Kii Launches Carrier-Grade, Self-Service Cloud for Independent Mobile App Developers

SOURCE:  Kii

With 25M End Users, Kii Cloud Joins “Mobile-Backend-as-a-Service” (MBaaS) Market As Its Biggest Player

• Native SDKs for Apple iOS, Android, JavaScript and REST API
• Easy-to-use cloud backend for startups, agencies and even first-time app developers
• Available as a free public beta service at http://developer.kii.com

SAN MATEO, Calif. — October 11, 2012 — Kii Corporation today announced the launch of its carrier-grade flagship Kii Cloud as a turnkey Mobile-Backend-as-a-Service (MBaaS). This move catapults Kii into position as the biggest player in the space, serving 25M end users with the cloud. The Kii Cloud will now be open to independent app developers at no cost during the public beta period.

Mobile-Backend-as-a-Service enables developers to embed cloud services in their apps and, to date, has been led by pre-profitable, small, venture-backed startups such as Parse.com, Kinvey and StackMob. App developers require a cloud backend to understand user behavior, engagement and retention, for cross- and multi-platform apps and for monetization — and MBaaS reduces hundreds of hours of server programming into a snap-in client SDK that can be up and running in your app in minutes.

“Our carrier credentials set us apart in the MBaaS space,” said Masanari Arai, CEO and co-founder of Kii Corporation. “For years, we’ve been working with some of the top carriers in the world on mobile app scalability, reliability and performance. Now, any mobile developer can plug our proven, industrial strength mobile backend into their app.”

Opening the Kii Cloud

Kii Cloud is now delivered as fully self-service including full documentation, sample code, SDKs and support in the new developer portal with dynamic analytic dashboards and full API management. Startups, design agencies, and first-time app makers can now visit the Kii Cloud developer portal at http://developer.kii.com and drop Kii Cloud SDK into new or existing apps. This SDK provides apps with cloud user management, data management, analytics and monetization capabilities without writing a single line of server code.

Kii Cloud provides the backend for apps like i-concier, the synchronization service for NTT DOCOMO, Japan’s number one telecommunications provider as well as:

• SoftBank’s mobile sync service
• Kii’s own China phone PIM backup service
• ASTRO File Manager, the number one file manager on Android
• KeepSafe media vault, a featured app in the iTunes App Store

Kii Cloud had only been offered to leading telecommunications companies and select application partners in the past, but 300 percent year-over-year growth in end users persuaded the company to expand access to its mobile backend service.

Kii technology is proven to be highly scalable and reliable, but app developers also benefit by partnering with a company with the size and scale of Kii. Kii is an established, profitable company with its own venture capital fund (Kii Capital) focused exclusively on independent mobile app developers. Kii also provides mobile app developers access to a distribution network of Asian mobile operators and OEMs (Kii Partners). The fusion of technology, financial backing and distribution partners creates a one-stop business accelerator for participating mobile developers.

For more information on Kii Corporation, please visit http://www.kii.com/, and follow the company on Twitter at @KiiCorp and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/kiicorp.

About Kii Cloud

Kii Cloud is a suite of scalable back-end cloud services including user management, data management, analytics and mobile advertising. Through Kii’s developer portal, developers can quickly and easily persist data for millions of users without writing a single line of server code. With similar ease, developers can improve app monetization by including the Kii Ad SDK. Kii can support smartphone developers using any major platform but offers special native SDK support for Apple iOS, Android and JavaScript development as well as a REST API for broad integration and cross-platform use. For more information, please visithttp://www.kii.com/technology.

About Kii Corporation

Kii Corporation was formed in July 2010 as the result of the merger of Servo Software and Synclore Corporation, leaders in the mobile data synchronization and backup space. The company’s core offering, Kii Platform, is a unique combination of cloud technology, distribution services and an early-stage investment fund designed to help mobile app developers monetize and grow their business. Kii is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan with offices in San Mateo, California; Hong Kong; and Shenzhen, China and today employs more than 100 engineers and business professionals around the world. For more information, please visithttp://www.kii.com/.