KDDI taps VisualOn for 5G mobile video

Japanese service provider KDDI has chosen streaming software provider VisualOn’s media player to power video playback offer on its au Smart Pass service.

Subscribers can now experience video including multiple synchronized streams on the Smart Pass app, which the operator, which has around 40 million users, is using to market 5G connectivity.

KDDI’s basic au Smart Pass provides free apps, coupons, prize-drawing and services such as cloud storage. au Smart Pass Premium, launched in 2017, provides additional features for au mobile service customers, and now has nine million subscribers.

In June, KDDI added video content to the Smart Pass app, using the VisualOn Media Player, featuring VisualOn’s MultiStream Sync, to provide video across multiple streams. MultiStream Sync enables service providers to display multiple camera angles for sporting or music events synchronised on a single screen and provides low latency, according to VisualOn.

“au Smart Pass is very popular with our customers. We are looking for ways to increase the value of the app for our users. With the launch of 5G services, streaming video was a suitable content to expand the service. Our users expect the best from us so we worked closely with VisualOn to provide a compelling, advanced video solution allowing users to experience new ways of watching video,” said Takahiro Oono, general manager of life design service Bbusiness Department, Business & Services Development Division at KDDI.

“MultiStream Sync was a great fit for KDDI’s vision of enhancing the au Smart Pass experience. We are proud to extend our partnership a global leader like KDDI to provide a remarkable experience for their end-users across all devices. We were the first streaming provider to offer a synchronized, multi-stream experience and feedback from users has been phenomenal. We allow our customers to provide a streaming video experience that is better than traditional linear broadcasts,” said Michael Jones, head of product and business development of VisualOn.