SoftBank Launches ‘SoftBank Innovation Program’
31 July 2015 - 3:00AM
Business Wire
Program seeks innovative solutions and
technologies to be jointly commercialized
SoftBank Corp. (“SoftBank”), a subsidiary of SoftBank Group
Corp. (TOKYO: 9984), today announced that it launched the ‘SoftBank
Innovation Program’, a program that seeks a wide range of
innovative solutions and technologies from outside the company for
joint consideration and commercialization.
The SoftBank Innovation Program’s aim is to create new value by
taking reviewed and selected third-party innovative solutions and
technologies and combining them with SoftBank’s own resources. For
applicants that make the shortlist, SoftBank will provide funding
for prototype development, environments for test marketing and
other forms of assistance. Applicants that make it to the final
stage will be able to deploy their offerings on SoftBank’s sales
channels in Japan, and potentially into global markets through
other companies in the SoftBank Group such as Brightstar Corp. and
Sprint Corporation.
The first round of the SoftBank Innovation Program is open to
four categories—Smart Homes*1, Connected Vehicles*2, Digital
Marketing and Healthcare—and applications will be accepted at the
SoftBank Innovation Program official website. An explanation
session will be held in Tokyo on August 19 for applicants or those
planning to apply.
*1 Residences with home appliances and equipment that are connected
to the Internet. *2 Vehicles that are always connected to the
Internet.
Outline of First Round of SoftBank
Innovation Program
1. Entry period: July 31 to September 30, 2015 (JST)
2. Four categories: Smart Homes, Connected Vehicles, Digital
Marketing, Healthcare 3. Eligibility: Program submissions
will be accepted from organizations of all sizes, from venture
businesses to large companies. (Applications will be accepted from
any country, but applicants must be able to interview in Tokyo or
Silicon Valley).
More Information on SoftBank Innovation
Program / Where to apply
URL:
http://www.softbank.jp/en/biz/innovation/ (SoftBank Innovation
Program official website)
About SoftBank Corp.
SoftBank Corp., a subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp. (TOKYO:
9984), provides mobile communication, fixed-line communication and
Internet connection services to customers in Japan. Leveraging
synergies with other companies in the SoftBank Group, SoftBank
Corp. aims to transform lifestyles through ICT and expand into
other business areas including IoT, robotics and energy.
About Brightstar
Brightstar, a subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp., is the world’s
largest specialized wireless distributor and a leading provider of
diversified services focused on enhancing the performance and
results of the key participants in the wireless device value chain:
manufacturers, operators and retailers. In 2014, Brightstar
reported global net revenues of more than $10 billion and employs
about 9,000 people on six continents.
Brightstar is partnering with Kii, a leading mobile and IoT
back-end platform provider, to better connect the IoT market by
creating a new global ecosystem called “Space: The Infinity of
Things™” to support the development and distribution of IoT
products into retail and mobile operator channels.
For more information, please visit Brightstar.com.
About Sprint
Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that
creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things
they care about most. Sprint served more than 57 million
connections as of March 31, 2015 and is widely recognized for
developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies,
including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in
the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin
Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national
and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1
Internet backbone. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the past four years.
You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or
www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
* On July 1, 2015, SoftBank Mobile Corp. changed its name to
SoftBank Corp.
•
SoftBank, the SoftBank name and logo are registered trademarks or
trademarks of SoftBank Group Corp. in Japan and other countries.
•
Information in this press release regarding product and service
prices, specifications and inquiry details are current as of the
time of announcement. This information is subject to change and may
become out-of-date.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150730006813/en/
Media:SoftBank Corp. Corporate Communications Office
(Tokyo)Naoyuki Nakagaki, +81.3.6889.2301sbpr@softbank.co.jp