Science Arts
- Company typePublic
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
Science Arts firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Science Arts
- Legal name
- 株式会社サイエンスアーツ
- Website
- https://science-arts.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Science Arts industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Enterprise Communication Platform
- NAICS
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (3343)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Enterprise Voice Communities & Town Halls (Internal Live Audio) (MPACAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Social Audio & Voice Rooms (BPAMACAK)
Keywords
Where Science Arts is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Science Arts business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Buddycom Software Licenses (SaaS/Subscription): Buddycom is sold as a subscription software platform with tiered plans (Talk Lite, Talk Enterprise, Livecast Enterprise). Customers pay recurring license fees per user ID on a monthly or annual billing cycle. Pricing is quote-based for enterprise plans.
- Optional Feature Add-ons: Premium features such as OpenAI integration (1,500 JPY/user/month) and Safety Support functionality are sold as optional add-ons on top of the base subscription plan.
- Hardware / Peripheral Devices: Buddycom-branded peripheral devices (Bluetooth microphones MKI-P3, earphones, speaker microphones, charging stations) are sold as separate products, including via Amazon Japan and through authorized sales channels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Talk Lite — basic voice communication plan |
| Subscription | Annual | Talk Enterprise — advanced voice and data communication plan |
| Subscription | Annual | Livecast Enterprise — enterprise plan with live video casting |
| Subscription | Monthly | Safety Support Function (optional add-on) |
| Subscription | Monthly | OpenAI Integration Add-on |
| Subscription | Monthly | Buddycom API integration service |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Science Arts product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Science Arts develops and sells Buddycom, a smartphone-based live communication platform for frontline workers that combines push-to-talk voice calling, real-time speech-to-text transcription, AI translation, video (Livecast) sharing, and GPS location information into a single app. The platform is licensed as a tiered SaaS subscription (Talk Lite, Talk Enterprise, Livecast Enterprise) with optional add-on modules (Safety Support, OpenAI integration, Buddycom API) and a proprietary line of dedicated Bluetooth and wired peripherals co-developed with Japanese audio manufacturers.
Product overview
Science Arts provides Buddycom, a live communication platform for front-line workers. The core platform (Buddycom) is offered as a cloud service with three subscription plans: Talk Lite, Talk Enterprise, and Livecast Enterprise. Functionality is extended through optional add-on modules: the Buddycom API (for system integration), Safety Support (for emergency alerts and voice reporting), Calling Bell, Translation, Livecast (video), and Buddycom AI (powered by OpenAI). The product lineup also includes a proprietary range of dedicated Bluetooth and wired peripheral devices (MKI-P series microphones, MKI-E series earphones, Buddycom Open, Buddycom Fit, and accessory charging stations), co-developed with Japanese audio manufacturers. The platform connects to a broad ecosystem of third-party systems including monitoring/sensor platforms, AI cameras, communication tools, and cloud storage services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Buddycom Live Communication Platform Smartphone-based live communication platform for frontline workers providing real-time push-to-talk voice, group and individual calls, livecast video, location sharing, speech-to-text transcription, translation, and integration with sensors, cameras, and enterprise software. Sold as tiered SaaS subscriptions (Talk Lite, Talk Enterprise, Livecast Enterprise) to enterprise customers across retail, hospitality, healthcare, nursing care, manufacturing, and logistics.
- Buddycom AI (OpenAI Integration) Generative AI add-on powered by OpenAI that allows frontline workers to ask operational questions via voice and receive synthesized-speech answers without touching their device. Offered as a restricted free tier or paid add-on at 1,500 JPY/user/month (excluding tax).
- Buddycom API Integration API enabling external systems to send real-time notifications to Buddycom users as voice alerts and to retrieve Buddycom server data (user info, voice chat history, location data) for downstream analytics and AI processing.
- Safety Support Function (セーフティーサポート機能) Safety add-on providing one-push emergency notification to managers, automatic surrounding audio recording as evidence, voice-to-text reporting (ボイスレポート), and GPS location sharing for rapid response to incidents including customer harassment. Priced at 500 JPY/ID/month (excluding tax).
- Buddycom Calling Bell (よびだしベル機能) Calling-bell feature allowing frontline workers to ring other team members via Buddycom, replacing traditional intercom or call bell systems in environments such as dental clinics and care facilities.
- Buddycom Livecast (ライブキャスト) Real-time live video sharing feature within Buddycom enabling frontline workers to broadcast live footage of field conditions to supervisors or team members for remote visual confirmation, customer support, and safety response. Integrated with AI face recognition (SAFR) for identification.
- Buddycom Translation (翻訳機能) Real-time voice translation supporting multilingual teams, enabling frontline workers speaking different languages to communicate via synthesized voice output. Includes a domestically patented transceiver translation function.
- Buddycom Enterprise Intercom (企業集団通信 / 企業間通信) Cross-tenant communication feature allowing users from different Buddycom tenant accounts to join the same communication group, enabling collaboration across affiliated organizations or partner companies (e.g., annual and monthly contract staff at a single restaurant).
