Docomo teams with China Mobile to bring mobile games to Chinese consumers
NTT Docomo, one of the largest mobile operators in the world and the largest operator in Japan, has signed an agreement with China Mobile, a developer of mobile games. Through this agreement, Docomo will offer a localized version of its “d game” platform to the Chinese market. The platform is expected to make mobile games more available to consumers throughout the country. This is the first time that the d game platform is being used outside of Japan.
Docomo sees major promise in the mobile sector
Japan is one of the most active mobile markets in the world. Consumers throughout the country have access to and own mobile devices of various types. Many of these people use their devices to play mobile games. China boasts of a large consumer base that is interested in mobile gaming as well, a fact that has not been ignored by Docomo. Mobile games currently represent one of the most lucrative sectors of the game industry as a whole, encouraging companies like Docomo to expand their reach in the gaming as much as they can.
China Mobile to leverage the d game platform
China Mobile boasts of 700 million subscribers, all of whom will be exposed to Docomo’s d game platform in the coming weeks. Initially, 20 mobile games will be available on the platform for Chinese consumers. More games will be introduced to the platform over time, as more titles are localized. Non-game content can be found through the platform as well, some of which comes from well known Japanese game publishers Capcom, Konami, and Square Enix.
China Mobile and Docomo team to promote NFC technology
This is not the first time Docomo and China Mobile have joined forces. In February of this year, the two companies joined forces to launch an international NFC service. The service allows NFC readers developed by both companies to be sold by each company in their given market. The deal was meant to promote social interaction among gamers, as well as promote mobile commerce and information distribution in both China and Japan.
Hands-Free Videophone combines augmented reality with glasses
Augmented reality glasses may have lost some steam over the past few months, but that does not mean they are disappearing from the horizon of the commercial market. NTT Docomo, a leading mobile network operator with a keen interest in NFC technology, has developed a new head-mounted augmented reality device called the Hands Free Videophone. The device enables users to receive video calls without having to rely on any kind of handheld device. The Hands-Free Videophone is part of Docomo’s ongoing research and development project concerning high-tech glasses.
Device capable of creating digital video based on user’s face
The Hands Free Videophone is equipped with three cameras that are used to capture a user’s face. The cameras capture several pictures, which are combined in real time and converted into a video, which can then be sent to another device. In its current state, the Hands-Free Videophone and produce high definition images and videos, but the device’s cameras and augmented reality system are not yet powerful enough to render complex movements, such as those seen in the mouth during speech.
Device may have a future amongst traveling business professionals
The device is designed to create a digital video based on the face of its wearer. As such, the device will be completely invisible on the digital representation of the user when conducting a video call. This may be a welcome feature for those interested in augmented reality but turned off by the often bulky designs of head-mounted technology. Docomo believes that the Hands-Free Videophone could eventually find a great deal of use amongst the business community, especially those who frequently travel for work.
Development to accelerate in near future
NTT Docomo is committed to the continuous development of the Hands Free Videophone. The device is currently in the prototype stages of development, but Docomo believes that its work on the project will begin to accelerate within the next few months. The company is currently focused on improving the video rendering capabilities of the device so that more detailed videos can be produced.
Docomo teams with China Mobile to bring mobile games to Chinese consumers