$1 social business app for smartphone users

TOKYO — Uniqlo has announced the release of The Value of $1 Android application for smartphones, the latest initiative in its growing social business program.

This initiative extends Uniqlo’s partnership with social business pioneer Grameen by offering smartphone users around the world an opportunity to support educational programs for children in Bangladesh through a single US dollar or equivalent in the local currency.

The Value of $1 project is based on the concept of connecting people around the world through the value of investing one US dollar.

By simply purchasing The Value of $1 Android application, smartphone users can directly participate in a social business in a new way.

The app supports several languages, including English, Japanese, French, Korean and Chinese (simplified and traditional) and will be available to smartphone users around the world for $1 via the Android Market online store.

All the proceeds from the first 10,000 sales of the app will go to the production of fun learning T-shirts and study booklets designed to promote literacy among children in Bangladesh.

Sales of the app will enable Grameen Uniqlo to sell learning sets worth $2 for the equivalent of $1 in the local currency.

The entire process from manufacturing to marketing will be handled locally and any profits will be reinvested by Grameen Uniqlo in projects designed to contribute to Bangladeshi society through the local production and marketing of clothing.

Smartphone users who register for the project through the app receive an electronic certificate of participation, which will track the progress of the production and marketing process, giving the participants the opportunity to actually see their $1 investment at work.

Users of the app can also download a fun electronic learning aid in Bengali, the official language of Bangladesh.

The pay version of The Value of $1 app is limited to the first 10,000 participants. A free version of the app will be available for download after the project ends.

For more information on The Value of $1 Android app, visit http://www.grameenuniqlo.com.