KDDI Corporation
Okinawa Cellular Telephone Company
October 18, 2010
KDDI Corporation and Skype™, a leading provider of Internet communications software, today announced a strategic alliance that will integrate Skype across KDDI's services, starting with its mobile offerings - "au".
Skype will initially be made available on the au Android™ smartphone "IS03" and "IS01" from November this year; with plans for deeper integration on a range of au Android devices as well as BREW devices in 2011.
Under the partnership, the two companies have created a whole new communications experience for Japanese users, offering them a superior, high quality and innovative way to connect with friends and family both domestically as well as internationally.
Japanese customers on the KDDI network can bring their Skype conversations with them wherever they go and stay connected with their friends at all times by sending and receiving Instant Messages with the Skype app running in the background. Skype uses KDDI's voice network for Skype-to-Skype calls, giving users a reliable connection and top-notch call quality.
"Skype on au is a breakthrough in giving customers in Japan unlimited, global communications options, while expanding their calling community to hundreds of millions of Skype users worldwide," said Mr. Takashi Tanaka, Senior Vice President, member of the board of KDDI. "We look forward to working closely with Skype to extend these benefits beyond mobile to broadband, fixed line and cable, and thereby maximize the satisfaction of our customers in every area of our business."
"Skype is pleased to partner with KDDI to deliver a high quality, innovative communications experience for Japanese consumers," said Skype interim CEO, Adrian Dillon. "KDDI's position as a leading network provider in Japan that offers a wide range of communications services, makes it a natural partner for Skype given our vision to make Skype available everywhere and enable users to take their Skype conversations with them wherever they go."
Visit http://www.kddi.com for more information about KDDI. Learn more and download Skype at www.skype.com or follow the company at http://twitter.com/skypemobile.
