|
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/1/2011
|
| |
DoCoMo denies reports of iPhone release on its network
Thursday, December 1, 2011 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has aggressively denied rumors of a that they had agreed to a deal with Apple in which the iPhone 5 would be launched on its network next summer, following reports on several news sites stating this on December 1st. (Keitai Watch) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/10/2011
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to release the "REGZA Phone T-01D" on November 18th
Thursday, November 10, 2011 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced that the "REGZA Phone T-01D" will officially go on sale on November 18th. DoCoMo users can also begin pre-ordering their handset from November 11th and DoCoMo shops nationwide. This Android 2.3 smartphone also support DoCoMo’s dMenu and dMarket services. (Keitai Watch) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/7/2011
|
| |
DoCoMo and Gakken Holdings team up on an Education business for Smartphones and Tablet PCs
Monday, November 7, 2011 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo and Gakken Holdings announced a partnership to promote a new style of education centered around smartphones and Tablet PCs. The companies plan to provide educational materials to children and adults through NTT’s "DoCoMo ZEMI" service and android handsets and tablets. Development is scheduled to begin at the end of November, with the service scheduled to be launched in 2012. (Keitai Watch) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/20/2011
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo partners with Vodafone for sales to multinational corporations
Tuesday, September 20, 2011 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo and Vodafone (U.K.) announced a partnership in corporate sales to multinational corporations. DoCoMo also plans to enter a similar partnership with CONEXUS MOBILE ALLIANCE with a press conference scheduled for the 20th in Singapore. (Keitai Watch) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/15/2011
|
| |
DoCoMo subsidiary issued a preliminary license for Mobile Multimedia Broadcast business
Thursday, September 15, 2011 |
| |
Summary
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced that NTT DoCoMo subsidiary Japan Mobile Casting has been issued a preliminary business license to broadcast multimedia to mobile devices via the 207.5MHz～222MHz bandwidth. Japan Mobile Casting is currently planning to commence services in April 2012.
(Keitai Watch) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/8/2011
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo aims for one tablet PC per household
Thursday, September 8, 2011 |
| |
Summary
Announcing the release of their fall line, NTT DoCoMo President Yamada stated the goal of "1 tablet per household". DoCoMo’s first tablets compatible with its extra-high-speed next-generation LTE service, Xi (read “Crossy”) include the “docomo Tablet GALAXY Tab 10.1 LTE SC-01D” and the “docomo Tablet ARROWS Tab LTE F-01D” will go on sale in Japan in October. (Keitai Watch) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/31/2011
|
| |
DoCoMo allows competitor products to use its flat rate packet service
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 |
| |
Summary
Following the release of the 008Z on Softbank, its first SIM-lock free phone, earlier this month DoCoMo has decided to allow owners of that handset to utilize their flat rate packet service. When the device is used for tethering with PCs and other devices the service has an upper limit of 10,395 yen. The price for this flat rate service, "Pake Hodai Lite", is 5,460 yen per month. (Keitai Watch) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/3/2006
|
| |
Japan’s DoCoMo to invest 300 mln dollars in top Philippines telco
Tuesday, January 3, 2006 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile telecoms firm NTT DoCoMo is to invest some 300 million dollars in the Philippines top carrier, Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT), President Gloria Arroyo announced. Officials from PLDT, the country’s leading carrier, were not available for comment but local reports here earlier said Japan’s NTT Communications Corp. was planning to sell its shares in PLDT to affiliate DoCoMo. It quoted unnamed sources as saying NTT may even increase its equity interest in PLDT once the latter ventures into third-generation mobile technology or 3G, where DoCoMo has expertise. PLDT’s mobile phone unit Smart Communications Inc was among four Philippine firms that secured 3G wireless licenses from the National Telecommunications Commission. NTT is the second-biggest foreign shareholder in PLDT with a 14.7 percent stake, next to Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd. which has 24 percent.
(AFP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/21/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Acquire Stake in Fuji Television
Wednesday, December 21, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that it has agreed with Fuji Television Network, Inc. (Fuji Television) to acquire 77,000 shares of Fuji Television’s treasury stock (approximately 2.6% of total issued shares) for 20,713,000,000 yen on January 11, 2006. DoCoMo and Fuji Television have been discussing how to link mobile communications and broadcasting. The agreement precedes the launch of "One-segment" terrestrial digital broadcasting on April 1, 2006, which will present new opportunities for linkages with mobile services. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Acquire Stake in Fuji Television
Wednesday, December 21, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that it has agreed with Fuji Television Network, Inc. (Fuji Television) to acquire 77,000 shares of Fuji Television’s treasury stock (approximately 2.6% of total issued shares) for 20,713,000,000 yen on January 11, 2006. DoCoMo and Fuji Television have been discussing how to link mobile communications and broadcasting. The agreement precedes the launch of "One-segment" terrestrial digital broadcasting on April 1, 2006, which will present new opportunities for linkages with mobile services. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/30/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Invest in Aplix, Group Share rises to 18%
Wednesday, November 30, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that it will acquire 15,000 newly allocated shares, or 14.98%, of software company Aplix Corporation for 12.975 billion yen, or 865,000 yen per share. DoCoMo expects to complete this investment process on December 21, 2005.Aplix develops embedded software, mainly middleware for mobile phones and PCs, as well as markets software. Its Java products are sold under the brand name JBlend. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/26/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo "equal weight," target price reduce
Saturday, November 26, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Analysts at Morgan Stanley maintain their "equal weight" rating on NTT DoCoMo, while reducing their estimates for the company. The target price has been reduced from ¥218,000 to ¥210,000. In a research note published this morning, the analysts mention that the company’s ARPU remains healthy, despite the migration from a 2G to a 3G platform. NTT DoCoMo is making consistent progress in its cost cutting efforts, the analysts say. The dissolution of NTT DoCoMo’s capital ties with Dutch telecommunications company, KPN Mobile, would, however, adversely affect the company’s FY2005 earnings, Morgan Stanley adds. The operating income estimate for FY2005 has been reduced from ¥867.3 billion to ¥856.7 billion. (newratings.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/24/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo launches 3G phone for children
Thursday, November 24, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo and its eight regional subsidiaries announced today that they have developed a child-friendly 3G mobile phone, the Foma SA800i, as well as the ‘Imadoco Search’ location service. The handset is designed to fit a child’s hand and can be programmed with up to five phone numbers that the child may call using a direct call button. ’Imadoco Search’ enables parents to monitor a child’s location via mobile phone. The SA800i is primarily designed to help keep children safe, the company said. The handset features a 100-decibel alarm that children can switch on in case of an emergency. When the alarm is activated, the handset will call up to three pre-programmed numbers with a voice message alert at regular intervals until either all numbers answer the call or a password is entered on the child’s handset (Digital Media Asia) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/17/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo to Purchase China-Made Handsets From NEC to Cut Costs
Thursday, November 17, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., the world’s second- biggest wireless company, may buy cheaper handsets made in China by NEC Corp., its No. 2 supplier, to cut costs as revenue falls.
The company is also offering handsets from overseas vendors such as Nokia Oyj and LG Electronics Inc. in the coming year, Chief Financial Officer Yoshiaki Ugaki said in an interview conducted on Nov. 15. Foreign-made phones can be as much as 10,000 yen ($84) cheaper than domestic handsets used on the company’s high-speed network, he said. DoCoMo is preparing for increased competition as the government opens up Japan’s 8.5 trillion yen mobile-phone market for the first time in 12 years. The Tokyo-based company expects falling sales for a second year as it cut call charges to compete against KDDI Corp. "We have to put an extra emphasis on cost cuts,’’ said Ugaki. ``We can’t see any reasons that earnings will recover dramatically in the next year or two as we expect more competition.’’ In addition to Nokia and LG, the world’s biggest and fourth- biggest handset makers, DoCoMo’s foreign handset suppliers are Motorola Inc. and Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB. DoCoMo’s biggest domestic vendor is Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/7/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo buys stake in Tower
Monday, November 7, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, the largest mobile phone operator in Japan, said Monday that it would buy a 42 percent stake in Tower Records Japan to help increase the use of electronic payment services with its handsets.
DoCoMo said it would invest ¥12.8 billion, or $109 million, for the stake. A company statement did not name the sellers, but Takeshi Natsuno, DoCoMo’s vice president of multimedia services, told reporters that ¥6.28 billion would be spent on new shares, while ¥6.51 billion would be used to buy existing shares from investors including Nikko Principal Investments Japan, the largest shareholder in Tower Records. DoCoMo is offering more financial services, including electronic payments, to raise its average sales per customer as revenue from voice calls declines. Like KDDI and Vodafone Group’s Japanese unit, DoCoMo is trying to retain customers and to prepare for measures planned by the government next year to further open up Japan’s ¥8.5 trillion cellphone market. "This would be the smoothest way to spread ’wallet phones’ among young people," Natsuno said at a news conference in Tokyo. "The Tower Record stores will be a model place to use our new credit payment services." (IHT) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/2/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo seeks to invest in Asian mobile operator
Wednesday, November 2, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s largest mobile operator, is considering investing in mobile operators in the Asia Pacific region as it looks for new revenue sources beyond its increasingly saturated home market. "We’ve focused on Europe and the United States in the past, but we think there’s growth potential in the Asia Pacific," said Toshinari Kunieda, managing director of DoCoMo’s global business unit, which handles overseas investments. In an interview, Kunieda said DoCoMo hoped to find a large partner that does not yet have a relationship with other Asian rivals such as Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. and Britain’s Vodafone Group Plc in markets that see a lot of Japanese travellers. Such investments would help it increase its global roaming presence in addition to growing revenue. Kunieda declined to comment on specific discussions, but cited China, the Philippines, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan as Asian countries that are most travelled by Japanese. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/31/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Unveils Fami-wari Wide Discount for Children, Seniors
Monday, October 31, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., along with its eight regional units in Japan, will begin the Fami-wari Wide discount plan for children through junior high school age and seniors from age 60 from December 1, 2005 and start accepting applications the same day. The company said the new plan applies to customers using either a 2G mova or 3G FOMA phone under the Ichinen Discount plan for contacts at least one year long. The Fami-wari Wide discount only applies to one phone per subscriber. When used in combination with a Family Discount plan, children and seniors will pay a basic monthly fee of 1,575 yen (tax included). Without the Family Discount plan, users will pay a basic monthly fee of 2,362 yen (tax included). Voice calls will cost 26.25 yen per 30 seconds under the plan (tax included). (ITNewsonline) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/26/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo to beat 05/06 operating profit f’cast-paper
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s top mobile operator, will likely beat its 2005/06 operating profit forecast as fewer users cancelled subscriptions and revenues per user recovered, the Nihon Keizai business daily said on Wednesday. DoCoMo is expected to post a 6 percent year-on-year rise in group operating profit to about 830 billion yen ($7.21 billion) for the year to next March, compared with the firm’s previous projection of 810 billion yen, up 3.3 percent, the paper said. That compares with a consensus of 840.93 billion yen, according to 21 analysts polled by Reuters Estimates. A DoCoMo spokesman declined to comment ahead of the announcement of its results on Oct. 28. In July, DoCoMo reported an unexpected 4 percent rise in first-quarter operating profit and said the rate of customers leaving its service fell to a record low of 0.8 percent. DoCoMo is also benefitting from a higher-than-expected average monthly revenue per user in the first quarter, the newspaper said. For the six months ended Sept. 30, DoCoMo likely will post an operating profit of about 550 billion yen, higher than 545.4 billion yen in the year-ago period, the report said. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/24/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Ends Capital Tie-Up With KPN
Monday, October 24, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc. said Monday it was ending its capital tie-up with KPN Mobile of the Netherlands while continuing to license its i-mode Internet-linking mobile phone technology to the Dutch telecommunications company. NTT DoCoMo will sell its 2.16 percent stake in KPN Mobile and the right to use technology related to i-mode to parent company KPN for euro5 million (US$5.9 million), the Tokyo-based company said in a statement. NTT DoCoMo will record a gain of about 40 billion yen (US$345 million; euro289 million) for its securities sale but will also record an operating expense of 14 billion yen (US$121 million; euro101 million). Company spokesman Masaki Okamura said other details of the deal could not be disclosed, but NTT DoCoMo is set to announce earnings on Friday, which will reflect the deal. (AP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/20/2005
|
| |
Let Your Finger do the Talking
Thursday, October 20, 2005 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo, the Japanese cellular service provider, has developed a ring that turns your finger into a phone receiver. The company calls the ring Ubi-Wa, that means "finger ring" or "speak by finger" in Japanese. The ring works by converting speech into vibrations. To use DoCoMo’s ring, a user has to put the finger into his/her ear. The ring converts speech sounds to vibrations that travel down the bone and into the ear canal, that turns them back into intelligible speech. The phone is about the size of a quail’s egg and is light-weight. The company said the bulk of the weight comes from the battery. DoCoMo is continuing the development of the ring, though as it shrinks, it may be too small to sport functioning buttons. The solution is to tap out pre-defined rhythms with your thumb, and the finger that is wearing the ring. Each unique rhythm carries out a different function called UbiButton. The phone also supports Bluetooth and according to a report, in noisy places where you cannot hear who you are calling, you simply place the Ubi-Wa bearing finger in the ear, and it does the job for you. (Techtree) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/19/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo Unveils Walkie-Talkie Phones
Wednesday, October 19, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s largest mobile operator, on Wednesday unveiled a new line of high-speed phones with a walkie-talkie feature that was first made popular in the United States. DoCoMo said its winter lineup of six 3G (third-generation) phones would include the function known as "push-to-talk," which lets users talk to a group of people at the same time with the push of a button rather than dialing a phone number. Telecoms operators worldwide see the feature as a potential new source of revenue in increasingly saturated markets. The feature has allowed U.S. mobile operator Nextel to gain a loyal following of business customers and report one of the U.S. industry’s highest average revenues per user. Both KDDI Corp. and Vodafone K.K., Japan’s No. 2 and No. 3 mobile operators, are also expected to launch phones with push-to-talk in coming months. DoCoMo said it planned to target both consumers and business users with the new service, which it dubbed "Push Talk." The service will cost five yen ($0.043) per "push" or 1,000 yen per month under an all-you-can-use plan. Users can speak to up to 20 people at the same time under an upgraded plan that costs 2,000 yen per month. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/10/2005
|
| |
Mowave Launches GAY.COM Mobile i-mode Site on O2 UK
Monday, October 10, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Mobile content provider Mowave announces the launch of the GAY.COM community mobile portal on 02’s upcoming i-mode content menu in the United Kingdom. The addition of the GAY.COM mobile service on O2 i-mode will be Mowave’s third GAY.COM launch in the United Kingdom, adding to the GAY.COM services Mowave currently operates on Vodafone Live! and Orange. The combined three services will reach an estimated 75% of UK wireless content consumers; making the GAY.COM mobile brand the largest combined online and mobile gay content service in the country. (Mowave) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/7/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo gains net 124,800 users in September
Friday, October 7, 2005 |
| |
Summary
The company said it had 49.904 million customers at the end of September on a preliminary basis. The number of subscribers to its third-generation cellular phone service rose by 891,800 on a net basis to 16.770 million. The number of its 2G customers fell by a net 767,000 to 33.134 million. (CBS Marketwatch) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/29/2005
|
| |
Could DoCoMo Buy O2? Don’t Hold Your Breath
Thursday, September 29, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Could NTT DoCoMo buy O2, ponders Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein. Says the deal sounds nice, but the Japanese company is unlikely to be a serious candidate. Notes previous forays into Europe/US have destroyed value, there is a lack of synergies, and its focus is on Asia. Also may be too expensive. Says speculation does highlight the attractiveness of O2 to potential buyers, and the idea that DoCoMo could enter the fray may make serious bid candidates move more quickly. Rates O2 at buy, DoCoMo at sell. (Newratings.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo eyes Asia business links
Thursday, September 29, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Nakamura said in a news conference that the company may buy a small stake in an Asian alliance partner if needed, but "it won’t be very large in value terms." NTT DoCoMo will aim for possible alliances in Asia in order to spread its i-mode mobile Internet service in the region. "In the vast market of Asia, what is important is how we can build alliances, not having control" of partners, Nakamura said. He added that there is no set formula for business tie-ups, and his company will decide how to team up with new partners on a case-by-case basis. (CBS Marketwatch) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/28/2005
|
| |
Japan’s Resona eyes selling JCB stake; NTT DoCoMo could be on
Wednesday, September 28, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Resona Holdings Inc is considering selling most of its stake in JCB Co, the leading credit card company in Japan, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, without citing any sources. NTT DoCoMo Inc is among the potential buyers, the newspaper said. The Nikkei said Resona is seeking to reduce its interest in JCB from about 15 pct to approximately 5 pct. A 10 pct stake in JCB is considered to be worth several billion yen, the newspaper said. It is highly likely that Resona’s shareholdings will be divided into smaller stakes to be divided among several buyers, including NTT DoCoMo and companies in the transportation and other non-banking fields, the report said. Resona is considering reducing its stake in JCB as part of its plan to reinforce its business alliance with Credit Saison Co Ltd, Japan’s largest issuer of retailer-affiliated credit cards, the Nikkei said. Resona forged a capital and business partnership with Credit Saison in 2004. (Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo FOMA P901iTV Digital TV Mobile Phone
Wednesday, September 28, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announces today the 3G FOMA P901iTV, DoCoMo’s first mobile handset to receive terrestrial digital broadcasting signals, in addition to conventional analog signals. Japanese broadcasters will start mobile digital broadcasting in April 2006. In anticipation for the availability of digital terrestrial TV, NTT developed the P901iTV phone. The P901iTV’s main display will be a 2.5 inch, wide LCD screen. More than 2.5 hours of continuous viewing will be possible for digital TV programs. The TV function will be activated by twisting the screen. An antenna-embedded earphone will enhance TV signal reception. (I4U News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/21/2005
|
| |
Strong DoCoMo-LG Ties Annoy Samsung
Wednesday, September 21, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Samsung Electronics is keeping a close eye on LG Electronics and Japanese i-mode service provider, NTT DoCoMo strengthening ties. LG announced in June the Korean handset maker and DCoMo jointly developed a dual mode 3G FOMA phone and then global partners providing DoCoMo’s i-mode service decided on the joint procurement of LG’s L342i. Saying it rejected DoCoMo’s approach for cell phone supply due to disagreement on price and for fear of information leakage, Samsung seems unhappy about LG’s enhancing cooperation with DoCoMo. Samsung’s PR official said, "We are actively providing i-mode phone, even though not in Japanese market.” Samsung’s strong drive for i-mode phone appears to be the efforts to impede LG’s move forward. Samsung is providing i-mode service phone in the global market including Australia. Meanwhile, DoCoMo announced it chose LG, Samsung and NEC as handset providers for i-mode service starting in Russia on September 15. LG provides L342i, while Samsung S342i and S410i. (Telecoms Korea) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/14/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo plans to offer info capture service
Wednesday, September 14, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Leading Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo announced today it plans to offer an information capture function called ToruCa in its "Osaifu Keitai", handsets equipped with contactless IC cards, once compatible handsets are released this winter. ToruCa will enable users to get information by passing their handset in front of a dedicated reader/writer installed at restaurants, theaters, music stores, arcades and other establishments. Information obtained from readers/writers will also be available at i-mode sites and users will be able to conduct customizable searches to receive the information they are looking for. The information will be exchangeable with other users of compatible ToruCa phones. The service have no basic fee, users will only be charged their usual data rate when getting information from i-mode sites.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo explores offering video content
Wednesday, September 14, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s leading mobile carrier, is exploring the possibility of offering video content as it looks for new revenue to run over its data network, a company executive said on Tuesday. The company has pushed its phone-based Internet service in the last five years and was also experimenting with other Web-related services, but has been muted on the video content arena that some industry players see as a potential growth area. NTT DoCoMo has no immediate plans to go into actual creation of broadcasting content, but rather would use its network as a conduit to provide such programmes to its users, said Kiyoyuki Tsujimura, the company’s executive vice president of products and services. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/9/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Adopts Macromedia FlashCast Technology
Friday, September 9, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Macromedia, Inc. (Nasdaq:MACR) today announced that Japanese mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo, Inc. will adopt Macromedia FlashCast(TM) technology as the infrastructure for i-channel, a news and information service launched today. Subscribers to i-channel will automatically receive content delivered to their phones, such as news, weather, entertainment reports, sports, and horoscopes. By pushing the i-channel button users can select the channel they want to view. The service will be launched concurrently with FOMA(R) 701i series, which are mid-range 3G handsets developed specifically for NTT DoCoMo by a variety of OEM partners. "Since the 2003 launch of DoCoMo Flash-enabled handsets, there has been tremendous growth in the mobile ecosystem in Japan," said Al Ramadan, executive vice president and general manager of mobile and devices, Macromedia. "We’re pleased to see NTT DoCoMo build on their success with the Flash(R) Platform by powering the i-channel service using FlashCast." (BusinessWire) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/8/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Demoes Communication Between Smartcard and Car Navigation System
Thursday, September 8, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. demonstrated a new framework for purchasing content for a car navigation system by using a mobile phone equipped with the "FeliCa" contactless smartcard function at the "PDA/Mobile Solution Fair 2005" held in Tokyo on September 2, 2005. The demonstrated framework includes four components: a pre-distributed DVD with stored content such as maps and music; a car navigation system installed with software that enables the content stored in the DVD based on the purchased license; a FeliCa reader/writer connected to the car navigation system; and a FeliCa-equipped mobile phone. To purchase content, users perform the following steps: First, the user downloads the content license to the mobile phone by utilizing the "i-appli" download service and purchases the license; next, the license is transmitted from the mobile phone to the FeliCa reader/writer; then, the content stored in the DVD becomes available in the car navigation system. A demonstrator from NTT DoCoMo said that "commercialization is not scheduled." (Nikkei) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/2/2005
|
| |
Goodbye i-mode, hello FeliCa
Friday, September 2, 2005 |
| |
Summary
It’s quite shocking when a senior manager at a major Japanese wireless operator points out that i-mode is basically passŽ. The words weren’t as severe as that, but the executive - from one of DoCoMo’s competitors - asserts that DoCoMo’s wireless data strategy no longer focuses on the traditional perception of i-mode as a platform for accessing the Internet with a mobile phone. No, i-mode isn’t exactly dead because it continues to contribute a significant part of DoCoMo’s ARPU (some 26% for the quarter ending June 30, 2005). While the actual amount of ARPU from i-mode (2G and 3G) is down about 7%, the decline is consistent with the overall drop in revenue per user. DoCoMo’s FeliCa service, which allows i-mode handsets to pay for things, is the company’s fastest growing business. In less than a year since its launch in August 2004, over five million FeliCa-enabled users have signed up. Between February and April, the number of FeliCa transactions doubled from 320,000 to 690,000 and the trend is likely to accelerate. So while traditional i-mode services offer a steady revenue stream, FeliCa is certainly looking like the new growth opportunity. (TelecomAsia.net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/31/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo to keep people in touch in disasters
Wednesday, August 31, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will introduce a new system in 2006 to separately restrict voice communications and packet transmissions through mobile phones for its FOMA high-speed third-generation service in an attempt to enable its users to communicate with others in disasters, The Yomiuri Shimbun learned Wednesday.
Under the new service, the company will not restrict packet transmissions through e-mails or emergency message services and enable its FOMA mobile phone users to more easily reach their relatives and friends through these services to confirm their safety at the time of disaster.
Packet transmission involves sending and receiving information in tiny bits of data. Voice communications block a communication circuit until the conversation is over, but a lot of data can be sent through packet transmission at once.
The company introduced a system to separately restrict voice and packet transmissions to its mova second-generation service in 2004. The company decided to adopt the same measure for FOMA because the number of users of the high-speed service has increased to about 30 percent of the total number of DoCoMo users. (Yomiuri) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/30/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo Sony Ericsson Radiden Mobile Phone and Radio
Tuesday, August 30, 2005 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo releases in Japan the Sony Ericsson Radiden mobile phone. The Sony Ericsson Radiden will be available for residents of Tokyo and Osaka starting on August 30th. This handset has a hardware controlled radio functionality, meaning it can be operated without going through the mobile phone user interface. The channel selection buttons are on the backside of the phone. The radio phone supports AM, FM and TV audio channels. (I4U News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/17/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo’s FOMA mobile services disrupted for 5 hours
Wednesday, August 17, 2005 |
| |
Summary
The core parts of NTT DoCoMo Inc’s third-generation mobile services were disrupted for almost five hours from 2:49 p.m. Tuesday across a wide area covering Tokyo and nine prefectures in Honshu, Japan’s largest main island, the mobile phone service provider said.
