(Nikkei BP Group)
(No.1 High-Tech News Site in Japanese)
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| NEC, NTT to Join Oracle's NCTV as Internet Service Providers
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December 18, 1998 (TOKYO) -- Oracle Corp. Japan said Dec. 14 that NEC Corp. and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.
(NTT) will become Internet service providers for NCTV, Oracle Japan's Internet access terminal for televisions.
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The company also said that Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. will produce and sell smart cards for user authentication.
Currently, NEC offers a service called BIGLOBE, while NTT provides a service called open computer network (OCN).
Oracle Japan will provide NTT and NEC with software to build servers for NCTV.
Oracle and Network Computer Inc. of the United States, which has developed software for NCTV devices, started
offering AnyISP, a support program for ISPs, in June 1998.
AnyISP features menus including sales of Web server software called "Custom Connect Server" to develop content
for NCTV devices, technical support related to smart cards for user authentication and support services for TV
Navigator, a browser for NCTV devices.
Dream Train Internet Inc. (DTI), DDI Corp., Interactive Cable Communications Inc. and Cross Beam Networks Corp.
have already joined AnyISP. NEC and NTT are the most recent companies to join.
BIGLOBE, NEC's Internet service provider, said that joining NCTV will help it attract more customers because the
average Japanese spends a lot of time watching TV.
The smart card for NCTV, which Toppan Printing will produce, is for the purpose of user authentication. It allows
users to access NCTV from any NCTV terminal and display a custom-made home page.
Oracle Japan expects that the NCTV business will be boosted through the collaboration with Toppan Printing, a
leading company in the smart card sector.
Related story:
� Internet-Over-Cable TV Trials to Use Oracle's NCTV Terminals
� Citibank Provides Financial Info Services Using NCTVs
� NCI, Oracle Japan Start Support Program For NCTV
(BizTech News Dept.)
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