NTT Communications announced on June 25 that the "emergency earthquake alert service" will be commercially offered to corporate customers starting July 1. The service has been on a trial basis.

The service requires an initial payment of 10,500 yen to activate, and a monthly fee of 21,000 yen per end device that receives the alert. Changing the number of end devices costs 2,100 yen per change.

Corporate users of this service can receive an earthquake alert from Japan Meteorological Office via NTT East's and West's FLET'S network. Because of several to tens of seconds of delay depending on the distance from the epicenter (seismic waves travel at 3.5 to 4 kilometers/second), an advance alert allows the users to prepare for the quake.

At this moment, however, the alert can deliver information only to the employees and affiliates of specific corporate customers. Unspecified delivery of the alert and information to commercial facilities and residential areas will be available after the official launch of JMA's emergency earthquake alert scheduled on October 1.

NTT Communications
Emergency Earthquake Alert Service for Corporate Customers
http://www.ntt.com/release/2007NEWS/0006/0625_2.html [1]
Japan Meteorological Office
Emergency Earthquake Alert
http://www.seisvol.kishou.go.jp/eq/EEW/kaisetsu/index.html [2]