Day: December 26, 2008

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KDDI's AU Box reached 100,00 subscribers

KDDI just announced (Japanese) that the number of subscriptions to to the AU Box has reached 100,000 in two months. Reminder, the AU Box is a STB (Set Top Box) that can play DVDs, connect to Lismo Music and Video Shop as well as transfer content to Mobile devices.

This sounds very impressive, but considering the ridiculous price of about $3 per month is it hardly surprising. It will be more interesting to know how the KDDI AU box contributed to the Lismo business, how many Video/Music downloads came from AU Boxes in the past two months.

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Runcom Technologies to invest in IXI Mobile

Here is a PR I could have never anticipate:

Runcom Technologies to invest in IXI Mobile.

Runcom Technologies is a Israeli Startup developing WiMAX chipsets and devices, while IXI Mobile develop the OGO Device, a Messaging device working in Cellular Networks.

The PR is very clear, while I don’t really understand the “why”.

The parties believe that this partnership creates a synergy that is intended to enable them to combine IXI’s leading technology with Runcom’s WiMAX (4G) capabilities for mobile and fixed rich media solutions. The parties intend to develop new services, devices and software clients in addition to large data convergence projects. Furthermore, the parties believe that this transaction will enable them to leverage each others’ existing customer base, while expanding based on new offerings

For which market do Runcom intend this device?

Disclaimer: I believe I still own IXI Mobile stock from the short period I used to work there, but I am sure they amount to nothing.