frog Redefines Android Experience

TOKYO, June 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Leading design and innovation firm frog today announced that it has partnered with Sharp Corporation (Sharp) to create "Feel UX", a new Android smartphone experience that is easy to use, highly personalized, and visually stunning. The collaboration brings together a global interdisciplinary team of strategists, designers, and engineers across both companies to design a distinctive and meaningful connected experience for the next generation of Sharp's AQUOS smartphones.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120617/CN23787 )

According to global business analytics firm comScore, four out of five mobile phone users in Japan currently own a feature phone. However, in February 2012, the number of purchased smartphones surpassed the number of feature phones over the same period. This signals an ever-increasing importance for handset manufacturers to design and develop compelling and differentiated smartphone experiences for consumers.

"To capture the expanding market of smartphone users, we wanted the new Sharp AQUOS handsets to be a unique kind of Android experience, to look and feel different and standout from competitors," said Paul Pugh, Vice President, Creative, Software Innovation at frog. "By simplifying the interaction model and reducing clutter through a more curated experience, it will be immediately apparent to customers how to use the phones and make them more personal. In addition, the design caters to current Android users by giving them new tools to organize and optimize their handsets, while personalizing the phone in ways not previously possible."

The newly designed "Feel UX" for Sharp's AQUOS smartphones will be available in Japan during the summer of 2012 and include the following features:

• Personalized and innovative lock-screen experience, allowing users to browse photos and widgets without unlocking the devices
• Real-time weather display motion experience and animation
• Desirable, gender-neutral palette and visuals
• Streamlined, curated home space to smoothly manage applications, widgets, and shortcuts

"frog was chosen as Sharp's innovation partner because of the company's unique combination of consumer insights, strategy, design, and software engineering capabilities," said Itsuki Kouchi, Division Deputy General Manager, Global Product Development Center at Sharp. "Through our collaboration with frog, we have adopted an advanced approach to Android's concept, features, and philosophy, creating a distinctive device that will ultimately increase the life of the product and enhance customer satisfaction."

For more information about "Feel UX", please visit www.sharp.co.jp/k-tai/ and http://www.frogdesign.com/feelux.

About Sharp Corporation

Sharp Corporation is a worldwide developer of innovative products and core technologies that play a key role in shaping the future of electronics. As a leader in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and digital technologies, Sharp offers one of the broadest and most advanced lines of consumer electronics, information products and electronic components, while also creating new network businesses. Sharp Corporation employs 64,400 people in the world (as of March 31, 2012) and recorded consolidated annual sales of 2,455,850 million yen for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012.

For more information, please visit http://sharp-world.com/index.html.

About frog

frog works with the world's leading companies, helping them to design, engineer, and bring to market meaningful products and services. With an interdisciplinary team of more than 1,000 designers, strategists, and software engineers, frog delivers connected experiences that span multiple technologies, platforms, and media. frog works with a broad spectrum of industries, including consumer electronics, telecommunications, healthcare, energy, automotive, media, entertainment, education, finance, retail, and fashion. Clients include Disney, GE, HP, Intel, Microsoft, MTV, Qualcomm, Siemens, and many other Fortune 500 brands. Founded in 1969, frog is headquartered in San Francisco, with locations in Amsterdam, Austin, Boston, Bangalore, Johannesburg, Kiev, Milan, Munich, New York, Seattle, Shanghai, and Vinnitsa. frog is a company of the Aricent Group, a global innovation and technology services firm. The Aricent Group is owned by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Sequoia Capital, The Family Office, and CPP Investment Board. frog is a Global Growth Company member of the World Economic Forum.

For more information, please visit www.frogdesign.com.

Contact

Emily Chong
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Tel + 86 21 6157 7129
Mobile + 86 186 2130 8910

SOURCE frog