The Football World Cup 2000 was around the corner and our client is a Tokyo based organization wanted to grasp and monetize on this opportunity to start its mobile version of ‘Pachinko’ (the gambling halls in Japan). To take advantage of on this opportunity, our client associated with IcreongameStudio to develop the application. We developed the application over a secure micro-payment system. The game implements m-commerce functionality over i-mode mobile phones with high-end security features.

Business Requirement
Gambling is most well-liked activity in Japan and our client wanted to hit this market during the Football World Cup 2000 as people would arrive from the four corners of the world. Our client wanted to develop an online betting game that would be available on i-mode mobile phones.

Solution

Requirement
 Japan offers a larger prospect for businesses dealing with gambling. Our client wanted to explicate and explore this market during the World Cup fever. The idea was to launch a mobile-based soccer betting game. Pachinko – the online game application would allow users with i-Mode phones to access the game, play the bets, and make payments online through secure channels.

Our client and IcreongameStudio ventured upon developing the solution and trap the opportunity to fulfill the betting nerves of football lovers.

M-Commerce Integration for Secure Online Payments
This project was a joint venture between two partners (our client and IcreongameStudio). Before the onset of World Cup our client conceived ideas were implemented and we came up with our m-commerce mobile application. i-Mode mobile phone users could play Pachinko during daytime. They could also buy World Cup memorabilia such as, T-shirts, caps, and badges through the application. Implementing the online payment functionality, however, was the challenging part. With no pre-defined standards for making secure online payments through mobile devices, we developed a micro-payment solution, for the same. To play the game, a ‘Wallet’ had to be created with the client, for a fixed amount. This was a one-time activity, after which a unique login ID was created for making online payments through secure channels. When a bet was won, the due amount was transferred to the bank account and the winner can check the balance amount to confirm the transfer.

Framework for the Games

  The application was developed specifically for I-mode phones (a popular Japanese mobile standard – such as GSM or CDMA-WLL in India) and the front-end interface was developed using i-appli. i-appli is a Java-based service, which allows I-mode users to access & use Pachinko, providing high-end graphics and simple to use interface. Registered users could login to the application and bet on the team, scores or players of their choice. On the backend, JSP was used to communicate with the MySQL database to authenticate user information and access data. To manage transactions, a Web-based administrator module was developed. This module monitored and managed users and their transactions. Developed on n-tier architecture, the application allows scalable manageability and speedy access. The architectural design for the application is displayed below.

Summary
M-commerce is an area where standards are gradually evolving and can take considerable time to mature. However, we implemented the application for our client by developing our own methods of security, while maintaining the application performance. Implementing the solution provided by IcreongameStudio helped our client capitalize their business during the football fever, information security being the baseline of the application development.

Asia
ICREON GAME STUDIO
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Noida - 201301
India

Tel: +91 120 4030000
Fax: +91 120 4030001
E-mail: solutions@icreon.com