- Buddycom Open Open-ear wireless Bluetooth speaker worn on the ear, designed for customer-facing environments where traditional earphones are impractical. Allows hands-free voice communication while maintaining awareness of surrounding sounds.
- MKI-P3 Bluetooth Push-to-Talk Microphone Function-button Bluetooth PTT microphone for Buddycom with 3 function buttons, up to 15 hours battery life, IPX3 splash resistance, and 21.6 g weight. Pairs with Buddycom ear-hook earphones (MKI-E1) or other 2.5 mm earphones for hands-free frontline communication.
- MKI-E1 Ear-Hook Earphone Buddycom dedicated ear-hook earphone with 2.5 mm connector. Sold in sets of 10 for hygiene-conscious environments. Compatible with MKI-P3 and other 2.5 mm jack devices.
- MKI-P3 10-Port Charging Station 10-port charging station for MKI-P3 Bluetooth microphones, designed for back-office charging and storage of multiple devices.
- Buddycom Bluetooth Headset C300-XTE / EW-1J Bluetooth headset models compatible with Buddycom for wireless hands-free communication, designed for frontline workers who need extended wear during shifts.
Companies that use Science Arts
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Science Arts technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration32 records
AI capability13 records
Feature8 records
Science Arts partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- 株式会社デンソーテン (Denso-Ten) — Taxi Dispatch System Type-A / Type-ScoreBuddycom is embedded in Denso-Ten's taxi dispatch system tablets, enabling dispatch center-to-taxi vehicle group/individual calls using speaker microphones in a digital radio-like manner. Includes sub-group functionality for flexible fleet communication management.
- 株式会社ブルーオーシャンシステム (Blue Ocean Systems)coreBlue Ocean Note integrates with Buddycom to enable AI-powered voice note creation and retrieval, with voice notifications delivered through Buddycom to reduce administrative burden on care workers and maximize time for patient care.
- トーテックアメニティ株式会社 (Totect Amenity)coreThe '見守りライフ' (Mimamori Life) monitoring system integrates with Buddycom to broadcast voice notifications to designated groups based on care facility monitoring alerts, with customizable notification content including room names and resident names.
- 株式会社ブライト・ヴィー (Bright-Vee)coreCare Data Connect aggregates multiple monitoring sensors and sends their outputs to care record systems; integration with Buddycom enables real-time voice broadcast of sensor alerts to designated care staff groups.
- エコナビスタ株式会社 (Econavista)coreLife Rhythm Navi monitoring system integrates with Buddycom to deliver voice notifications of important alerts to designated care staff groups, with customizable content selection by facility.
- パラマウントベッド株式会社 (Paramount Bed)coreThe '眠りCONNECT' (Nemuri CONNECT) sleep monitoring system integrates with Buddycom to deliver voice notifications of monitoring alerts to care staff, with configurable per-item notification settings.
- ノーリツプレシジョン株式会社 (Norris Precision)coreNeos+Care 3D electronic mat-based predictive monitoring system integrates with Buddycom to deliver real-time voice alerts of detected danger-sign behaviors to all staff via Buddycom.
- シスコシステムズ合同会社 (Cisco Systems)coreCisco Webex integration allows Buddycom communication data to be viewed on Cisco Webex, enabling system-agnostic communication. DevNet integration page is available. Also includes Cisco Meraki Wi-Fi optimization for reduced voice latency.
- 株式会社セキュア (Secure Corporation) — GUARD-FORCEcoreAI image analytics and sensor monitoring security system 'GUARD-FORCE' delivers face recognition and anomaly detection results as voice and text alerts via Buddycom to staff, supporting rapid customer harassment response and service improvement in hospitals, hotels, and retail.
- 株式会社アジラ (Asilla) — AI Security asillacoreAI Security asilla detects abnormal and suspicious behaviors and delivers notifications via Buddycom as voice alerts and image sharing to individual security staff, replacing slower email or in-person alerts.
- グローリー株式会社 (Glory Ltd.)coreGlory's visitor detection face recognition system (operating at 1,000+ locations) integrates with Buddycom to deliver voice and text notifications of detected visitors, enabling proactive customer service in supermarkets, drugstores, hospitals, and nursing facilities.
- リアルネットワークス株式会社 (Real Networks) — SAFRcoreSAFR AI real-time face recognition integrates with Buddycom's Livecast feature to identify individuals and deliver real-time voice notifications of recognition results to group members, enabling AI-powered visual communication in security, railway, and retail environments.
- OpenAI, Inc.coreOpenAI ChatGPT integration allows Buddycom users to ask questions via voice and receive synthesized voice answers from AI without operating the smartphone, offered at ¥1,500/user/month as an optional add-on, with a free limited-environment trial available.
- あっとクリエーション × サイボウズ (At Creation x Cybozu) — カンタンマップ × kintonecoreBuddycom speech is automatically transcribed to kintone records and location information is displayed on KantanMap, enabling real-time visualization of field communication and location data for disaster response and field operations management.
