Rakuten and Microsoft have agreed to provide
“Infoseek Mail” service on ”Windows Live (R)” platform

Rakuten, Inc. (“Rakuten,” Chairman and CEO: Hiroshi Mikitani, Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo) and Microsoft Corporation ("Microsoft," Head Office: Redmond, Washington) have agreed to adopt Microsoft’s “Windows Live (R)” cloud service as a co-branded platform for “Infoseek Mail,” the Web mail service run by Rakuten.

Based upon the agreement, Infoseek Mail will shift to the new Web mail service powered by “Windows Live (R)” in September 2011. This will enable Infoseek Mail users to maintain their current @infoseek.jp email addresses and gain access to Microsoft’s “Windows Live (R)” suite of online services, including Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live SkyDrive (online storage). Rakuten members will be also be able to register new “@infoseek.jp” e-mail addresses to gain access to these services after logging on with their Rakuten membership ID.

More specifically, the planned renewal will enhance Infoseek Mail services as follows:

・Unlimited email capacity;

・A massive amount of photos and Office documents can be shared through a single e-mail (up to 10GB through “Windows Live (R)”SkyDrive);

・Microsoft Office documents can be drafted and edited in the browser;

・Video and voice calls can be made via Windows Live Messenger;

・Photos and files can be stored on the Windows Live SkyDrive (up to 25GB); and

・Enhanced measures against unsolicited e-mail.

Rakuten expects that the number of Infoseek Mail users will expand dramatically as a result of the significant functionality and usability enhancements. Additionally, Rakuten will work to further strengthen promotional activities and enhance synergies between Infoseek Mail and other Rakuten Group services.