The voice conversation portion of the high-speed, high-capacity data and voice call services, known under the FOMA service brand, returned to normal at 7:32 p.m., the company said. (Japan Today) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/12/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Release Mobile Phone Handset Able to Slow Down Speakers’ Voice Speed
Friday, August 12, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. will release a mobile phone handset able to slow down speakers’ voice speed on the phone in August 2005. The key targeted users are the elderly. The speed converter technology used in the handset slows down speakers’ voice speed up to 0.7x, so the listener can feel like that the speakers’ dialogue goes slowly. Users can start the function by pushing the camera button on a handset’s side during a phone call. The technology does not slow down the voice part, but shortens the part without sound between phrases. When a time lag between the original voice and the converted voice exceeds one second, the function automatically stops. (TechOn) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/1/2005
|
| |
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo seeks to lower 3G procurement costs
Monday, August 1, 2005 |
| |
Summary
A spokesman at Japan’s largest mobile phone service company said it is considering expanding procurement sources among both Japanese and foreign handset makers. In June, NTT DoCoMo and South Korea’s LG Electronics Inc. (066570.SE) agreed to jointly develop a dual-mode 3G FOMA handset that works on both W-CDMA third-generation and GSM second-generation mobile phone service networks, aiming at commercialization in the spring of 2006. The new handset will be a dual-mode handset capable of international roaming and equipped for all basic FOMA functions, including videophone and i-mode mobile internet access, NTT DoCoMo and LG Electronics have said. The NTT DoCoMo spokesman also said it is planning to launch a new FOMA handset developed by Nokia Corp. (NOK) of Finland sometime during the second half of this fiscal year through March 2006. (CBS Marketwatch) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/28/2005
|
| |
JR East and NTT DoCoMo to Consider Developing Common Infrastructure for Suica e-Money and Osaifu-Kei
Thursday, July 28, 2005 |
| |
Summary
East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and NTT DoCoMo, Inc. (DoCoMo) announced today that they have signed a basic agreement to discuss joint development and management of common infrastructure for JR East’s Suica® e-money and DoCoMo’s upcoming "Osaifu-Keitai" credit card service, both based on FeliCa® smart card technology. Suica is JR East’s IC card for railway travel and shopping, while Osaifu-Keitai refers to DoCoMo mobile phones equipped with contactless IC cards that can serve as credit cards and perform other useful functions. Under the agreement, the two companies will consider the development of a reader/writer compatible with both companies’ services and the creation and management of a common center that connects the reader/writers with various settlement systems. A common reader/writer and settlement center will encourage retail shops to offer the services because they will only need a single reader/writer, saving space and reducing costs. The companies hope this will increase the number of service users by allowing shoppers the option of using either Suica e-money or the Osaifu-Keitai credit card service. The companies feel that working together will promote their services more effectively than if they were to act separately. JR East and DoCoMo aim to reach the final agreement within 2005.
(Noticias.info) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/18/2005
|
| |
Sun, NTT DoCoMo plan new cellular Java platform
Monday, July 18, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo and Sun Microsystems have begun work on a new Java platform for cellular handsets. The work, which began last year but was first revealed two weeks ago at Sun’s JavaOne conference in San Francisco, is aimed at refreshing the mobile Java platform for today’s more advanced handsets and applications. It could also be promoted as a cross-industry standard, the companies said in interviews. The work, which is taking place under the name Star project, has some ambitious targets. Chief among those is bringing DoCoMo’s Java platform, which first appeared commercially in 2001, up to date, said Takeshi Natsuno, senior vice president of multimedia services at NTT DoCoMo. Java is running on more than 700 million handsets worldwide, according to U.K. research company Ovum, but not all handsets run the same version. Despite its "write once, run anywhere" roots, Java is fractured in the cellular space because carriers and handset makers have all tweaked the technology to meet their needs. This means developers must often customize their Java applications, or "applets," for different handsets, creating extra work. NTT DoCoMo’s Java platform, called DoJa, is one of the most successful, thanks in part to the operator’s lead in wireless Internet technologies. However, it is available only to DoCoMo and its handful of overseas partners. Other carrier-specific platforms exist, such as Vodafone Group’s VFX and China United Telecommunications’ (China Unicom) UniJa. Many other carriers use the MIDP (Mobile Information Device profile) platform, which has been standardized but can still differ from handset to handset. (Arnnet) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/14/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo Says Cell Service Providers Should Build Own Networks
Thursday, July 14, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s largest cell- phone service provider, said new entrants into the market should build their own networks to compete, instead of asking DoCoMo for roaming access. ``The basis of competition in this industry is coverage area,’’ Kunio Ishikawa, a DoCoMo senior executive vice president, said in an interview broadcast today. ``Building coverage, which determines a customer’s carrier selection, is strategic, labor- intensive and is a risk. The new carriers should fundamentally provide their own network.’’ After the Japanese government said in June it will open up the cell-phone market to competition for the first time in 12 years, potential new entrants Softbank Corp. and eAccess Ltd. asked existing carriers for network access to give them equal footing to compete nationwide. Japan will allocate frequencies for high-speed mobile phone services to as many as two new providers, which would rival DoCoMo, KDDI Corp. and Vodafone K.K. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/11/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Prototypes Connect-Free Battery Charger
Monday, July 11, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has announced that it has developed a prototype connect-free battery charger for FOMA cellphones in collaboration with Panasonic Mobile Communications. When commercialized, the battery charger will enable users to charge a FOMA handset battery only by placing the handset on it. (Nikkei) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/6/2005
|
| |
Yahoo launches cell phone shopping in Japan
Wednesday, July 6, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Yahoo Japan has opened a version of its shopping portal for cell phone Internet users, the company said Monday. Mobile Yahoo Shopping can be accessed from all three of Japan’s major wireless Internet services and brings together about 2,000 merchants and 2 million items for sale, according to estimates from Yahoo. Like the company’s PC shopping site, users of the cell phone version can search or browse for goods and retailers by category. Online shopping from PCs is popular in Japan, but it has yet to take off in a big way from mobile devices. In a recent government survey, 89 percent of respondents said they shopped online using their PC, versus only 18 percent who shopped online with a cell phone. Satisfaction levels with online shopping are much lower among cell phone users, with ease of use and security among the biggest complaints. (InfoWorld) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/5/2005
|
| |
Ntt DoCoMo to Expand Foma International Roaming And Videophone Services
Tuesday, July 5, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and its eight regional subsidiaries announced that they will expand FOMA 3G international roaming and videophone services in Europe and Asia. Starting from July 12, WORLD WING and WORLD WALKER users in Seoul, Korea will be able to use the FOMA N900iG handset for voice communications and accessing i-mode. Until now, a dedicated phone was required to use roaming services in Korea. Users will also be able to send/receive i-mode mail under the same address that they use in Japan. Germany will join the lineup of countries where DoCoMo users can enjoy videophone roaming services, followed by Italy on July 26. In addition, DoCoMo has added the following operators to its roaming partners in the countries where DoCoMo is already providing roaming services. (Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/1/2005
|
| |
Japan’s DoCoMo, Vodafone to start broadband mobile services in ’06
Friday, July 1, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc and Vodafone KK plan to start in 2006 a broadband mobile service that will increase the maximum speed for data transfer by around 10 times to about 3.6 megabits per second (mbps), the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported without citing sources. The new service will boost the downstream data speed by 10 times, while keeping the upstream speed unchanged at 384 kilobits per second. At this speed, it will take only around 20 seconds to download a four-to-five minute song, the business daily Nikkei said. DoCoMo will adopt the HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) international standard, the first to do so, the Nikkei said. Vodafone also plans to upgrade its service using the same technology. The faster service will enable mobile phone customers to download images as fast as on a personal computer.
(Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/30/2005
|
| |
Sun, NTT DoCoMo Team On Java For Mobile Data
Thursday, June 30, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Sun Microsystems Inc. has announced an agreement with NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s largest mobile operator, to deliver a next-generation mobile data services platform based on open-standard Java technologCodenamed Star Project, this collaboration extends a long relationship between the companies and leverages their expertise in enabling and deploying mass-market, Java technology-based mobile data services. "Java technology has played a significant role in improving mobile data services in Japan and around the world," said Alan Brenner, vice president, Client Systems Group, Sun Microsystems Inc. (Mountain View, Calif.), in a statement. "Sun’s relationship with DoCoMo advances Java technology’s ability to empower consumers and enterprise organizations by delivering exciting new services and information directly into their hands." An estimated 56 percent of Japan’s mobile phone subscribers use DoCoMo’s network and services. (Information Week) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/29/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Acquire Stake in Telargo, US Mobile Assets Management Company
Wednesday, June 29, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that the company has signed a joint venture and share subscription agreement with ULTRA d.o.o., a Slovenia based European technology company. Under the agreement, DoCoMo will acquire a 49% equity stake in Telargo Inc., ULTRA’s wholly-owned U.S. mobile assets management service provider, for U.S. $28.6 million (approximately 3.1 billion yen).
(Noticias.info) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/27/2005
|
| |
KT denies report DoCoMo in talks to buy KTF stake
Monday, June 27, 2005 |
| |
Summary
South Korea’s top fixed-line and broadband operator, KT Corp. , denied on Monday a media report that it was in talks with Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc. over the sale of a stake in its mobile unit KTF Co. Ltd. Online news provider MoneyToday (www.moneytoday.co.kr) quoted unnamed industry sources as saying on Monday KT was talking to Japan’s top mobile operator to sell a 20 percent stake in KTF. "The report is groundless," KT spokesman Huh Kun said by telephone. KT is the top shareholder in KTF, the country’s second-largest mobile operator, with a 48.7 percent stake and said late last year it was considering acquiring the mobile unit as the merger would fit with a trend of integration between fixed-line and wireless carriers. KT carries 94 percent of local call market and half of the broadband market in South Korea, while KTF controls 32 percent of mobile market. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/21/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo Says No Decision Made on Letting Competitors Use Network
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s largest cell- phone service provider, said it hasn’t made a decision on letting other carriers use its network in rural areas, responding to a newspaper report. DoCoMo may share its mobile phone network in less-populated areas with competitors, the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported earlier, without saying where it got the information. Softbank Corp. and other companies that seek to enter the mobile phone market have asked existing carriers for roaming access to give them equal footing to compete, the newspaper said. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Cellphone firms join up on tool for signal
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Does your cellphone drop off the radar in most basement locales? Help may be on the way. A new "repeater" device that enables cellphones to receive signals underground has been jointly developed by the four major mobile phone companies: NTT DoCoMo Inc., KDDI Corp., Vodafone KK and Tu-Ka Cellular Tokyo Inc.The repeater-which covers all cellphones except third-generation phones of NTT DoCoMo and Vodafone-will go on sale this summer in the Kanto region. The estimated cost, including installation, is about 700,000 yen.
(Asahi) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/17/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo Focuses on China to Develop Future Cell Phone Technology
Friday, June 17, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., the world’s second- largest cell-phone operator, will invest more than $2.5 million a year to develop high-speed, fourth-generation mobile communication technology in China, a company executive said. Tokyo-based DoCoMo is already researching a faster technology for the market, even though China has yet to award licenses for third-generation service to cell phone operators. The service allows faster downloads of data and images from the Internet. "China is the world’s largest mobile phone market,’’ Masahiro Minomo, head of NTT DoCoMo’s research center in Beijing, said in an interview. ``We hope to contribute to China’s standardization of 4G and `beyond 3G’ technology.’’ (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/15/2005
|
| |
LG Elec, DoCoMo to Jointly Make 3G Phones for Japan
Wednesday, June 15, 2005 |
| |
Summary
LG Electronics Inc. said on Monday it will jointly develop third-generation mobile phones with top Japanese mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc., giving it a foothold in a market foreign firms have struggled to enter. The new handsets, scheduled for release in Japan early next year, will work on both high-speed 3G networks and GSM/GPRS networks -- second-generation standards widely used in Europe and Asia -- allowing them to be used outside Japan as well. "Not only does this agreement pave the way for our entry into the Japanese market, it would further bolster our position as a global leader in the 3G market," LG said in a statement. LG will be the third foreign handset firm to provide mobile phones to DoCoMo. The Japanese carrier aims to launch 3G phones made by Nokia and Motorola Inc. later this year. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/2/2005
|
| |
Cellphones can be used as fixed-line phones at home: NTT DoCoMo
Thursday, June 2, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s largest mobile phone service provider, will enable subscribers to use their handsets as fixed-line phones at home, President Masao Nakamura said Tuesday. The new service, expected to begin next year, will allow subscribers to combine their fixed-line and mobile phone numbers. Usage of cellphones at home will be charged at the same rates as fixed-line phones, which are cheaper than those for cellphones. While a number of cellphone operators have started similar services for corporate subscribers, NTT DoCoMo will be the first to offer the service for home use. With the new service, people can use their handsets as fixed-line phones in their houses and as cellphones outside, Nakamura said. KDDI Corp., NTT DoCoMo’s principal rival, is also set to begin a home-use service. The new service is made possible by combining a fixed-line service with a wireless local area network, or LAN, communications system. (Kyodo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/30/2005
|
| |
Japan Mobile Makers Face Challenges at Home, Abroad
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Not only have Japanese mobile phone makers’ global ambitions been dashed, but they may soon face challenges at home as foreign firms compete with cutting-edge camera phones, mobile Web access and 3G handsets. Japanese makers had long dreamed of headlines about corporate successes from China to Europe and beyond. But nowadays stories are detailing their departures from key foreign markets. Toshiba Corp., for instance, pulled out of China, and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. led a retreat from Europe after failing to compete successfully with Nokia and other global giants. "They may be thinking that as long as they have the domestic market, all is well. But companies like Nokia and Motorola Inc. will soon be coming in," said IDC analyst Michito Kimura. (Reurers) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/27/2005
|
| |
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo to halt development of 2G handsets
Friday, May 27, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc will halt development of new 2G (second-generation) cellular phone handsets after about two new models are released this year, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, without citing sources. Panasonic Mobile Communications Co and others that co-develop handsets with DoCoMo have already halted R&D operations for the products, the business daily said. With the move, NTT DoCoMo aims to speed up transfer to its FOMA 3G service, it said. While some 92 pct of customers at rival KDDI Corp are subscribers to the firm’s au 3G service, FOMA users accounted for just 25 pct of DoCoMo’s overall customers as of the end of April, it said. DoCoMo also plans to double handset suppliers to about 10 to boost competition and bring down prices, it said. (Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/19/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo launches series of 3G mobile-wallet phones
Thursday, May 19, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo, Inc. is developing the 3G FOMA 901iS series, five handsets equipped for mobile-wallet e-money, ticketing and other mobile smart-card functions. DoCoMo expects the new series to fuel the continued nationwide expansion of convenient mobile-wallet services. The 901iS is also expected to further boost the popularity of handsets equipped with FeliCa IC card technology, which have sold more than 3.34 million units to date. The 901iS is DoCoMo’s first series in which all models are equipped for mobile-wallet functions. Approximately 20,000 stores are currently offering mobile-wallet services in Japan. The five 901iS handsets are equipped with several security features to prevent malicious use. In the event that a 901iS phone is misplaced, for example, the owner can call a designated phone number to lock the phone remotely. It can also be programmed to lock automatically if left unused for a specified period. In addition, it can be locked manually by simply pushing a button. (Geekzone) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/16/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo Ups Profit F’cast on Hutchison 3G Share Sale
Monday, May 16, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s top mobile operator, on Thursday raised its group net profit forecast by 7.2 percent to 533 billion yen ($5.04 billion) for this year, helped by gains from the sale of its shares in a joint venture with Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. DoCoMo said it would post a non-operating profit of about 62 billion yen in the year to March 2006 from the sale of its 20 percent stake in the venture, Hutchison 3G UK Holdings Ltd. Hutchison Whampoa had agreed last year to buy DoCoMo’s stake for 120 million pounds ($224.8 million) -- a near 90 percent loss for DoCoMo on its original investment. In October, Hutchison satisfied 80 million pounds of that by transferring to DoCoMo a stake in Hutchison Telecommunications International during HTIL’s IPO. Hutchison said earlier this week it was speeding up the buy-out of the UK 3G mobile phone business from DoCoMo and Dutch carrier KPN NV, which holds 15 percent, in a move that would generate an accounting gain and bolster earnings this year. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/10/2005
|
| |
15% jump in profit at DoCoMo
Tuesday, May 10, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo said on Tuesday that its annual net profit rose 15 percent from the year before, mostly from the sale of its stake in AT&T Wireless, but it warned that earnings were likely to drop 33 percent this year as competition intensifies. DoCoMo reported a net profit of ¥747.56 billion, or $7.1 billion, for the year that ended on March 31, up from ¥650 billion the year before. Sales fell 4 percent, to ¥4.84 trillion. (IHT) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/28/2005
|
| |
KDDI Profit Up Slightly, Sees Small Decline
Thursday, April 28, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s KDDI Corp. reported a small rise in annual operating profit on Thursday as demand for its mobile service offset a weak fixed-line business, but said earnings would decline slightly this business year. The nation’s second-largest mobile operator said it expected double-digit growth from its main mobile phone unit, au (pronounced AY-U), in the year just started, but it would not be enough to compensate for an increase in marketing costs to sell its new discount fixed-line service called MetalPlus. KDDI forecast a 2.4 percent decline in operating profit to 289 billion yen ($2.73 billion) for the year started April 1, below market expectations of 310.4 billion yen, according to a poll of 20 analysts by Reuters Estimates. It expects total sales to rise about 1.9 percent to 2.98 trillion yen. KDDI’s main mobile phone unit, au, has enjoyed strong demand in recent years thanks to aggressive data pricing plans, attractive new phones and innovative services such as music downloads. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/27/2005
|
| |
Japan’s DoCoMo to Invest in SMFG Credit Card Unit
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will invest 98 billion yen ($923.5 million) in Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc.’s credit card unit to expand its mobile payment services, the two companies said on Wednesday. DoCoMo, Japan’s largest mobile operator, will take a 34 percent stake in Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co. Ltd., the nation’s second-largest credit card firm and a leading Visa card issuer, as the two firms develop a service that will let consumers use their phones to make credit purchases. "This is a completely new sector for DoCoMo, and is part of our aim to move into areas where we are not so dependent on communication usage," said DoCoMo President and Chief Executive Masao Nakamura at a news conference. "Our entry into the credit card business will be a turning point for us." The partnership between DoCoMo, which has about 48 million customers, and Sumitomo Mitsui, Japan’s third-largest banking group, follows DoCoMo’s launch last year of its "wallet phones." The wallet phones, containing Sony Corp.’s FeliCa smart chip, are ultimately intended to replace cash, credit cards, identification cards and electronic plane or train tickets. For now, users can add money to the phones, with which they can make small purchases. They can also add store membership cards. East Japan Railway Co. plans to add a train pass capability starting next year. Yoshifumi Nishikawa, president and chief executive of SMFG, said he hoped the partnership would increase credit card usage among younger consumers in a country where less than 10 percent of purchases are made by credit card, compared with more than twice that in the United States. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/21/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo in talks to link credit cards and phones
Thursday, April 21, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo is in talks with Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and JCB about investing in their credit card businesses in a step forward for the cellular company’s vision of integrating mobile communications with financial services. Japan’s largest mobile phone operator is looking to pay about Y100bn ($938m) for a 33.4 per cent stake in SMFG’s 100 per cent-owned card business, Mitsui Sumitomo Card, Japan’s number two credit card operator, and a smaller stake in JCB, the country’s number one card provider. DoCoMo is aiming to conclude a deal this month but negotiations have been complicated by the need to balance the interests of the two card companies, a person familiar with the situation said. While DoCoMo is keen to take a considerable stake in both, the presence of several investors in JCB means the mobile operator’s investment in that company is likely to remain less than 10 per cent, he said. Masao Nakamura, DoCoMo president, has emphasised the need to diversify revenue streams away from mobile traffic to fee-based services and has identified financial services as an attractive source of future income. The outlook for the company’s core mobile communications business is gloomy, with a saturated market forcing operators to cut their rates. DoCoMo is forecasting a 5 per cent drop in revenues to Y4,820bn and a 25 per cent decline in operating profits to Y830bn for the year ended March 2005. (Financial Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/20/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo, SMFG in Card Partnership Talks-Sources
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s largest mobile operator, is in final talks to take a large stake in the credit card unit of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. to expand its mobile payment services, company sources said. DoCoMo is also in talks with JCB Co., Japan’s largest credit card company, for a similar but smaller deal, the sources said. Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co. Ltd. is Japan’s second-largest credit card company and a leading Visa card issuer in Japan with about 12.8 million customers. A partnership with Sumitomo Mitsui (SMFG), Japan’s third-largest banking group, would allow DoCoMo, which has about 48 million customers, to further delve into financial services following the launch last year of its "wallet phone" service. The wallet phones, containing Sony Corp.’s FeliCa smart chip, are ultimately intended to replace cash, credit cards, identification cards and electronic plane or train tickets. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/15/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo Unveils Motorola Tri-Band 3G Smartphone
Friday, April 15, 2005 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo has partnered with Motorola to roll-out a hybrid Foma/PDA handset with global roaming, full Internet browsing, PC mail and wireless LAN access. Launched today at a low key Tokyo press conference, the new M1000 [.jpg image] is aimed squarely at Japanese business users looking to integrate a lot of functionality into one pocket-sized package. DoCoMo has dumped both i-mode and its new Felica applications to make room for a tri-band system (W-CDMA, GSM and GPRS) and Internet access via Opera’s 7.5 browser. The company’s trophy handset opens Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint programs, and PDF files, allowing multiple e-mail functions including POP and IMAP e-mail and (Wow!) compatible with 80211.b Wi-Fi. While equipped with pre-requisite Bluetooth compatibility it is not loaded with DoCoMo’s flagship product, i-mode access. (WWJ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/14/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo to enhance ISP service for FOMA
Thursday, April 14, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced the forthcoming launch of mopera U, an advanced mobile ISP service for FOMA subscribers who connect to the Web via a PC, PDA or DoCoMo’s new business-oriented M1000 handset. NTT DoCoMo aims to start the service this June. The new service will be an important enhancement of DoCoMo’s mopera ISP service, which provides mobile access to the Web via wireless networks, such as DoCoMo’s 3G FOMA, PHS and 2G PDC networks, and mobile access to e-mail accounts. In addition to these services, mopera U will enable FOMA users to access public wireless LANs via their mobile PCs. It will also enable international roaming for packet-data communications via W-CDMA and GPRS networks and public wireless LANs overseas. Fixed-line Internet access for home computers via the NTT East and West’s FLET’S ADSL or B FLET’S ISP services can be added to mopera U service contracts, enabling customers to meet their total wireless and fixed Internet access needs with one simple subscription. (3GNewsroom) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo considers linking with bank
Thursday, April 14, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo is considering linking up with a bank or financial institution to diversify its revenue stream, saying it is no longer viable for mobile phone operators to rely simply on network voice or data traffic for growth, according to its president. DoCoMo might form an alliance with a bank or financial institution, including online groups, to help it offer financial services such as payment settlements through mobile handsets, Masao Nakamura said. "The question is how to shift to a non-traffic revenue model - we are struggling to find out," Mr Nakamura said. DoCoMo has already introduced phones featuring its FeliCa service, a mobile wallet that can be used to purchase basic goods and services. However, it has yet to develop an effective business model for generating revenue streams from FeliCa. But he stressed DoCoMo could no longer hope to expand revenue by depending on growth in subscribers and traffic usage. DoCoMo is expected to unveil a 25 per cent drop in operating profits in the year to March 2005, on a 4.5 per cent decline in revenues. "With its existing business model approaching its limits, NTT DoCoMo has been unable to introduce new services that leverage that model," noted Kazuyo Katsuma, telecoms analyst at JP Morgan, in a recent report. Ms Katsuma pointed out that DoCoMo had been slow to expand the use of its FeliCa-enabled phones. Instead, DoCoMo’s priority has been to reduce costs to deal with falling revenues, particularly distributor subsidies, which comprised more than Y1,000bn ($9bn) a year, Mr Nakamura said. (Financial Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/12/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo completes 3G interoperability testing with Qualcomm
Tuesday, April 12, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Qualcomm today announced that it has successfully completed WCDMA interoperability testing on the FOMA network of Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo. Qualcomm said the testing began in June last year using Qualcomm’s MSM6250 chipset and software solution, and involved extensive network performance, standby-time and talk-time evaluations. The U.S. vendor acknowledged that the successful conclusion of interoperability testing with DoCoMo ensures that the software for the MSM6250 chipset and all future Qualcomm WCDMA chipsets will also be fully compatible with the FOMA network. Last week Swedish vendor Ericsson Mobile Platforms and DoCoMo revealed that the two companies have successfully completed WCDMA interoperability testing over DoCoMo’s live FOMA network and Ericsson’s U100 GPRS/WCMA platform. (Telecoms.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/29/2005
|
| |
Texas Instrument chips going into NTT DoCoMo Phones
Tuesday, March 29, 2005 |
| |
Summary
Texas Instruments Senior Vice President Gilles Delfassy said at a press briefing that 3G handset manufacturers had chosen Texas Instrument’s OMAP processors to drive NTT DoCoMo’s new 3G FOMA 901i and 700i series handsets."We have been very honored to establish cooperation with DoCoMo on 3G standards," he said, referring to his company’s long relationship with NTT DoCoMo. But Delfassy, who is in charge of Texas Instrument’s worldwide wireless terminals business unit, was coy on whether the U.S. chip maker was planning to branch out in Japan and establish ties with KDDI Corp., which offers mobile phone services under the brand "au". "These are the two relationships that are public," Delfassy said, citing TI’s ties with DoCoMo and Nokia Corp. (MarketWatch) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/7/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to launch N700i, P700i 3G FOMA handsets
Monday, March 7, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and its eight regional subsidiaries today announced the launch of the N700i and P700i, the last two handsets in the new 3G FOMA 700i series, through DoCoMo sales channels nationwide on March 11. The company informs that the N700i, available in three body colours, is the first FOMA handset to be preinstalled with Disney characters for use with standby screens, incoming/outgoing calls, mail and so forth. Meanwhile the P700i, reportedly the lightest FOMA handset available, features an expansive 2.2" QVGA LCD screen and high-performance 1.25-megapixel camera. The common features of the handsets include videophone, music player functions, ChakuUta and ChakuMotion for high-quality music or audiovisual clips, Deco-mail, megapixel cameras, G-GUIDE to obtain detailed information about TV shows and G-Codes to program video recorders, etc. quickly and easily. (DMasia.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/3/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo sets up $100 mln U.S. venture fund
Thursday, March 3, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s largest mobile operator, on Monday said it would set up a $100 million venture fund in the United States to invest in start-up companies that develop advanced mobile communication technologies. The company said it planned to take stakes mainly in U.S. ventures as it attempts to shorten its own development cycle, lower its research and development costs and widen its opportunities. Since the company’s failed investments in overseas operators like AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and Hutchison Whampoa Ltd’s British mobile business over the last several years, DoCoMo has preferred to make smaller investments in venture companies that develop related mobile technologies. DoCoMo said its new subsidiary, DoCoMo Capital Inc., would be based in San Jose, California, and begin operating by July 1. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/17/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo to exit personal handyphone business - sources
Thursday, February 17, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s largest mobile operator, will pull out of its money-losing personal handyphone system (PHS) business, so it can focus on its main mobile business, NTT group sources said on Thursday.
