KDDI forms a capital alliance with Colopl to expand location-based service /Nikkei

KDDI takes 5% of shares to become the third largest share holder of Colopl. The amount is not disclosed but considered to be around 500 million yen. The telecom operator jointly provides contents business based on location information to acquire new customers.

Both companies announced an alliance in location-based game at the last November. With the capital alliance, they strengthen the partnership. From August, they launch service using location information for about 300 restaurants, offering loyalty points or benefits based on a number of visit of customers. ...

Colony na Seikatsu Plus, Colopl's location based game, allows users get virtual money based on length they move for commute or business trip. Partnering with local souvenir shops or others, it gives items linked with a game if the user buy something at the shops. A number of users is 1.95 million as of June 20.

Nikkei 6/21/2011

memo

• KDDI has been very active to collaborate with startups in mobile applications such as GREE, Tonchidot, and Groupon Japan.
• It also starts incubation program targeting for Android application developers from this summer.