June 4, 2008 (Tokyo, Japan)—Acrodea, Inc. (CEO and President: Junya Tsutsumi), headquartered in Meguro-ku, Tokyo, announced today the installation of VIVID UI, developed as a user interface platform for mobile terminals, and the installation of VIVID Message and VIVID Panorama in the summer 2008 model handsets released by SoftBank Mobile Co., Ltd. (CEO and President: Masayoshi Son; “SoftBank Mobile”), headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo.
Among the summer 2008 models announced, the models 823P, 824P, and 921P (made by Panasonic Mobile Communications), and 824SH, 825SH, and 923SH (made by Sharp) have adopted fundamental VIVID UI technology and compatibility with Softbank Mobile’s service “Kisekae Arrange.” The service allows the modification of the standby screen, menu screens, battery level indicator, signal status indicator, etc., with preferred icons and graphics. Mobile phones compatible with the service contain a pre-installed selection of Kisekae Arrange content, depending on the model. In addition, by purchasing basic template files, subscribers with certain compatible models can modify the graphics of specific parts, or, in essence, arrange the screen designs as desired.
In addition, the models 823P, 824P, and 921P (made by Panasonic Mobile Communications), and 824SH, 825SH, and 923SH (made by Sharp) have adopted fundamental VIVID UI technology and compatibility with Softbank Mobile’s original service “S! Onajimi Sosa.” This service is a breakthrough feature that allows subscribers to continue using familiar operating environments of previously used model handsets by downloading menu screen data corresponding to numerous models released in the past. Since subscribers can continue to use the operating feel from models of other manufacturers, the perplexity of operation accompanying a change in handset model disappears, and new mobile phone features and services can immediately be put to use.
Next, the models 824SH, 825SH, and 923SH (made by Sharp), and 823T, 824T, and 922T (made by Toshiba) have adopted Acrodea’s VIVID Message, and are compatible with Softbank Mobile’s original service “Derumoj Hyojii.” This service features the display of animated 3D expressions in email text in response to specific picture fonts, emoticons, and key words found in the main body of an email message. The animation comprises around 150 graphics that initiate action, including a heart, question mark, cloverleaf, the sun, fireworks, an automobile, etc., and creates a colorful, emotionally-enriched email screen. The same 3D expressions display in response to the specific picture fonts, emoticons, and key words contained in email texts received from mobile phones other than Softbank models, or even PCs.
Finally, the models 824SH, 825SH, and 923SH (made by Sharp) incorporate VIVID Panorama as a camera feature. Users of these models can enjoy panorama photography with a very simple operation.
VIVID UI is a user interface platform developed by Acrodea for mobile phones, and represents innovative middleware that can integrate various types of multimedia content, such as still pictures, 3D graphics, animation effects, and video. VIVID UI enables mobile phones that can be readily customized with graphically enhanced menus and standby screens according to user preferences. The VIVID UI authoring tool incorporates features for creating menu transitions through a visual context, as well as for menu content emulation. By using this tool, handset manufacturers and content providers can easily create compatible content with a wealth of expression.
As middleware with a visual communication function, VIVID Message is a solution developed jointly by Acrodea, and Megachips Corporation (CEO and President: Shigeki Matsuoka), headquartered in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, and enriches the expressive capacity of email on mobile handsets by taking plain, two-dimensional text and adding 3D graphics and animation effects for a stereographic and dynamic presentation.
Jointly developed by Acrodea and Morpho, Inc. (CEO and President: Masaki Hilaga), headquartered in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, VIVID Panorama consists of middleware for camera functionality. VIVID Panorama permits the user to create panorama photos (images extended in one direction for a wider or taller viewing angle than ordinary photos) easily by operating the mobile handset with a built-in digital camera like a camcorder and panning the desired range. Although previous handsets have been equipped with panoramic photography functions, the “panorama-like” photo involved stitching together each, individually taken photo. The panoramic image-generating technology of VIVID Panorama is fully automated on the basis of the video data captured. The process is rapid and completed in real time. Users may immediately preview the panorama photo taken. This convenience is an additional feature of VIVID Panorama.
Acrodea, Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a software technology R&D firm involved in middleware technology for mobile terminals. The company is particularly focused on interface technologies connecting between the user and terminal, and currently provides UI (user interface) technologies and email enhancement technologies to the market. We are also applying R&D energy towards the enhancement of graphics performance, which is indispensable in facilitating usage of mobile platform interfaces. Our stance and efforts are a continual commitment to superior products and improving technology, for which we have received recognition worldwide. In addition to Japan and Korea, Acrodea is engaged in business on the global market, including China, Europe, and North America. The company listed publicly on Mothers Exchange of TSE on Oct. 19, 2006, just two years and three months after establishment in July 2004. Acrodea is headquartered in Tokyo (Nakameguro), and maintains an overseas presence in Seoul, Korea; Helsinki, Finland; and Newport Beach, California, U.S.A. For more information, please visit http://www.acrodea.co.jp.
Since its foundation, Megachips Corporation (TSE: 6875) has released creative products based on audio, imaging, and telecommunications technologies as a fabless R&D-based firm. Delivering high value-added LSI products and system solutions domestically and globally, Megachips considers the company’s dedication to achieving security, safety, enjoyable living, and fulfilling communication for people as its mission based on superior technological capability. For details, please visit http://www.megachips.co.jp/.
Morpho, Inc., is a venture company founded in 2004 by engineers who are graduated from Tokyo University and dedicated to digital image processing technologies. The company is engaged in R&D and product development based on proprietary image processing technologies for digital imaging and the video industry. Specialization chiefly towards mobile telephones and digital cameras comprises embedded image processing software, such as manual jitter correction, application development, licensing, and consulting. More information about Morpho is available at http://www.morphoinc.com.
Marketing Department at Acrodea, Inc.
TEL：+81 3-5768-8603 email: products@acrodea.co.jp
