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March 10, 2025 ― On April 13, 2025, KDDI will release Virtual Mirai City, a service that integrates "The Future Life Expo: Future City" (hereinafter, the "Future City"), one of the Future Society Showcase Projects of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, with KDDI's metaverse/Web3 service platform "αU." Virtual Mirai City is a virtual space themed around the concept of "Thinking about the future that we hope to live in." Based on the theme of the Future City, "To the city of happiness," KDDI and nine other sponsors of the Future City have created a human-centered urban space as envisioned by Society 5.0. Users can enjoy a unique virtual experience through avatars, exploring a future in which humanity has overcome social issues while trying out technologies that will enable such a future. We aim to provide users with the opportunity to think about the ideal future by exploring Virtual Mirai City. Overview of Virtual Mirai City 1...

KDDI has announced a successful demonstration of its upcoming Starlink Direct to Cell service that enables ubiquitous access to texting on "au" smartphones. The demonstration, conducted in Kumejima, Okinawa Prefecture, confirmed that "au" smartphones, even when out of KDDI terrestrial service coverage, could directly connect with the Starlink Direct to Cell satellite, located at an altitude of several hundred kilometers, and send and receive SMS messages. Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capabilities enable ubiquitous access to texting, calling, and browsing wherever you may be on land, lakes, or coastal waters. Leveraging Starlink Direct to Cell satellites and KDDI's national wireless spectrum nationwide, enabling connectivity in dead cell zones as long as there is a clear view of the sky. This will enhance KDDI's cellular connectivity to areas beyond the limits of traditional 4G and 5G networks including remote islands and mountains, providing peace...

KDDI is revamping the paid subscription service "au Smart Pass," used by approximately 15 million people, as "Ponta Pass" from October 2, 2024. In line with the renewal, the service content will be enhanced, including the addition of benefits such as the free/discount coupon "Weekly LAWSON" that can be used every week at LAWSON, saving a total of over 600 yen per month, and "Ponta Pass Boost," which increases the Ponta point redemption rate up to 4 times (2%) from the regular rate (0.5%) when making payments using au PAY at LAWSON. These additions make shopping at LAWSON even more advantageous. Along with the benefits currently offered as au Smart Pass, you can use benefits that amount to over 3,000 yen in savings every month. "Ponta Pass" (paid) service starts from 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2nd. On top of that, from October 2 to November 30, 2024, a campaign to commemorate the launch of Ponta Pass, "AGESUGI* Challenge Part ...