NTT Com and a partner company will jointly test the interoperability of separately developed authentication and software-optimization technologies for information appliances. NTT Com’s advanced internet authentication technology will allow home device users to authenticate their identity through fingerprints, IC cards or mobile phones; meanwhile, the partner company’s software-optimization technology will make it possible to remotely update software for home electric devices, delivering improved services to users without the need for device replacement. Interoperability of these technologies will be tested using home healthcare equipment and a home security system. The test will be conducted from March 5 to 7 at the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology’s research center in Kyoto Prefecture.