fonfun

Basic Information

Stock Code
2323
Industry
Information and Communications
Category Detail
Content Production & Distribution
Prefecture
Tokyo
Establishment Year
March 1997
Listing Year
September 2002
Official Website
https://www.fonfun.co.jp/
TSE Information
TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance
Other Companies
Foreside, Primex, Soketts, Papyrus, M-Up Holdings, Mediadu, Technomasema, Media Kobo, BeGreen, AI CROSS, Imagineer, note, Gunosy

Overview

Fonfun is an information and communications company founded in 1997, primarily engaged in mobile content for mobile phones and remote email services, focusing on unique technologies and service provision as a mid-sized firm.

Current Situation

Fonfun recorded consolidated sales of approximately 640 million yen and net assets of approximately 590 million yen for the fiscal year ended March 2023, maintaining a stable business foundation. Its core services include remote email for mobile phones and mobile content delivery, with around 28 employees providing highly specialized services despite its small scale. In the past, it ventured into game brands and perfume businesses, but in recent years, it has concentrated management resources on mobile email and content distribution. While adapting to competitors' diversifying services, it endeavors to sustain mobile-compatible services leveraging proprietary technologies. Past fund outflow issues due to inappropriate accounting have been resolved through enhanced internal management systems. Going forward, it will promote smartphone compatibility and new digital content development to achieve stable growth and customer base expansion. Strengthening ties with major shareholders and capital policies remain challenges, requiring ongoing service innovation.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • Company established in 1997 by spinning off from a game company.
  • i-mode compatible remote email service was a pioneer in early mobile email era.
  • In 2009, inappropriate accounting led to fund outflow discovery, but management systems were strengthened.
  • Previously operated game brand 'Game Village'.
  • Cyberbridge LLC holds over half of the shareholder composition.
  • Early business alliance with Konami led to CD-ROM ventures.
  • Maintains mid-tier market in mobile email viewing services.
  • Actively investing in smartphone compatibility.
  • Remote email service also used by some corporate customers.
  • Includes document management and multi-language services in offerings.

Hidden Connections

  • Deep ties to game and media industries from business alliance with Konami.
  • Cyberbridge LLC influences management as major shareholder.
  • Email forwarding technology may be adopted as subsystem by mobile carriers.
  • Has offered specialized services for mobile market since Net Village days.

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Expansion of smartphone market and rising demand for advanced email features
  • Increasing demand for corporate security services
  • Strengthened integration with external systems via APIs
  • Development and provision of new digital content
  • Promotion of mobile services for regions and SMEs
  • Flexible response to growing cloud service adoption

Strategic Goals

  • Maintain stable share in mobile email market
  • Double sales of corporate security services
  • Complete full refresh of smartphone-compatible products
  • Strengthen new customer acquisition via cloud integration services
  • Promote sustainable operations and regional contributions
  • Achieve 300 million yen in new digital content sales

Business Segments

Services for Mobile Carriers

Overview
Provides email viewing and management services to mobile carriers, realizing diverse added value.
Competitiveness
Proprietary email forwarding technology and mobile-specific expertise are key strengths.
Customers
  • Mobile carriers
  • Content providers
  • Advertising agencies
  • IT service companies
  • Corporate users
Products
  • Remote Email System
  • Email Forwarding Service
  • Push Notification System
  • Email Security Solution
  • API Integration Service

Corporate Mobile Content Provision

Overview
Deploys mobile content delivery and email management services tailored for corporate customers.
Competitiveness
Customizes per customer with rapid support systems.
Customers
  • Corporations
  • Educational institutions
  • Hospitals and medical facilities
  • Retailers
  • Event organizers
Products
  • Mobile News Distribution
  • Email Management Tool
  • Cloud Integration Service
  • Content Customization
  • Customer Management System