The mobile unit of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT) plans to announce as early as this month that it will stop accepting new PHS customers early in the next business year starting April and end the service in two to three years, the sources said. DoCoMo, which is Japan’s second-largest provider of PHS services after Willcom Inc., expects to book a loss of about 60 billion yen ($569.3 million) in the year to March 31 to dispose of equipment and scale back its operations, the sources said.
DoCoMo said in a statement that it had not made any decisions, but the company had said in the past that it was reviewing the dwindling PHS business.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/14/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo sees half of customers on 3G in 2006
Monday, February 14, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s largest mobile operator, expects half of its customers to be on its high-speed third-generation (3G) network in the first half of 2006, an executive said on Monday.
"We’re aiming to achieve a 50-50 ratio of FOMA (3G) and mova (2G) customers," DoCoMo chief financial officer Yoshiaki Ugaki said in an interview. At the end of January, 19.4 per cent of DoCoMo’s subscribers were using its 3G network, according to Reuters calculations.
(Hindustan Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/12/2005
|
| |
Vodafone’s Bad Connection In Japan
Saturday, February 12, 2005 |
| |
Summary
When British cellular giant Vodafone Group PLC took over Japanese mobile carrier J-Phone Co. four years ago, the deal looked like a sure thing. J-Phone was coming off of five straight years of market-share growth, it had a hip reputation, and it was within spitting distance of second place in Japan’s cellular market. Today, that all looks like ancient history. The company’s market share has tumbled to 17.8% since peaking at 18.6% in 2003 -- just before the J-Phone name was dropped in favor of Vodafone. Rivals’ data services offer download speeds up to eight times as fast as Vodafone’s. And in January, Vodafone saw its subscriber base fall by nearly 59,000 customers -- despite the introduction of seven new third-generation, or 3G, handsets since December. "The January subscriber figures were surprisingly bad, and I don’t think it’s temporary," says Daisaku Masuno, an analyst at Nomura Securities Co. in Tokyo. (BusinessWeek) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/31/2005
|
| |
DoCoMo’s revenues fall 11%
Monday, January 31, 2005 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo says a discount war hurt revenue but net profit still rose more than 50% in the nine months to December due to gains on the sale of its AT&T Wireless stake. However, operating profit fell 10.9% to 751.35 billion yen on sales of 3.64 trillion yen, down 4.8% from a year earlier, after being hit by deeper family discounts and free e-mail services. DoCoMo’s average monthly revenue per user stood at 7,300 yen during the nine months, down 8.08% from a year earlier. The number of subscribers to DoCoMo’s value-added 3G FOMA service, which allows the transmission of large amounts of data and video calls, nearly tripled to 8.5 million from 3 million a year earlier. Subscription to its 2G mobile phone service fell 8.9% to 39.4 million as migration to the newer system continued. (telecomasia.net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/19/2005
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to end acceptance of new prepaid phone contracts by March
Wednesday, January 19, 2005 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo plans to stop accepting new subscribers for its prepaid mobile phone services by the end of March as they are increasingly used in crimes. Prepaid cellphones under the existing contracts can be used for the time being, but DoCoMo plans to discontinue prepaid mobile phone services after a transitional period of two to three years. Police say prepaid phones are often used in crimes due to the difficulty of identifying their users. (Kyodo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/25/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo to offer i-mode technology to mmO2
Thursday, November 25, 2004 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo has reached a basic agreement to offer its popular i-mode mobile Internet technology to Britain’s mmO2, who is expected to launch i-mode-based services as early the middle of 2005. Britain has been the last major European country where i-mode has no presence. MmO2 Chief Executive Peter Erskine said last week the company would decide by year-end on whether to introduce i-mode. The technology helped jump-start Japan’s mobile growth when it was launched in February 1999 and secured DoCoMo’s leading position in the industry. In Japan, 43 million subscribers, or about one-third of the population, use i-mode.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/23/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo Develops Software Platform for 3G Cell Phones
Tuesday, November 23, 2004 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo has developed a software platform for its FOMA third-generation mobile phones that comes in two varieties compatible with (1) the Linux open-source operating system and (2) the Symbian operating system. NTT DoCoMo will license the software platform to handset manufacturers to make development work more efficient and enable them to concentrate resources on development of their own application software. The software platform will be utilized on some models in the FOMA 901i series NTT DoCoMo will release later this month.
(NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/18/2004
|
| |
Japan's Docomo unveils 3G phones with 3D sound
Thursday, November 18, 2004 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo unveiled a new line of advanced mobile phones with stereo-quality surround sound, high-resolution digital cameras, and a special chip that allows owners to use their phones as a debit card. DoCoMo's 3G service, known as FOMA, was slow to take off due to the network's limited coverage area and bulky, expensive phones with a short battery life. FOMA subscribers have been growing exponentially, however, since the network's first major line of new phones were launched last year. All the phones offer "three-dimensional" surround sound that allow users to hear the whack of a golf ball, clapping of hands, or bells ringing in games. They also have 3D graphics. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/11/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo’s i-mode Net-capable services launched in Australia
Thursday, November 11, 2004 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo announced the launch of its i-mode Internet-capable mobile phone services in Australia on Wednesday by Telstra, Australia’s biggest cellphone operator. Australia is the ninth overseas market to use DoCoMo’s i-mode services. The services are now available in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Greece and Taiwan, as well as Australia. Currently there are about 165 websites available for i-mode services in Australia, and the number is expected to rise to around 200 in about a year. (Kyodo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/5/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo, Israel’s Cellcom in i-mode deal-sources
Friday, November 5, 2004 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo will licence its industry-leading i-mode mobile Internet service to Israel’s largest mobile operator, Cellcom. Cellcom posted a sharp rise in its second-quarter profit and a 6 percent increase in sales, but warned its profitability would be hurt by changes in government policy. DoCoMo’s five-year-old i-mode is an always-on Internet service that allows users to send e-mail, chat, play games, download ring tones and access content from more than 70,000 mobile Web sites. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/28/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to start bill collection service via ’i-mode’ cellphones
Thursday, October 28, 2004 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo will begin collecting payments for client companies via its "i-mode" Internet-access mobile phone service. When subscribers to the cellphone service buy the products and services of client companies, charges will be added to NTT DoCoMo’s phone bills. Starting next spring, NTT DoCoMo will collect payments from online buyers of games for Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.’s PlayStation 2 and PSP game consoles.
(Kyodo ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/26/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo May Report 1st-Half Profit Decline; KDDI Likely Gained
Tuesday, October 26, 2004 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo may report a drop in fiscal first-half profit after spending more to entice customers from rivals. Net income fell 15 percent to 302.9 billion yen in the six months ended Sept. 30, from 356.4 billion yen a year earlier, according to the median estimate. KDDI may post a 22 percent gain in net income to 105.2 billion yen from 85.9 billion yen when it reports on Thursday. The contrast in earnings underscores the fates of Japan’s two largest mobile-phone companies. Using new handsets and flat- rate services, Tokyo-based KDDI has cut into DoCoMo’s dominance of Japan’s $73 billion mobile-phone market by gaining new subscribers at a faster pace. DoCoMo, which controls less than a third of Japan’s high- speed mobile-phone market, is aiming to regain market share from KDDI by providing clearer calls to users of its FOMA service. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/11/2004
|
| |
Qualcomm, NTT DoCoMo Join to Promote Global WCDMA Deployment
Monday, October 11, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Qualcomm will work with DoCoMo to promote the global deployment of WCDMA. Qualcomm and DoCoMo began interoperability testing in June 2004 using Qualcomm’s TM6250 test mobile. Based on the successful results of the interoperability tests, field trials will begin immediately on DoCoMo’s live FOMA network. The series of field tests are scheduled to be completed at the end of 2004. The TM6250 test mobile has already been proven to work on numerous WCDMA/GSM/GPRS networks deployed by major carrier groups around the world. It is expected that a wide range of handsets with Qualcomm chipsets supporting many foreign carriers will be able to roam into DoCoMo’s FOMA network in Japan.
(NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/6/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo Develops Fuel Cell for Mobile Phones
Wednesday, October 6, 2004 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo has created a prototype fuel cell to use in its FOMA series. The development was conducted in alliance with Fujitsu Laboratories with plans to complete development by the end of 2005. The fuel cell is shaped like a cradle and can be used as a mobile phone battery charger. According to DoCoMo, the prototype is capable of generating enough power for about 2 hours of voice communication using the 18cc methanol solution of 30% concentration. In other words, the capacity of the fuel cell is equivalent to that of a Li-ion battery. (NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/15/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo To Beef Up Credit Card Operations
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo is looking to strengthen credit card operations for users of its mobile telephones. The company aims to increase its DoCoMo Card members in one year to 1 million from roughly 400,000 at present. The typical annual fee for the card is 1,050 yen, but as early as October, the firm plans to waive the charge on cards offered in collaboration with UFJ and JCB. Users of DoCoMo Cards receive points when they use them for regular shopping and for mobile phone service payments. The company expects competition for mobile phone users to stiffen in fiscal 2006, when customers will be able to take their mobile phone numbers to other firms. NTT DoCoMo hopes its credit card operations will help it to retain customers.
(Nikkei Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/30/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo, Motorola Form Alliance in FOMA Terminal Development for Business Users
Monday, August 30, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Motorola, and Motorola’s Japan affiliate established an alliance for joint development of FOMA terminals for corporate users. The plan is to carry various wireless standards such as a wireless LAN, Bluetooth, IEEE802.11b, and Bluetooth. Also, the terminal will be applicable to a total of five kinds of wireless standards such GSM and GPRS. DoCoMo’s wireless LAN access service called "Mzone" is available, and with Bluetooth dial-up or handsfree communications are made possible. Due to the GSM/GPRS compatibility, terminals can be used overseas. An interesting plus is that users may browse general WWW sites on the Internet or use MS Word or Excel software. (NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/25/2004
|
| |
Coca-Cola’s New Vending Machine Offers Cashless Purchases With I-Mode FeliCa Users
Wednesday, August 25, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Coca-Cola has developed a new Cmode automatic vending machine (Cmo2) as a next-generation automatic vending machine that supports NTT DoCoMo Inc’s FeliCa-enabled mobile phones. The Cmo2 has improved over the earlier Cmo by adding an interface that supports a contactless IC chip "i-mode FeliCa" in a DoCoMo mobile phone. The Cmo only supports two-dimensional bar code and infrared communication. Coca-Cola System will start installing the new machines from September 2004. With the new vending machine, the machine owner can set automatic discount sales during any designated time hours, automatic notification function when the products are sold out, the machine goes out of order, and so on.
(NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/30/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo Makes 10 Billion Yen Available to Support Reader/Writer Installation for 'FeliCa' Mobile Phon
Friday, July 30, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will start FeliCa reader/writer installation services as part of a promotion plan for "FeliCa"-capable mobile phones. In order to provide FeliCa services such as electronic money or issuance of value saving points by each customer, it is necessary to have a reader/writer system to read, or rewrite, FeliCa chip information included in a card or mobile phone. NTT DoCoMo decided to encourage small-sized service providers to introduce the system by providing financial assistance to them. The company has 10 billion yen ready for assistance. In addition to the main body of a reader/writer, software development to implement FeliCa services is also covered. (NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/15/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo Wi-Fi Phone Shows Carriers’ Hand
Thursday, July 15, 2004 |
| |
Summary
The N900iL handset, made by NEC, requires a particular NEC IP telephony server, which presumably hooks up to a network sold by DoCoMo or its parent NTT. The phone can make voice calls over Wi-Fi inside offices, essentially acting as a wireless PBX extension, and also features an instant-messaging application with a presence function letting users check co-workers’ availability. But not surprisingly, DoCoMo’s made the phone somehow incompatible with any other Wi-Fi networks than those installed expressly for the device, though it said it was considering adding support for its M-Zone public hotspots. (The Feature) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/8/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo subscription gain exceeds KDDIfs for 1st time in 9 months
Thursday, July 8, 2004 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo saw the biggest net subscription growth in the Japanese mobile phone market in June, surpassing that of KDDI for the first time since last September. DoCoMo had a net increase of 166,300 subscriptions in June on the back of strong demand for its FOMA third-generation mobile phone service. KDDI's "au" service trailed NTT DoCoMo with a net gain of 157,500 subscriptions due to a month-on-month fall in those to its third-generation system. Vodafone, which registered the smallest-ever net subscription increase of 17,700 in May, added 64,100 to its service in June. (Yahoo! Asia) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/7/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo Determined to Outperform Rivals in Competition on Monthly Net Subscriber Increase
Wednesday, July 7, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Behind NTT DoCoMo's efforts lies the company's sense of crisis. Specifically, it is becoming more difficult for the company to differentiate its business from its rivals' and to outperform them, if it continues to offer the i-mode service alone. In Japan the growth in the number of new subscribers has already peaked. The competition among carriers to secure new subscribers is becoming especially fierce. In the competition on the monthly net increase in the number of new subscribers, DoCoMo has been lagging behind KDDI for eight consecutive months and is now fighting an uphill battle. Therefore, it is necessary for the company to launch a new attractive service to prevent its customers from shifting to similar services offered by its rivals. The i-mode FeliCa Service will provide NTT DoCoMo with a major opportunity to demonstrate the technological advantage of its service over the competing services. Although KDDI and Vodafone are also considering the feasibility of similar services using the contactless IC card, they have yet to come up with specific plans. (NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Release FeliCa-Capable Mobile Phone, Aiming for i-Mode Success
Wednesday, July 7, 2004 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo will launch Japan’s first mobile phone with a contactless IC chip in July. When the user brings an i-mode FeliCa-capable handset close to a dedicated reader, the required amount will be withdrawn from the user’s electronic money account recorded in the chip embedded in the handset. The Japanese mobile phone giant aims to expand its customer base by marketing the new handset compatible with its "i-mode FeliCa Service" ahead of its rivals, such as KDDI Corp and Vodafone KK. NTT DoCoMo will provide the i-mode FeliCa Service in cooperation with its partner companies. Also, the company plans to commence a solution business for companies using the new handsets. (NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/22/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo Cellular Handset Doubles As Office Extension Phone
Tuesday, June 22, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo plans to beat its rivals and release this summer a 3G cellular phone that also functions as an internal extension phone in the office. DoCoMofs new phone will have a built-in chip enabling use for voice communications via wireless LANs. Once taken outside, the handset will function as a regular 3G cell phone, and calls will be subject to the same charges as the FOMA 3G service, but no cellular charges will apply when it is used as an extension phone. DoCoMo plans to sell the cell phone along with wireless LAN equipment. The price for 500 handsets will likely be 35-40 million yen. Corporate sales account for only around 10% of the domestic cell phone market. Because the high data communications capabilities of 3G cell phones can help businesses improve efficiency, DoCoMo believes that cell phones will find more demand among companies in the future. Fully deploying the cell phone would make it possible to eliminate the use of fixed-line phones in the office. (Nikkei.net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/17/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo’s Predicts FeliCa-Capable Cell Phone to Become ’Lifestyle Infrastructure’
Thursday, June 17, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will debut handset models with FeliCa, a contactless IC card technology, functions in the summer of 2004. Services or products that have the potential have such an impact as to change people’s lifestyles come about every five years or so in the mobile phone industry. DoCoMo believes that the year 2004, or five years after the debut of i-mode, will become the year of "lifestyle infrastructure" by equipping FeliCa in mobile phones. The FeliCa handset will allow users to operate it without starting up the screen. Additionally, when people use them, all they do is just scan them to the reader/writer.
(NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/2/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo's 4G Test Results in 300Mbps Data Rate in Moving Car
Wednesday, June 2, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced test results from its 4G field experiments, saying it had achieved maximum downstream data rate of 300Mbps with an average sustained rate of 135MBps in a moving vehicle running at aproximately 30 kilometers per hour. The vehicle was also around 800m to 1km away from the 4G base station. DoCoMo aims to realize much faster communication speeds by adding the multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) technology to the its current wireless systems. (NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/18/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Exhibits Concept Model of "TV" Phone
Tuesday, May 18, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc revealed its "OnQ" model, a concept mobile phone capable of showing terrestrial digital TV broadcasts, aswell as a device for users to carry home-recorded TV programs and view them wherever possible. NTT DoCoMo has suggested using the OnQ phone for "timeshift viewing" with the support of communications lines. The OnQ unit consists of: (1) a mobile phone holding a receptor for a "one-segment" broadcast, and (2) a cradle holding a hard disk device (HDD) recorder. There are two reasons for emphasizing the "timeshift viewing" function for a mobile phone with TV reception capability. One is the issue of battery life and the other is the issue of circumstances where users cannot receive broadcasts due to poor reception, such as underground. With timeshift viewing it is possible to cut out and view a program whatever the user wants for a short period of time. (NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/13/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo Aims to Increase Operating Profit by Cutting Costs
Thursday, May 13, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo aims to increase revenue and operating profit by cutting the selling price of handsets and lowering retailers’ commission. DoCoMo expects the purchase price from handset-makers such as NEC Corp. will decline because the number of subscribers for the most advanced cell phones is expected to reach 10 million by the end of March next year. The price decrease will allow DoCoMo to lower incentives to retailers. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/6/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Begin Fixed-Rate Packet Communications in June
Thursday, May 6, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced on March 24, 2004 that it will launch a fixed-rate packet communications service on June 1, 2004. Following its rival au by announcing its launch of a fixed-rate packet communications service. The announcement came as a surprise as President Keiji Tachikawa emphasized in December 2003 that the company would not follow rivals and start its own flat-rate packet communications service. NTT DoCoMo finally decided to start its own flat-rate packet communications service called "Pake Hodai" to compete with the EZ Flat service provided by KDDI Corp, a leader in such fixed-rate packet communications services.
(NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/28/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to launch 3G roaming-in service for visitors to Japan
Wednesday, April 28, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will launch an international roaming-in service to enable mobile subscribers of DoCoMo’s 21 international partners in 19 countries and territories to use DoCoMo’s 3G FOMA network while in Japan. The service starts 1 May. By using 3G roaming-in service compatible handsets that will be provided by DoCoMo, subscribers will be able to make and receive calls using their regular local number. Phones will be available at DoCoMo World Counters in Narita International Airport and Kansai International Airport. The cost of rental will be JPY 735 (EUR 6.04) (tax included) per day. Charges for international calls from Japan will be set by each international partner. The roaming-in service will offer voice communication and videophone calls at the time of launch, and DoCoMo plans to add SMS and packet data transmission services later. Overseas operators taking part in this service will also be added. (Telecom Paper) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo To Take 40% Stake In Thai Company
Wednesday, April 28, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will take a 40% stake in L-spot Co., a unit of Loxley Public Co. of Thailand, for THB21.6 million. Loxley will also invest THB24.4 million in L-spot. NTT DoCoMo aims to launch fleet management services through the joint venture, its first such service overseas. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Boeing, NTT DoCoMo eye Internet roaming deal
Wednesday, April 28, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. has signed a memorandum of understanding with The Boeing Co. that is expected to lead to its wireless LAN customers being able to access Boeing in-flight Internet services through their NTT DoCoMo accounts.
Under the deal, specific terms of which are yet to be worked out, NTT DoCoMo customers will be able to use their current user name and password to access Connexion by Boeing Internet service. Charges for the service will later be billed by NTT DoCoMo.
(IDG) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/22/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo boosts dividend to mark "i-mode" success
Thursday, April 22, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Thursday it would boost its annual dividend by 50 percent for the business year that ended on March 31 by offering a special dividend to mark 40 million subscribers for its "i-mode" service. DoCoMo, Japan’s largest mobile carrier, will now offer a 1,500 yen ($13.73) dividend, up from an earlier 1,000 yen forecast. That would boost the share’s dividend yield to 0.66 percent, which is still below the Nikkei 225’s forecast average of 0.87 percent. (Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/21/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo changes CEO choice after NTT veto--sources
Wednesday, April 21, 2004 |
| |
Summary
A veto of NTT DoCoMo Inc’s choice of chief executive has forced Japan’s dominant mobile operator to choose a new candidate just weeks before the announcement is expected, company sources said on Wednesday. DoCoMo wanted to appoint Shiro Tsuda, a senior executive vice president, as successor to current Chief Executive Keiji Tachikawa, but the move was blocked by its parent company Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp, the sources said. (Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/20/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo’s "New Business Model"
Tuesday, April 20, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo (DCM) has long been one of the world’s wireless pioneers. In the late 1990s, the Japanese outfit launched the most successful cellular Internet service, i-mode, followed by one of the first commercial third-generation (3G) networks in 2001. But in the past few years, DoCoMo stumbled as it tried to launch its high-speed service while competing with upstart rival KDDI. Last fall, KDDI challenged the industry leader again by announcing plans to offer lower-cost high-speed service, charging a low, flat monthly rate. Now, DoCoMo is following suit (see BW, 4/19/04, "DoCoMo vs. a Mouse That’s Roaring"). I recently spoke to DoCoMo President and CEO Keiji Tachikawa about the KDDI threat, DoCoMo’s strategy in Japan, the West, and China, and the future of 3G. Here are edited excerpts from our conversation: (KTVU) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/19/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo to plug i-mode mobile at Olympics
Monday, April 19, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Japanese wireless firm NTT DoCoMo hopes Olympic promotion of its mobile Internet service will bolster its European market, the Financial Times reports. A deal with Greek mobile service provider Cosmote will mean big exposure for i-mode, DoCoMo’s wireless Internet service that allows mobile phone users to download things like games and trivia. At the Olympics, to be held in Athens this August, DoCoMo plans to unveil their 3G-capable i-mode handsets in Europe for the first time.
(Washington Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/16/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to launch UEFA I-mode site
Friday, April 16, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, the Japanese communications group has revealed that it is to begin a joint ‘UEFA.com’ site for i-mode mobile internet services with UEFA, the European Football governing body. The service, which is scheduled to start on Monday, will be the first to offer UEFA’s authorised content via a mobile internet site. The site will offer up-to-date sports highlights and updates about the UEFA Champions League and EURO 2004 from the official Japanese UEFA website. It will also include information about players, as well as interviews and screensavers. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Will Seek U.K. I-mode Partner in Absence of Hutchison
Friday, April 16, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., which owns 20 percent of Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.’s U.K. mobile-phone business, will seek another British partner for its i-mode mobile Internet service if Hutchison decides not to introduce it. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/14/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo vs. A Mouse That’s Roaring
Wednesday, April 14, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. isn’t accustomed to sitting in second place. The company has long dominated the Japanese cellular market, and today boasts 56% market share, twice that of its rival, KDDI Corp. And while other carriers were struggling to offer any kind of wireless data services, DoCoMo five years ago rolled out i-mode, an always-on connection to the Internet that was an instant hit, allowing users to e-mail, shop, and bank online all through the medium of their handset.
(BusinessWeek) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/13/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo to plug i-mode mobile at Olympics
Tuesday, April 13, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo hopes Olympic promotion of its mobile Internet service will bolster its European market .A deal with Greek mobile service provider Cosmote will mean big exposure for i-mode, DoCoMo’s wireless Internet service that allows mobile phone users to download things like games and trivia. At the Olympics, to be held in Athens this August, DoCoMo plans to unveil their 3G-capable i-mode handsets in Europe for the first time.
