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Taiwan is set to become one of the first markets outside of
Japan to launch Pepper, a key plank in SoftBank founder
Masayoshi Son's vision of future technology centered on
'internet of things', a network of devices, vehicles and
building sensors that collect and exchange data.
The island is also home of the robot's contract maker Foxconn,
formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co <2317.TW>.
However, Pepper won't be available for sale or to consumers yet
in Taiwan, which like many other markets, has yet to widely
adopt human-like robots as part of a regular lifestyle.
The goal is to rent out 60 robots a month by sometime in the
first half of 2017, Foxconn executive director Lu Fang-ming told
reporters at a briefing.
The banking units of First Financial Holding Co <2892.TW> and
Taishin Financial Holding Co <2887.TW>, the life insurance arm
of Cathay Financial Holding Co <2882.TW> and Taiwanese
telecommunication carrier Asia Pacific Telecom Co <3682.TW> are
expected to put Pepper into their frontline service to support
the basic needs of customers, said Lu, who is also chairman of
Asia Pacific Telecom.
Carrefour plans to start by putting two Pepper robots into its
shops in Taiwan, said Marilyn Su, national marketing director
for the French retailer. Su said the first mission for the robot
is to get to know the customers and see how they interact with
Pepper, especially children, before ordering any more.
Foxconn unit Perobot Co, which is in charge of sales and
maintenance for Pepper in Taiwan, said Pepper is available for
lease in a two-year contract at T$26,888 ($836.67) per month.
(Reporting by J.R. Wu; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
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