SoftBank Corp. launches a strategic partnership with a leading AI startup

One-year subscription to the premium version of “Perplexity” – the AI response engine,
be offered free of charge

June 17, 2024
SoftBank Company.

SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) today announced a strategic partnership with AI generative search startup Perplexity. According to the agreement, from June 19, 2024, SoftBank will accept applications from customers using the mobile services “SoftBank”, “Y!mobile” and “LINEMO” (“3 brands”) to use “Perplexity Pro” for one – one-year free trial period. Perplexity Pro is a paid subscription service (regularly^*1 2,950 yen per month or 29,500 yen per year), which provides access to the premium version of “Perplexity”, a revolutionary AI response engine^*2.

Perplexity is a conversational AI response engine that can be used in web browsers and applications. When customers ask questions, Perplexity provides highly accurate answers based on the latest information available on the Internet, while also displaying sources of information to ensure reliable answers. With Perplexity’s premium version, Perplexity Pro, users can choose from a variety of advanced major language models (LLM) to benefit from a more comprehensive service. Thanks to this trial offer, customers of the three brands will be able to enjoy Perplexity Pro as much as they want, free of charge for a year. Among Japanese mobile operators, the trial offer is intended exclusively for customers of SoftBank’s 3 brands.

Details about the 1-year free trial of Perplexity Pro can be found here (in Japanese). We would like to remind you that applications will be accepted on June 19 from 9:00.

(Notes)

*1
Prices for using the Android version of the app as of June 17, 2024. As of the same date, regular prices for the iOS app are 3,000 yen per month / 30,000 yen per year, and prices for the web version are 20 US dollars per month / 200 US dollars per year. You can find the latest prices in any app store or online. Please note that customers of the 3 brands can use Perplexity Pro free of charge for one year in any case.
*2
Perplexity will provide Perplexity Pro free of charge for one year to customers of 3 brands, and SoftBank Corp. will handle the application process and other related matters.

SoftBank Corp. launches a strategic partnership with a leading AI startup

About Perplexity Pro

Perplexity is a conversational AI response engine that can be used in web browsers and applications. When customers ask questions, Perplexity provides highly accurate answers based on recent internet searches while also displaying sources of information. It has an easy-to-use interface that allows customers to specify search scopes and view lists of source URLs and related images. The premium version, Perplexity Pro, allows clients to freely choose from the latest LLMs, so they can benefit from more comprehensive information retrieval and data processing capabilities. Perplexity Pro also has an image generation feature that allows you to create high-quality images in a variety of styles tailored to your search content, unlimited file uploads, and the ability to save your search history. It also supports an AI profile feature that personalizes search results, as well as support via chat-based tools.

(Notes)

*
Unless otherwise stated, amounts include tax.

Android is a trademark of Google LLC.
iOS is the name of the operating system from Apple Inc. IOS is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries and is used under license.
SoftBank, the SoftBank name and logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of SoftBank Group Corp. in Japan and other countries.
Other company, product and service names used in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.