NEC Biglobe to Release Android-based Internet Devices

Dec 18, 2009 20:26 Fumitada Takahashi, Nikkei Electronics

NEC Biglobe Ltd, a major Internet service provider in Japan, will start a business of selling Internet devices with wireless connection capability.

NEC Biglobe will procure Internet devices installed with Android, Google Inc's operating system for embedded devices, and sell them mainly for the subscribers to its Internet access service. In addition, the company will launch an online service (store) for selling applications software that run on Android.

It aims to attain 200,000 users of the Internet devices and sales of ¥10 billion (approx US$111 million) per year with software sales, online services and so forth until the end of fiscal 2012.

NEC Biglobe will release an Internet device named "Cloud Device" within 2010. And, prior to that, the company will conduct a beta test of the service with 100 of the subscribers to its Internet access service from February to March 2010.

The device to be used for the beta test is equipped with a touch-sensitive 7-inch LCD panel (800 x 480 pixels) developed by Camangi Corp of Taiwan. It measures 200 x 120 x 14.5mm and weighs 380g. It has wireless LAN capability. When combined with a data communication module, the device can be used for 3G wireless data communication.

NEC Corp, the parent company of NEC Biglobe, will launch an Internet device that has almost the same functions as the Cloud Device within 2010. It will have an enhanced video display function.

Both of the two devices are expected to be priced at ¥30,000 (approx US$333) level. NEC Biglobe plans to ask other device makers to develop Internet devices for its service.

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