KDDI Opens Hip Harajuku Design Studio
KDDI has opened an Alpha Pup playland for its mobile universe right in the heart of Tokyo fashion central — Harajuku. Five floors of interactive phones and games, KDDI Designing Studio sits strategically at the mouth of Takeshita Dori at one of the area’s busiest intersections.
At the Ribbon Cutting ceremony on 3 March, we listened to KDDI’s President Tadashi Onodera describing the strategy behind the choice of locations, saying the company has to synch with the needs and wants of its customers and their changing lifestyles: “It is Harajuku that draws the opinion leaders of Japan’s youth culture.” Youth culture is a prime focus for Japan’s top 3G provider. Their Chaku Uta Full music download system and EZ Game Street mobile gaming portal are exactly what the pediatrician ordered for young mobile slackers looking for portable fun. The company hopes a flood of trendy pop princes and princesses will wash through Designing Studio’s sliding glass doors, reaching out for KDDI’s cutting-edge techno fun as they flow on through.
Via: Wireless Watch Japan
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March 15th, 2005 at 7:17 pm
Is it possible to buy a keitai there or is it only a showroom of future products ?
What type of prepaid phone do au sell ? (I am coming to japan next month and will buy one for my stay)
March 15th, 2005 at 9:43 pm
Bob:
Yes.. people can also buy phones at this location, the difference here is that unlike most other places you can play with a live activated handset – not just a mock-up – before making the decision on which model to buy. Note, you MUST BE a Japanese resident to buy a ‘real phone’ contract here. As for pre-paid, I’m not positive, but pretty sure that both DoCoMo and AU have stopped offering that option. Vodafone still has prepaid phones w/Nokia rental shop at Narita airport and Tokyo station too. There are many places that will rent you latest model of DoCoMo or AU WIN handsets tho. Try: http://www.ti-phone.com/english/