KDDI : KDDI America, and Station Digital Media form Capital and Business Alliance for International Development of Connected Cars and IoT

• KDDI Corporation
• KDDI America, Inc.
• Station Digital Media, Inc.

February 10,2021

KDDI CORPORATION (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Makoto Takahashi, hereinafter referred to as KDDI) and Station Digital Media, Inc. (Headquarters: California, U.S.A., CEO: August Lopez, hereinafter referred to as 'Station Digital Media') entered into a capital and business alliance agreement (hereinafter referred to as the 'Alliance') on January 29, 2021, in order to provide one-stop services ranging from communications to service platforms and mobile applications for connected cars and IoT devices. KDDI, together with KDDI America (Head office: New York, USA; President: Masatoshi Nobuhara; hereinafter 'KDDI America'), acquired a part of the shares issued by Station Digital Media making it an equity affiliate of KDDI.

Station Digital Media is a leading application vendor that provides applications and products for connected services. The company has a proven track record in planning and developing mobile applications with superior CX (customer experience) design for multiple global automakers, and has received high praise for improving the value of customer experience. Station Digital Media also has a lineup of various products, including API [1] integration tools, multilingual application management tools, and push notification management and analysis tools, enabling the rapid construction and expansion of platforms for providing connected services while also reducing operational costs.

KDDI provides the 'KDDI IoT Worldwide Architecture' a platform that seamlessly connects communication modules installed in customers' devices to networks in countries around the world, and the 'Global Communication Platform,' which, based on the location information of vehicles equipped with in-vehicle communication devices, automatically connects to the appropriate communication carriers selected for each country or region and monitors communication status in an integrated manner. KDDI provides over 16 million [2] IoT network circuits to companies around the world (*see note below). In particular, the 'Global Communications Platform' is used in 79 countries and regions around the world as the foundation for connected services that expand the connection between people and cars, providing even greater safety and creating new experiences and value.

The partnership between KDDI, which provides the communication layer, and Station Digital Media, which develops mobile applications for the upper layers of communication, will create a one-stop solution for connected services from communication devices to communication networks, IoT service platforms, and mobile applications. In addition, by utilizing the data accumulated from connected cars, IoT devices, and end-user applications, the companies will promote the creation and development of new businesses on a global level.

Outline of the Business Alliance

Through this alliance, the three companies will work with automakers around the world and customers in various business domains to expand the points of contact between people and vehicles and IoT devices, and contribute to the spread of IoT services that enhance the value to and experience of customers.

KDDI CORPORATION

KDDI has a total of approximately 58 million subscribers, both individual and corporate, and is promoting the 'Fusion of Communications and Life Design' by expanding its businesses with a focus on communications. For individual customers, in addition to mobile and fixed-line communication services mainly under the 'au' brand, KDDI provides life design services such as commerce, finance, energy, entertainment, and education. Internationally, KDDI provides services for individual customers in Myanmar and Mongolia, and are developing a model of 'integration of telecommunications and life design'.

KDDI supports the digital transformation of corporate customers by utilizing technologies such as 5G and IoT and leverages its IoT Global Platform and TELEHOUSE to provide one-stop solutions and services to contribute to customers' global business. As a company that contributes to the sustainable growth of society, KDDI Group will accelerate its efforts to address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aim for sustainable growth and development together with its customers and society.

KDDI America, Inc.

KDDI America, Inc. was established in 1989 and has been providing one-stop ICT solutions for 30 years. The company has eight offices in the U.S., with its service area covering North and Latin America.
Since last year, KDDI America has also started its connected car business, providing services to Toyota Motor Corporation and Mazda Motor Corporation in the United States. In order to realize the optimal digital transformation for its customers, the company is expanding its IoT, messaging services, and cloud services, as well as strengthening its consulting and construction services in the application field. Through these efforts, KDDI America will do its utmost to support its customers in the challenges they face.

Station Digital Media

Station Digital Media, founded by August Lopez in 2013, provides mobile solutions for connected cars. With strengths in visual design, CX, and mobile app planning and development, Station Digital Media has been successful in winning development projects for several global automakers. With its depth of connected car mobile experience and established technology leadership in the industry, in 2019, the company began to move from engineering services (only) into developing its own licensed product business.