EXCLUSIVE: Japan’s Weathernews Launches App Worldwide in 57 Languages

Tokyo, Aug. 6 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Weathernews Inc. is rolling out on Thursday the global version of its weather app in 57 languages, including English, Chinese and Hindi, Jiji Press has learned. The app, dubbed Weathernews, is expected to help promote early preparations against disasters by delivering alerts when rain clouds approach and providing users with consolidated weather warnings from around the world. The global version of the app allows users to monitor weather conditions and rain cloud movements within a square kilometer, with the information updated every 10 minutes. Users can also receive alerts for heavy rain in locations they choose in advance. While the basic function of the app is available for free, additional features, such as checking the state of rain clouds three hours ahead and accessing the previous day’s weather satellite images, require fees. The monthly fee is 1.99 dollars in the United States and 1.99 euros in the eurozone. The weather forecasting company aims to generate 5 billion yen in revenue from the global version, including service fees and advertising income, over the next five years. Following the launch, Weathernews plans to enhance the accuracy of its weather forecast by incorporating reports on local sky conditions and perceived weather conditions from users around the world. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]