SKY Perfect and NTT DoCoMo to streaming video on 3G phones

May 12, 2004

SKY Perfect Communications and NTT DoCoMo announced that the two companies have agreed to jointly field test mobile video-clip streaming services and program-related information services by integrating the 3G FOMA and SKY PerfecTV! networks. The test is scheduled from June 15, 2004 to November 30, 2004 in Japan, and the two companies has began accepting monitors for the trial from yesterday.

The companies target commercializing the new service within fiscal 2005, which ends March 31, 2006, after evaluating market needs, business models for commercial service, and technical / usage results from the trial.

During the trial, monitors residing in the Kanto Koshinetsu region with DoCoMo FOMA handsets will be able to watch SKY PerfecTV! live and archived program video-clips streamed via the M-stage V-Live service, as well as view information about programs aired on SKY PerfecTV! using i-appli.

People who wish to serve as monitors must own a DoCoMo FOMA 900i series handset with subscription to the i-mode and M-stage V-Live services, as well as a subscription to SKY PerfecTV!. 3,000 users will be selected to monitor the program-related service including the 300 users chosen to also monitor the video-clip streaming service.

Those acting as monitors will be asked to provide feedback during the trial. While they will be billed for communication charges, the basic fees for both services will be waived.

List of Companies Scheduled to Deliver Content for the Services:

Atoss International
Imagica Corp.
Imagica Music Satellite
Kids Station
Gaga Crossmedia Marketing
Samurai TV
J Sports Broadcasting Corporation
Japan Image Communications
Japan Entertainment Network K.K.
Sports-I Network
Daiichikosho
Fishing Vision
Tohokushinsha Film Corporation
B-Bat
Bloomberg L.P.
Pay Per View Japan
Recruit Visual Communications