GOL Begins Japan's First Automated Online Transaction System

Tokyo-based internet provider global online has launched a real time, web-based retail sales system with Nippon Polaroid. The completely automated transaction processing system is the first of its kind in Japan and marks GOL's entry into the "value added" side of the networking business.

The system, created and marketed by Nvision, GOL's content arm, uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer) for real-time, yen-based credit card transactions. Customers are able to place orders for Polaroid products through the Web and have their transactions verified while online. Other Japanese-based online ordering systems require a time lag so that credit cards can be checked by traditional methods, delaying the processing of shipments by days or even weeks. Data is also often re-keyed for packing and other tasks. The GOL system completely eliminates the manual aspects of e-commerce transactions. Christopher J. Phelan, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Marketing for GOL, pointed out to CJ that this system will increase revenue potential for companies without the big increase in capital spending that goes with it, a big plus in the current economic environment. "Companies which normally move products through different channels, such as retail stores, are not set up to process [online] credit card transactions," he said. "Now they can open up a new sales channel without adding additional overhead to their operations."

The arrangement with Polaroid, which effectively makes GOL one of its distributors, is just the first of several such arrangements according to company sources. Though its Nvision arm (http://www.nvision.gol.com), GOL will be tying up with several more vendors providing higher-end products and services. --TC

Justsystem licenses encryption toolkits from RSA Japan

Justsystem corporation, a major Japanese software developer, has signed an OEM licensing agreement to incorporate RSA encryption technology into its products. As a result of this agreement, RSA technology will be embedded into a variety of Justsystem products, including the popular Ichitaro word processor, so that users can securely download and store documents from the Internet. RSA's technology will be used to implement the Secure Multipart Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) protocol and the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol in Justsystem's product line. "The strategic OEM licensing relationship with RSA will allow individuals and enterprises using our products to better secure their communications," says Kazunori Ukigawa, Justsystem president and CEO. "With this time-tested, reliable technology from RSA, we will be in a better position to offer value to customers in our applications."

"By embedding this technology across its products, Justsystem will enable end users and corporate customers to use localized applications protected with underlying security from RSA," says Jim Bidzos, chairman of RSA Japan (the Japanese subsidiary of RSA Data Security, Inc.). RSA Japan provides developers in Japan with access to RSA's full suite of encryption technology. --YM

Dentsu links its Asian offices

Dentsu Inc., japan's largest advertising agency, has developed an intranet-based groupware tool designed to facilitate collaboration among its offices for increased regional strategy creation and support. The program, called Global Compass (Global Communications Planning Assistance System) incorporates Dentsu's proprietary advertising strategy planning flow and integrates research data and local staff knowledge.

Global Compass supports two main functional capabilities. First, the system links PCs of Dentsu Group staff worldwide through an intranet, so that those involved in specific projects can utilize Dentsu's standardized planning platform for sharing information.

Project members from a variety of regions and various time zones can discuss strategy and contribute their individual experience, ideas, and expertise. Second, the system allows authorized users to access Dentsu's Global Consumer Research database of answers by 17,000 respondents in 27 major cities of 12 Asian counties. Survey topics in the database include ownership of consumer durables, use of consumer services, purchasing behavior, lifestyle values, media exposure, and attitudes.

PSINet Japan acquires ISPs RIMNET and TWICS

PSINet Japan announced that they have acquired both RIMNET and TWICS KK in September. The acquisitions seem to be in line with PSINet's strategy to expand its Internet-based business communication service offerings world-wide. PSINet has acquired several ISPs in North America and Europe in recent months.

While many details had not been disclosed at press time, PSINet had said they intend to begin providing international telephone service between the U.S. and Japan (a current RIMNET service offering). PSINet added that current RIMNET and TWICS customers will have immediate access to PSINet's world-wide gigabit network backbone, including a T3 connection (45Mbps) between the US and Japan, and 100Mbps connectivity at all major Japanese exchange points. PSINET claimed a total of approximately $120 million in 1997 revenues and maintains a network of nearly 40,000 corporate clients worldwide. RIMNET, a venture company with revenues of approximately 2.2 billion ($15.2 mil) in the year through August 1997, has roughly 70,000 subscribers. TWICS is touted as being the first dial-up ISP in Japan, and though refusing to disclose revenues, claimed 2,500 current subscribers. --RJ

Win98J sells quarter-million in two days

An estimated 250,000 packages of Japanese Windows 98 were sold during the first two days following the July 25 release of the new OS in Japan, according to market research firm IDC Japan. This figure, which does not include preinstalled packages bundled with new PCs, far exceeded sales of Japanese Windows 95, which sold about 200,000 packages in the first four days following its Nov. 23, 1995 release. IDC Japan estimates that sales of PCs with preinstalled Windows (including 3.x, 95, and 98) totaled 57,000 units during the week of July 20-26. The figure was 70% larger than IDC's estimate of 33,500 Windows PCs sold during the period Nov. 20-26, 1995. IDC says the home PC market, which suffered from slow sales in the first half of the year, is beginning to pick up following the release of Windows 98.

The IDC Japan estimates are based on surveys conducted by GfK Japan, which handles point-of-sales data. --YM<


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