The main mobile phone providers in Japan are starting to seriously offer “metaverse” virtual world services, but they are having trouble turning a profit.
They are working to distinguish their metaverse services in order to draw and keep customers, such as allowing up to 10,000 avatars to connect at once.
NTT Qonoq Inc., a subsidiary specialising in metaverse-related businesses, was founded by NTT Docomo Inc. last year. In the NTT Qonoq metaverse, users can connect quickly and without charge on their smartphones and computers without having to download any software.
Users can interact with one another and take pictures with Godzilla in the metaverse space, where a scene from Godzilla vs. another monster is recreated.
Seiji Maruyama, president of Qonoq, stated that “the metaverse is a technology that enriches communication.
“NTT Docomo Introduces Groundbreaking Avatar Technology Allowing 10,000 Users to Connect in a Single Virtual World”
Additionally, NTT Docomo has created technology that enables up to 10,000 users to connect to the same virtual world at once using avatars. In February, services utilising this technology were introduced.
NTT Docomo developed the new technology by easing the burden of image processing, whereas previous metaverse technology only allowed a few dozen people to connect at once.
Meanwhile, a unique app can be used to access the cost-free metaverse space provided by KDDI Corp. There, users can only communicate verbally in the hopes of having interactions that are as real as possible.
In several metaverse worlds run by South Korean and other businesses, SoftBank Corp. has established virtual shops.
Users can ask store clerk avatars in-store about recently released smartphones.
Making their services profitable is a significant challenge given that many businesses provide metaverse services essentially for free.
In anticipation of usage fees from associated businesses, Qonoq has launched a service that enables university information sessions to be held in a metaverse setting.
