(Nikkei BP Group)
(No.1 High-Tech News Site in Japanese)
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| Sega Unveils Prepaid Internet Access Service for Dreamcast
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November 12, 1998 (TOKYO) -- Sega Enterprises Ltd. unveiled the pricing
system for its Internet access service that it will operate for Dreamcast,
a video game machine to be released Nov. 27.
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The rates, based on access time, are five yen (4 cents) per minute, without
any membership fee charged. Sega will offer nationwide Internet services,
and has set up nearly 200 access points.
Members pay the fees in advance using "Web Money," Sega's Internet-only
value-stored card for settlement. Sega is implementing an advance payment
system to avoid problems arising from overuse by minors. The company
plans to alter its pricing and payment system as requested by members.
Sega targets shipments of 1 million units of Dreamcast in the period
through March 1999.
"Around 30 percent to 40 percent of the users of Dreamcast devices will
access the Internet," said Takayuki Shimada, general manager of Sega's
network business development unit.
If Sega's business model is accurate, a large-scale Internet service
provider will debut with several hundred thousand customers.
Related stories:
Sega to Introduce Dreamcast Video Game Machine on Nov. 27
Sega Enterprises Unveils Dreamcast Video Game Machine
WebTV-Capable ISP Ranks in Japan to Rise to 14 Companies
(Nikkei
Netnavigator)
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