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Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd.
Science Arts, Inc.
Real Estate Listing Service Relies on Highest Resolution Satellite Images Available-
UniLife Offices for Locating Student Apartments to Begin Offering Service on
February 15, 2005 at 30 Locations Nationwide
TOKYO, February 15, 2005 - J.S.B. Co. Ltd. and its partners Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd. ("HitachiSoft") and Science Arts, Inc. announced today that the three companies had jointly developed a virtual apartment viewing system for real estate listings. The service, named Eisei Tanken (Satellite Search and View) Navi, relies on HitachiSoft's piXterra ASP* service to provide satellite images from the QuickBird satellite, which offers the highest resolution satellite imagery commercially available, at 61 cm resolution.
The companies also announced that UniLife, a nationwide network of offices for locating student apartments operated by the JSB Group, will offer the new service starting from February 15, 2005 at all 30 of its locations.
The virtual apartment viewing system is a satellite image-based real estate listing service that enables potential tenants to view apartment listings and surrounding environs located all over Japan, from the real estate offices located in the country. The system relies on HitachiSoft's piXterra ASP service, which enables locations to be pinpointed on satellite images by superimposing map data onto satellite imagery. Map data can include everything from addresses to public buildings and station names. The three companies commenced development of the system in 2004. The newly announced service has been customized for student apartment listings, in a venture that merges JSB's vast real estate expertise with the merits of satellite images supplied by HitachiSoft.
Before the introduction of the new service, the process of finding an apartment generally involved gathering information about listings through residential listing publications, online sources, or through visits to real estate offices. Potential tenants would then visit several listings of interest before signing a lease at a real estate office. The new service makes it possible for students to simply visit their nearest UniLife office to obtain detailed information on the surroundings of listings in the area that they will be moving to for the next phase of their education, relying on information that is otherwise unavailable from conventional maps. The service also makes it possible for students to view multiple listings and simplifies the process of comparing and deciding on listings, which saves students both time and money. For real estate agents, the service reduces the cost and time involved in showing listings to students, a process that is usually concentrated during the university entrance exam season. The service provides a way for real estate agents to better interact with their customers and provide improved customer service by enabling them to spend adequate time providing advice about the student's transition to their new lifestyle. Real estate agents can also spend more time addressing the concerns of students who will be moving away and living alone for the first time, as well as the concerns of their parents.
The partnership between the three companies came about through the planning of Science Arts, which approached JSB and HitachiSoft about the joint business proposal. The current business model offers mutual advantages for JSB and HitachiSoft. JSB gains a major sales tool to improve customer service, and HitachiSoft takes one step toward expanding its satellite image-based ASP business.
*ASP (Application Service Provider): Refers to an online service that enables the utilization of business software or other applications. Also refers to the provider of such a service. ASP services are available to any user with access to a PC with online connectivity, and enables information systems to be expanded at minimal cost without the need for operations management tasks such as version upgrades and backups.
Main Features of Virtual Apartment Viewing System
- Utilizes highest resolution satellite images commercially available. Users can visually verify information about the surrounding environs, relying on information otherwise unavailable from maps.
- Covers every major city in Japan. For example, a student currently residing in Tokyo and taking entrance exams for a university in Kyoto can visit the nearest UniLife office to find and reserve an apartment in Kyoto.
- Route videos and 360 degree virtual reality images for each spot and listing. Students can virtually experience the school commuting route from the apartment listing to the nearest train or subway station.
- Extensive library of photos and virtual reality images covering almost every lifestyle detail. Provides images for everything from apartment amenities such as entrance areas, parking areas and parcel delivery mailboxes to school commuting routes, commute times and cost of public transportation passes. Also includes images of nearest banks and convenience stores.
- View listings for multiple schools. Obtain listing information for multiple schools to tailor the apartment search to individual needs. Ideal for students taking entrance exams for more than one school.
- Up-to-date satellite imagery. Satellite images for high density population areas will be updated every six months to provide the most up-to-date images.
Future Services Targeting Real Estate Industry
In its present form, the virtual apartment viewing system has been designed to JSB's specifications for use with student apartment listings. Looking forward, HitachiSoft will modify the system according to the needs of other areas of business covered by the real estate industry. HitachiSoft plans to roll out the new services in May 2005.
- ASP format means that services are available to any user with access to a PC with online connectivity.Simply become a subscriber to easily add the service to your business.
- The service is scheduled to be provided for a fixed monthly fee. Planned subscription fee format means minimal up-front costs at minimal risk to subscribers. Link capability to existing databases.By linking ASP services to a company's existing database, subscribers gain centralized control over data and stronger security by relying on operations management
- Projected subscriber base of 1,000 terminals by end of FY2005, reaching 5,000 terminals by end of FY2007.
JSB currently operates 30 UniLife offices throughout Japan from Hokkaido to Kyushu, concentrating on ordinance-designated cities. The company plans to open at least one UniLife office in each of Japan's 47 prefectures including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hokkaido, offering the new service as a core service to customers. Looking forward JSB will seek to expand its UniLife business, building close ties with each region, in an effort to provide greater convenience for customers.
In addition to this new service, HitachiSoft also plans to offer other services for a wide range of applications including a real estate appraisal service that will combine satellite images with land value information and other data offering added value. The company hopes to obtain 1,000 subscribers annually for the real estate appraisal service. HitachiSoft also plans to develop services for land use applications relating to town development and city planning, as well as services for area marketing.
Company name: J.S.B. Co. Ltd.
Representative: Masato Oka, President & CEO
Headquarters: 655 Higashiiri Inabado-cho, Takatsuji Dori Karasumaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Pref. 600-8415
Capital: 120,000,000 yen
Established: December 1976
Type of business: Planning and real estate development for student dormitories and student apartments; management consulting for student apartments; tenant solicitation and apartment listing brokerage; publication of Gakusei Geshuku Nenkan (Student Housing Yearbook); other.
Web site: http://www.jsb.co.jp/
Company name: Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd.
Representative: Takeo Ogawa, Representative Executive Officer, President, Chief Executive Officer
Headquarters: 4-12-7 Higashi Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 140-0002
Capital: 34,182,000,000 yen
Established: September 21, 1970
Type of business: Development of basic software for mainframe computers and large-scale business system development for government, finance, insurance and securities sectors. HitachiSoft is also striving to develop its businesses in other areas such as online technologies, life sciences, map and satellite-based GIS (geographic information systems), and electronic board systems.
Web site: http://hitachisoft.jp/
Company name: Science Arts, Inc
Representative: Hidekazu Hiraoka, President&CEO
Headquarters: Nakata-Mac Toranomon Building, 1-1-10 Atago, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0002
Capital: 19,975,000 yen
Established: September 19, 2003
Type of business: Business Strategic consulting / IT Strategic consulting
Web site: http://www.science-arts.com/
Public inquiries about UniLife offices and apartment finding services:
UniLife Yaezu Office (JSB Tokyo)
E-MAIL: yaesu@unilife.co.jp
http://www.unilife.co.jp/
Public inquiries about systems and technology:
Group 1, 2nd Industrial Sales Department, 2nd Solution Sales Headquarters
Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd.
E-MAIL: s-niho@hitachisoft.jp
Press inquiries about this press release:
Public Relations Office
J.S.B. Co. Ltd.
Address: 2-7-2, Yaezu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0028
E-MAIL: pr@jsb-g.co.jp
URL: http://www.jsb.co.jp/
Corporate Communications
Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd.
Address: 4-12-7 Higashi Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 140-0002
E-MAIL: press@hitachisoft.jp