(Washington Times/UPI) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/8/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to prioritise SMS in event of disasters
Thursday, April 8, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced today that it can separately manage voice calls and data packet transmissions for some handsets to avoid excessive network congestion during major natural disasters. The move is expected to increase the ability to successfully transmit text messages to DoCoMo’s i-mode Disaster Message Board service, even if network traffic should rise sharply during a major disaster. Presently, if network traffic were to become exceedingly heavy during a disaster, DoCoMo could be forced to block traffic in selected areas on a temporary basis to prevent serious degradation of network performance. In some instances, urgent messages sent to the Disaster Message Board could be blocked inadvertently. By separating management of voice calls and data packet transmissions, DoCoMo expects that text messages will have an increased chance for successful transmission during a disaster, when the traffic of voice calls would likely rise and that of data packet transmissions would be relatively low. (Geekzone) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo to name VP Tsuda as president
Thursday, April 8, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s largest mobile phone company, will name senior executive vice president Shiro Tsuda to replace Keiji Tachikawa as its president, business daily Nihon Keizai reported on Thursday. Tachikawa is in his sixth year as head of DoCoMo and is widely expected to step down in June, when his third two-year term ends. Tsuda has been seen as the frontrunner to succeed Tachikawa due to his experience in rolling out the world’s first third-generation (3G) network with high-speed data capabilities. He also worked closely with Tachikawa on i-mode, DoCoMo’s revolutionary Internet service that attracted consumers in droves.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/6/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo To Study Social Impacts Of Wireless
Tuesday, April 6, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Japanese wireless operator NTT DoCoMo said late last week that it will create a research organization to examine the social impacts of mobile phones. The company said in a statement that the Mobile Society Research Institute will "clarify both the positive and negative aspect of mobile phones (and) focus on enhancing the upside, while minimizing the downside." The company said the institute would be an independent body. (CMP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/2/2004
|
| |
Japan’s DoCoMo high-speed 3G subscribers hit 3 mln
Friday, April 2, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s dominant mobile phone operator, said on Wednesday that total subscribers to its high-speed 3G service hit the three million mark, just two months after reaching two million. DoCoMo’s subscriber number for the service, known as "FOMA", also exceeded its target of 2.4 million for fiscal 2003, which ended on Wednesday. The company was one of the first in the world to launch a 3G (third-generation) service, which allows users to quickly download music, video and other large files.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/1/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Unveils New 506i 2G I-Mode Phone Series
Thursday, April 1, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc on April 27 introduced the new mova 506i series of three PDC (2G) i-mode mobile phone handsets.The handsets feature cameras with effective resolutions of more than one million pixels. They also come with infrared ports for exchanging data and photos with compatible handsets and performing infrared-based functions such as remote-control operation of appliances, authentication and cashless payments.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/30/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo says no decision made on Hutchison stake
Tuesday, March 30, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Responding to news reports that it planned to end its investment in Hutchison 3G UK Holdings Ltd., NTT DoCoMo released a statement that it has not made a decision about ending the investment. “NTT DoCoMo has been considering strategic plans with both Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. and Hutchison 3G UK Holdings Ltd., and will continue to maintain good relations with both companies,” the company said in the statement. (RCR News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo promises remote control of appliances via handset
Tuesday, March 30, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Wireless industry leaders continue to push the boundaries of mobile-phone functions, and the latest innovation seems to hit close to home. NTT DoCoMo Inc. announced a new offering that will allow its 3G FOMA users to remotely control various household appliances, including TVs, air conditioners and lights. The carrier’s offering comes shortly after executives from LG Electronics Co. Ltd. and Motorola Inc. discussed similar products during the recent CTIA Wireless show in Atlanta. (RCR News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/29/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo researchers dream big for future phones
Monday, March 29, 2004 |
| |
Summary
A mobile phone that can communicate sight, touch, smell, taste and emotion might sound fantastical, but that is exactly what NTT DoCoMo Inc’s chief technology officer aims to develop. "Right now, our mobile phones can relay voice and images, but we need to strengthen our research into the communication of the rest of the five senses," Kota Kinoshita told Reuters in an interview. "Our president, Keiji Tachikawa, dreams of using phones to beam things physically. That may not be possible, but I think we will eventually be able to offer users a virtual experience like that."
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo to liquidate Hutchison-related units
Monday, March 29, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Wednesday it planned to liquidate three units that were created to hold shares in Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Ltd’s operations in Hong Kong, Britain and the British Virgin Islands. Japan’s largest mobile phone operator said it had decided to close the three intermediate holding companies -- DCM Capital LDN Ltd, DCM Capital HKG Ltd and DCM Capital 3G HKG Ltd -- to reduce operational costs.
(Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/23/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo talking with Hutchison toward UK exit-source
Tuesday, March 23, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s dominant mobile phone operator, is in detailed discussions with Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Ltd to pull out of their third-generation phone venture in Britain, a DoCoMo source said on Thursday. The source, who declined to be named, said the two sides are negotiating the price that Hutchison would pay DoCoMo for its 20 percent stake in 3G UK Holdings Ltd. (Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo’s Problem Handsets Fixed By Download
Tuesday, March 23, 2004 |
| |
Summary
The 160,000 NTT DoCoMo handsets that had problems operating with the firm’s FOMA service in Japan have found a savior: U.S.-based firm DoOnGo Technologies. The company reported that it was able to download a patch to update the FOMA phones. The FOMA N900i handsets had embedded DoOnGo software before customers used them. “DoCoMo was able to download a patch to fix a ’reboot’ bug in 1600,000 phones in a matter of minutes,” the firm said in a statement. (CMPNetAsia) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/22/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo, Far EasTone Tie Up for 3G W-CDMA Service Launch in Taiwan
Monday, March 22, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc and Far EasTone Telecommunications Co, Ltd of Taiwan said they have signed a consulting agreement under which Far EasTone will launch a W-CDMA-based 3G commercial service in Taiwan, and NTT DoCoMo will provide technical support. (NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/17/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo to set lowest flat rate for 3G data service
Wednesday, March 17, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc plans to set a monthly flat fate of about 3,900 yen for unlimited third-generation (3G) cell phone data transmissions, NTT DoCoMo sources said Wednesday. The fee is about 300 yen lower than the fee level for comparable data transmission service offered by KDDI Corp, NTT DoCoMo’s main rival in the fiercely competitive cell phone market.
(Japan Today) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/15/2004
|
| |
Far EasTone teams up with DoCoMo for Taiwan service
Monday, March 15, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Far EasTone Telecommunications Co, the nation’s second-largest mobile-phone carrier after Taiwan Cellular Corp, said it signed a consultancy pact with NTT DoCoMo Inc yesterday to launch a third-generation (3G) mobile network in Taiwan this year. Under the agreement, NTT DoCoMo will offer its technical support to Far EasTone in offering Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) phone services here, Far EasTone said in a statement yesterday.
(Taipei Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/11/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo considers pulling out of 3
Thursday, March 11, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo is considering pulling out of its 20% stake in 3 and going into partnership with mmO2 to increase European take-up of its i-mode service, according to rumours in the City. The Japanese company has made no secret of its desire to push for mass-market adoption of i-mode in Europe, but sales have been disappointing, despite its stake in 3 and agreements with KPN in the Netherlands, Bouygues Telecom in France and Telefonica Moviles in Spain. Officially both sides were claiming last week that their relationship had not been altered, with i-mode handsets even being tested by 3’s Hong Kong operation. (MobileToday) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/9/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo Employees Fudge the Numbers
Tuesday, March 9, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Although DoCoMo’s rate of growth has slowed lately, they still have added new customers every month. But last month DoCoMo Kyushu, a subsidiary covering the southern island, was about to suffer a net loss of subscribers for the first time. To avoid the shame of being the first subsidiary to actually lose more customers than they gained, employees signed up for 800 new subscriptions at the end of the month to boost the numbers, according to a translation from Dottocomu. Of course no one may have noticed this trick except that the employees all cancelled their contracts a few days later, raising flags in the company database. DoCoMo Kyushu has apologized and will punish the employees. Even though it is unlikely that 800 subs could have effected the numbers much outside of Kyushu Island, this has caused DoCoMo as a whole to look pretty stupid. February’s numbers have not been released yet, but we’re willing to bet DoCoMo will be in the black, even with Kyushu’s net loss. (The Feature) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
KDDI, Others to Develop Innovative Digital Radio Receiver Attachable to PDA
Tuesday, March 9, 2004 |
| |
Summary
KDDI Corp, Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co, Ltd and Vitec Co, Ltd have jointly developed a terrestrial digital radio receiver that can be attached to a personal digital assistant (PDA) device via the USB1.1 interface. In Japan, two methods are used for digital terrestrial radio broadcasting, "one-segment" and "three-segment." The new terminal is able to receive both of these bandwidths.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo will test international wi-fi roaming with SingTel
Tuesday, March 9, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo and SingTel will conduct a trial to test international roaming between their wi-fi services. The trial is aimed at verifying technologies and marketability under a plan to jointly launch a commercial international roaming service. During the trial, DoCoMo and SingTel Mobile will share access to their respective Mzone and "Outdoor Wireless Surf" Wireless LAN services, which they currently offer at cafes and other locations to enable users to connect to the Internet via PDAs and notebooks equipped with Wireless LAN cards. DoCoMo’s Mzone service is currently available at 216 locations in Japan and SingTel Mobile’s Outdoor Wireless Surf service is available at more than 230 locations in Singapore. (Geekzone) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/5/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Continues to Expand 3G FOMA Service Coverage
Friday, March 5, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that it will expand its 3G FOMA service coverage to 99.9% of populated areas in the Kanto-Koshinetsu* region by the end of March 2004. The figure represents a 0.5-point rise from last December. In addition, DoCoMo and its eight regional companies will expand FOMA’s nationwide service coverage, up one percentage point from December to approximately 99% of the national population by the end of March. (Asia Economy) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/3/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo develops speech recognition without speech
Wednesday, March 3, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. lifted the lid Tuesday on its five-year-old research and development (R&D) center in Japan and demonstrated a couple of the technologies the operator is working on, including a speech recognition system that doesn’t require speech. The company, Japan’s largest cellular operator, last year spent around ¥150 billion ($1.4 billion) on R&D. It employs more than 1,100 people to look into new technologies and communications methods. Many of those people are based here in Yokosuka, west of Tokyo. The carrier, which also has laboratories in the U.S. and Germany, is in the process of establishing a center in China.
(InfoWorld) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Bug Bites Into DoCoMo Handset
Wednesday, March 3, 2004 |
| |
Summary
It looks like a bug has burrowed its way into one of NTT DoCoMo’s new 3G FOMA 900i handsets, causing a temporary suspension of sales of the F900i. The software glitch centers on the handset’s inability to automatically receive incoming e-mail "under certain circumstances." The bug seems to pop up when one of three things occurs: The handset is closed before the stand-by screen is displayed; the automatic switch-on function activates when the handset is folded; and a handset is switched on outside a service area and is folded when a service area is entered. All other phone functions are working properly, DoCoMo says.
(WirelessWeek) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/2/2004
|
| |
Vodafone Live!, DoCoMo i-mode both poised for wider growth
Tuesday, March 2, 2004 |
| |
Summary
New research shows Vodafone’s Live! wireless data service and NTT DoCoMo’s i-mode service are both poised for growth outside of Japan. According to research and consulting firm Analysys Research, data services beyond text messaging will gradually take hold, but operators will have to pay careful attention to pricing, marketing and the availability of handsets.
(RCR News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/27/2004
|
| |
Could DoCoMo be the saviour of MMO2?
Friday, February 27, 2004 |
| |
Summary
As new speculation mounted over Vodafone’s next move, following its failure to acquire AT&T Wireless, another takeover saga began with the rejection of a bid for the UK’s MMO2 from the Netherlands’ KPN. (The Register) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/26/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo seeks a place in new US network
Thursday, February 26, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo would consider investing in the enlarged group created by Cingular’s $41bn takeover this month of AT&T Wireless to help it realise its objectives in the US, the Japanese mobile operator’s president said on Wednesday. The company holds a 16 per cent stake in AT&T Wireless but is expected to be have to sell this as part of Cingular’s all-cash acquisition. In an interview with the Financial Times, Keiji Tachikawa said: "We will make a decision based on the economics [of any potential investment]. We would like to consider Cingular’s conditions".
(Financial Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Hints at mmO2 Interest
Thursday, February 26, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s largest mobile operator NTT DoCoMo Inc has signaled its interest in a partnership with mmO2 Plc, but only if the fourth placed UK operator adopts i-mode, DoCoMo’s data service. mmO2 has been the subject of intense takeover speculation after takeover talks between it and Royal KPN NV, the largest Dutch telephone company, collapsed last week. This speculation was renewed after the president of DoCoMo, Keiji Tachikawa, told the Financial Times that the operator would be interested if mmO2 adopted i-mode. "We are prepared to negotiate with any operator which will do i-mode," said Tachikawa. He added that DoCoMo would first have to consult 3 UK, its current UK partner, regarding any new partnership. (Computerwire) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/25/2004
|
| |
Getway and Others to Start up New FOMA Auction Site
Wednesday, February 25, 2004 |
| |
Summary
On April 1, Getway, AutoTools Japan, and NTT-ME will jointly launch an auction site, auction.e-2way.com, designed exclusively for NTT DoCoMo’s FOMA 3G cellular network. Enhanced with NTT DoCoMo’s M-stage V-live real-time video streaming technology, the new service will allow auction sellers to submit items, and transmit items’ live images to buyers so they can see the more detailed features. Transmitting the live images requires NTT ME’s You-i Camera, which comes with built-in encoding software for FOMA, to ensure real-time image and sound encoding and transmission. (Japacorp.net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
SQUARE ENIX to Launch DoCoMo Sites for World-Famous Game Titles
Wednesday, February 25, 2004 |
| |
Summary
On March 1, Square Enix will begin offering a series of popular game titles, Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, to users of NTT DoCoMo’s 900i Series mobile phones. "Dragon Quest i" and "Final Fantasy i" will feature not only Java games but also character motion images and flash-based standby screen pictures. Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy have sold more than 31 million and 49 million copies, respectively. Each service costs 500 yen ($4.59) per month. (Japancorp.net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo to recruit i-mode operators against Vodafone
Wednesday, February 25, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo provided evidence on Wednesday that it claims proves its i-mode service offers enough incremental revenue opportunities for European operators to consider it an effective weapon against Vodafone’s Live! service. NTT DoCoMo’s i-mode content model came under fire earlier this week from Portugese operator Optimus, which said i-mode could soak up its pre-paid voice revenues. But DoCoMo was today keen to show that ARPU in new figures – which indicate between 6 and 10 euros per month per subscriber – is incremental, and therefore a money-spinner for operators that deploy i-mode profitably.
(Total Telecom) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo: New 3G Plans for USA?
Wednesday, February 25, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Despite the fact that NTT DoCoMo has to shed its 16-percent stake in AT&T Wireless Services Inc. (and probably a few tears given the drop in value), this does not mean AT&T Wireless gets off the hook from its obligations to launch W-CDMA 3G in four US markets by the end 2004. So what’s a badly burned DoCoMo, which has been forced to write down something like 1.5 trillion of the 1.9 trillion yen it spent on minority shareholdings in Western and Asian carriers, to do? The answer seems to be hopping into bed with Cingular to keep the 3G dream alive, or at least stop it degenerating into a nightmare. (Wireless Watch Japan) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/23/2004
|
| |
Japan’s DoCoMo to offer unlimited flat-rate data communications
Monday, February 23, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc plans to introduce a monthly flat-rate fee for unlimited cell phone data transmissions such as e-mail and Internet services starting as early as the middle of this year, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun said. The offer will be made available first to subscribers of its 3G (third-generation) FOMA cell phone services. Subscribers will also have unlimited use of packet switching communications to download content such as games and ring tones. But they will still have to pay basic and connection fees separately.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/20/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo eyes technical tie-up with Cingular Wireless, others
Friday, February 20, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. isn’t through with the United States just yet. Since the company has decided to sell its 16 percent stake in AT&T Wireless Services Inc. to the second-largest U.S. mobile phone carrier, Cingular Wireless LLC, speculation was that the Japanese carrier-which has been badly burned on its massive international investments-might pack up its bags and go home. Instead, sources say, Japan’s top mobile phone operator is looking to form an alliance with Cingular Wireless to promote its preferred third-generation mobile phone standard in the United States.
(Asahi.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Nokia says in talks with DoCoMo on 3G handsets
Friday, February 20, 2004 |
| |
Summary
The world’s top cellphone maker Nokia said on Friday it was in talks with Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo to supply high-speed 3G handsets, a potential boost for the Finnish firm in a market where it has struggled. "We are in talks with DoCoMo related to 3G terminals," Nokia spokesman Kari Tuutti said. He declined to give an estimate for the size or timetable of a possible deal for third-generation handsets. "With the emergence of 3G in Japan, this is a great opportunity for Nokia to get a good presence in the Japanese market," he said.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/19/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo unveils FOMA 900i series, the ultimate 3G mobile terminal
Thursday, February 19, 2004 |
| |
Summary
When NTT DoCoMo unveiled the 900i series, the most advanced-ever 3G i-mode mobile terminals, on December 18, 2003, members of the press seemed eager to hear the announcement. The press conference was a resounding success, with the conference hall filled to capacity soon after opening. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/18/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo may trade US ambition for cash
Wednesday, February 18, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc is expected to pocket US$6.5bil in cash from the US$41bil takeover of AT&T Wireless by Cingular Wireless, spelling the end of a costly foray into the key US market. A DoCoMo source said Japan’s largest mobile carrier intended to sell its 16% stake in AT&T Wireless at the US$15-per-share price offered by Cingular, but may consider negotiating a reinvestment in the US cellular operator at a later date. In a statement, DoCoMo said if the announced transaction were consummated, “it would have a considerable effect on the relationship between DoCoMo and AT&T Wireless, as it would result in all of its shares in AT&T Wireless being converted into cash.” By selling its 432.99 million AT&T Wireless shares at US$15 each, DoCoMo would recover nearly two-thirds of its original US$10.2bil investment in the third largest US mobile phone company.
(The Star) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Panasonic Mobile to Introduce FOMA/GSM Dual Handset in Fall 2004
Wednesday, February 18, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Yasuo Katsura, president of Panasonic Mobile Communications Co, Ltd disclosed on Feb 9 the company’s new business strategy dubbed the "Leap Ahead 21" plan, focusing on its mobile business extending into 2006. Katsura cited as target figures for 2006: (1) sales of 4,000 mobile devices amounting to 1 trillion yen; (2) attaining an 8% share of the world’s market in unit terms; and (3) achieving a 5%-plus operating profit. In particular, the company will place special emphasis on the sale of devices and expansion of base stations overseas, especially in Europe and China.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/17/2004
|
| |
FOMA -What's Fuelling Japan's 3G growth?
Tuesday, February 17, 2004 |
| |
Summary
For five years now NTT DoCoMo has been a shining international example of what can be achieved in terms of generating cash via non voice wireless products and services. Their i-mode mobile data service is virtually the stuff of legend as it has achieved truly stellar growth since its launch in February 1999. Today, i-mode subscriptions now stand at 40 million in Japan, over 90% of DoCoMo's customer base.
(3g.co.uk) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/12/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo sets meeting seen blocking AT&T Wireless bid
Thursday, February 12, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Top executives of NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s biggest mobile phone operator, are expected to meet this evening to decide against bidding for U.S. wireless operator AT&T Wireless Services Inc, company sources said on Friday.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/10/2004
|
| |
Shift to high-end services lifts DoCoMo
Tuesday, February 10, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, the world’s second-largest mobile phone operator, said Wednesday that it had a profit for its third quarter as the company shifted more customers to high-end camera phones and its new "FOMA" wireless Internet access services. Group net income totaled ¥137.8 billion, or $1.31 billion, for the quarter that ended Dec. 31, the company said. (International Herald Tribune) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Sinks to 3rd in Jan Cell Phone User Increase Rankings
Tuesday, February 10, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc slumped to third in terms of net customer increases in January, according to a Telecommunications Carriers Association (TCA) report released on Feb 6. KDDI Corp’s au cell phone service saw a net subscriber jump of 232,000 to claim the top spot for the fourth straight month, according to the report on new cellular phone contracts in January. And with a net customer increase of 64,100, Vodafone Holdings KK overtook NTT DoCoMo, which recorded 63,700 new contracts.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/5/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo anticipates FOMA boom
Thursday, February 5, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. said Wednesday it will raise its subscriber projection for its third-generation FOMA service by 20 percent to 2.4 million by the end of March, having seen faster-than-expected growth in the sector.
Just three months ago, the country’s largest mobile phone operator upgraded its subscriber forecast from 1.46 million to 2 million. Yet the number of subscribers to its high-speed service already surpassed the company’s target on Jan. 29.
(Japan Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo chief eyes new services
Thursday, February 5, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. President Keiji Tachikawa has unveiled a plan to launch new services and impose a rate cut to counter the flat-rate data communication service offered by rival company KDDI Corp.’s au brand cell phones. Asked for his reaction to a sell-off move by AT&T Wireless Inc., a major U.S. cell phone company in which NTT DoCoMo has the largest stake, at 16 percent, Tachikawa said: "In the United States, there is unrelenting and fierce competition among telecom carriers. In a situation like that, merger plans can surface at any time. But we have our own strategy for the U.S. market and we still have time."
(Yomiuri) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/4/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo on track with 3G service
Wednesday, February 4, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s top mobile phone operator, says it is on track to meet its full year earnings target as it steadily adds subscribers to its high-speed Internet-capable service. (CNN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo April-December net profit tops fiscal 2002
Wednesday, February 4, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s top mobile phone operator, said it posted a net profit of 494.2 billion yen (4.68 billion dollars) in the nine months to December, topping the previous full-year figure despite tough competition. The company did not provide comparative figures but the nine-month net profit compared with 212.5 billion yen in the full year to March 2003 and accounted for nearly 80 percent of the 621 billion yen expected for the current year. (Channel News Asia) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/3/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo launches new Symbian F9009 series 3G handset
Tuesday, February 3, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will start selling Fujitsu’s new Symbian OS 3G handset later this week as the F900i. It is the first of five new handsets planned in the 900i series and delivers advanced new features, including support for Macromedia Flash applications, HTML e-mail and avatars. (nice photo) (PMN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Japan’s DoCoMo posts 9-month profit on 3G growth
Tuesday, February 3, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo Inc on Wednesday posted a solid nine-month net profit as it steadily added subscribers to its high-speed Internet-capable service while keeping costs down. DoCoMo, Asia’s second-most valuable company after Toyota Motor Corp, said its consolidated net profit for the nine-month period from April to December was 494.25 billion yen ($4.69 billion) on revenue of 3.83 trillion yen.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/29/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo connects 3G FOMA video calls to Hong Kong
Thursday, January 29, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced that Japanese customers of its 3G FOMA -based WORLD CALL service will be able to exchange videophone calls with customers of compatible 3G / W-CDMA services offered by 3 HK in Hong Kong beginning February 6.
To make a video call to Hong Kong, DoCoMo subscribers simply dial 009130-010-852 followed by the local mobile number of the 3 HK user. The cost is 44 yen per 10 seconds or 264 yen per minute. Users can also dial into any private LANs in Hong Kong for 64 kbps data transmissions.
(3GNewsroom) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Doubles 3G Users In Four Months
Thursday, January 29, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, which is a partial owner and potential purchaser of AT&T Wireless, said Thursday that it now has more than two million subscribers for its 3G service in Japan. Expanded 3G coverage throughout Japan and the availability of new 3G handsets contributed to the rapid growth, the company said in its statement. In addition, the company said it expected a surge of new 3G users when it releases its forthcoming 900i series of smartphones. That device, based on Java and Macromedia Flash, will have a battery life three times longer than previous phones and will weigh 20 percent less, the company claims. (CMPNetAsia) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo sponsors Renault F-1 team
Thursday, January 29, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top cell phone service provider NTT DoCoMo said Thursday its "i-mode" logo will adorn Renault’s Formula-One machines in a multi-year sponsorship deal beginning this season. (JapanToday) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/27/2004
|
| |
AT&T Wireless Stakeholder Makes a Move
Tuesday, January 27, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s biggest mobile phone operator, took a step on Tuesday to join the bidding war for AT&T Wireless, intensifying the intrigue and global gamesmanship gripping the cellular industry. DoCoMo presently owns 16 percent of AT&T Wireless and controls two seats on the company’s board. But in a filing on Tuesday, DoCoMo recused itself from evaluating bids for AT&T Wireless, a move widely understood to put DoCoMo itself in a position to join the auction.
(New York Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/23/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to pull out of AOL
Friday, January 23, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo is considering ending its business ties with America Online (AOL) by pulling out of its investment in their Japanese joint venture, a press report said. DoCoMo, which owns a 43.2 per cent stake in DoCoMo AOL, currently valued at 17 billion yen ($US157 million), will likely complete its exit plan by the end of the year, Kyodo News agency said Tuesday, citing sources close to the plan. A spokesman for NTT DoCoMo declined to confirm the report. The Japanese company first acquired a 42.3 stake in the firm for 14.9 billion yen in 2001 and increased its holding later, the spokesman said.
(Australian IT) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/22/2004
|
| |
DoCoMo gains from AT&T mobile bid
Thursday, January 22, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s biggest phone firm, NTT DoCoMo, has seen its shares gain on the back of a potential bidding battle in the US mobile market. The firm’s finances have long suffered as its numerous stakes in foreign mobile operators have slumped in value. But now both DoCoMo and US operator Cingular, reports say, are looking to take control at US firm AT&T Wireless - in which DoCoMo has a 17% stake. DoCoMo’s shares rose 5,000 yen to 237,000 yen, bucking a falling market. Earlier on Wednesday, the company’s shares had risen as much as 5%.
