SOURCENEXT to Begin Sales of Packaged Android Applications

TOKYO, Sept. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SOURCENEXT Corporation of Tokyo announced on September 16 that it plans to begin sales of self-developed packaged Android applications. These applications, which will be released under the series title, "Android GENSEN (Selected) Application," are expected to be sold at retail stores throughout Japan.

In the initial launch in September, SOURCENEXT plans to release 10 titles, which include products developed by SOURCENEXT and also other popular Android applications developed by other software companies. SOURCENEXT has a goal to continue to expand its partnerships with other companies and to broaden the product line-up to over 100 titles in the next 3 years.

[About Japanese Market]
In Japan, most people purchase their mobile phones (including Android devices) at retail stores, and the total number of retail stores in Japan is very significant -- with more than 3,000 electronics retail stores and more than 8,000 stores run by telecommunication companies(1). In addition to this, there are approximately 190.12 million mobile phone users presently in Japan(2) and it is expected that there will be a dramatic shift from mobile phones to smartphones as users renew their phones at these stores.

With its history and experience as the No.1 selling PC anti-virus software in Japan(3), and also with its direct sales channels to electronics retail stores throughout Japan, SOURCENEXT plans to introduce this new line-up of packaged "Android GENSEN (Selected) Application" to users and allow them to conveniently purchase applications when they come to purchase their new Android devices.

(1) As of September 2011 researched by SOURCENEXT
(2) As of end of March 2011, researched by M.M Souken Co., Ltd.
(3) January-June 2011 According to GfK Japan research of sales data for major domestic electronics retailers

[Merits to Users]
Although there are many fine-quality foreign applications in the Android Market, most Japanese people are reluctant when it comes to purchasing them because of reasons such as: they are not comfortable with making online purchases with credit cards, or they find it difficult to search for the application that they are looking for, or they cannot understand the explanations written in English.

By bringing the packaged versions of the applications to retail stores, SOURCENEXT aims to take away these barriers and allow users to purchase the products in an easier and more convenient way. Users will be able to choose the products they want like any other commodity, and would also be able to install the applications more easily with an easy-to-understand manual and rest assured that they would receive the quality user support that they need. Each packaged product also has a serial number for user registration and a printed starter's guide which makes it friendly for even Android beginners and solves many of the issues that accompany buying the download versions of the product online.

SOURCENEXT is a top-class vender with No.1 record in sales for PC software in 9 areas at mass retailers.

Main sales channels are established directly with electronics retail stores and mass retailers.

SOURCENEXT also runs a website (SOURCENEXT eSHOP:  http://www.SOURCENEXT.com/eshop) which has more than 10 million registered

users.

It also has a number of partnership experiences with companies from abroad, such as selling "Evernote" cloud service as packaged products at retail stores and has contributed to a dramatic increase in the number of Evernote users in Japan.  

Main Products
PC Software: 502 titles
        Anti-virus software "Virus Security ZERO"  No.1 sales volume record
        Jan-June 2011
       
        PDF creating and editing software" IKINARI PDF Series"
       
        Movie editing and authoring software "B'S RECORDER"
        etc.

iPhone Application: 59 titles
Android Application: 10 titles

[Release Product Details]
Overall outline of Android GENSEN Application:
http://www.sourcenext.com/en/apps.html

Android GENSEN Application SMARTPHONE SECURITY:
Android GENSEN Application CHOU-SETSUDEN:
Android GENSEN Application CHOU-HOZON:
Android GENSEN Application NAVITIME TOTAL NAVI/ NORIKAE:
Android GENSEN Application NAVITIME DRIVE SUPPORTER:
Android GENSEN Application GPS Golf NAVI SHOT NAVI X:
Android GENSEN Application DAIJIRIN+KOJI KOTOWAZA, KANYOUKU JITEN:
Android GENSEN Application MAH-JONG/IGO/SHOUGI:  
Android GENSEN Application YUKEMURI ONSEN KYO:
Android GENSEN Application MAH-JONG/IGO/SHOUGI:

Contact:
Rui Fujimoto
Produce Group, Produce Team
SOURCENEXT Corporation
Tel: +81-50-5533-9605
Fax: +81-3-6430-6405
E-mail Address: [email protected]
URL: http://www.sourcenext.com/en

SOURCE SOURCENEXT Corporation