March 25, 2009
Wire and Wireless Co., Ltd.

Wire and Wireless Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Masao Hibino; hereinafter "Wi2") will launch an area innovation business on April 1, 2009 based on a wideband, high-security and high-function wireless platform conforming to the next generation radio transmission standard. The business is the combination of Wi2 300, a wireless connectivity service developed by Wi2, and Wi2 Engine which materializes a high value-added user interface (UI).

The area innovation business improves user's convenience and further revitalizes the community through the wireless broadband network Wi2 will actively deploy region by region. Wi2 will provide users with new use of radio broadband over the wireless platform evenly spread throughout the region, while implementing various measures to upgrade the value of the region together with local businesses.
The first round of the business starts in April in Marunouchi area (three buildings of Marunouchi Building, Shin-Marunouchi Building and Marunouchi Oazo) and will be spread to major offices, other commercial zones and shopping malls in the metropolitan area.

Wi2 300 achieves 300M wideband conforming to the next generation wireless communication standard of IEEE 802.11n (*1) and high-security by encrypted communication and user authentication conforming to 802.11i (*2) in its access points.
In order to achieve a high rate of area coverage, Wi2 will make roaming arrangements with incumbent communication service providers to build one of Japan's largest wireless networks. Besides, Wi2 will offer a high level of convenience to its users by providing customers who register their accounts and passwords with a tool which allows them an automatic access to roaming areas in addition to Wi2 areas.

Wi2 Engine which serves the core of the wireless platform offers a unique graphical user interface which links maps with the content tiles which show the information of restaurants and stores based on the activity history and the location information of the user measured from their access point.

Wi2 will continue to generate new usage scenarios through promotion of its wireless platforms and expand the lineup of entertaining contents at the same time, expecting further spread of wireless broadband such as Wireless LAN into people's lifestyles.

*1 802.11n
By dual channeling with 802.11n Draft2.0 (3x3 MIMO), it achieves the theoretical transmission speed of 300Mbps at maximum.
Technically, the standard broadens the bandwidth by using MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output)(*3), reviewing transmission procedures, channel bonding that combines multiple channels (bandwidths used for transmission) etc, while achieving stabilization such as expanding areas supporting wider band communication compared to 802.11a/b/g.

*2 802.11i
A standard for wireless LAN network security specified by IEEE which uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) for encryption and includes user authentication based on 802.1X.
This standard was laid down to reinforce the Wireless LAN security including the solution for WEP vulnerability. AES is an encryption method used in WPA2 (*4) encryption.

*3 MIMO
A wireless transmission technology to broaden the data transmission/reception bandwidth by combining multiple antennas. MIMO is applied to broaden the bandwidth of Wireless LAN.

*4 WPA/WPA2
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2) is an authorization program conducted by the Wi-Fi Alliance and demonstrates that the particular network equipment conforms to the security protocol specified by the Wi-Fi Alliance. It also means the security protocol itself. WPA was laid down by the Wi-Fi Alliance as a solution to the vulnerability of WEP before the finalization of 802.11i. The protocol implements the main part of IEEE 802.11i and was specified as a workaround to replace WEP until 802.11i is completed. Currently, WPA2 conforms to 802.11i and the interconnectivity with WPA is required for WPA2 authorization by the Wi-Fi Alliance.

[Service Overview]
◆ Supported Devices: laptops, iPhone(TM)3G,  iPod(R)touch, Windows Mobile (TBD), Nintendo DS (TBD) and PSP(TM) (TBD)

◆ Charges (tax included)
・ Monthly basic charge of 105 yen and pay-as-you-go with a maximum total of 980 yen
* The location-based area information service and Marunouchi shuttle real-time location search service are free of charge.

◆ Three month sign-up campaign
Customers who sign up for the service in the period beginning on the service launch day in April and ending on July 31, 2009 will enjoy the continued use of the service at the following campaign price.
* Campaign price: zero monthly basic charge plus pay-as-you-go with a maximum total of 490 yen

◆Special campaign for Marunouchi business persons
Users working in the Marunouchi area will get 100 yen off.
* Campaign fee: monthly basic charge of 105 yen plus pay-as-you-go with a maximum total of 880 yen
Users can get combined benefit with the "three month sign-up campaign".
* Double benefits: zero monthly basic charge plus pay-as-you-go with a maximum total of 390 yen

[Contact information]
General contact:
Wire and Wireless Co., Ltd.
Email: wifi@wi2.co.jp
Media contact:
Public Relations: Arima & Shichijo
Wire and Wireless Co., Ltd.
TEL：03-3453-6305　Email: pr@wi2.co.jp