SANTA CLARA, July 28, 2015 – Jasper, a global Internet of Things (IoT) platform leader, and SoftBank, the Japan-based, global telecommunications and internet giant, today announced that they have partnered to enable enterprises throughout Japan to deploy, manage and monetize IoT businesses. SoftBank customers across Japan will be able to use Control Center, a cloud-based IoT platform from Jasper, to introduce new IoT services and transform their businesses.

The IoT Opportunity for Japanese Enterprises

IDC, a global provider of market research, estimates that the number of connected IoT devices deployed in Japan will increase from 169 million in 2014 to 377 million in 2020. This widespread growth of connected devices creates significant opportunities for Japanese enterprises. It makes it possible for companies to deliver a wide array of new services through those connected devices, transforming their product businesses into service businesses.

With Jasper, SoftBank will help enterprises capitalize on these opportunities by giving them unprecedented control over their IoT business at every stage - from deployment to management to monetization. This will enable them to deliver IoT services that increase value for customers and generate more revenue. SoftBank selected the Jasper IoT services platform to provide enterprises with the automation, real-time intelligence and ability to scale needed to deliver global IoT services.

“The Japanese market is enthusiastically embracing the opportunity created by the Internet of Things to transform the way they operate, interact with customers and create revenue,” said Ken Laversin, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Jasper, “SoftBank’s partnership with Jasper demonstrates their commitment to bringing cutting edge IoT technology to Japan. With Control Center, companies of all sizes can deliver connected services that increase value for their customers and their businesses.”

Benefitting – and Transforming – Every Industry

Across Japan, companies are capitalizing on loT to become more agile, turn greater profits, introduce high-value experiences, enhance customer relationships, deliver new services and supplement existing ones. The combination of SoftBank’s high-performance mobile network and the Jasper IoT services platform makes it possible for companies in virtually any industry – from manufacturing, to transportation, to smart cities and more – to benefit from new IoT-enabled business models.

“We expect that our customers will be able to easily enable any business in any industry to transform to a connected services business with Control Center,” said Hiroshi Akabori, Vice President and Head of Enterprise Business Development, SoftBank Corp. “This flexibility and ability to support all of our enterprise customers was critical in our selection of the best IoT platform partner.”

“SoftBank is enabling the adoption of IoT across all industries, and ensuring the success of their customers’ IoT deployments,” said Laversin. “We are excited to join forces with SoftBank to help power the growth of enterprises throughout Japan.”

Global Scalability for IoT Services

Control Center provides Japanese enterprises with a highly scalable IoT platform that not only enables them to introduce new IoT services in Japan, but also gives them the flexibility to easily expand their services globally. Jasper partners with 25 mobile operator groups that represent over 100 mobile operator networks worldwide, so as Japanese business aspire to grow their IoT services beyond Japan, they can quickly and easily scale to meet business demand. This also provides businesses outside of Japan an easy path for expanding their IoT services into the country.

About the SoftBank Corp.

SoftBank Corp., a subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp. (TOKYO: 9984), provides mobile communication, fixed-line communication and Internet connection services to customers in Japan. Leveraging synergies with other companies in the SoftBank Group, SoftBank Corp. aims to transform lifestyles through ICT and expand into other business areas including IoT, robotics and energy. To learn more, please visit http://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/