Topic: AU
Category: Mobile Phones
Tags: LISMO, W41
Technorati: Linking Blogs

This is the first of several au-related articles we have for you tonight. There are new services, new handsets, and new products to go along with these handsets. Time permitting, we'll be covering all of the above.

The first item to cover au's new audio service called "au LISTEN MOBILE SERVICE," or simply "LISMO." The new service expands upon their existing and extremely successful "Chaku Uta Full" download service.

The "au LISTEN MOBILE SERVICE" (LISMO) is an integration music service that offers various functions and services by connecting a mobile phone and a PC with a single piece of software.

A setup consists of the "au Music Player" audio playback functionality loaded o­n a mobile phone, and the "au Music Port" software o­n a PC; all seven phones announced today feature the "au Music Player." "au Music Port" is included with each handset, and supported under Windows XP.

LISMO allows for enjoying Chaku Uta Full songs that were downloaded using a mobile phone o­n a PC, ripping CDs to PCs, then transferring them to the mobile phone. The "au Music Player" function also allows for a phone's mail and EZweb functions to be used while the audio plays in the background.

The playlists from "au Music Player" can be attached to mails and exchanged with friends. If there is a particular song that the user is interested in o­n a playlist they receive, they can access a download site directly from the playlist, and download the song.

"au Music Player" also features community functionality called "Song Friends." While playing a track, the usernames of others who are currently listening to the same track will be displayed, and services such as rankings for number of times played, playlist sharing, and commenting are also supported. This enables users to exchange information with others who share their preferences. Most of these communication services cost 315 yen per month.

"au Music Port" also supports the "DUOMUSIC STORE" audio distribution service, scheduled to be launched by KDDI in April. It allows for browsing the store, purchasing and listening to tracks, and transferring them to a mobile phone. The specifications of the songs that will be available have not been announced, but users can easily purchase songs by simply inputting their 4-character au handset passcode.

The "au Music Port" also features functionality to backup the various data of the mobile phone, such as ringers, EZ Contents, mail, images, movies, and addresses. It provides schedule synchronization functionality, enabling users to view the schedule information they input o­n their phone via their PC. If the phone number is the same, users can also transfer their old data to a new handset, in the event that they upgrade.

"au Music Port" supports o­nly the ripping of Audio CDs; it cannot convert and handle files that are already saved o­n a computer's hard disk, such as MP3 files. Files that are ripped use the HE-AAC codec, the same as Chaku Uta Full, at a bitrate of 48kbps.

The software is scheduled to be available from standard PC download sites, though certain things may be added and changed before it is released.

Utada Hikaru's new single to be released o­n February 22nd, "Keep Tryin'," has been selected as the tie-up song for the "au LISTEN MOBILE SERVICE" TV commercial. It will begin broadcasting nationwide from January 21st.



Inspired by:
http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/27397.html

Press Release:
http://www.kddi.com/corporate/news_release/2006/0119/besshi1.html