SOFTBANK BB today launches its new “BB Soft” software streaming service business.
The service initially targets the 4.28 million users of Yahoo! BB, Japan’s largest broadband service, which is owned and operated jointly by SOFTBANK BB and Yahoo! Japan Corporation.
BB Soft provides a variety of software titles on demand to Yahoo! BB subscribers and opens the door to a new world of convenience in the way that software is distributed and charged. For the first time, fully functional applications can be streamed directly through Yahoo! BB to desktop and notebook PCs and used without subscribers having to install the programs onto their hard disks for each new program. The patented application streaming platform, which provides immediate access to a wide variety of titles and “no-install” convenience in a secure anti-piracy environment, is based on streaming software technology of Stream Theory.
The number of Japan’s “always-connected” users has expanded rapidly in recent years driven mainly by ADSL and fiber-optic technology. Broadband has also driven PC software market growth and expanded service providers’ customer bases. Its ease of use has won broad approval from all groups of users be they children, students, parents or senior citizens.
BB Soft goes further and now enables users to try various software titles before purchase. It also helps software vendors to introduce new billing schemes for their products based on customer needs and establishes an efficient, simple and cost-saving method of releasing software upgrades.
SOFTBANK BB also aims to extend the software market to new customers via the new BB Soft service. By offering software that matches the lifestyles of individual users, it believes that people who are not frequent users of any software services until now will become subscribers and active users.
BB Soft … a Unique Service
SOFTBANK BB offers various services through BB Soft that only it can provide by combining Japan’s top share broadband business and top share IT- related product distribution business. SOFTBANK BB has become one of the most successful distributors of IT-related products by developing value-add partnerships with software vendors, providing them access to its unique business expertise outstanding network performance, and powerful nationwide sales channels.
BB Soft features and customer benefits
BB Soft is one of the ASP services that Yahoo! BB offers using Stream Theory’s “Application Streaming Technology.” With Stream Theory’s patented streaming software technology, software programs are executed on client machines, not on servers.
BB Soft requires users to first install a small program called “BB Soft Player” powered by Stream Theory on their PCs. Once installed, the player allows users to stream software on-demand to their PCs without installing each program on their devices.
Customer benefits of BB Soft streaming software service are numerous, including flexible accounting packages such as monthly billing, expensive/ untried software can be tried and used before buying, software can be used without installing programs on a PC, and streaming on-demand software ensures use of the latest version of any software program.
Charges are from the range of JPY100 to JPY500 per one program for monthly use depending on the software.
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