(BBC) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Japan’s DoCoMo Unlikely to Bid for AT&T Wireless
Thursday, January 22, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s largest wireless company, NTT DoCoMo Inc, is unlikely to bid in the $30 billion auction for U.S. mobile phone operator AT&T Wireless Services Inc for fear of a shareholder backlash, company sources and analysts said on Thursday. DoCoMo, which already owns a 16 percent stake in the third-largest U.S. mobile operator, has explored the possibility of a deal but is unlikely to put in a bid because shareholders as well as some company executives of DoCoMo and parent Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp would probably oppose it, they said. NTT owns about 63 percent of DoCoMo. The reasons: DoCoMo’s earlier attempts to expand overseas ended in failure, the company has no experience in managing a non-Japanese company, a deal could run into U.S. political opposition and DoCoMo would face stiff competition in the cut-throat U.S. wireless market, analysts said.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
AT&T Wireless to Mull Takeover Bids
Thursday, January 22, 2004 |
| |
Summary
AT&T Wireless Services Inc. said for the first time on Thursday it would weigh buyout bids as it posted an unexpected quarterly loss amid a range of problems expected to keep driving customers away. AT&T Wireless, the No. 3 U.S. wireless provider, said it was considering its strategic options after it had received takeover interest from U.S. and international companies. "We’ve had multiple approaches from multiple sources," Chief Executive John Zeglis told Reuters. "We’ve got a process going here and we’re not going to be rushed. It encompasses a lot of players and we’ll be very thorough, very deliberate."
AT&T Wireless has been linked with several potential suitors including Cingular Wireless and Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc., Britain’s Vodafone Group Plc and Nextel Communications Inc. in recent days. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/20/2004
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Launch Mmanga Content on M-stage Book
Tuesday, January 20, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced January 19 that it will begin offering manga (comics) content on DoCoMo’s M-stage book visual content distribution service, on February 3. Incorporating Celsys’ scroll view function that is featured in the ComicSurfing manga viewer application, the service enables PDA and other mobile device users to read manga content just like they do with ordinary, paper-based comics. (JapanCorp.Net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT Smart Card to Support 2 Intl Standards
Tuesday, January 20, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp plans to develop a smart card that supports two international standards: FeliCa, developed by Sony Corp, and Type B, the standard used for Japan’s national resident registry network, popularly known as Juki Net. NTT plans to begin developing the smart card this spring and have a practical version ready before the end of the year. The new smart card will incorporate a chip installed with programming that supports the protocols used by both FeliCa and Type B. NTT group firm NTT Communications Corp. will be responsible for development. The product can be manufactured for about the same cost as a smart card that supports only one of these protocols.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/16/2004
|
| |
Moody’s revises up DoCoMo outlook on 3G progress
Friday, January 16, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc on Friday got a shot of confidence from Moody’s Investors Service as the ratings agency raised the outlook for DoCoMo’s debt ratings, citing an expansion of its third-generation (3G) service. Moody’s changed its outlook to stable from negative on DoCoMo’s Aa1 senior long-term debt ratings. DoCoMo is Japan’s dominant mobile carrier and operates a high-speed 3G service called "FOMA". "In Moody’s opinion, with its continued introduction of enhanced handsets and service quality, DoCoMo should continue to grow FOMA subscribers, taking advantage of rising user interest in higher value-added services," Moody’s said in a statement.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/15/2004
|
| |
Docomo to Launch i-Mode Disaster Message Board Service
Thursday, January 15, 2004 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. (TSE: 9437) and its eight regional subsidiaries announced today the launch of an i-mode wireless internet access Disaster Message Board service beginning from January 17, allowing i-mode subscribers in Japan to post personal messages at a special i-mode site (provided in Japanese only) in the event of major calamities such as high-magnitude earthquakes. Under the present network system, there may be instances in the case of a major disaster where the flow of both voice calls and data packet transmissions would have to be controlled. This would be necessary to prevent degradation in network performance due to congestion from the anticipated flood of calls.
(TelephonyWorld) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo shares weak on AT&T Wireless merger talks
Thursday, January 15, 2004 |
| |
Summary
Shares in Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc fell on Thursday on a report it was in talks to acquire No. 3 U.S. wireless operator AT&T Wireless Services Inc, in which DoCoMo already has a 16 percent stake. A spokesman for DoCoMo declined to comment on the report, while analysts and investors questioned the wisdom of such a deal for DoCoMo. Shares in Japan’s largest mobile phone operator fell as much as 2.5 percent before settling a bit at 237,000 by midday, off 1.3 percent from Wednesday’s close. "Would this just be an investment?...What synergies are in this for DoCoMo?" asked Akihide Kinugawa, fund manager at T&D Asset Management. "There are a lot of questions but the only certainty is that this would cost them a whole lot of money."
(Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/29/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to sponsor Renault F1 team
Monday, December 29, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile phone service provider NTT DoCoMo will sponsor the Renault Formula-One team to promote its "i-mode" Internet-accesible service worldwide. NTT DoCoMo Inc. is expected to make a formal announcement on the sponsorship for the French racing team at the end of January, the Kyodo news agency said Monday citing company officials. (Channel News Asia) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
KPN declines to say if i-mode goal reached
Monday, December 29, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Dutch telecoms group KPN declined to say on Monday whether it would achieve its goal of one million subscribers for its mobile Internet service i-mode by end-2003, with only three days to go. KPN, the first European operator to licence i-mode from NTT DoCoMo after its runaway success in Japan, had aimed for one million subsribers by the end of 2003 after rolling out the service in March 2002. "We will not reveal any operational figures or subscriber figures until February 23, when we release our full-year results," KPN spokesman Marinus Potman said.
(Rueters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/23/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Unveils New 3G FOMA 900i Series Handsets
Tuesday, December 23, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc unveiled the new FOMA 900i series, 3G FOMA i-mode mobile phones featuring a Macromedia Flash-equipped browser, HTML e-mail and avatar-capable videophone. Takeshi Natsuno of NTT DoCoMo at the press conference
The five handset models come from Fujitsu Ltd, NEC Corp, Panasonic Mobile Communications Co Ltd, Sharp Corp and Mitsubishi Electric Co Ltd. NTT DoCoMo plans to market those models from February 2004.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/22/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo Systems to Launch Cell Phone Home Monitoring Service
Monday, December 22, 2003 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo Systems Inc, a joint venture between Secom Co Ltd and NTT DoCoMo Inc, will launch this month a home security service that enables users to remotely check the settings and status of their home security systems by using Internet-capable cellular phones. The service combines Secom’s MS-3 multifunction condominium security system, released in July, and a home equipment remote control system that DoCoMo Systems unveiled at the end of last year.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/19/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo does it again
Friday, December 19, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japanese wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo today unveiled the FOMA 900i series, a new range of 3G FOMA i-mode mobile phones, all of which feature a Macromedia Flash-equipped browser, HTML e-mail and avatar-capable videophone. Compared with the original series of FOMA phones, 900i models offer three times longer standby and weigh 20 percent less. The 900i series will boast the first 3G phones equipped with a Macromedia Flash browser. Flash applications of up to 100K are possible, compared with 20K in 2G mova 505i series. The new series will also handle richer, more sophisticated online games. Java-based i-appli applications offer a 400K scratch pad and have a maximum capacity of 100K for content/archiving, compared with 200K and 30K in existing models. All 900i series handsets will be equipped with high-resolution mega-pixel cameras, ranging up to two mega-pixels and offering 20x digital zoom, and they will also have slots for memory cards, mainly in mini-SD formats. (Infosync) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to invest 37 billion yen in Linux, Symbian phone research
Friday, December 19, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. is planning to provide money to six cellular telephone makers to help them develop advanced handsets based on the Symbian and Linux operating systems and high-speed data communications technology, it said Friday. The company will provide a total of ¥37 billion (US$344 million) between April 2004 and March 2006 to Fujitsu Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Motorola Japan Ltd., NEC Corp., Panasonic Mobile Communications Co. Ltd. and Sharp Corp., said Takuya Ori, a spokesman for NTT DoCoMo in Tokyo.
(IDG) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/18/2003
|
| |
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo to pull out of Brazil
Thursday, December 18, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s largest mobile phone operator, said on Thursday it was closing its Brazilian unit and had reached an agreement to sell its stake in Brazilian mobile phone holding company Sudeste Cel Participacoes SA. DoCoMo acquired a small stake in the holding company after it was formed to include Tele Sudeste Celular, which controls regional mobile phone carriers Telerj Celular SA and Telest Celular SA. The Japanese company bought a 3.6 percent stake in Tele Sudeste Celular in September 1998 for about 95 million reais, or about 10.4 billion yen ($97 million) at the time. DoCoMo said its investment is currently valued at about 1.8 billion yen, and it has already written off the loss in value.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Japan’s DoCoMo Unveils New Line of Advanced Phones
Thursday, December 18, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s largest mobile phone operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc., on Thursday unveiled five new phones for next year that let consumers play fast-action games, send email with graphics, and download bigger files in a bid to fuel demand for its advanced wireless service. The introduction of the new lineup has been anticipated as an indication of DoCoMo’s ability to capture new customers in 2004 for its two-year old 3G (third-generation) service known as FOMA.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/15/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo’s Latest Cellphone Handset Incorporates HI’s Image Animation Tool
Monday, December 15, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Mobile 3D rendering technology pioneer HI has announced that its "Mascot Capsule Engine Face Edition (Face)," a communication support tool for email and chat users, has been incorporated into the N505iS, NTT DoCoMo’s latest cellular phone handset from NEC. Face enables N505iS users to render their face images with animated icons to express their emotions, before actually emailing the pictures. The animated images offer graphically rich interactions between the cellphone users. (JapanCorp.Net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/12/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo sees first fall in i-mode subscriptions
Friday, December 12, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. has recorded its first weekly slide in the number of subscriptions to its i-mode wireless Internet service, the company said Thursday. The Tokyo carrier counted 40,132,000 subscriptions to I-mode on Dec. 7, which is a drop of 12,000 compared to the total on Nov. 30, according to data published on its Web site. Part of the reason for the fall was due to cancellations of delinquent accounts that are made at the beginning of each month, said Tomoko Homma, a spokeswoman for NTT DoCoMo. She said the carrier expects to end December with net I-mode subscriber growth. (IDG) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/10/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Launch Three New Models in mova 505iS Series
Wednesday, December 10, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and its eight regional subsidiaries today announced the coming release of three new handsets in the 2G mova 505iS series: the SO505iS, a mega-pixel camera phone equipped to play extended-length video files; the N505iS, the first NEC-made camera phone in the mova lineup with 1.3 mega-pixel resolution; and the SH505iS, which comes with a 2.02 mega-pixel, auto-focus camera. The N505iS will be released on December 10, 2003 and the SO505iS and SH505iS will be released on December 12, 2003. (MobileMag) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/8/2003
|
| |
Why DoCoMo endorsement of Linux is a big deal
Monday, December 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
At first glance, the news item earlier this week didn’t look that significant: NTT DoCoMo, the huge Japanese telecom, announced it will urge its handset suppliers to build Linux-based phones. So? Lots of companies urge other companies to do things every day. Big deal. That’s exactly what it is. A big deal. We’re about to watch the famous trickle-down theory start to work wonders for Linux mobile development.
(IT Managers Journal) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to invest $10M in China fund
Monday, December 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will invest $10 million later this month in a venture capital fund that targets digital media and information technology start-ups in China, it said Monday. The investment will be made into the Gobi Fund, which is operated by Cayman Islands-based Gobi Fund Inc. with a subsidiary office in Shanghai, NTT DoCoMo said in a statement. The Tokyo-based carrier said it hopes for both a reasonable return and the ability to develop new businesses and technical tie-ups with the Chinese through the investment. (InfoWorld) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo tests superfast mobile phone
Monday, December 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo has developed a test model of a cell phone that offers both its superfast third-generation mobile service and a wireless local area network Internet phone service. But the Tokyo-based company said Friday that no decision has been made on when the dual-functionality model will become available.
(Seattle Post) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/5/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Launch Handset Compatible with FOMA, Wireless LAN to Expand Customer Base
Friday, December 5, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. announced on December 2 that it has created a prototype of a new mobile phone that is compatible with its third-generation (3G) mobile phone service called "FOMA" and the wireless LAN. The new phone, based on NEC Corp's FOMA-capable handset, will likely be launched in the spring of 2004. The new folding-type mobile phone can perform "stand by" in the FOMA mode and the wireless LAN mode simultaneously. In the wireless LAN mode, the user of the handset makes a phone call by using the voice over IP (VoIP) technology. If a company has an in-house extension telephone network using VoIP, the employees of the company can use the handset as a wireless internal phone by connecting it to wireless LAN base stations in the office.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Expands its 3G Service Area
Friday, December 5, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced an expansion of its FOMA 3G network to cover 99.4% of the population in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region. Its eight regional subsidiaries will also expand FOMA service to an area encompassing approximately 98% of the nationwide population by the end of December. DoCoMo is also significantly increasing the number of FOMA base stations in existing service areas from 3,200 locations in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region and 10,700 nationwide by the end of December.
(Converge Digest) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/4/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Promote Symbian OS for FOMA 3G Phones
Thursday, December 4, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc has decided to promote use of both Symbian Ltd’s open-standard operating system and the Linux operating system for its own FOMA 3G (third generation) wireless handsets. Until now, most FOMA handsets have used either TRON or proprietary operating systems developed by individual handset makers. DoCoMo expects use of Symbian OS and Linux to help reduce production costs and encourage wider acceptance of FOMA handsets.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo sees 25 mln 3G users in 2006
Thursday, December 4, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Thursday it expected the number of users of its high-speed third-generation (3G) mobile phones to grow more than 15-fold to 25 million by 2006, helped by improved handsets and wider coverage. "We expect our total users to be around 50 million in 2006 and half of them will be 3G users," NTT DoCoMo Chief Executive Keiji Tachikawa told a regular news conference. Tachikawa said the number of subscribers to its two-year old 3G service, which offers video conferencing and speedy Web access, exceeded 1.6 million as of Wednesday. Its total users numbered 45.2 million at the end of October. Tachikawa’s comments came as DoCoMo faces stiff competition from its rivals, particularly KDDI Corp, which has attracted more than 10 million 3G users with competitive pricing.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/3/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo develops prototype 3G/WLAN dual-mode phones
Wednesday, December 3, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top wireless carrier, NTT DoCoMo Inc, said on Tuesday it had developed a prototype dual-mode handset that works on the third-generation (3G) network and wireless local area networks (LANs). The hybrid handsets, targetted at corporate clients, can be used as regular 3G phones outside office, and allow users to have high-speed access to their company servers in offices equipped with a wireless LAN. DoCoMo’s 3G service, based on W-CDMA network has a top speed of 384 kilobits per second, while a typical wireless LAN service offers transmission speeds of around 11 megabits per second, which is 28 times faster than the 3G service. DoCoMo aims to launch the commercial version of the hybrid handsets in the next business year starting in April in an effort to boost its 3G user base.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/2/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to offer Linux-based 3G phones
Tuesday, December 2, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc , Japan’s top mobile operator, aims to offer third-generation (3G) handsets that run on the Linux-based operating system (OS) as early as the second half of 2004, a source close to the firm said on Tuesday. Linux software is free and can be copied or modified, unlike rival Microsoft Corp’s software, and has become popular among companies looking to lower the cost of using computer systems. DoCoMo has already offered handset makers specifications of the kind of Linux-based OS suitable for its 3G handsets in order to help them cut development and manufacturing costs, the source said.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/1/2003
|
| |
Renault and NTT DoCoMo F1 Sponsorship
Monday, December 1, 2003 |
| |
Summary
There have been rumors in recent days suggesting that Renault F1 in on the verge of announcing a new sponsorship deal with mobile phone giant NTT DoCoMo, the wireless company that was spun off from Nippon Telegraph and Telephone. NTT DoCoMo is one of the biggest mobile phone operators in the world and is in competition with Ferrari sponsor Vodafone. The deal makes a lot of sense because NTT DoCoMo is closely linked to Renault’s Japanese partner Nissan, developing automotive multimedia services, which the two companies hope to be able market worldwide in the future, their aim being to sell the service to other automobile companies.
(GrandPrix.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Sony to Separate Part of a Business for FeliCa Joint Venture with NTT DoCoMo
Monday, December 1, 2003 |
| |
Summary
At present, 38 million cards using FeliCa chips have been issued worldwide. This new company will develop the technology for a new IC chip, tentatively named "mobile FeliCa IC," that will integrate mobile phones with FeliCa technology. This new company will then implement production and sales licensing agreements with chip manufacturers, and work to create a platform whereby content providers can offer mobile services that feature both flexibility and security. The mobile FeliCa IC and service platform will be developed in an open environment and provided to the widest possible range of mobile telecommunications operators and content providers. (NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/28/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo buys back 47 bln yen worth of own shares
Friday, November 28, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Friday it had bought back 47.4 billion yen ($434 million) worth of its own shares as part of its plan to repurchase up to 600 billion yen worth of shares in the business year to March. DoCoMo, Japan’s top wireless carrier controlling 57 percent of the domestic cellphone market, bought back 199,606 shares, equivalent to 0.4 percent of its total shares outstanding as of September 30, between November 17 and 28. It brought the total value of DoCoMo’s repurchases so far this year to 242.3 billion yen. That means DoCoMo still aims to buy up to 357.7 billion yen worth of its own shares by March. (Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/26/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo unit releases customer info without consent
Wednesday, November 26, 2003 |
| |
Summary
An Osaka unit of NTT DoCoMo Inc provided its customers’ names and addresses to a research company between 2001 and 2003 without their consent, the company said Wednesday. NTT DoCoMo Kansai Inc, a unit of Japan’s largest cell phone group, denied any wrongdoing, saying its actions were permitted under government guidelines.
(Kyodo News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Japan’s DoCoMo says no takeover plan for mmO2
Wednesday, November 26, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Tuesday it had no plan to take over British mobile phone operator mmO2, denying a weekend report in Britain that mmO2 could be a bid target for Japan’s top wireless carrier. "Our partner in Britain is 3 UK. We hold a stake in the company. We are not considering acquiring mmO2," a DoCoMo spokeswoman said.
MmO2 also said on Monday that it was not in merger and acquisition talks with any company. (Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Introduce FOMA CompactFlash Card
Wednesday, November 26, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced that it will market P2402, the first FOMA CompactFlash card that will enable 3G videophone and other wireless data communications via PCs and PDAs such as DoCoMo’s sigmarion III, beginning November 28, 2003. The new flash card will enable PDA users to begin enjoying FOMA services, as DoCoMo presently provides the PC typed FOMA card that is only applicable to PCs with PC card slots
(3G Newsroom) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/24/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo could target mmO2 for takeover
Monday, November 24, 2003 |
| |
Summary
MMO2 has emerged as a possible takeover target for the Japanese mobile phones giant NTT DoCoMo. According to industry sources, a bid for the former BT Cellnet business, valued at £6 billion, is the most radical option being considered to revamp DoCoMo’s European strategy in the wake of a disastrous launch by new operator Three, in which DoCoMo has a 20 per cent stake. Management at Three have been given until the New Year to show they are sorting out the business. It also needs to take steps to implement DoCoMo’s successful i-Mode technology, which gives users access to a wide range of digital content. DoCoMo has strengthened its European presence and chief executive Keiji Tachikawa has recently briefed bankers and investors. (Scotsman) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/18/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo plans up to Y400 bln in share buybacks in H2
Tuesday, November 18, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s largest mobile phone operator, said on Tuesday it aims to buy back up to 400 billion yen ($3.7 billion) worth of its own shares in the second half of the business year to next March. "We are tentatively planning to repurchase up to 200 billion yen worth of shares each in the third and fourth quarter," DoCoMo Chief Executive Keiji Tachikawa told Reuters in an interview. "It is unclear if we can buy them all back, though. It’s partly up to market conditions."
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/17/2003
|
| |
Intel Wants Japan
Monday, November 17, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Dow Jones reports that the world’s largest chip maker Intel is looking to form a joint venture (JV) with Japan’s dominant cell-phone operator NTT DoCoMo. DoCoMo, with 57% of Japan’s cell-phone market, would co-develop cell-phone chip technology for a budding third-generation (3G) and the 2010 fourth-generation (4G) segment. Intel will be entering a market with entrenched powerhouses. The cell-phone chip market is dominated by Texas Instruments and Motorola. Last year TI sold two-thirds of the semiconductors used in cell phones. (Motley Fool) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/14/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo teams up with Intel to develop cell phone chip
Friday, November 14, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc and Intel Corp will join forces to develop a multitasking next-generation chip for cell phones, a major Japanese business daily reported Saturday. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun said NTT DoCoMo and Intel aim to develop a chip primarily for DoCoMo’s FOMA cell phones to handle multiple tasks such as audio and data communications and image processing.
(JapanToday) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/12/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo unit propels profit growth at NTT
Wednesday, November 12, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Nippon Telegraph Telephone said Tuesday that profit in the first half of its financial year grew more than tenfold to a record as its mobile-phone venture, NTT DoCoMo, enjoyed strong growth in subscriptions for its third-generation phone service. The better-than-expected earnings confirmed that Japan’s telecommunications industry is on the mend after a dismal 2001 and 2002. NTT and other carriers have been slashing prices for their fixed and mobile-phone services, attracting new customers and encouraging others to use their phones and data connections more. NTT holds 62 percent of DoCoMo, Japan’s largest mobile-phone company, which controls more than 55 percent of Japan’s mobile market, valued at $70 billion. Last month, DoCoMo said it expected to earn record profit in the full year and it raised its sales target by 2.7 percent. DoCoMo has been buoyed by sales of what it calls FOMA, its third-generation phones that transmit data, pictures and music clips at up to 40 times the speed of conventional phones. Overall mobile-phone shipments in Japan grew 20.6 percent in September from the same month a year ago, according to industry statistics. (International Herald Tribune) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/11/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo and KDDI Pushing the Envelope and Raking in Profits
Tuesday, November 11, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Just as we thought things are gearing up this month, Japan’s number one and two carriers have really pulled some goodies out of their bag. We’ve already talked about KDDI and flat fees, but this week’s subject is profits for the carriers and a grab bag of gains for subscribers. If ever there was a reason not to keep your eyes fixed on Japan’s wireless communications, we’d like to know. DoCoMo trumped itself recently announcing profits, Felicia Mobile commerce with Sony, and now (finally) some concrete plans to expand i-mode. We have the innards of DoCoMo’s recent press conference up for you in this week’s video program. (Requires registration). (Wireless Watch Japan) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Introduces the World’s First Auto-Focus Camera Phone
Tuesday, November 11, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and its eight regional subsidiaries today announced the release of the mova P505iS, the world’s first camera phone equipped with auto focus, on November 12, 2003. The P505iS is the second handset model released in the new 505iS series, a series of five PDC (2G) i-mode-capable mobile phones featuring mega-pixel cameras. The model’s 1.28 mega-pixel CCD camera is equipped with auto-focus for sharp, clear photos. The new handset has a 65,536-color TFT main LCD that doubles as a viewfinder, just like the viewfinder on a digital camera. The display-half of the body slides open (parallel to the lower body, like a jackknife), because the display is located on the outside of the body. When open, the display can also be rotated 180 degrees to face the same direction as the camera (for self-portraits, etc.).
(MobileMag) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/7/2003
|
| |
Stick it in your ear! The finger phone is coming
Friday, November 7, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo is developing a wireless phone worn like a wristwatch. Calls are begun and ended by touching forefinger to thumb. But the most interesting part is that the bones of the hand are used to conduct sound from the device, and sticking one’s forefinger in one’s ear allows one to hear the call. Dialing is done with a voice command, directed at the wristband which contains the phone’s mouthpiece, sort of like Dick Tracey of comic strip fame. DoCoMo is also working on a version that analyzed mouth muscle movements to generate sound. This feature would require resting the thumb and two fingers on the cheek and upper lip while speaking.
(San Jose Business Journal) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Greece’s Cosmote rises on DoCoMo Internet tech deal
Friday, November 7, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Shares in Greek mobile phone operator Cosmote gained more than two percent on Friday after the firm agreed to licence an Internet technology already a runaway success in Japan. Japan’s dominant wireless carrier, NTT DoCoMo Inc, said it would licence its i-mode technology to Greece’s biggest mobile operator by clients. I-mode allows users to access the Internet and use e-mail on matchbox-sized handset screens. It could be Cosmote’s answer to a similar product by rival Vodafone-Panafon, traders said.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/5/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo: Spam, Spam Go Away
Wednesday, November 5, 2003 |
| |
Summary
No doubt spam is a pest in your electronic life. Frustrations are running so high that even the U.S. Congress is considering legislation to put a stop to it. On the wireless front, NTT DoCoMo is trying to do its part by arming its i-mode users with an e-mail blocking feature. Beginning Jan. 8, 2004, the feature, which will be set as a default setting on i-mode handsets, will enable users to automatically reject e-mails sent from any i-mode handset that sends more than 200 messages per day. Users will have the ability to turn off the anti-spam feature if they so wish.
