ASCII.jp Finally, I hear the story of the development of "Anshin Smartphone" where DOCOMO and Kyocera have teamed up.

DOCOMO announced a senior terminal, "Anshin Smartphone KY-51B" following the easy smartphone, but it became a hot topic for the first time DOCOMO handling Kyocera smartphones.Regarding the background of the two companies tagging and the points that focused on developing smartphones for seniors, Hideyuki Nagasawa, the second product planning director of DOCOMO, and the Kyocera Communication Equipment Business Division Communication Business Strategy Division.We talked to Yasuhiro Ito, the person in charge of the senior business unit department.

Mr. Nagasawa of DoCoMo (left) and Mr. Ito of Kyocera (right) who responded to the interview

The direction of responding to the diversification of seniors matches

─ NTT DOCOMO has already sold “easy smartphones” for a long time, but why did the number of smartphones for seniors have increased at the moment?

DOCOMO Nagasawa (hereinafter abbreviated as a title) In our company, it has been considered that seniors are diversifying in recent years, and the tendency that seniors cannot be put together has become remarkable.As the aging society progresses, the needs of various seniors appear, and we want to increase not only the conventional "easy smartphone" but also the diversifying senior requests, and we want to increase the number of smartphones that meet more seniors.I came to the decision to increase the lineup.

DOCOMO's new smartphone for seniors "Anshin Smartphone KY-51B".For the first time, the adoption of Kyocera smartphones became a hot topic.

── Certainly Kyocera is working on many terminals for seniors, but this is the first time to provide smartphones for docomo.Please tell us how the two companies tagged.

DOCOMO Nagasawa Kyocera has been around for a long time, and while continuously communicating, including product planning, the intentions of the two companies matched and sold a smartphone.

Kyocera Ito (hereinafter abbreviated) We have provided smartphones for seniors for au and Softbank since 2015, but has not changed the strategy.In fact, DOCOMO has delivered "Card mobile phone KY-01L" and "DIGNO mobile phone basic KY-41B" before smartphones.

"Card mobile phone KY-01L" sold by DOCOMO in 2018 is also made by Kyocera.It became a hot topic as an ultra -thin and lightweight mobile phone

Kyocera Ito: One of the other terminals for seniors, I strongly thought that I would look for an exit to spread digital after the 60s.While digital shift waves are semi -forced to seniors, can you support the diversity of the spread?I talked to DOCOMO, and it has been adopted as a result of developing the terminal with a different axis from a smartphone.We believe that if there is a connection, we may talk with various telecommunications carriers if there is an edge to expand the exit for seniors.

── DOCOMO is increasing the number of new smartphones that have home screens and support for senior use for the fall and winter sales.Under such circumstances, why did you put in a smartphone that clearly claimed that it was for seniors?

Kyocera Ito has been working on terminals for seniors since 2015, accumulating the ease of use for seniors and the ideas peculiar to Japanese people.The point that the target is clearly set as a senior and the seniors are packed with easy -to -use functions is different from those that have added functions to standard Android smartphones.

DOCOMO's new model from 2021 winter to spring 2022.If two models for seniors have easy -to -understand home screens and dedicated guidebooks prepared, half will be a lineup of seniors in mind.

で す か Is there a part that is conscious of the winding of the 3G service user, which ends at the end of March 2026?

DOCOMO Nagasawa: The expiration date of the winding is certainly fixed, but since 3G stops, this terminal is not issued to shift, but first responded to the various requests of seniors, and as a result, the customer has a new smartphone.We are thinking of the form that we want to use.

"For seniors" but not seniors

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It is certain that more people are hated by Kyocera Ito Senior.Because it is intended for active seniors and seniors that require anti -aging, the design is further closer to the standard of Android smartphones, and the usability has been strengthened by installing large screens and large -capacity batteries.increase.

