EZ Channel Plus

EZ Channel Plus is au's new service that takes the place of the existing "EZ Channel" service.

The new service delivers video content to users' handsets in the middle of the night so they can watch it at their convenience during the following day. The technology behind the new system is BCMCS -- Broadcast/Multicast Services -- which requires no additional hardware for distribution purposes. The four handsets to support the service at its launch in September will be the W43H, W43CA, DRAPE, and W47T.

The videos themselves are encoded using the H.264 video codec, so supported handsets must have an H.264 decoder to play the content. There is however a level of content protection for EZ Channel Plus, meaning users cannot save programming on external memory cards. Furthermore, users cannot manually save content; old content will be automatically overwritten when new content is downloaded.

When the service launches, four programs will be available: "LISMO Channel," a music program from KDDI and record companies, "EZ TODAY's Watch Plus," a news/weather program provided by KDDI, "Chaku Uta Ranking Plus," a ranking program provided by Label Mobile, and "Yoshimoto Industries Plus," a comedy program offered by Fandango. Each is free to use, but transmission costs about 315 yen per month, and requires packet transmission options to be on a user's plan. To celebrate the launch of the new service, au will be waiving the 315 yen transmission fee until the end of December.



Inspired by:
http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/30752.html

Press Release:
http://www.kddi.com/corporate/news_release/2006/0828a/