(Wireless Week) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo, AOL opens Warner Bros official i-mode site
Wednesday, November 5, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT Docomo, in cooperation with THINKWARE, launched November 4 "CinemaStyle-i," the first Warner Bros. Entertainment’s official website for cellphone users. The i-mode website offers a wide variety of movie content including opening information, latest news, movie rankings, and e-zines, all for free. With an additional monthly fee of 280 yen ($2.55), i-mode users can download a series of wallpaper images and ring-tones. They also receive invitations to movie preview parties. The new service supports PDC and FOMA cellphone handsets. (JapanCorp.Net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/4/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Develops FOMA Compact Flash Card for Use with Videophone
Tuesday, November 4, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that it has developed the first FOMA(R) compact flash card, the P2402, which will enable 3G videophone and other wireless data communication via PCs and PDAs, such as DoCoMo’s sigmarion(R) III. The sales launch will be announced as soon as it is fixed. The P2402 will offer high-speed packet transmissions of up to 384 kbps for downlinks and 64 kbps for uplinks, as well as 64 kbps for circuit-switched data transmissions. DoCoMo’s new flash memory card will enable videophone calls between a PC and a FOMA handset, Lookwalk(R) P751v PHS videophone, P-in Free(tm) series PHS data card-equipped device or ISDN fixed-line videophone (requires a PC equipped with videophone software, USB compatible web camera and headset). (JapanCorp.Net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/3/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo earnings draws mixed views after H1 results
Monday, November 3, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s top mobile phone operator, drew mixed views from analysts on Friday after it posted a fall in half-year operating profit a day earlier, but nudged up its full-year net profit forecast. Nomura Securities cut its rating on DoCoMo to 3 from 2, while Nikko Citigroup, a joint venture between U.S. financial giant Citigroup and Japan’s third-ranked brokerage, Nikko Cordial Corp, raised its DoCoMo rating to buy from hold. DoCoMo said on Thursday group operating profit fell 7.8 percent, marking a year-on-year drop for the first time since its stock market listing in 1998 due to higher handset replacement demand amid a red-hot photo phone boom.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/29/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo shares fall as H1 oper profit seen down
Wednesday, October 29, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Shares in NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s top wireless operator, fell more than four percent on Wednesday after sources close to the company said it is likely to post a year-on-year fall in half-year group operating profit. It would be the first year-on-year drop in DoCoMo’s operating profit since its listing on the stock market in 1998. The decline results from costs associated with DoCoMo’s stepped-up sales campaign to promote its high-speed third-generation (3G) service called FOMA, the sources said.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/28/2003
|
| |
Sony, NTT DoCoMo to Form Joint Venture for Contactless IC Card Business for Cell Phones
Tuesday, October 28, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Sony Corp and NTT DoCoMo Inc jointly announced on Oct 27 that they have agreed to form a joint venture company to develop new services based on mobile phones equipped with Sony’s contactless IC Card technology called FeliCa. The joint venture, to be called FeliCa Networks Inc, is targeted for establishment in January 2004. The new company will be capitalized at 6 billion yen, with the investment portion of Sony at 60% and NTT DoCoMo at 40%. "Sony began developing the FeliCa in 1988, and business use of the technology became widespread following the deployment of the technology in Hong Kong transport systems in 1997," said Nobuyuki Idei, chairman and group CEO of Sony. FeliCa is now used in JR East’s (East Japan Railway Co’s) Suica system, as well as in a number of transport systems around the world. Other applications include the "Edy" electronic money service, the "eLIO" online credit service and various company/organizational ID security systems." At present, 38 million cards using FeliCa chips have been issued worldwide, added Idei.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Sony and NTT DoCoMo Join on "Smart Card" Phones
Tuesday, October 28, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Sony Corp. and NTT DoCoMo plan to cooperate in developing a system that will allow people to use their cell phones to pay for train tickets or buy items in stores. A FeliCa Networks joint venture will be set up in Tokyo in January and will develop a new chip that integrates mobile phones with smart card technology developed by Sony. The smart cards, which have an integrated circuit chip embedded in them, can communicate with special equipment that allows card-owners to pass through train station gates or make payments at cash registers in stores. Sony will be a 60 percent investor in the 6 billion yen ($55 million) venture, and NTT DoCoMo will invest the other 40 percent. NTT DoCoMo plans to test the service with 6,000 mobile phones in December in Japan, and handsets with the technology will probably go on sale here by the middle of next year. Promoters believe the FeliCa technology has the potential to grow into a global standard, and NTT DoCoMo said it hopes to offer the service overseas. (Yahoo! Asia News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/24/2003
|
| |
Sony declines to confirm partnership with DoCoMo
Friday, October 24, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Sony Corp is studying ways to let consumers use their cellphones to buy groceries at convenience stores, pick up the tab for lunch and pay train fares, the company said yesterday. The electronics giant already has its own smart card payment service called "Edy" -- an acronym for "euro, dollar, yen" -- which is accepted by about 2,700 stores in Japan. Sony said it’s working on using the same computer chip technology, called FeliCa, in cellphones. About 2.7 million Edy cards are currently in circulation.
But the company declined to confirm a newspaper report yesterday that it would tie up with NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s largest mobile telephone provider, which accounts for roughly 60 percent of the cellphone market.
(Taipei Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/22/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Sell New Mobile Phones with Anti-virus Software
Wednesday, October 22, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc said on October 17 that it is now developing anti-virus software in cooperation with a US Internet security service company Network Associates Technology Inc and it will launch in 2004 new mobile phones with anti-virus software pre-installed. For the time being, the company will embed software in the handset. But in the future, it is likely that the company will offer software update downloads for its mobile phone users.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Introduces 505iS Series 2G Handsets with 2M-pixel Camera
Wednesday, October 22, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT Do Como, Inc announced the new move 505iS series of five PDC (2G) i-mode mobile phones, successors of D505i series, featuring mega-pixel cameras for every model. The first model D505iS will be released on October 23, followed consecutive release of the other four models in the near future. (NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/21/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo, Sony to Form JV for Smart Card Chip-Sources
Tuesday, October 21, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc and Sony Corp have agreed to form a joint venture to produce smart card chips for use in cell phones, Sony and DoCoMo sources said on Wednesday. Sony will take more than a 50 percent stake in the venture, which will be formed by the end of October, a DoCoMo source said. "Sony and DoCoMo have been engaged in experiments to develop cell phones with built-in smart card chips for quite a few years and the two parties are now discussing forming a joint venture," a Sony source said."
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/17/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo teams with McAfee on wireless antivirus
Friday, October 17, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Network Associates, which makes the McAfee antivirus product line, said on Friday it is collaborating with NTT DoCoMo on an antivirus engine for mobile phones, in an effort to head off the threat of malicious code on increasingly advanced wireless devices. The company said it has already produced a working prototype of its McAfee antivirus engine for DoCoMo mobile phones. The two companies have been working together since last May, although the partnership was not announced until now.
(ZDNet) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/15/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Introduce Software Renewal Systems for Handsets
Wednesday, October 15, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc said it will introduce pre-installed software renewal systems allowing users of 2G PDC mova and 3G W-CDMA FOMA handsets to access the DoCoMo server and download new software for upgrades using their own handsets beginning October 17, 2003. The system will enable users to update software to deal with glitches, without visiting DoCoMo shops. In future, DoCoMo will also consider applying the new system to enhance software capabilities of handsets. The new system is applicable only to DoCoMo’s latest i-mode handset, the mova 252i series, which is already being marketed. In future, all new handsets for mova and FOMA are scheduled to be equipped with the system. Downloading new software will be free of charge. Communication fee during downloading software also will be free.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/13/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo racing ahead on broadband
Monday, October 13, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc. may be rolling out new wireless broadband products faster than its customers can embrace them. But that isn’t keeping the Japanese cellular operator from seeking ways to generate interest in its high-speed mobile network services. A new series of handsets for the carrier’s 3G Foma service will be launched in February and have integrated cameras that allow users to take pictures at resolutions of up to 2 million pixels, compared to current second-generation (2G) models offering 1.3 million pixels, Kinoshita said. A dual-mode phone for 3G and wireless LAN (WLAN) networks is slated for the third quarter of 2004. (Computerworld) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo/UK Partners: Six-Month Timeframe With 3 UK
Monday, October 13, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc said Monday that it was looking for partners to launch its i-mode mobile phone service in the U.K. The comments by President and Chief Executive Keiji Tachikawa, are the first public signs of a split between NTT DoCoMo and 3 UK, the mobile operator in which it holds a 20% stake. Tachikawa told reporters at the ITU Telecom World event in Geneva: "We are in negotiations with different operators who are willing to provide i-mode in the UK." 3 UK’s largest shareholder is Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. KPN NV’s (KPN) mobile arm is also a shareholder, although its status is unclear because of legal action. Tachikawa said that despite seeking an alternative partner in the U.K. he wouldn’t sell NTT DoCoMo’s 3 UK stake, believing that 3 UK can increase its subscriber base.
(Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/10/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo 3G deal makes Symbian big in Japan
Friday, October 10, 2003 |
| |
Summary
London-based Symbian is stepping up its drive into Japan’s 3G market. A development agreement with NTT DoCoMo, the nation’s dominant mobile phone player, could ultimately influence what software powers 3G handsets in Europe, the US and other nascent next-generation industries.
(ZDNet) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/6/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo units sue over taxes levied
Monday, October 6, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Nine NTT DoCoMo group firms have filed suit with the Tokyo District Court seeking to nullify about 12 billion yen in taxes levied by nine tax offices that disagreed with the firms’ interpretation that their ownership of PHS line rights purchased from an affiliate could be depreciated in a single fiscal year. According to the lawsuit, the nine companies, including NTT DoCoMo Inc. and regional headquarters, purchased the line usage rights for 72,800 yen each, for a total of about 28 billion yen, from defunct NTT Personal when taking over its PHS business in December 1998.
(Daily Yomiuri) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/3/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo 3G users hit one million
Friday, October 3, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s dominant mobile phone operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc, said on Wednesday the number of subscribers to its high-speed third-generation (3G) service had reached one million. But DoCoMo’s 3G operation, launched in October 2001, is still far behind that of rival KDDI Corp in the number of users. KDDI’s "au" mobile unit, which offers 3G on a different technological format, has more than 10 million subscribers to the advanced service.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/26/2003
|
| |
Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy on Docomo phone
Friday, September 26, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s ever-evolving cellular phone service will soon add blockbuster role-playing videogames Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy to its content menu. Top domestic mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo Inc and game maker Square Enix Co Ltd said on Thursday users of DoCoMo’s third-generation Foma service will be able to play the popular games early next year on its new handsets. The new content is seen as a potential boost to DoCoMo’s 3G service, which offers vidoeconferencing and fast Web access service. (Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Mobile software firm Symbian hails NTT DoCoMo pact
Friday, September 26, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Wireless software developer Symbian announced a deal on Friday to supply Japan’s largest mobile phone operator, NTT DoCoMo, claiming a key victory in its battle to power the next generation of smart phones. Symbian, which competes with software giant Microsoft and is owned by some of the world’s biggest handset makers, said the deal with NTT DoCoMo was not exclusive but represented "a huge vote of confidence" in Symbian software. Industry analyst Richard Windsor, of Japanese investment bank Nomura, agreed the deal was a milestone for Symbian, whose major shareholders are Finland’s Nokia, the world’s largest mobile phone operator, and UK software firm Psion Plc. "It’s a key win for Symbian," he said.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/22/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo Shrinks Its Bases
Monday, September 22, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced the development of micro base stations for the 3G network that are up to 1/30th the size of conventional base stations. The service area of the FOMA service has expanded steadily, which will reach 96% of the population nationwide by the end of September. The micro base stations will allow DoCoMo to expand FOMA service more economically and with greater flexibility for adaptation to operational environments. (Unstrung) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/18/2003
|
| |
Mobile software firm Symbian hails NTT DoCoMo pact
Thursday, September 18, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Wireless software developer Symbian announced a deal on Friday to supply Japan’s largest mobile phone operator, NTT DoCoMo 9437.T , claiming a key victory in its battle to power the next generation of smart phones.
Symbian, which competes with software giant Microsoft and is owned by some of the world’s biggest handset makers, said the deal with NTT DoCoMo was not exclusive but represented "a huge vote of confidence" in Symbian software. Industry analyst Richard Windsor, of Japanese investment bank Nomura, agreed the deal was a milestone for Symbian, whose major shareholders are Finland’s Nokia NOK1V.HE , the world’s largest mobile phone operator, and UK software firm Psion Plc. "It’s a key win for Symbian," he said.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/17/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo reaffirms 3 UK Alliance
Wednesday, September 17, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo reaffirmed its commitment to developing i-mode services in the U.K. with third-generation network operator 3 U.K. on Tuesday despite press reports that it was looking to launch the mobile Internet service with another partner. 3 U.K. has also reaffirmed its commitment to i-mode. 3 says the company is working actively with DoCoMo to introduce i-mode in the U.K. and Hong Kong. DoCoMo is still awaiting a response from 3 regarding their plans for i-mode and a timetable for its launch.
(Dow Jones Newswires ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Says Mobile Phone Bugs to be Fixed via Wireless Networks
Wednesday, September 17, 2003 |
| |
Summary
In 2004, NTT DoCoMo will adopt a patch system via mobile phone networks allowing users to fix problems. The frequency of bugs occurring in mobile phones is increasing rapidly, and fixing such bugs is more complicated requiring a user to bring or send the handset to a retail store. This system consists of a central system at low transmission bandwidths where bug-fixing programs are compressed and distributed efficiently to mobile phones and the installed software.
(NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/16/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo hits snag with UK 3G, threatens to find a new partner
Tuesday, September 16, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo is threatening to find an alternative partner in the UK for its flagship i-mode data services technology. The move comes amid signs that 3 UK, the new mobile operator in which it has a 20 per cent stake, does not intend to adopt the i-mode platform. 3 is struggling to maintain its target of 1m third generation users by the end of 2003 while it promotes services such as football video clips and bar and restaurant reviews. Failure of 3 to adopt i-mode would be a setback for DoCoMo, since the UK is the only major European market that does not offer the service.
(Financial Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/12/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Announces Data-Card Terminal
Friday, September 12, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced that the company will begin marketing the F2402, a data-card type terminal capable of high-speed packet transmission in both the uplink and downlink at a maximum rate of 384 kbps. A unique feature of the F2402 is that it makes possible video calling from a PC to a FOMA videophone, or to an ISDN-connected fixed videophone terminal. To enable this function, the PC user must preinstall videophone software, be using a web camera enabled PC, and be wearing an earphone-mike headset. For simple voice calling from a PC, the accessory earphone-mike headset optionally available from DoCoMo will suffice.
(TMCNet) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo says no plan to withdraw from PHS
Friday, September 12, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s largest mobile phone operator, said on Friday it has no plans to withdraw from its struggling PHS (personal handyphone system) business. The comment came after the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported that DoCoMo had stopped developing PHS handsets due to sluggish sales and high development costs and would stop accepting new signups. "We are not considering withdrawing from the PHS business," a DoCoMo spokesman said.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/9/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo’s Yu Yu Call discounts to include 3G video calling
Tuesday, September 9, 2003 |
| |
Summary
In an effect to increase 3G FOMA uptake, NTT DoCoMo announced that Yu Yu Call discounts will be extended to include 3G FOMA videophone communication beginning October 1, 2003. The existing service offers discounts of up to 30% on calls to up to five user- designated phone numbers. With the change, customers will also receive Yu Yu Call discounts when using FOMA videophone, M-stage V-Live video streaming or M-stage Visual Net videoconferencing during calls to designated phone numbers.
(3GNewsroom) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT to post Y49 bln profit on DoCoMo share sale
Tuesday, September 9, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (NTT) 9432.T said on Tuesday its planned sale of shares in wireless unit NTT DoCoMo 9437.T would boost pre-tax profit by about 49 billion yen ($420 million) in the year to March. NTT, the world’s largest telecoms operator by revenue, has said it will sell back 698,000 DoCoMo shares to Japan’s dominant mobile phone operator, responding to DoCoMo’s tender offer to buy back a total 919,117 shares at 272,000 yen each. NTT did not revise its consolidated earnings forecast, saying the size of the expected profit from the sale was relatively small and that other factors may affect group earnings. In May, NTT projected a group pre-tax profit of 1.24 trillion yen for the year.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/5/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to begin rolling over unused monthly minutes
Friday, September 5, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. said it will begin rolling over customers’ unused monthly dialing and communications allowances for up to two months beginning in November. The Japanese telecommunications giant said the “two-month carryover” plan applies to all mova and FOMA subscribers and will be automatically instituted for subscribers. (RCR News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
New DoCoMo phone targets elderly, tech-challenged
Friday, September 5, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Tuesday it would launch a new handset model that reads aloud Internet text content and is equipped with a pedometer, functions seen luring senior citizens and the technologically challenged.
The flip-open handsets, manufactured by Fujitsu Ltd and estimated to retail for 30,000-40,000 yen ($257-$343), will be the world’s first cellphone handsets with a pedometer function, DoCoMo said. The new Internet-capable handsets that also come with large-sized text display and a simple e-mailing function, will hit store shelves on Friday. DoCoMo expects to sell 160,000 units a month, a company spokesman said.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo says may carry out another share buy back
Friday, September 5, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc, said on Thursday it may buy back more of its own shares following a 250 billion yen ($2.16 billion) repurchase announced last month. DoCoMo said in August it planned to buy back 919,117 of its own shares, or 1.8 percent of DoCoMo’s shares outstanding, between August 19 and September 8, in a step to reward investors with its ample cash flow. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/3/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo’s 3G coverage to match 2G coverage by March
Wednesday, September 3, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. said that its FOMA network would cover 99 percent of the population in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region of Japan, which includes Tokyo, beginning Sept. 6, and its network would cover 96 percent of the Japanese population by the end of September.
(RCR News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo to Market New Easy-To-Use mova F672i
Wednesday, September 3, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and its eight regional subsidiaries announced today they will market the F672i (Raku Raku PHONE III) from September 5, 2003. This is the latest in DoCoMo’s easy-to-use handset series offering a range of innovative and convenient features. As with earlier handsets in the series, three large buttons on the outside of the closed phone each enable one-touch calling to an assigned number without even opening the phone. Likewise, the new F672i enables enlarged text display and voice output of various content. Of particular note, however, is the fact that the handset is the world’s first to be equipped with a pedometer function. (iPress) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/27/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to set up research centre in China for 4G
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Tuesday it would set up a research centre in Beijing for the development of advanced wireless technologies, establishing a foothold in the world’s largest mobile phone market. The centre, to be capitalised at $5.3 million and become operational by the end of the, will be DoCoMo’s third overseas research facility. It already has such centres in the United States and Germany. The Beijing centre will conduct research on wireless technology for fourth-generation (4G) mobile phone services and beyond, employing local researchers as well as Japanese staff.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/26/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Inaugurate ’Melody Call’ Service in Japan
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc announced that it will offer Melody Call service from Sept 1, 2003. The service is the first in Japan that enables subscribers to set approximately 15 seconds of music and voice content as ring tones heard by the incoming caller, while waiting for the phone to be answered. Available to 2G PDC (personal digital cellular) and 3G FOMA users, the service has two options: the "Basic Course" for 100 yen a month and the "Enjoy Course" for 200 yen a month.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/25/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo Increases 3G Cell Phone Speed by More than 30 Times
Monday, August 25, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc has developed a technology that increases the speed of its 3G (third-generation) cellular telephone FOMA service by more than 30 times, putting it on par with ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) service. The technology would enable its handsets to receive television and high-quality music content, which cannot be handled by its current FOMA service. The telecom firm hopes to have the technology deployed as early as 2005
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/21/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo may scale back investment in Taiwan
Thursday, August 21, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Leading Japanese mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo Inc may scale back a planned investment in a Taiwanese joint venture after suffering losses on other investments overseas, a report said yesterday. DoCoMo was expected to take a 20 percent stake in the company to be formed from the merger of Far EasTone Telecommunications Co and KG Telecommunications Co in a NT$30 billion merger, the Financial Times said, citing sources close to the deal. As the merger would reduce DoCoMo’s stake in the combined company to 5 percent from the 21.4 percent which it already owns in KG, the Japanese firm was forecast to purchase a 23 percent stake in the new venture, according to the newspaper.
(Taipei Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/18/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Spend 250 Billion Yen to Buy Back 919,117 Shares
Monday, August 18, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., the world’s second- largest mobile-phone operator, will spend 250.1 billion yen ($2.1 billion) to buy back its own shares. NTT DoCoMo will buy back 919,117 of its shares at 272,000 yen each from Aug. 19 to Sept. 8, the company said in a release distributed through the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
(Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/13/2003
|
| |
FOMA helped DoCoMo to strong growth
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo reported a quarterly profit last month, helped by strong growth at its 3G service and solid per-user revenues, with no big overseas losses this time. User growth at DoCoMo’s FOMA 3G service picked up pace in the quarter and its per-user revenue rose as it accelerated the pace of network expansion and launched a series of new handsets with a longer battery life earlier this year.
"As far as generating popularity among investors is concerned, it (DoCoMo) seems to be losing out a bit to KDDI due to the popularity of KDDI’s 3G service," said Koichi Ogawa, chief portfolio manager at Daiwa SB Investments. So the key for DoCoMo to become more popular with investors is really to boost the growth rate of its 3G service."
(3G Newsroom) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/12/2003
|
| |
Japan’s June cellphone shipments up for 8th month
Tuesday, August 12, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Domestic shipments of mobile phones in Japan rose for the eighth consecutive month in June as users continued to replace their handsets with camera-phones and third-generation (3G) phones, an industry group said on Tuesday.
Handset shipments for June swelled 19.4 percent from a year ago to 4.878 million units, staying above the four million level for the fourth straight month, the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) said. The JEITA said more than 80 percent of all the cellphones were equipped with tiny high-resolution cameras which allow users to take pictures and send them via e-mail.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/11/2003
|
| |
Japan’s Benchmarks Have Biggest Gain in Two Weeks; DoCoMo Rises
Monday, August 11, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japanese stocks rose, with benchmarks posting their biggest gains in two weeks. Companies that rely on domestic sales such as NTT DoCoMo Inc. advanced on optimism a government report tomorrow may show the nation’s economic growth accelerated in the second quarter. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/7/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo posts Q1 profit on 3G growth, stays cautious
Thursday, August 7, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile phone operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc 9437.T , reported a quarterly profit on Thursday, helped by strong growth at its third-generation (3G) service and solid per-user revenues, with no big overseas losses this time. DoCoMo, Asia’s most valuable company with a market capitalisation of $116 billion, earned 196.82 billion yen ($1.64 billion) in group net profit in the first quarter to June 30 on sales of 1.25 trillion yen. The result was equal to 32 percent of DoCoMo’s projected annual profit, but the company remained cautious on its outlook.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/6/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to introduce slimmest handset in 505i series
Wednesday, August 6, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced today that it will start marketing the P505i on August 8. At a scant 19.9 mm closed, the new clamshell model is the slimmest in the 505i series. Even though its thin doesn’t mean it lacks features: both an inner and outer CCD camera (capture stills as well as video); a Macromedia Flash browser; downloadable Java applications and a massive 240 x 320 pixel 65,536 color TFT LCD screen. (Mobiletracker) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/5/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo Q1 net seen higher, future growth a concern
Tuesday, August 5, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s top mobile phone company, is likely to post higher quarterly profits this week as there are no big overseas losses to hurt the bottom line, but analysts are concerned over its long-term growth potential. No direct comparison can be made with the first quarter of last year as DoCoMo has until now reported only half-year and full-year earnings.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/29/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo, Asustek shelve i-mode plan
Tuesday, July 29, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo and Asustek Computer recently decided to postpone their plan to launch an Asustek-made i-mode handset, according to sources. Asustek was previously scheduled to ship i-mode handsets for NTT DoCoMo at the end of the year. (Digitimes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/23/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to recall newly launched SH505i mobile phone
Wednesday, July 23, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will offer free repair service to users of the newly launched SH505i mobile phone over software problems that could lead to the loss of stored game data, a company official said Wednesday. Subject to the free replacement of software are about 190,000 units sold since its launch on June 20, the official said. The software problems involve the i-APRI service, which allows users to download games and other types of application software from NTT DoCoMo’s network.
(Kyodo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/17/2003
|
| |
New Mova Handset for NTTDoCoMo
Thursday, July 17, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced that they will begin marketing the F505i, the first Japanese handset to incorporate fingerprint authentication technology, from July 11, 2003. The F505i features a fingerprint sensor to prevent unauthorized handset use. The user can lock or unlock the mobile phone simply by placing a pre-registered finger on the sensor. Up to 10 fingerprints can be registered by following the handsetfs authentication mode procedures. The F505i also boasts the longest video clip recording time of any mova handset. The handset comes with a 16MB miniSD card that can store 29 minutes of video clips or 1,040 photos saved in the i-shotEsmall-size format. By combining the 16MB miniSD card with the handsetfs intrinsic memory, the F505i has a maximum recording time of 67 minutes enabling it to capture and store up to 11 six-minute video clips.
(3G.co.uk) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/8/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo recalls faulty cell phone battery chargers
Tuesday, July 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc on Tuesday warned users of its Mova D series mobile phones that their battery-charging AC adapters could overheat and said the company will replace them. The problem, which could affect some 1.15 million D002 AC adapters produced by Matsushita Battery Industrial Co between last October and March this year, is caused by defective adapter parts, NTT DoCoMo said.
(Kyodo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/2/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Launch Two New Mobile Handsets with Long Standby Time, Sound Capabilities
Wednesday, July 2, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc announced the launch of two new mobile phone handsets: the FOMA F2102V mobile videophone and the N505i. The F2102V handset, announced June 30, is the first model compatible with DoCoMo’s new "FirstPass" SSL client authentication service. The model also features videophone and the longest continuous stand-by time of any FOMA handset, about 310 hours. Its standard cradle comes with its own USB port, so that while recharging, the user can link to a PC to make backups of images shot by the handset, or synchronize address book/schedule data. It also serves as a modem through which the user can access the Internet using DoCoMo’s "mopera" Internet connection service or any other Internet service provider’s service.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/27/2003
|
| |
Hutchison and NTT DoCoMo collaborate on 3G
Friday, June 27, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa and Japan’s NTT DoCoMo yesterday announced that the two companies have agreed to cooperate on the development and promotion of third-generation (3G) services based on WCDMA technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Hutchison and NTT DoCoMo will work together on handsets, standards, international roaming and radio technology.
