OREANDA-NEWS. March 27, 2012. UNIQLO today announces the release of The Value of USD 1 Android application for smartphones on March 29, 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 local currencies.

The Value of USD 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 USD 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 USD 1 via the Android Market online store.

All the proceeds from the first 10,000* sales of the app will go towards 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 USD 2 for the equivalent of USD 1 in local currency. The entire process from manufacturing to marketing will be handled locally and any profits will be reinvested by Grameen UNIQLO into 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. The certificate will track the progress of the production and marketing process giving participants the opportunity to actually see their USD 1 investment at work. Users of the app can also download a fun electronic learning aid for Bengali--the official language of Bangladesh. The pay version of The Value of USD 1 app is limited to first 10,000 participants. A free version of the app will be available for download after the project ends.