Comparison with "Easy Smartphone F-52B" (3 right models).You can see that there is a considerable difference in design and size

It is Kyocera Ito, but if you simply say that it is a high -spec or high -performance, there will be barriers to docomo users who are currently using 3G.Since it is necessary to remove such parts and convey the part that covers the physical decline of the seniors, it is characterized by the seniors.

─ What are the specifics of consideration and characteristics for seniors?

The route as a smartphone for Kyocera Ito Senior inherits the characteristics of senior smartphones cultivated for other companies.However, in terms of hardware, the overall performance is improved, such as installing large displays and batteries in a narrow frame.

In terms of software, we are focusing on docomo's users who are first touching smartphones, such as linking with docomo apps, for example, to make smartphones easier to use.We have prepared "how to use navigation" that teaches and gives new awareness.

"How to use navigation" mounted on your smartphone.It is a function that teaches the basic operation of smartphones and functions that will help you live.

Kyocera Ito And another screen recording function is also newly developed.Senior users often ask a carrier shop or nearby people about the operations that they do not understand because they use a smartphone, but at that time there are many voices that even if they understand, they will not understand if they go home.I was.Therefore, it is equipped with a function to record the entire screen to make it easier to remember the operation, and the flow line is also placed at the bottom of the screen from the beginning.

─ How do you reflect the mechanism that supports the diversity of seniors?

Kyocera Ito has recently heard requests that they would like to make LINE and video calls, or to use them on travel before the corona.For those who do not do much LINE or video calls, we are covering diversity by preparing navigation.

On the other hand, for users who have just switched from the feature phone and have a sense of security in physical keys, there is also a mechanism to install three physical keys at the bottom of the main unit so that they can call emails and telephones to increase operability and convenience.We are prepared.

For those who switched from the feature phone, a physical key that is easy to operate such as calls and emails is placed at the bottom.

Kyocera Ito And another, recently, digital shifts have been made up of cashlessness and service online, but it is also a big point that it supports 5G to cover it.Some views say that 5G is not necessary because it is for seniors, but some have requested that they want to shoot videos and share them with their families.One of the answers to diversity is one of the answers to diversity, as we have prepared specifications that can support such requests and respond to various uses.

What is the future image of a smartphone for seniors?

─ Seniors are sensitive to the price of smartphones, so I think the terminal development cost is an important issue.How are cost reductions and low prices?

Kyocera Ito is not a clear thing that "this is reduced by doing this", but we have brushed up on how to procure and make components to achieve necessary and sufficient costs.Nevertheless, if it is a price game alone, it is not possible to compete with other manufacturers that are given worldwide, but many seniors consider not only prices but also added value.Therefore, we are also focusing on efforts to understand the added value and security unique to Japanese manufacturers, which are consistently doing from manufacturing to development in Japan.

─ How much is the price going to be?

DOCOMO Nagasawa is still under consideration, but I think it's a price range that needs to be conscious of middle classes and low -ends because it is for those who are sensitive to the price.I would like to decide in consideration of that, as it will not be picked up if it deviates greatly from the customer perception.

──What kind of evolution do you draw for future senior terminals?

Kyocera Ito Senior Literacy is coming up year by year, and I think that what I want to do will increase.Until now, it was good to be easy to use, but in the future, we will seek both the functions that are close to the conventional smartphone and the ease of use for seniors.

However, I think that if you are particular about smartphones, your business will shrink, and we believe that it is necessary to promote not only smartphones but also devices and services around it.。

Kyocera proposes a new concept of a senior device, such as "Social Gate," which can communicate remotely through a mirror -like display.

The lineup of smartphones for docomo Nagasawa seniors has increased to two, but I think it is necessary to consider this part according to the situation of senior literacy.The basic route is to provide timely meat while grasping customer requests and needs.

The important thing is UI and UX.In the future, it will be necessary to lower the hurdle of use with emphasis on ease of use for those with a little low literacy, while the specifications and functions that respond to those who have quite a lot of literacy will be required.I would like to provide a terminal that suits the times while discussing the balance with Kyocera.

── Thank you.