(DigiTimes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Roland to Debut Digital Piano with Infrared Communications Capability
Friday, June 27, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Roland Corp will launch a digital piano equipped with an infrared communications capability on July 9.The digital piano, called "KR-7iR," will download musical data from an i-mode cellular phone system via infrared communications for automatic music performances. Roland will add the infrared communications capability to its highest-end KR-7 digital piano to produce the KR-7iR. The compatible i-mode mobile phone handsets will be the 504i series, 504iS series, 505i series and FOMA series with the infrared communications capabilities.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/25/2003
|
| |
Nanao’s Live Camera is Compliant with FOMA Data Communications Card
Wednesday, June 25, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Eizo Nanao Corp announced that it has developed a live camera called "EIZO AirView," which supports a data communications card for NTT DoCoMo Inc’s third-generation mobile phone, "FOMA." Nanao plans to commercialize the product at about the same time when "FOMA F2402," Fujitsu Ltd’s FOMA handset on which performance has been tested, will be released. The price is yet to be determined. The EIZO AirView is expected to function as a live camera with a FOMA data communications card that enables a video phone system.
(NEAsiaOnline) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo not taking stake in Wind- Enel CEO
Wednesday, June 25, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo Inc will not take a stake in Italy’s Wind, the owner of the Italian telecom firm said on Monday. Paolo Scaroni, chief executive of utility Enel which owns Wind, said the speculation was "devoid of any foundation". Speaking on the sidelines of a conference in Venice, he said that DoCoMo and Wind are working on a "very important commercial agreement". A source close to the Japanese company said earlier on Monday that DoCoMo is forming a strategic partnership with Wind, Italy’s third-largest telecom operator, and the companies will hold a joint news conference in Rome on Wednesday.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/24/2003
|
| |
Japan's DoCoMo, Italy's Wind Plan Technology Tie-Up
Tuesday, June 24, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., the world's No. 2 mobile-phone company, and Wind Telecomunicazioni SpA, Italy's No. 3 operator, said they will outline terms of an agreement to share technology at a press conference in Rome on Wednesday. DoCoMo may also buy a stake in Wind, the wholly owned phone unit of Italy's largest utility, Enel SpA, within a year, Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported, citing unidentified people in the banking industry.
(Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/23/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Launch Client Authentication Service via 3G FOMA Network
Monday, June 23, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced that they will introduce the FirstPass SSL client authentication service via the 3G network in conjunction with the launch of new F2102V and N2102V FOMA handsets. SSL client authentication is currently the most popular authentication technology for the internet. The new service will provide enterprises and individuals with extra-high security when using DoCoMo FOMA phones for mobile internet transactions, such as on-line shopping, trading, or accessing corporate intranets. (3G Newsroom) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo spotlights wireless success
Monday, June 23, 2003 |
| |
Summary
The wide maturity gap between the wireless markets in the U.S. and Japan was highlighted Friday during NTT DoCoMo USA CEO Nobuharu Ono’s keynote address at CeBIT America, during which he spotlighted an array of popular Japanese DoCoMo products that won’t be arriving in the U.S. any time soon. (Infoworld) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo, Credit Card Firms to Launch Card Settlement Test Service via Cell Phones
Monday, June 23, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Visa International, Nippon Shinpan Co, Ltd, Aeon Credit Service Co, Ltd, and OMC Card Inc will start in July technical checks for a trial service to start in October, on credit card settlement at retail shops. NTT DoCoMo’s cell phones with infrared communication function are expected to be used in this test service. The applicable handset models are NTT DoCoMo’s 504i and 504iS series.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/20/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo says to remain active overseas despite loss
Friday, June 20, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc on Thursday apologised to shareholders for huge special losses on its overseas investments but said it would keep pressing ahead with its foreign expansion strategy to secure continued growth.
DoCoMo, Japan’s top wireless carrier, splashed out 1.9 trillion yen ($16 billion) in recent years to take minority stakes in several foreign carriers including a 16-percent stake in AT&T Wireless Services Inc of the United States.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo to tie up with Wind on i-mode - sources
Friday, June 20, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc has reached a basic agreement to license its "i-mode" mobile Internet technology to Italy’s third-largest telecoms operator, Wind, sources close to the top Japanese mobile carrier said on Thursday. The agreement will be announced next week, they said.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/19/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to launch second megapixel handsets
Thursday, June 19, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Wednesday it will launch its second megapixel camera phone model later this week, giving itself a leg up on domestic rivals KDDI Corp 9433.T and J-Phone. The new handsets, with a resolution of one million pixels and manufactured by Sharp Corp, are expected to retail for between 30,000 yen and 40,000 yen ($254-$339) each, DoCoMo said. J-Phone, a Japanese unit of Britain’s Vodafone Group Plc, and KDDI became the first and second operators to put megapixel models, suitable for making standard-sized prints, on the market in late May. Launched in November 2000, camera-mounted handsets took Japan by storm, with the three major operators attracting more than 26 million users at the end of May, or about one in five people in Japan.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Tellabs announces contracts with NTT DoCoMo, WorldCom
Thursday, June 19, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Tellabs Inc., a maker of telecommunications equipment, said on Wednesday it will supply switches to a unit of Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc. and to WorldCom, customers it had discussed but not identified before. Tellabs valued the NTT contract at tens of millions of dollars. No value was attached to the WorldCom contract. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/17/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to offer advanced 3G phones to boost demand
Tuesday, June 17, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc will offer two new handsets with longer battery life for its third-generation (3G) service in the next few months in a bid to spur demand for the fledgeling service. The handsets, manufactured by Fujitsu Ltd and NEC Corp, will run for 200 to 240 hours between charges, up from 170 to 180 hours of standby time for the latest 3G models. Both phones are equipped with built-in digital cameras and allow video conferencing. DoCoMo aims to sell 380,000 units of the NEC model, and 220,000 units of the Fujitsu handheld model, and 14,000 units of the card-type terminals by September.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/16/2003
|
| |
NTT Docomo chooses EMC storage solutions for i-mode system
Monday, June 16, 2003 |
| |
Summary
EMC announced this week that Japanfs NTT DoCoMo has implemented EMC Automated Networked Storage to manage and protect NTT DoCoMofs new gateway system CiRCUS, one of the world's largest mission-critical data networks. CiRCUS is the core of NTT Docomofs mobile i-mode service, which provides e-mail and Internet access to over 38 million mobile phone subscribers in Japan. Since the advent of i-mode four years ago, both the number of subscribers and the amount of content specially tailored for the service have risen sharply. (CMPNet Asia) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/14/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo plans FOMA expansion
Saturday, June 14, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. said it plans to expand the service area for its FOMA service to an additional 43 towns and villages in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region on June 14 and to 218 towns and nationwide by the end of the month. The carrier said the expansion will increase FOMA coverage to 98 percent of populated areas in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region and to 93 percent of Japan’s population. As part of the expansion, DoCoMo said it will also expand the number of FOMA base stations nationwide from 6,300 at the end of March to 7,000 base stations by the end of June. (RCR Wireless News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/9/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Implement Video Phone Function in All FOMA Models After Fall
Monday, June 9, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc’s marketing strategy for FOMA handsets has been revealed in part. The plan is to add, in one go, several models of terminals with video phone functions by summer. In addition to a normal mobile phone handsets, it will prepare PC-card types. The company is attempting to accelerate subscription rates, now that it is well under way with approximately 100,000 subscribers per month. The PC-card terminals will be compatible with "3G-324M," a video phone standard for mobile phones that FOMA has adopted. By connecting it to a PC with a camera and exclusive software program, it will be possible to have a videophone connection with another terminal. It will use a 64kbps circuit-switching service.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/6/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to transfer all 2G users to FOMA by 2010
Friday, June 6, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will switch its business focus to its FOMA 3G service within two to three years, with the ultimate aim of transferring all of its mobile phones to 3G by 2010, the Asahi Shimbun reported. In an interview with the paper, DoCoMo President Keiji Tachikawa said that by reviewing its fee structure to favor 3G users and drastically scaling back investment into its 2G models, the firm hopes to raise the ratio of 3G users to about half of its total mobile phone users in about two to three years. Tachikawa said he hopes to increase the number of subscribers to more than 1-million by the end of the year. (3G Newsroom) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Glitches Hit Sony Ericsson Megapixel Phones -DoCoMo
Friday, June 6, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc said that technical glitches had affected its first megapixel phones, manufactured by Sony Ericsson, marring the debut of a new photo-phone model with the world’s highest resolution. DoCoMo, Japan’s largest mobile phone operator, sold about 40,000 units of the camera-phone on the day of its launch on Wednesday. It said e-mail software on the model, which has a resolution of 1.3 million pixels, could freeze up when a message is typed, under certain conditions. The company said the problem could be solved by a software upgrade and that it did not plan to carry out a recall.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo to launch fuel cell-run handsets by 2005
Friday, June 6, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Thursday it expects to launch a mobile phone powered by a fuel-cell battery for extended hours of use as early as 2004, a potential boost for its high-speed third-generation (3G) service. DoCoMo’s 3G service, which offers video conferencing and speedy access to the Web, had until recently met a cool reception due mainly to the poor battery life of its handsets. "If everything goes smoothly, we will see the first model next year or the year after that," NTT DoCoMo President Keiji Tachikawa told a news conference.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/4/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Start Trial of Online Payments Service
Wednesday, June 4, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced a trial payments service to enable customers using 2G and 3G handsets to enjoy on-line shopping at a dedicated portal site and receive bills for purchases together with their monthly mobile phone invoices. The trial will begin June 26 and last about six months, after which commercial services are planned to start. Initially, three virtual shops will be offering GPS services, such as tracking and emergency-related services, with an additional five stores joining from September. In total, about 20 virtual shops selling such items as fashion goods, groceries and flowers will be participating in the trial. The service is free and users are only required to pay packet transmission charges. During the trial, purchases between 1,000 yen (minimum) and 10,000 yen per month will be accepted.
(NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/3/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo launches 1-megapixel camera phone for i-mode
Tuesday, June 3, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will launch the mova SO505i 1.3-megapixel equipped camera phone beginning June 4 for it second-generation-based i-mode wireless service. The carrier claims the device is the highest resolution camera phone available in the world and includes a 16x digital zoom and 2.2-inch semi-transparent, 262,144-color TFT screen. The handset also can shoot video clips at five frames per second and up to 6.4 seconds in length. Last month, DoCoMo rival J-Phone released what it called the world's first megapixel phone, the J-SH53 from Sharp. (RCR Wireless News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/1/2003
|
| |
Japan Airlines to use FOMA, WLAN in trial
Sunday, June 1, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. and Japan Airlines announced a partnership that will see the companies test applications operating on DoCoMofs third-generation system and a wireless local area network for Japan Airlines ground staff at Narita Airport. The trial will run from June 2 to Nov. 30. (RCR Wireless News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/29/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Begins Using Recycled Material in Mobile Phone Accessories For Eco-Friendliness
Thursday, May 29, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that it is the first Japanese mobile operator to incorporate recycled ABS resin in mobile phone accessories. The first resin-based accessory is an optional desk-top charging stand for the new D505i that was launched today. The charger employs ABS resin recovered from disposed mobile phones. NTT DoCoMo has been involved in a variety of recycling initiatives since 1993, including the collection of used mobile phones and batteries. The company has achieved 100% recycling of every handset recovered.
(JapanCorp.Net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Software defect found in DoCoMo’s FOMA cell phones
Thursday, May 29, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc will repair free of charge two of its FOMA mobile phone models on demand due to a software defect, company officials said Wednesday. The officials said the defect concerns the calculation functions in the N2051 and P2102V models of the third-generation handset but added basic functions like telephone calls and personal data control are not affected. (Kyodo News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo moves forward with 4G trial
Thursday, May 29, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has been conducting research on 4G mobile communications technology since 1998,Esaid the company. In indoor experiments announced last October, DoCoMo’s 4G system demonstrated maximum information bit rates of 100 Mbps (Megabits per second) for the downlink and 20 Mbps for the uplink. (RCR News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/28/2003
|
| |
Alcatel, NTT DoCoMo, and KPN Mobile deliver 3G traffic between Japan and Netherlands
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Telecommunications infrastructure provider Alcatel has announced that its next-generation data-aware SDH systems for metro applications enabled the transport of third-generation (3G) mobile traffic between NTT DoCoMo’s FOMA 3G commercial systems located in Japan and its base station modem at KPN Mobile’s premises in the Netherlands, at speeds up to 40 times faster than today’s current standard GSM offers. (Europemedia) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
"i-mode My Box" Provides Link to Customized Sites via i-mode Portal
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced a new 2G/3G service, called "i-mode My Box," for easy linkage to customized web pages via "iMenu," the official i-mode portal. The service makes it easier for i-mode users to access their widest possible choice of favorite sites, while providing virtually any information provider (IP) with a direct channel to users via iMenu. Users simply press the dedicated i-mode button on their DoCoMo mobile phone to access iMenu, then go directly to the My Box menu to access their favorite sites. By launching the service, DoCoMo now offers a direct link between the IPs and the users by providing a space for user-customized web pages within iMenu. Initially, 10 IPs will participate in the trial. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Introduce FOMA N2701 Handset for 2G/3G Networks
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and its eight regional subsidiaries announced the FOMA N2701, the first dual-network handset that works both with DoCoMo's 2G and 3G networks. The N2701 goes on sale nationwide on June 11, 2003. The phone can be set to operate exclusively in 2G or 3G mode, or set to switch automatically between the two networks according to available signal strength. Currently, the FOMA network area extends to approximately 91% of Japan, while the mova 2G network covers approx. 100 % of the nation. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/26/2003
|
| |
I-mode slow to catch Europe’s fancy
Monday, May 26, 2003 |
| |
Summary
The 1 million users that Vodafone Live gained between its introduction last October and March 31 represent just 2 percent of Vodafone’s total European customers, roughly the same percentage that has signed up for i-mode in the European countries where it has been offered. Until now, getting access to i-mode via prepaid phone cards, a method used by some 60 percent of European mobile subscribers, has not been an option. Instead, i-mode users have had to subscribe to a complex mobile pricing plan, while Vodafone Live permits prepaid plans. (IHT) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/23/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Sell First Handset in New 505i Series
Friday, May 23, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc will start selling the D505i mobile phone handset produced by Mitsubishi Electric Corp on May 23.
This model is the first in the company’s new 505i series of enhanced-PDC (2G) i-mode handsets that incorporate a Macromedia Flash browser, allowing users to access a broad range of rich content and applications that boast highly fluid animation. A "Super CCD Honeycom" camera realizes a maximum 1.23 mega-pixel-equivalent quality when photos are printed out.The data storage area (scratchpad) for i-appli has expanded to 200KB, twice as much as that of the 504i seies. (NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/22/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to launch mobile e-commerce service
Thursday, May 22, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. plans to launch a new online shopping and settlement service next week in an effort to boost data traffic. The new service would allow users of its "i-mode" Internet-enabled handsets with a security function to go shopping online and pay online without punching in a lengthy credit card number or memorising different passwords and ID numbers for each virtual shop. By using subscribers’ phone numbers as ID, DoCoMo said it has made it possible for users to go shopping at any store at DoCoMo’s virtual shopping site -- to be launched along with the service on Monday -- using a single password. DoCoMo, which boasts 44 million subscribers, aims to attract 900,000 members to the service, dubbed "DoCommerce", in its first year of operation.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Plans to Cap Subsidies on Handsets to Rein in Costs
Thursday, May 22, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., the world’s second-largest mobile-phone operator, vowed to cap subsidies it pays handset retailers, seeking to dispel investor concerns that it will sacrifice profit to build up its high-speed service. Japan’s largest company by market value will spend about 500 billion yen ($4.3 billion) on incentives to retailers this fiscal year, almost the same as last year, Chief Executive Officer Keiji Tachikawa said in an interview last week.
(NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/21/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to release new handheld PC May 28
Wednesday, May 21, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will begin offering its Sigmarion III handheld PC May 28. The device, which uses the Microsoft Windows CE .NET operating system, is compatible with NTT DoCoMo’s FOMA network and its second-generation networks. The Japanese carrier said the handheld is ideal for its flat-rate PHS wireless Internet service that offers always-on access. The device includes the Picsel browser to enable users to scroll and resize Web pages and documents. (RCR Wireless News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/20/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to offer overseas roaming for 3G users
Tuesday, May 20, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Monday it would launch an international roaming service for users of its third-generation (3G) mobile phone service in June to boost demand among business users and other frequent travellers.
Under the new system, users of DoCoMo’s 3G service, dubbed FOMA, would remove subscriber identity module (SIM) cards from FOMA cellphones and put them in handsets that work on a global system for mobile communications (GSM) networks.
They would then take the GSM handsets overseas to make and take calls using their original phone numbers.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/16/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo sees 6 mln 3G users by March 2005
Friday, May 16, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile phone operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc., said on Thursday it expected six million users for its high-speed third-generation (3G) service by March 2005, up from a forecast 1.46 million users by March 2004. DoCoMo hopes its 3G service, which offers video conferencing and speedy access to the Web, will be its next growth driver, with the conventional mobile phone market close to saturation.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/14/2003
|
| |
NTT Posts Profit on Cost Cuts, Cellular-Phone Gains
Wednesday, May 14, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp., Japan’s largest phone company, had a fiscal second-half profit after cost cuts and gains at mobile-phone unit NTT DoCoMo Inc. helped overcome a slump in its traditional phone operations. Group net income totaled 200.2 billion yen ($1.7 billion) in the six months ended March 31, compared with a net loss of 602.6 billion yen in the year-ago period when its wireless unit wrote off much of its overseas investments. NTT said profit will surge this fiscal year, even though sales will be unchanged, because of tax-related accounting gains.
(Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT, DoCoMo to seek approval to buy back shares
Wednesday, May 14, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (NTT) said in a statement on Tuesday it would seek permission from a meeting of shareholders to buy back up to 200,000 of its own shares, or up to 100 billion yen worth. Its NTT DoCoMo mobile phone unit said in a separate statement that it would seek approval to buy back up to 2.5 million of its own shares, worth up to 600 billion yen. (Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/12/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo May Have Hard Time Cultivating 3G Cell Phone Service
Monday, May 12, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc hopes its FOMA 3G (third-generation) cellular phone service will grow this fiscal year, but the company may have a difficult time achieving this goal. DoCoMo aims to have 1.46 million FOMA subscriptions at the end of this fiscal year. The target represents a net annual increase of just 1.13 million, or a monthly increase of only about 100,000. The FOMA service’s effective calling area is still limited, as base stations located inside buildings and underground have yet to be built. The average revenue per user for the FOMA service fell about 4% short of DoCoMo’s overall operations in fiscal 2002, while the 1x service’s per user revenue topped KDDI’s overall services by about 21%.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo wristphone sells out in 20 mins
Monday, May 12, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo’s Wristomo i-mode wristphone sold out within 20 minutes of going on sale, the company said yesterday. Wristomo was made available to the Japanese public on Wednesday at 10am local time. By 10.20am, all 1000 devices that made up the wristphone’s first production run, had been sold. NTT DoCoMo said it plans to offer a second batch of 1000 Wristomos via its web site next Thursday at 10am.
(The Register) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/9/2003
|
| |
Popular cell phones dial up healthy profits for DoCoMo, KDDI
Friday, May 9, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile phone carrier DoCoMo said it swung back into the black in the year to March, while rival KDDI saw profits quadruple as demand for interactive cellphones grew. Both forecast even higher earnings this financial year on the growth of third generation (3G) mobile phone sales, with KDDI Corp. also announcing a plan to offer broadcasting services using fiber-optic networks. NTT DoCoMo’s pre-tax profit rose 9.1 percent to a record 1.04 trillion yen, surpassing the one trillion mark for the first time in its history, while revenue rose 3.2 percent to 4.81 trillion yen. (AFP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/8/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo Q1 net seen higher, future growth a concern
Thursday, May 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s top mobile phone company, is likely to post higher quarterly profits this week as there are no big overseas losses to hurt the bottom line, but analysts are concerned over its long-term growth potential. No direct comparison can be made with the first quarter of last year as DoCoMo has until now reported only half-year and full-year earnings.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Next i-mode Wireless Gateway
Thursday, May 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DATA Corporation and NEC Corporation announced the completion of NTT DoCoMo Corporation (NTT DoCoMo) next i-mode gateway system named "CiRCUS". i-mode gateway system, "CiRCUS", is the backbone system supporting more than 37 million i-mode subscribers using mail services and web access services and also is one of the world’s largest mission critical system in open environment, based upon leading edge open architecture technology. (3G.co.uk) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/7/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo's Tachikawa Shows High-Speed Services a Bet Worth Making
Wednesday, May 7, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. Chief Executive Officer Keiji Tachikawa's bet on new mobile-phone services and lower spending are beginning to pay off, restoring growth at Japan's largest company by market value after its first-ever loss. Investors credit the turnaround to Tachikawa's decision to subsidize costs of developing mobile phone handsets at companies such as NEC Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., helping sell more services. A spending cap and a popular picture-messaging service also helped lift DoCoMo's shares 28 percent since March 10, rebounding from a 41 percent drop in the previous 12 months. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/6/2003
|
| |
Zentek Technology Group Announces Launch of English i-JADE Basic for P504i
Tuesday, May 6, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Zentek Technology Group launched of the English language version of i-JADE Basic for P504i, the latest release in their highly successful i-JADE series of emulators. "i-JADE Basic for P504i, English Version" is an emulator that supports creation of i-appli for NTT DoCoMo's P504i, one of 504i series of i-mode enabled (Internet service-enabled) handsets. Zentek's i-JADE has been widely used and appreciated by content creators; it has become an essential and de-facto standard tool for mobile Java application development in Japan since Zentek started providing i-JADE Lite in January 2001.
(Enfour) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Probably Had 2nd-Half Profit, Aided by High-Speed Users
Tuesday, May 6, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., the world’s second-largest mobile-phone operator, probably had a fiscal second- half profit after avoiding investment-related losses and adding users to its high-speed wireless Internet service. Net income at Japan’s largest company by market value probably totaled 200.8 billion yen ($1.7 billion) in the six months ended March 31, according to the median estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News. Based on U.S. accounting standards, which the company began using in the April-September period last year, DoCoMo had a 205 billion yen net loss a year ago after writing off much of its overseas investments. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/2/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to begin selling mobile phone watch
Friday, May 2, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japanese mobile telecoms giant NTT DoCoMo said it will start selling a mobile phone which doubles as a wrist watch from next week. "Because of its special qualities, we are not going to use our regular distribution channels," said DoCoMo spokesman Nobuyuki Hatanaka. "We are selling it on an experimental basis on the Internet." The new phone will begin selling for 37,000 yen ($310) on May 7 through Internet orders only. (Hindustan Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/1/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo expects 3G subscriber boom
Thursday, May 1, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo’s third-generation mobile phone service faces a turning point this year, with subscriber numbers expected to exceed 1m, according to a senior DoCoMo official.
"Our plan is to exceed 1m subscribers and our experience in the past has been that, when subscriber numbers exceed 1m, there is a multiplier effect", Shiro Tsuda, senior executive vice-president responsible for 3G services, said.
(Financial Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/30/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo photo-phone users top 10 million, beats J-Phone
Wednesday, April 30, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Wednesday its camera-phone users had exceeded 10 million, grabbing the top spot in the growing photo-phone market away from J-Phone Co Ltd, a unit of Vodafone Group Plc. DoCoMo, Japan’s dominant mobile phone operator, took just 11 months to surpass the 10 million mark since launching its first camera-phone last June. A spokesman for J-Phone, which had 9.015 million camera-phone users at the end of March, said that it was still below 10 million as of Wednesday.
(Forbes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/28/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Unveils ’SigmarionIII’ Windows CE PC with High-Resolution TFT-LCD
Monday, April 28, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc introduced a new handheld PC utilizing Windows CE, "sigmarionIII," on April 22, 2003. The product’s key characteristic is the TFT-LCD, whose 800 x 480 pixel resolution is higher than the existing model. End price is anticipated to be a little lower than 60,000 yen.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo loan to H3GUK won’t affect rating-S&P
Monday, April 28, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said today that NTT DoCoMo Inc’s (AA-/Stable/A-1+) GBP2 billion (37.8 billion yen) loan to U.K.-based Hutchison 3G U.K. Holdings Ltd (H3GUK) would not affect the rating on the company, as it will not have a significant impact on NTT DoCoMo’s strong financial profile. On April 23, 2003, NTT DoCoMo announced that it had agreed to provide the loan to H3GUK, its 20 percent owned affiliate.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/24/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to funnel 42 bil. yen to FOMA cell phone developers
Thursday, April 24, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will funnel a combined 42 billion yen into five makers that have developed the carrier’s FOMA mobile phones to help the five innovate their third-generation FOMA handsets and cut prices. The money will be divided up and disbursed by the carrier-supplier of the i-mode series of mobile phones by March 31, 2004. The five recipients include NEC Corp., Fujitsu Ltd. and Sharp Corp. The planned disbursements for the five -- equal to roughly half of each maker’s FOMA-related development expenses -- are designed to help improve the handsets and bolster their popularity. (Kyodo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/23/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo unveils ultra compact PC with video capability
Wednesday, April 23, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. on Tuesday took the wraps off a 19-centimeter-wide ultra-compact personal computer (PC) capable of playing videos and sending and receiving text files wirelessly.
