August 28, 2015 Daiwabo Information System Co., Ltd. Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd.

Daiwabo Information System expands collaboration with Microsoft Japan to expand sales of Windows-based mobile devices – Expands sales, and establishes the “Windows Mobile Business Center”, jointly with Microsoft Japan, for enhanced ICT utilization in small and medium-sized companies and in the education market –

Daiwabo Information System Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as DIS; Head Office: Chuo-ku, Osaka; President: Yoshihiro Nogami) expanded the “Windows Tablet Promotion Center”, established in 2011, to promote ICT utilization in small and medium-sized companies and in the education market; and established the DIS-based “Windows Mobile Business Center”, jointly with Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as Microsoft Japan; Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Takuya Hirano), on August 28, 2015, as an organization designed exclusively to support the introduction of Windows-based mobile devices, including smartphones. The average annual shipment of smartphones, and conventional feature phones, to corporate customers, is expected to be roughly 1.8 million units, and over 1 million units, respectively (*1). Smartphone introduction among companies is expected to continue at an accelerated pace, due to the increasingly widespread shift from conventional feature phones to smartphones, and to the 2015 policy enacted by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to make unlocking SIM compulsory, which is expected to extend and diversify the procurement of smartphones. At the same time, shipments of tablet devices have been increasing since 2010, due to the devices’ portability, design-suitability for information browsing, and straight-line operability; and the introduction and utilization of smartphones are accelerating, not only in the consumer market but also in the corporate and educational environments. In addition, coordination between smartphones and tablet devices promises to attract ever more attention as a means of improving productivity. However, coordination between preinstalled PCs, tablet devices, and mobile phones often involves difficulties in management, operation, maintenance, and/or security, because the different devices often use different operating systems in corporate and educational environments. Introducing Windows-based mobile devices is expected to effectively address such difficulties, both in cloud solutions and in efficiency improvement in the operation of multiple devices, because it increases the compatibility with existing devices. Thus, we have established the “Windows Mobile Business Center”, jointly with Microsoft Japan, to manage diversifying hardware and operating systems, improve operational efficiency, provide enhanced security, and better utilize assets. We will provide a variety of options involving mobile devices to the education market and 28 million potential field workers at small and medium-sized companies (*2), both at home and abroad; create scenarios and solutions for utilizing Windows-based mobile devices; and promote the introduction of such devices, through our roughly 90 sales bases across the country and roughly 1,500 sales partners; overall, making a concerted effort to expand sales of mobile devices. As a pioneering organization devoted to dealing in Windows-based smartphones and tablet devices, the newly-established center is scheduled to handle such devices developed and launched by device manufacturers in the future, and to provide sales partners with sales and introduction support. *1 Based on data from both companies. *2 The labor population of small and medium-sized companies is defined as “potential field workers” by the Establishment and Enterprise Census of Japan (2006), published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The Windows Mobile Business Center integrates the technologies and sales know-how of the two companies through collaboration, and we aim to achieve cumulative sales of 2 million units of Windows-based mobile devices, including Windows-based smartphones, in the corporate market, over the next three years, through this center. DIS and Microsoft Japan have the following respective roles. DIS Commencing immediately: ● Set up a consultation window for the introduction of Windows-based mobile devices. ● Offer a rental package to companies considering introducing Windows-based mobile devices. ● Hold hands-on seminars across the country. ● Provide workshops and training at the time of introducing Windows-based mobile devices. ● Provide consultations to address product announcements and needs.      · Propose optimal devices and applications among the wide range of products handled by DIS.      · Make high value-added proposals that utilize relevant customer services.      · Study the development of packaging technology and touch operation of applications. Commencing within the year: ● Create scenario solutions utilizing Microsoft products.      · Provide sales menus, on an annual fee and monthly fee basis, of cloud products, including Office 365.      · Propose optimal Microsoft Intune solutions for secure and flexible mobile device management ,        and for simplified management, together with sales support, on an annual fee and monthly fee basis.      · Provide integrated sales and management of all products, from devices to cloud computing, through a        new portal exclusively designed for cloud computing, scheduled to be launched in January 2016. Step-by-step operation under consideration: ● Provide a Windows-based mobile device experience program at our roughly 90 sales bases across the      country, and at the bases of Microsoft Japan. Microsoft Japan Microsoft Japan will provide DIS with the following continuous support, in order to enhance the collaboration with DIS. ● Provide technological information on Windows-based smartphones and sales support.      · Involve DIS in coordinated sales activities for customers considering introducing hardware and solutions.      · Provide sales tools and contents through the collaboration. ● Provide partner-recruitment and development support for product development of Windows-based      smartphones. ● Provide support for launching scenario solutions utilizing Microsoft products. The two companies will jointly expand activities by proposing solutions utilizing cloud services provided by Microsoft, typified by Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and Microsoft Intune, through support for the introduction of Windows-based mobile devices, and by improving and expanding the partnership program. Special consultation window for the “Windows Mobile Business Center” TEL.: +81-3-5746-6298 E-mail: winspc@pc-daiwabo.co.jp Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00-17:45 (except national holidays and DIS company holidays) 【 Media contact 】 Daiwabo Information System Co., Ltd. Personnel & General Affairs Dept., General Affairs Sect. Mr. Nagashima E-mail: webadmin@pc-daiwabo.co.jp TEL.: +81-6-6281-9100 Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd. Corporate Communications Dept. Mr. Okabe , Mr. Kanazawa E-mail: mskkpr@microsoft.com TEL.: +81-3-4535-8055, main department number *The company and product names above are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies.