Delivered on March 30, 2026
Can you identify a company from its IP address? An explanation of "Dokodoko JP" and the IP geolocation mechanism!
Speakers:
Masashi Kobari, Head of Technology Development Department, Geolocation Technology Co., Ltd.
Affiliation and position information is as of the time of distribution
An IP address is like an "address on the internet." Geolocation technology (Geoloc) provides data that can estimate "which region and which company (organization) the access is likely to be from" based on that IP address. The flagship service "Dokodoko JP" can be used with APIs and tags, and is characterized by its ability to return over 100 attributes such as prefecture and organization name. Primarily used in B2B marketing, it identifies companies visiting the website, integrates with MA tools, and is used for advertising distribution and sales approaches. Furthermore, it is also used behind the scenes for country determination, such as "domestic only" for video distribution. In October 2024, new data "SURFPOINT B2B2" was introduced, expanding the number of organizations that can be identified from approximately 200,000 to nearly 800,000.
Accuracy and coverage are being strengthened by analyzing location information x IP. In the future, in order to overcome the challenge that "mobile connections have weak accuracy," we will continue data collection and analysis, aiming for next-generation IP geolocation.
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The Mechanism and Role of IP Addresses, the Internet Addresses
IP addresses are often likened to "addresses on the internet." When you access a specific website using a web browser, the domain name is converted to an IP address behind the scenes, and communication takes place. "IP geolocation" is a technology that analyzes this IP address to determine the region or organization from which the access originates.
Internet service providers (ISPs) assign and manage IP addresses to their respective networks, but Geolocation Technology Co., Ltd. conducts detailed investigations and analyses of these assignments. This allows them to determine which region's users are using a particular IP address and provide this data for business use. Furthermore, there are different types of IP addresses, such as "global IPs," "static IPs" (fixed IPs) that are permanently assigned, and "dynamic IPs" that change. Their characteristics vary depending on the user's contract type, but the company collects vast amounts of this data to improve accuracy.
The Status of the Transition from IPv4 to IPv6 and the Challenges Behind It
Currently, the transition from "IPv4" to "IPv6" is being discussed in the world of IP addresses. Traditional IPv4 has a limitation of approximately 4.2 billion addresses, which is insufficient for the global population and the proliferation of devices. In contrast, IPv6 has 128 bits of address space, making it virtually unlimited in terms of addresses.
While IPv6 usage in Japan has exceeded 50%, a complete transition has not yet been achieved. A major factor is the infrastructure modification cost for content providers to support IPv6. Since users don't perceive a significant difference between IPv4 and IPv6 as long as they can communicate, there is little incentive for providers to rush the transition and incur the associated costs. However, considering its security advantages and other factors, the adoption of IPv6 as a next-generation network standard is a topic that should continue to be closely monitored.
Case Studies of "Dokodoko JP" Accelerating B2B Marketing
One of Geolocation Technology Co., Ltd.'s main services is "Dokodoko JP," which provides data in API format. This service returns over 100 attributes, such as the organization and region of a user, in real time based on their IP address when they access a website.
The most common application area is B2B marketing. For example, by identifying companies that access your website, you can grasp target companies before inquiries are even received, enabling strategic advertising and sales approaches. Furthermore, in B2C areas such as video streaming services, it is widely adopted as a determination technology to achieve "domestic-only distribution" based on license agreements. IP address-based regional determination offers a different perspective on user attributes compared to GPS, making it effective for multiple layers of protection and precise targeting.
Data Evolution and AI Utilization with the Latest Database "SURFPOINT B2B2"
In October 2023, the company released its latest database, "SURFPOINT B2B2." This significantly increased the number of organizations that can be identified from an IP address from approximately 200,000 to approximately 800,000.
This dramatic evolution is supported by the combination of AI technologies, including machine learning, and location data. Beyond simply investigating IP addresses, analyzing latitude and longitude information in conjunction with IP addresses allows for a deeper analysis of where that IP address was used. For example, by identifying IP addresses used around a specific facility, more advanced marketing becomes possible, such as delivering information targeted to people who visited a particular location. The company combines its long-cultivated, meticulous human-based research with AI-driven automation to achieve both comprehensive data coverage and accuracy.
The Outlook for Next-Generation IP Geolocation: Overcoming the Limitations of Mobile Communication
As a future outlook, Mr. Kobari cited "improving the accuracy of location identification in mobile communication (carrier communication)." Traditionally, IP addresses used by mobile carriers, which cover a wide area, have been considered difficult to pinpoint precisely. However, by further deepening data collection and analysis, the possibility of overcoming this limitation is becoming apparent.
The company's next goal is to dispel the preconceived notion that IP geolocation is "impossible on mobile" and build a next-generation IP service. Geolocation Technology Co., Ltd.'s efforts to continuously create new value in location information, centered on IP addresses, the communication infrastructure of the internet, are expected to significantly change the future of digital marketing and information security.
Summary
Through this discussion, it became clear that IP addresses are not merely codes for communication, but a powerful source of intelligence in business. The IP geolocation technology provided by Geolocation Technology Co., Ltd. is an indispensable infrastructure in a wide range of areas, from company identification in B2B marketing to area control for video distribution, and the construction of large-scale organizational databases utilizing the latest AI. In particular, the expansion of organizational information through the latest SURFPOINT B2B2 and new challenges in the mobile communication domain further broaden the possibilities of the location information business. The company's approach of deeply exploring IP addresses, a fundamental internet technology, and adding value in terms of region and organization, will become even more important in today's data-driven society.