The service counter will assist students and business transferees from Japan in applying for cell phone service in the U.S. It will also provide the means for pre-registering for DOCOMO’s cell phone service to allow subscribers to have ready access upon returning to Japan. Also, the service counter will assist in providing support for DOCOMO customers traveling overseas, helping subscribers with DOCOMO’s international roaming services, furnishing free battery charging service and rendering help in the case of stolen or lost cell phones.

So for now, at least, it’s “look but don’t touch” for interested US users. The store is definitely still worth a visit, as you can browse a wide selection of books, manga, gadgets, and more. Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Our Tokyo office has a blog and even a shop so you can get the latest trends and merchandise direct from Japan.

Sliding the handset into the specially designed “hybrid” book creates a bordered reading window around the touch-screen. Reading the pages then becomes an interactive process, touching the moving animations on the screen directly or tilting the book, but still turning pages to create new borders.

For more information or to watch a video on the app, please visit our Mobile Trendpool (subscription required).

Children (or, conceivably, adults who are children at heart) go from station to station to pick each element of their robot—a body here, and arm there. Once the robot is physically put together, it goes to Mission Control, where owners use touchscreens to program the robot with light and sound effects.  This step also sends the owner an e-mail invitation to the website, Galaxy Online, where they can create a robot avatar, play games, and download new content to their robot. As a final touch, the robot powers up in an activation chamber, accompanied by flashing lights and dramatic sound effects (see the video below for a demonstration).

Robot Galaxy has refreshed a classic children’s toy by incorporating customization, digital components, and experiential retail. We think it will be interesting to see how this brand develops as these trends move from perks to necessities.

New beauty apps are letting consumers experience virtual makeovers right on their smartphones. App developer ModiFace, for instance, has released a line of apps that lets users take a picture of themselves and envision a new look: they can apply make up, try a new hair color, or even see their body shape after weight loss.

Beauty gurus and cosmetics companies are also creating apps in order to connect with customers. Make-up artist Carmindy, known for her work on TLC’s show “What Not to Wear,” will release a beauty app along with her new book. And Lancome, L’Oreal, and Avon have released apps featuring everything from application techniques to information on seasonal looks…

To learn more about this and other trends, please visit the Mobile Trendpool (subscription required).

As might be expected from the name, Organicoa uses organic ingredients in its hot chocolate, snacks, and branded sweaters. The company is environmentally conscious and uses recycled materials whenever possible: many of the furniture and decorations are repurposed or built from scrap materials.

Organicoa is a great example of how seemingly unrelated trends can be combined into a new business concept, and a good cup of hot chocolate besides. You can visit Organicoa for yourself on the corner of Broome and Lafayette in SoHo.

The real-time text message version is begun by texting SPY to a designated number. Hasbro then sends back six text messages throughout the game to spur on the action. When things get tough, players can text HELP for further clues.

Players are charged for every text message they send, the recognizable commands being SPY, HELP, PAUSE, RESUME, and STOP.

Participating mobile operators include AT&T, T-Mobile US, Nextel, Boost, Virgin, US Cellular, NTelos, Dobson, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and Cincinnati Bell Wireless. Hasbro has pledged to support the game with text messages until December 2011.

Hasbro is clearly attempting to attract a younger generation, brought up on digital media, to more traditional board games. By integrating a mobile element, board games can offer an optional extra layer of stimulation to an existing game. Despite the fact that mobile phones are used, hybrid mobile-board games can actually facilitate face-to-face interaction.

For more developments in the mobile industry, please visit our Mobile Trendpool (subscription required).

Over US$8 million has been raised via mobile text donations. Jeffrey Nelson of Verizon Wireless noted that SMS donation was about US$4 million for the entire 2009 calendar year. Of the US$35 million the American Red Cross has received since Thursday, US$5 million was given to them through their mobile donation service provided by mGive.

Firms such as mGive as well as mCommons have been providing SMS donation services for a few years. However, until this week, this method of giving has been relatively unknown.

Typically, mobile donation firms cut deals with wireless carriers to reduce fees to non-profit firms raising money. However, the four major US carriers—Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile—have announced that customers will not be charged the typical SMS fee for sending a text message. T-Mobile also said that it would not charge people calling Haiti through January 31, and retroactively remove charges starting on January 12th, when the earthquake occurred.

Social media played an important part in the increased use of mobile donations. People used Facebook and Twitter to alert their friends and followers on how to donate. Over 150,000 Twitter updates have the words “Haiti” and “Red Cross.” Haitian singer-songwriter Wyclef Jean requested that his 1.4 million Twitter followers donate to Yele Haiti Foundation using text messaging. Also, the White House blog let people know how to give via SMS.

Donors may not be aware, though, that their contributions may take up to 90 days to reach charitable organizations as telecommunications companies typically do not transfer money until customers have paid their phone bills. Several companies have already stated that their are working to find a way to transfer money sooner, and Verizon has stated that it will advance US$3 million of SMS donations. Although this delay is undesirable, the relative ease of making a donation by text encourages people to give rather than not give at all.

To donate to Haitian relief efforts:

- Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross.
- Text the word “YELE” to 501501 to donate $5 to the Yele Haiti foundation.
- Text the word “HAITI” to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund.
- Text “HAITI” to 25383 to donate $5 to the International Rescue Committee.
- Text “HAITI” to 85944 to donate $10 to the International Medical Corps.

The two-way transfer system sends photos taken with your mobile to your PC, TV or other device simply by touching a panel connected to the latter. And, vice versa, data could be transferred from the same devices back to the mobile. There is no USB or other connection to your mobile device and the image (or other data) appears instantly on the display linked to the touch panel…

For more on CEATEC 2009, please visit the Mobile Trendpool (subscription required).

For example, users can point the phone at the stage and the app will display the band that is playing…

To read more about this app, please visit the Mobile Trendpool (subscription required).

When a consumer sees a product they want, they touch with their phone the menu on the left-hand screen and they receive the sample at the bottom. Putting the sample in front of the camera displays on the screen data about price and calories (if a food product).

Mobile integration is achieved through RFID chips and QR codes which, when scanned can both identify customers and serve as verification for coupons or other discounts. Over time, the vendor will know the needs and desires of each customer intimately, and can then target them with ads and offer tailored to them.

For more posts on Japan and new mobile technology, please visit our Mobile Trendpool (subscription required).