/29 |
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33 |
Relax Melodies |
Ipnos Software Inc. |
Health |
10/29 |
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34 |
3 Minutes Fitness |
Ateam Inc. |
Health |
10/29 |
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35 |
Sleep Cycle Clock |
Ateam Inc. |
Health |
10/29 |
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36 |
Easy Calorie Management |
Ateam Inc. |
Health |
10/29 |
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37 |
Eye Care –Eye Trainer 3D |
Ateam Inc. |
Health |
10/29 |
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38 |
A Book on Medicine |
C2 inc. |
Health |
10/29 |
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39 |
Pressure Points |
C2 inc. |
Health |
10/29 |
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40 |
Encyclopedia of Family Medicine |
C2 inc. |
Health |
10/29 |
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41 |
RenoBody |
Neos Corporation |
Health |
After Nov. |
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42 |
Smart Stellar |
AstroArts Inc. |
Educational |
10/29 |
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43 |
EnglishCentral |
EnglishCentral, Inc. |
Educational |
10/29 |
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44 |
Advanced English |
CAI MEDIA CO.,LTD. |
Educational |
10/29 |
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45 |
Advanced English (going abroad) |
CAI MEDIA CO.,LTD. |
Educational |
10/29 |
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46 |
8000 English Terms |
CAI MEDIA CO.,LTD. |
Educational |
10/29 |
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47 |
TOKU-UCHI Flick |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Educational |
10/29 |
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48 |
Pla-Rail Quiz Vacation Game |
TOMY COMPANY, LTD. |
Educational |
10/29 |
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49 |
TOMICA Hyper Rescue |
TOMY COMPANY, LTD. |
Educational |
10/29 |
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50 |
Toca Hair Salon 2 |
TOCA BOCA AB |
Educational |
After Nov. |
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51 |
Toca Kitchen |
TOCA BOCA AB |
Educational |
After Nov. |
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52 |
Smartphone Security |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Security |
10/29 |
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53 |
Smartphone Lock |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Security |
10/29 |
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54 |
SMA-MORI |
YSCI |
Security |
10/29 |
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55 |
Excite English Translator |
Excite Japan Co., Ltd. |
Utility |
10/29 |
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56 |
Ultra Shift Calendar |
Naoto Koide |
Utility |
10/29 |
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57 |
Easy Memo |
C2 inc. |
Utility |
10/29 |
|
58 |
Ultra Calculator |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Utility |
10/29 |
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59 |
FUDEOH 2015 |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Utility |
10/29 |
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60 |
BANNO Camera |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Utility |
10/29 |
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61 |
Super Tools |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Utility |
10/29 |
|
62 |
Super Battery |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Utility |
10/29 |
|
63 |
Speed Sweeper |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Utility |
10/29 |
|
64 |
Happy Eyes |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Utility |
10/29 |
|
65 |
CHOU Scan |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Utility |
10/29 |
|
66 |
Super Backup |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Utility |
After Nov. |
|
67 |
Smart Clock |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Utility |
After Nov. |
|
68 |
ThinkFree Office |
SOURCENEXT Corporation |
Utility |
10/29 |
|
69 |
Collage Photobook Premium |
BIGLOBE Inc. |
Utility |
10/29 |
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70 |
Money Forward for Apps CHOU HODAI |
Money Forward |
Utility |
10/29 |
* Please note that the above scheduled dates are subject to change
Product Details
Product Name: "Apps CHOU HODAI"
Price (Fee): 360 Yen / Month (tax not included)
Release Date: October 29, 2014
Product Details: Android App monthly subscription service
Developed by: SOURCENEXT Corporation (each app developed by respective developers)
Distributed by: SOURCENEXT Corporation
Product Info Page: http://www.sourcenext.com/houdai_app/
System Requirements
Supported OS: Android OS 4.0 and above
Install Size: Approx. 5MB (plus separate RAM required for each app download)
Other Notes: Internet Connection required
Copyright Info
Please place the below copyright info when using any images or screenshots of the product.
©SOURCENEXT CORPORATION
Contact for Customer Support
SOURCENEXT Customer Support Center
For any pre-purchase inquiries: 0570-035-333 (for IP phones, dial: 082-553-1081)
For Press-related Inquiries about the Product
Brand Management Representatives: Yuka Yaginuma / Yuki Konishi
Contact: TEL 050-5533-4602 FAX 03-6430-6405 MAIL pr@sourcenext.com
* If you require a product for evaluation purposes, please contact our PR representative for details.
For Inquiries about this Press Release
PR Representatives: Ozaki, Mangoku (SOURCENEXT PR Secretariats at "BILCOM inc.")
Contact: TEL：03-5413-2436 FAX：03-5413-2412 Email: sourcenext@bil.jp (Ozaki: 080-3314-8951)
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