KDDI introduces au BOX with Opera Devices 9

TOKYO, Japan and OSLO, Norway — Opera Software today announced that KDDI (Tokyo: 9433) and Okinawa Cellular has selected Opera Devices 9 for its new product, “au BOX”. “au BOX” is a set-top box (STB) that allows users to enjoy music and video content downloaded via their TV sets on their au mobile phones. With Opera, users can not only enjoy the Internet on their TV sets, but also enjoy content on their au mobile phones. The “au BOX” will be made available on November 1st, 2008 in Japan.

With the Opera browser, users can not only utilize video-on-demand service, but also purchase content through their mobile subscriptions and use that content on their au mobile phones. This will enable users on the go to casually enjoy content they so far have only been able to access at home.

“With the introduction of the “au BOX,” the mobile phone world and TV world have come together,” said Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. “KDDI has dramatically improved the capabilities of mobile phones with their product innovations. We are proud to provide a new Web experience to users, where content can flow seamlessly between mobile phones and TVs.”

“The flexible and scalable design of the Opera Devices 9 SDK has been very helpful when developing the collaboration between “au BOX” and mobile phones,” said Makoto Takahashi, Associate Senior Vice President, Member of the Board, KDDI. “We are delighted to provide “au BOX”, which allows many users to enjoy music and video more easily. By realizing each user’s needs and obsession for enjoying music, video and sports using mobile phones, KDDI is aiming for being a “Lifestyle Navigator”, which supports and creates the lifestyle of customers and provides more advanced services than other companies. By providing “au BOX” at this time, we are confident that we can enrich au users’ lives in their homes. Opera provides the most suitable rendering engine and interface for both mobile phones and widescreen TVs. For “au BOX”, Opera Devices 9 SDK was the best choice to provide a Web experience compatible with au mobile phones.”