Glance, the revolutionary smart lock screen platform, is making waves in Japan by transforming the way consumers engage with the internet. As the world becomes increasingly information-heavy, it can be overwhelming for smartphone users to decide what content to consume. Searching, downloading multiple apps, and scrolling through endless feeds can leave consumers mentally exhausted. Glance aims to simplify this process by making smartphones smarter and easier to use.
Glance offers a wide range of experiences directly on the lock screens of Android smartphones. Through its AI-driven platform, users can enjoy instant games, live game streaming, news, sports, lifestyle, fashion, entertainment, shopping, and live content without the need to unlock their phones, download multiple apps, or spend time searching for relevant content. The platform personalizes these experiences using AI, ensuring that users are presented with content that is most relevant and important to them.
Co-founder of InMobi Group and COO & president of Piyush Shah describes Glance as unlocking the power of the lock screen and transforming it from a passive feature into a smart lock screen. Users check their lock screens over 100 times a day, but typically only use them for notifications, battery, and time. With Glance’s smart lock screen, users can stay up to date with everything that interests them throughout the day without needing to unlock their phones.
The launch of Glance in Japan is a significant milestone for the company. Initially available to subscribers of SoftBank Corp using Xiaomi and Motorola smartphones, Glance aims to expand its presence to other big carriers and Android smartphone brands in Japan in the coming quarters. Globally, Glance is already present on over 450 million Android smartphones and has over 230 million active users, predominantly in India and Indonesia. The platform recently launched in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, with plans to be on over one billion phones in the next two years.
For carriers and smartphone brands, Glance presents an opportunity to differentiate themselves and enhance consumer engagement through a unique experience. The platform has already been integrated into smartphones by the top six Android phone brands in multiple markets globally. Now, carriers and brands in Japan can offer this innovative and captivating mobile experience to their consumers.
Glance has partnered with Japan’s biggest publishers to deliver news, trending content, and gaming experiences on the lock screen. Notable partners include Yahoo Japan Corporation, LINE Digital Frontier Corporation, dely Inc., Ikkyu Corporation, C Channel Corporation, SoftBank Corporation, Mybest Inc., and AllAbout Inc. These partnerships allow publishers to reach the right consumers on a large scale, and more publishers are expected to join the platform in the future.
To cater to its growing presence in Japan, Glance has established a strong team in Tokyo led by Masato Ito, Head of Market Development Japan. The platform’s commitment to the Japanese market is reflected in its plans to significantly expand the Tokyo team in the coming quarters. Glance is also eyeing further expansion into other regions and aims to launch in the US soon. Headquartered in Singapore, Glance has secured funding from investors such as Jio Platforms, Google, and Mithril Capital.
Glance’s launch in Japan marks a significant step forward in revolutionizing how consumers engage with the internet. By simplifying the smartphone experience and delivering personalized content directly on the lock screen, Glance is reshaping the way users discover and consume information. With its expanding presence and commitment to innovation, Glance is poised to continue its global growth and provide users worldwide with a smarter and more enjoyable way to interact with their smartphones.