Mobile Email Security Services

Overview
Provides advanced security features to reduce corporate information leakage risks.
Competitiveness
Abundant expertise in mobile email security.
Customers
  • Financial institutions
  • Government agencies
  • Large corporations
  • IT security companies
  • Telecom companies
Products
  • Email Encryption Solution
  • Multi-Factor Authentication Service
  • Unauthorized Access Detection
  • Security Operation Monitoring
  • Traffic Analysis

API Provision and System Integration

Overview
Supports flexible service adoption through APIs compatible with external systems.
Competitiveness
Extensive API lineup and technical support facilitate customer implementation.
Customers
  • Development companies
  • System integrators
  • Cloud vendors
  • Smartphone app developers
  • Marketing companies
Products
  • Email Forwarding API
  • Notification System Integration
  • Cloud Email Management
  • Data Analysis Tool
  • User Management API

Mobile Content Production Support

Overview
Offers total support from production to delivery for high-quality mobile content realization.
Competitiveness
Multi-functional systems based on production know-how are strengths.
Customers
  • Content production companies
  • Advertising agencies
  • Publishing companies
  • Game companies
  • Media companies
Products
  • Content Management System
  • Delivery Management Tool
  • Copyright Management Support
  • Digital Content Production
  • Multi-Platform Delivery

Customer Support and Maintenance Services

Overview
Builds rapid, high-quality customer support and system maintenance frameworks.
Competitiveness
Highly regarded for attentive support by specialized staff.
Customers
  • Telecom operators
  • Corporate customers
  • Individual customers
  • IT vendors
  • Service providers
Products
  • Technical Support
  • Maintenance Operations
  • Inquiry Response
  • Trouble Response Service
  • Training and Education

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Expertise in mobile email-related technologies
  • Proprietary email forwarding and viewing services
  • Flexible responsiveness in mid-sized markets
  • Stable customer base and long-term users
  • Experienced management team
  • Diverse mobile content offerings
  • Solid financial foundation
  • Efficient internal management
  • Regionally attuned support
  • Early adoption of mobile email
  • Service flexibility via proprietary APIs
  • Partnerships with major telecom companies
  • Multi-language service deployment
  • Robust security measures
  • Rapid service improvement framework

Competitive Advantages

  • Pioneer in mobile-specific email viewing technology
  • Possession of consistent email forwarding and management platform
  • High flexibility in customer response despite small scale
  • Know-how from past diverse content businesses
  • Deployment of niche-targeted specialized services
  • Building long-term trust with customers
  • Listing credibility on Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market
  • Optimization capabilities for various mobile devices
  • Technology advancement via APIs and cloud integration
  • Management's industry knowledge and networks
  • Practicality-focused product design
  • Sustainable management via stable capital structure
  • Responsiveness to rapid market changes
  • Specialization in industry-focused services
  • Synergistic effects through various partnerships

Threats

  • Expansion of major free email services
  • Intensifying competition with smartphone apps
  • Need to keep pace with rapid technological innovation
  • Risk of stagnant or declining user numbers
  • Competitive disadvantage in funding against majors
  • Demands for strengthened information security
  • Burden of technical adaptation to diverse mobile devices
  • Impacts from regulatory changes
  • Risk of increasing new entrants
  • Sudden shifts in market needs
  • Expansion difficulties due to limited resources
  • Changes in online advertising environment

Innovations

2023: Smartphone email viewer overhaul

Overview
Released an enhanced smartphone-compatible email viewing app.
Impact
Improved user convenience leading to increased usage.

2022: Email security enhancement program launch

Overview
Advanced multi-factor authentication and encryption technologies.
Impact
Significantly reduced customer information leakage risks.

2021: API expansion and external integration strengthening

Overview
Focused on improving external system integration services.
Impact
Led to acquisition of new B2B customers.

2020: Cloud email storage integration development

Overview
Implemented cloud storage for email attachments.
Impact
Enhanced convenience boosting customer satisfaction.

Sustainability

  • Reduced environmental impact through energy-efficient server operations
  • Introduced in-house systems to promote paperless operations
  • Reduced logistics via digital services
  • Strengthened information security management
  • CO2 reduction through remote work promotion