Introduction

Among the large volumes of IT-related publishing content that currently focuses on Web 2.0 and cloud computing, it is emphasized that these prevalent technologies contribute to reducing corporate IT investment and boosting business efficiency (in practical terms, they are generally moving in the right direction). As for the ICT tools that support practitioners’ real-time decision-making and practical action in their daily business activities, little attention is paid to the previous world of narrowband (phone, ISDN, ADSL and 2G mobile phones). Due to the rapid development of broadband in recent years, however—including the expansion of fiber optics and high-speed mobile communications (such as 3/3.5G/3.9G mobile phones and wireless LANs)—a large number of companies have come to pay attention to the significance and effect of image collaboration tools. Japan is especially advanced in terms of fiber-optic infrastructure, commercialization of NGN (next-generation networks), where it is a global leader, and the country also has highly developed mobile phone businesses.