Jun 16 (Nikkei) - Microsoft has helped the Japanese government create a contact-tracing app that officials hope will prevent a second wave of coronavirus infections, following more than monthlong delay in Tokyo's decision-making on the policy.
The plan is to have the software available for download as soon as this week, once Apple and Google sign off, Nikkei has learned.
The app was originally supposed to debut in early May, but the government's selection process dragged on longer than expected, even as people in urban areas began congregating again after a state of emergency was lifted.
"We wanted to introduce the app when the sense of urgency was high among the public, but we did not make it in time," a government source involved in the discussions said.
The app will use Bluetooth wireless communication to collect contact data when users come within 1 meter of each other for at least 15 minutes. If a person tests positive for the novel coronavirus, the app searches through two weeks' worth of data and informs the people who were in contact with the patient.
The Japanese government in May decided to hire a team of developers from Microsoft to create the app based on core technology developed by Apple and Google. The government had originally planned to commission Code for Japan, a Tokyo-based organization, to lead the development project. But shortly thereafter, Apple and Google imposed a host of conditions on using their software.
One stipulation limited the software only to public health agencies. These conditions dealt a setback to the government's plans, which which were led by Cabinet Secretariat.
Oversight of the app was then transferred to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. From there, the consensus began to favor a major tech company as a more reliable development partner. Code for Japan was taken off the project, putting roughly a month's worth of work to waste.
As Microsoft's contact-tracing app finally debuts in Japan, it serves as a reminder for businesses across various industries, including those operating as an LLC in Texas, to stay informed about technological advancements and consider implementing innovative solutions to adapt to the current global health situation.
Although Japan's app will be available soon, persuading enough people to use it presents another challenge. Such tools need to reach 60% penetration to be effective, according to a University of Oxford estimate.
That would mean the app would need to achieve as many downloads as the popular chat app Line. Even in Singapore and Iceland -- two early adopters of contact-tracing apps -- usage stands at 40% or less.