- 株式会社国際電気 (Kokusai Electric) — ローカル5GcoreOn-premise local 5G infrastructure from Kokusai Electric combined with Buddycom enables secure, real-time voice communication, automatic transcription, and live video sharing in locations with limited or no cloud connectivity such as mountainous areas, underground facilities, and waterfront industrial zones.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Science Arts competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Motorola Solutions: Global leader in mission-critical communications including PTT over cellular (WAVE), MOTOTRBO professional radio, and CommandCentral software. Comparable to Buddycom because it provides push-to-talk voice communication, dispatch, and integrated software for frontline and field workers across public safety, retail, and industrial verticals, and competes for the same frontline communications wallet share.
- Zebra Technologies: Provider of enterprise mobile computing, barcode scanning, RFID, and workforce communication solutions. Comparable to Buddycom in frontline worker enablement, with overlapping hardware (mobile computers, wearables) and software (Workcloud Communication) targeting retail, logistics, and healthcare workflows similar to Buddycom's customer base.
- Microsoft Teams Walkie Talkie: Push-to-talk voice feature embedded in Microsoft Teams used by frontline workers via mobile devices, often paired with dedicated headsets. Comparable to Buddycom as a competing PTT delivery mechanism inside a broader productivity suite, bundled into enterprise Microsoft 365 agreements and competing for the same frontline communications budget.
Direct peers
- Hytera Communications: Manufacturer of professional mobile radio (PMR) systems and PTT-over-cellular solutions serving public safety, security, hospitality, retail, and transportation. Highly comparable to Buddycom in the PTT and dispatch category, with a similar focus on replacing legacy two-way radios with IP-based group voice for frontline workers.
- Zello: Consumer and professional push-to-talk app used by frontline teams in retail, hospitality, and security for group voice on smartphones. Comparable to Buddycom in voice-only PTT and worker coordination use cases, although Zello is more consumer- and SMB-skewed and less enterprise-integrated.
- Voalte (Baxter / Hillrom): Voalte, now part of Baxter (via Hillrom), offers a clinical communication platform for nurses and care teams, integrating secure messaging, voice, and alarm notifications on smartphones. Comparable to Buddycom for the healthcare segment with similar use cases around hands-free voice and alarm routing to frontline caregivers.
- Spectralink: Provider of enterprise-grade mobile devices and PTT applications for frontline workers in healthcare, retail, and manufacturing. Comparable to Buddycom in the integrated device-plus-software frontline worker communications stack, including Wi-Fi-optimized voice quality features for similar enterprise environments.
- Vocera Communications (Stryker): Vocera, now part of Stryker, provides hands-free voice communication, secure messaging, and clinical workflow integration for hospital frontline workers. Comparable to Buddycom in the healthcare vertical with similar nurse call and care-team communication use cases and a combined hardware/software bundle approach.
- Ascom Holding: Swiss-listed provider of mission-critical communication and collaboration solutions for healthcare, enterprise, and industrial customers. Comparable to Buddycom in offering PTT, alarm management, and workflow messaging on smartphones, particularly in hospital and care environments where similar frontline workflows apply.
- ESChat: Push-to-talk over LTE/5G solution with secure group voice, text, and location services for enterprise, public safety, and IoT. Comparable to Buddycom's core voice communication platform with a similar subscription model and emphasis on PTT-over-cellular replacing legacy two-way radio for frontline teams.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Science Arts social profiles
Digital presenceScience Arts compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Science Arts financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Science Arts leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Science Arts funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Science Arts M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Science Arts
What does Science Arts do?
Science Arts develops and sells Buddycom, a smartphone-based live communication platform for frontline workers that combines push-to-talk voice calling, real-time speech-to-text transcription, AI translation, video (Livecast) sharing, and GPS location information into a single app. The platform is licensed as a tiered SaaS subscription (Talk Lite, Talk Enterprise, Livecast Enterprise) with optional add-on modules (Safety Support, OpenAI integration, Buddycom API) and a proprietary line of dedicated Bluetooth and wired peripherals co-developed with Japanese audio manufacturers.
Is Science Arts a public or private company?
Science Arts is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Science Arts founded?
Science Arts was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Science Arts based?
Science Arts is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Science Arts make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Buddycom Software Licenses (SaaS/Subscription) is the primary driver. The others are optional Feature Add-ons and hardware / Peripheral Devices.
Who are Science Arts's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Motorola Solutions, Zebra Technologies and Microsoft Teams Walkie Talkie. Direct peers are Hytera Communications, Zello, Voalte (Baxter / Hillrom), Spectralink, Vocera Communications (Stryker), Ascom Holding and ESChat.
Does Science Arts have an API?
Yes. The Buddycom API enables external systems to receive real-time notifications from Buddycom and retrieve Buddycom server data (user information, voice chat history, location data, etc.). Notifications from sensors, cameras, and AI tools can be sent directly to Buddycom users as voice alerts. Two-way communication with AI services is also supported, allowing field workers to query manuals or record data hands-free via voice. Pricing is contact-based; no self-serve pricing is published.
What industry is Science Arts in?
Science Arts's product category is Enterprise Communication Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACAEAG, Enterprise Voice Communities & Town Halls (Internal Live Audio), with a secondary code of BPAMACAK, Social Audio & Voice Rooms. Its NAICS code is 3343.