(Kyodo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/22/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to License 3G Cell Phone Tech to Singapore, HK Firms
Tuesday, April 22, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc is slated to transfer advanced third-generation (3G) cell phone technology enabling teleconferencing and other high-speed functions to major cell phone firms in Singapore and Hong Kong, sources close to the matter said today.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/18/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo Cranks Up 3G
Friday, April 18, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. has begun testing a High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) system, designed to act as an upgrade to its existing third-generation network. Unstrung believes this to be the world’s first publicly announced trial of the technology. HSDPA is a packet-based data service evolved from -- and backwards compatible with -- earlier wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) air interface standards, which offer maximum [ed. translation: only possible in the lab] data transfer rates of 2 Mbit/s. The technology uses adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) and other interference cancelling techniques to maximize the amount of data that can be transmitted over the W-CDMA downlink.
(Unstrung) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/17/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo Gets a Clearer Signal
Thursday, April 17, 2003 |
| |
Summary
A year ago, NTT DoCoMo Inc. looked like yet another Japanese company gone astray. Now, though, DoCoMo is bouncing back. Thanks to booming handset sales, declining capital outlays, and higher mobile revenues, DoCoMo is cash-rich again; it rang up $3 billion in free cash flow for the year ending Mar. 31, analysts say. (Business Week) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
UbiNetics Supplies NTT DoCoMo With HSDPA Mobile Simulator
Thursday, April 17, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Wireless test and measurement equipment specialist UbiNetics is supplying NTT DoCoMo with mobile simulators for the testing and evaluation of the HSDPA system the Japanese mobile operator is developing. High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) is being developed to enhance the performance of W-CDMA networks by allowing data rates of up to 14.2 Mbit/s to be achieved. DoCoMo is one of the first to start trialing HSDPA networks and looking at the trade offs and experimenting with the different algorithms needed. Japan is likely to be the first to deploy the technology as HSDPA has the potential to solve the problem of data rate capacity in highly loaded cells in urban environments.
(EE Times UK) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo GPS Phone Ready
Thursday, April 17, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. will begin marketing its first Global Positioning System (GPS) compatible handset, dubbed F661i, on April 22, 2003. The new, easy-to-operate mobile phone features a one-touch GPS button that lets users quickly pinpoint their location, within a radius of 50 meters, and download area maps and information. Eight different types of GPS content available from eight information providers include public transportation and restaurant data, as well as routing to help navigate to specific locations.
(Unstrung) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/16/2003
|
| |
Japan photo phone shares surge on megapixel hopes
Wednesday, April 16, 2003 |
| |
Summary
The planned launch by NTT DoCoMo Inc of megapixel camera phones gave a strong boost to shares in Japanese photo phone component makers on Tuesday, but some analysts cautioned investors against bloated expectations.
DoCoMo said last week it would launch the world’s first camera phones with a resolution of more than a million pixels in the next three months, raising hopes for increased demand for handsets equipped with a digital camera.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/15/2003
|
| |
Credit Card Companies Start Trial Service of Infrared Settlement Using I-Mode
Tuesday, April 15, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Visa International, Nippon Shinpan Co, Ltd, Aeon Credit Service Co, Ltd, OMC Card Inc and NTT DoCoMo Inc announced that they have agreed to commercialize credit card settlements using mobile phones, and that they will start a trial service soon.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/14/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo investors cool to Hutchison cash call
Monday, April 14, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will probably lend £200 million ($313 million) to a British venture that has already cost it £1.2 billion, investors say. Some say they would prefer that it did not. DoCoMo has said it will decide this week how to respond to a funding request from Hutchison 3G U.K. Holdings Ltd., a high-speed wireless venture with Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. and Royal KPN NV. Investors say they are concerned that while the sum is small change for DoCoMo, which had ¥437.5 billion ($3.6 billion) of cash as of Sept. 30, the cash call could be the first of many. A better use for the funds would be an investment in DoCoMo’s main business of providing mobile services in Japan, they say.
(IHT) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/9/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo announces 505 series i-Mode handsets
Wednesday, April 9, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has announced a new range of handsets designed for its i-Mode service. The handsets also support the new i-Appli DX Java specification, with increased ’scratchpad’ or cache memory of 200 Kb for storing applications. They all support the enhanced PDC transmission speed of 28.8 Kbs on the downlink. DoCoMo has specified the inclusion of Macromedia’s Flash client in all of the handsets. Other common features include an IR port and an enhanced version of the i-Mode e-mail application. Two of the six handsets support Sony’s Memory Stick Due expansion cards, while the others are all equipped with Mini SD expansion slots. Some also have the ability to record video messages. The devices will be released commercially from mid-May 2003 onwards.
(PMN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo gears up million-pixel phone
Wednesday, April 9, 2003 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo plans to launch six new handsets in the next three months. While all six models come with a built-in camera, three of them, made by Fujitsu, Sharp and Sony Ericsson are high-resolution megapixel camera phones. DoCoMo said the new handset from Fujitsu comes with a user authentication system that identifies the owner by fingerprint. The handset has a small sensor patch on it and only the registered person can activate the phone, protecting personal data stored on the handset.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/8/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to add credit-card function to handsets
Tuesday, April 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile phone operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc will soon launch a trial service that would allow subscribers to make payments at stores using their cellphone handsets. Users of its 504i and 504iS series of handsets, which are Internet-enabled and equipped with an infrared transmission port, would first download their credit-card authentication data from the Internet. When making a purchase, users would simply transmit the data via wireless transmission by pointing the handset at a special terminal located by the store’s registers. More than eight million people are using DoCoMo’s 504i and 504iS handsets.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Exceeds FOMA Sales Goal for FY02
Tuesday, April 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Sales of NTT DoCoMo Inc’s FOMA third-generation mobile phones through the end of March came to 329,000 units, surpassing the company’s goal for fiscal 2002. By the end of February, sales of FOMA handsets totaled 191,500 units, making it doubtful whether the company would be able to reach its March-end goal of 320,000 units. But sales of the new P2102V, which debuted March 15, have been very strong. In only half a month, more than 100,000 handsets were sold.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/4/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo achieves 320,000 FOMA subscriber target
Friday, April 4, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo said it had achieved its target of 320,000 subscribers for its high-speed third-generation FOMA service by March. The company introduced advanced handsets and expanded the area coverage, which both helped to the growth of the subscriber base. Last November NTT DoCoMo cut its 3G subscriber target from 1.38 million due to slow uptake. The exact number of its 3G users as of March 31 was not yet clear although it is certain that subscribers exceeded 320,000, the company explained.
(Telecom Paper) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/3/2003
|
| |
NTT warns of deep profit drop due to new tax law
Thursday, April 3, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s dominant telecoms firm NTT warned its forecast group net profit for the year to March may be billions of dollars less than expected due to a new tax law.
The Local Taxes Amendment Law, promulgated at the end of March, will remove a loop hole in accounting rules that enables Japanese firms to inflate balance sheets by including such items as deferred tax assets.
(Hindustan Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/1/2003
|
| |
AT&T Could Owe DoCoMo Under Wireless Pact
Tuesday, April 1, 2003 |
| |
Summary
AT&T Corp. could owe Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc. $3.6 billion if its former wireless unit, AT&T Wireless Services Inc., fails to offer third-generation wireless service in four U.S. cities by the end of next year as planned.
(Wall Street Journal) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/31/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo To Halt New Applications For Some Phone Svcs
Monday, March 31, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. said Friday it will stop accepting new applications for subscriptions to its airline and satellite phone services April 30. The move is part of the company’s ongoing review of its wide range of mobile communications services. DoCoMo said it will continue to assess its airline and satellite phone services, including whether to terminate these services, while monitoring subscriber use.
(Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/28/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Introduce First GPS-Enabled I-Mode Phone Handset
Friday, March 28, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc announced that it would introduce its first Global Positioning Service (GPS)-compatible handset, dubbed F661i, at the end of April. The GPS mobile phone enables users to determine their location at the touch of a button, and download map data and information about the area. "It requires approximately 20 seconds to display the map after touching the GPS button," said Satoshi Yoshida, senior manager, Ubiquitas Business Dept at NTT DoCoMo. "The handset is targeted mainly at corporate users," Yoshida added.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/27/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Sell Wristwatch-Type PHS Phone
Thursday, March 27, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc has developed a wristwatch-type personal handyphone system handset, "Wristomo," and will make it available for consumers. It claimed that it is the world’s first wristwatch PHS phone ever available to consumers. The "Wristomo" provides users with mailing and browsing at a transfer rate of 64kbps, and accessing local contents using a location information function. It can synchronize with the address book and scheduler data created by Microsoft Outlook via a PHS Internet connection or an optional cable.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Plans Multifaceted Approach On 3G
Thursday, March 27, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Hoping to attract more customers to its struggling third-generation wireless service, NTT DoCoMo Inc. plans to tweak - almost everything. DoCoMo will release lighter 3G handsets with longer battery lives, offer more 3G multimedia applications and change the fee arrangement to make the 3G service cheaper and easier to use. That multifaceted strategy will put the mobile phone giant on track to have 1.38 million 3G subscribers by the end of March 2004.
(Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/26/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo Hasn’t Set Start Date For Wrist-PHS Orders
Wednesday, March 26, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Remember the square-jawed Dick Tracy shouting into his wrist radio? If he were around today, he would probably be wearing this - the world’s first wristwatch-style personal handyphone system, or PHS, mobile phone, from NTT DoCoMo Inc. Unveiled Wednesday, the phone enables users to talk continuously for about 120 minutes without recharging the unit, and transfers data at up to 64 Kbps. It went on sale via the Internet the same day. The PHS phone may be one of the more marketable products that the creative bunch at NTT DoCoMo’s research lab have devised. Back in 2000, DoCoMo surprised the tech world with a demonstration of its finger phone, a wireless wristband phone that allowed users to hear incoming calls by sticking a finger in their ear.
(Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo wins spam-mail fight in Tokyo court
Wednesday, March 26, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Corp, Japan’s dominant mobile phone carrier, won a victory against junk "spam" e-mail on Tuesday when a Tokyo court ordered compensation for the costs of sending unsolicited messages over its wireless Internet service. In the first court decision against Japan’s spam mailers, who regularly flood wireless e-mail networks with randomly addressed advertisements for pornography or dating services, a Tokyo company was ordered to pay DoCoMo 6.57 million yen ($54,420).
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/19/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo 2G ARPU is higher than those of 3G
Wednesday, March 19, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s biggest mobile-phone company NTT DoCoMo generates less ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) from customers on FOMA 3G wireless service that enable video-conferencing and high-speed Internet access than those on conventional 2G i-mode service, the Financial Times Deutschland reported, citing board member Takanori Utano. NTT DoCoMo 3G ARPU was 10,400 Yen ($77.8) per month from October to December 2001 - around 25% higher than the 8,500 Yen for the current imode service. However in 2002, FOMA ARPU drop to 8,000. However with the expensive video communication novelty disappearing, the average monthly ARPU in 2002 for FOMA dropped to 8,300 Yen while i-mode’s ARPU reminded static.
(3G Newsroom) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/18/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo: No Fee-Cut Decisions Yet
Tuesday, March 18, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo says considering charging lower rates for mobile phone services, but no decisions yet; mobile giant denies Nikkei report firm to cut weekday daytime call rates for calls from fixed-line to mobile phones to Y70 from Y80 for 3 minutes. Fixed-line operators demanding price-setting right held by mobile operators for calls from fixed-line to mobile phones, citing relatively high fees for fixed-to-mobile calls offered by mobile operators. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Pres: Still Hopeful Of Hitting 3G User Target
Tuesday, March 18, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. President Keiji Tachikawa said Friday he expects subscribers to the firm’s mobile-phone service to top its previous target for the current fiscal year. DoCoMo had forecast 43.62 million subscribers at the March-31 end of this fiscal year. Tachikawa said the company now expects a 10% rise in subscribers from the end of last fiscal year, when it had 40.78 million users. The new projection would give DoCoMo about 44.86 million subscribers. He said the number of subscribers to the company’s 3G mobile phone service "FOMA" totaled about 220,000 as of March 13. This suggests it’ll be difficult for DoCoMo to meet its target of 320,000 FOMA users by the end of March.
(Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/13/2003
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo shows off latest 3G handset: CeBIT
Thursday, March 13, 2003 |
| |
Summary
CeBIT: DoCoMo keeps tightlipped but optimistic about future i-mode expansion in Europe as crowds gather to watch its newest video phone in action. Japanese mobile giant NTT DoCoMo drew large crowds at CeBIT on Tuesday afternoon with a demonstration of its latest 3G handset. Although the world's largest ICT show doesn't officially kick off until Wednesday, journalists packed out a press conference at which DoCoMo demonstrated a 3G call; the company also suggested that its i-mode mobile service might soon be available in more European countries than at present.
(ZDNET) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/12/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to offer Linux-based 3G phones - source
Wednesday, March 12, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc , Japan’s top mobile operator, aims to offer third-generation (3G) handsets that run on the Linux-based operating system (OS) as early as the second half of 2004, a source close to the firm said on Tuesday. Linux software is free and can be copied or modified, unlike rival Microsoft Corp’s software, and has become popular among companies looking to lower the cost of using computer systems. DoCoMo has already offered handset makers specifications of the kind of Linux-based OS suitable for its 3G handsets in order to help them cut development and manufacturing costs, the source said.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Introduce the New FOMA P2102V Videophone Model
Wednesday, March 12, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo the introduction of the FOMA P2102V, the company’s first 3G videophone handset capable of video clip e-mailing and extended stand-by time, and the first FOMA model to accept memory cards. The P2102V will go on sale nationwide on March 15, 2003. With DoCoMo’s i-motion mail service, the FOMA P2102V can e-mail up to approx. 24-second (100 KB) video clips created with either of its two built-in cameras, or downloaded from the i-mode site. (The P2102V shoots video at up to 15 frames/second.) Video clips can even be recorded and transmitted while the user simultaneously makes a videophone call.
(3G Newsroom) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/11/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo, Samsung team up to develop ’i-mode’ phones
Tuesday, March 11, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s largest mobile phone service operator, said on Monday it would join South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co to develop Internet-enabled "i-mode" handsets for markets outside Japan. The handsets, due to hit stores in early 2004, would mark the first joint product effort between DoCoMo and Samsung, the world’s third-largest cellphone maker and an arch-rival of Japan’s electronics conglomerates.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/10/2003
|
| |
Docomo receives shareholders loan request from H3G UK
Monday, March 10, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has received a Funding Call Notice from Hutchison 3G UK, seeking a shareholders loan advancement of 200 million pounds (EUR 295.78 million) from Docomo, in accordance with the 20% proportional equity interest in H3G UK. H3G UK delivered the Funding Call Notice to DoCoMo pursuant to a provision of the Shareholders Agreement between Hutchison Whampoa and DoCoMo that stipulates that DoCoMo is contractually obligated to provide up to 200 million pounds as a loan advance if certain pre-conditions are fulfilled. DoCoMo will announce its response to the Funding Call Notice by the middle of April.
(Telecom Paper) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/7/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo posts record 3G user growth in Feb
Friday, March 7, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc posted record growth in the number of users of its third-generation (3G) mobile phones in February, an industry group said on Friday, boosted by new handsets with longer battery life. DoCoMo won a net 37,000 new subscribers for its 3G service, which offers video-conferencing and high-speed Web connection, the Telecommunications Carriers Association said. The figure was up from net growth of 2,600 in the previous month.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo To Launch Flat-Fee, 24/7 PHS Svc Apr 1
Friday, March 7, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. (DCM or 9432) said Thursday it will launch a flat-fee, round-the-clock personal handyphone system (PHS) wireless communications service on April 1. The move reflects the company’s efforts to catch up with KDDI Corp.’s (J.KDD or 9433) DDI Pocket Inc., the largest provider of a personal handyphone wireless communications service. The service, called "@FreeD," will enable users of personal digital assistants and notebook computers to access the Internet via card-type PHS terminals. Japan’s mobile phone giant will sell two models of card-type PHS terminals compatible with the new service.
(Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/3/2003
|
| |
When Will FOMA Models Gain Mainstream Status?
Monday, March 3, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc’s next-generation "FOMA" mobile phones have gained only about 150,000 users as of the end of December 2002, after more than a year since their service start. The primary reason for the lack of popularity is the fact that they are not considered to have offered 3G capabilities. As a matter of fact, the 3G capabilities of FOMA do not match what they are supposed to be compared to the current PDC-format mobile phones in various respects.
(NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo plans flat-rate mobile Web access service
Monday, March 3, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Friday it plans to launch a flat-rate wireless Web access service using its personal handyphone system (PHS) network, in a bid to shore up its flagging PHS operation. In launching a flat-rate service, DoCoMo would be following in the footsteps of DDI Pocket, a unit of rival KDDI Corp which boosted its PHS subscriber base, despite an overall decline in PHS users, after launching a flat-rate Internet access service in 2001. In contrast to DDI Pocket's operating profit of 9.1 billion yen in the half year to last September, DoCoMofs PHS division posted an operating loss of 15.6 billion yen in the same period.
(Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/24/2003
|
| |
Macromedia, DoCoMo to Jointly Offer Motion Image Software
Monday, February 24, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Macromedia Inc., a major producer of multimedia-related software, said on February 23 it and NTT DoCoMo Inc. have agreed to jointly provide motion-image software to be used in conjunction with the Japanese cell phone firm’s i-mode Internet service. The software will make it easier to browse Web sites carrying motion images on cell phones compatible with the i-mode service. The software, called Flash, which has been created by Macromedia, is installed in over 90% of personal computers that can access the Internet. DoCoMo is due to market this year a cell phone handset coded 505i, with the pre-installed Macromedia program. (NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/10/2003
|
| |
Subscribers to NTT DoCoMo 3G mobile service top one million
Monday, February 10, 2003 |
| |
Summary
More than one million subscribers had signed up to the 3G mobile phone service of Japanfs leading cellphone carrier, NTT DoCoMo Inc.as of the end of September. The latest incarnation of the 3G service features lighter handsets weighing only 109 grams (under four ounces) in the latest model, while battery standby time for FOMA models has been improved to about 310 hours from its initial 55 hours.
The pace of new subscribers is rising due to the more advanced and lighter handsets, while the FOMA area coverage has grown drastically over the years.
(Yahoo! News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/8/2003
|
| |
NTT Docomo Transfers Satellite Assets to JSAT; Acquires Stock
Saturday, February 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
JSAT Corporation and NTT DoCoMo, Inc. has reached an agreement on the transfer of NTT DoCoMo’s interest in two jointly owned communications satellites-- N-STARa and N-STARb-- to JSAT. In the agreement, NTT DoCoMo will lease the two satellites from JSAT to continue providing its proprietary satellite mobile communications service. NTT DoCoMo will also acquire a strategic equity interest in JSAT to continue to ensure the provision of reliable services. (JapanCorp.net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/21/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo predicts four survivors in European mobile market
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc is predicting that Europe can only support four mobile operators at most, and has signaled its willingness to invest in one of the survivors, despite being badly hit financially by its overseas expansion policy. (Datamonitor) (Datamonitor) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/20/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to Offer Videomail
Monday, January 20, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that the N2051 3G handset, which offers extended stand-by time and the ability to e-mail video clips, will go on sale January 23, 2003.The N2051 boasts the longest battery life of any FOMA model, providing approximately 180 hours of continuous dynamic stand-by, or about 250 hours of static stand-by. In addition, the N2051 is compatible with the new i-motion mail service, which enables users to e-mail approximately 15-second/100 KB video clips taken either with the handset’s built-in dual cameras or downloaded from sites. The phone shoots video content at a rate of up to 15 frames/second. (Unstrung) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo To Limit Photo Downloads
Monday, January 20, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will limit the number of downloads of photographs taken by its "i-shot" camera-equipped cellular phones to 50, starting Feb. 17. The move is aimed at curbing unsolicited "spam" e-mails having attached photos. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/19/2003
|
| |
AOL, NTT DoCoMo in Wireless Net Pact
Sunday, January 19, 2003 |
| |
Summary
America Online, Inc. and Japan’s NTT DoCoMo announced plans Wednesday to provide wireless Internet services in Japan and other countries as well. The deal gives NTT DoCoMo a 42.3 percent stake in AOL Japan, which includes a cash contribution of about US$100 million, while AOL’s stake in its Japanese affiliate will be reduced to 40.3 percent. As part of the agreement, AOL Mail and Instant Messenger will be featured on NTT DoCoMo’s i-mode mobile Internet service, which has more than 12 million subscribers. The two companies will promote each other’s services in Japan. (ECommerce Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/17/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo helps out 3G handset makers
Friday, January 17, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo said it would provide about 40 billion yen ($339 million) in subsidies to manufacturers to develop handsets for its 3G FOMA network. The company will pay to handset vendors about half of the cost of developing each 3G model. It was reported that developing software and microprocessors for FOMA WCDMA phones costs 10 times more than conventional handsets. Handset vendors are facing huge cost in developing handsets for 3G but are finding it difficult to recover the costs. The first wave of subsidises will go to NEC, Fujitsu and Matsushita Electric Industrial. (3G Newsroom) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Developing Downlink High Speed Packet Tranfers
Friday, January 17, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc has begun to develop terminals designed for High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), a technology to speed up downstream packet data transmission of W-CDMA, a third-generation mobile communication system. The carrier already has started producing HSDPA-compatible prototypes in collaboration with two or more mobile phone makers, with the intention of launching test transmissions through the terminals from the autumn of 2003 at the earliest. Positioning HSDPA as a higher-speed version of FOMA, HSDPA is a standard that can speed up the maximum downstream data transmission up to 14.4Mbps using a 5MHz frequency band, just as in the case with W-CDMA. From 2004 to 2005, HSDPA-capable mobile phones will be put on the market. (NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/15/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo considering international options
Wednesday, January 15, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile phone carrier, NTT DoCoMo Inc, said on Tuesday it has not ruled out the possibility of a fresh equity tie-up with a European operator despite a massive special loss in its overseas investments. "The comment came after the Financial Times quoted NTT DoCoMo President Keiji Tachikawa as saying DoCoMo aims to link up with one of the top four European carriers that are likely to emerge following industry consolidation over the next year or two. Tachikawa was also quoted in the newspaper interview as saying that the possible ties would be better if they took the form of an equity relationship. The DoCoMo spokesman, however, played down the report by the Financial Times, saying there was no concrete plan at the moment for a fresh tie-up with a European operator. (PMN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Tachikawa: To Further Enhance 3G Handsets This Yr
Wednesday, January 15, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. plans to further enhance its third-generation "FOMA" mobile phones this year, DoCoMo President and Chief Executive Keiji Tachikawa said Tuesday. "Our target is to release a (3G) handset with a standby battery time of more than 300 hours in the fall of this year," Tachikawa said in a speech at Marcus Evans’ 3G Mobile World Forum in Chiba. "Around the spring of this year, we are planning to release a dual-mode 2G and 3G handset, because currently more than 30% of the 3G subscribers are using the dual network service," Tachikawa said. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/14/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo to link FOMA with PCs via videophone
Tuesday, January 14, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will begin a trial service as early as February to allow subscribers to its FOMA third-generation mobile phone system to communicate with personal computer users on videophones, sources close to the company said Saturday. The move, with a full service scheduled to start by the end of the year at the earliest, will allow FOMA users to participate, for example, in company meetings even if they are away from their workplaces or to send video images to their family at home from different locations. At present, FOMA users can see and speak with each other through video monitors attached to handsets for about 50 yen a minute. (Japan Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/12/2003
|
| |
Renault and NTT DoCoMo F1 Sponsorship Rumors
Sunday, January 12, 2003 |
| |
Summary
There have been rumors in recent days suggesting that Renault F1 in on the verge of announcing a new sponsorship deal with mobile phone giant NTT DoCoMo, the wireless company that was spun off from Nippon Telegraph and Telephone. NTT DoCoMo is one of the biggest mobile phone operators in the world and is in competition with Ferrari sponsor Vodafone. The deal makes a lot of sense because NTT DoCoMo is closely linked to Renault’s Japanese partner Nissan, developing automotive multimedia services, which the two companies hope to be able market worldwide in the future, their aim being to sell the service to other automobile companies.
(GrandPrix.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/8/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo rides out ratings downgrade
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s biggest stock, NTT DoCoMo, is trading higher Wednesday after ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service cut its long-term debt outlook from stable to negative. Moody’s said Tuesday it was changing from stable to negative the outlook for DocoMo’s Aa1 senior long-term debt ratings. Moody’s said the change reflected its concern over the future of DoCoMo’s competitive advantage in third-generation (3G) telecommunications services. These 3G services -- which offer video, audio and data capability, along with high-speed Internet access -- were important for maintaining the long-term stability of the company’s cash flow. (CNN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo to raise Y50 bil in bonds aimed at individuals
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc said Wednesday it plans to raise 50 billion yen with the issuance of four-year domestic bonds targeted at individual investors. It will be the first time the dominant Japanese mobile phone service provider has issued bonds to individual investors. NTT DoCoMo said its decision to tap the retail bond market is designed to diversify ways of raising funds on top of fund raising through institutional investors. (Kyodo News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT Docomo slashes 3G capex
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT Docomo is taking an axe to capital expenditure in 2003, following disappointing take-up of its FOMA 3G service. In its next financial year starting April, the Japanese firm will spend around 800bn yen on its 3G network infrastructure($6.9bn), 11 per cent down on this year’s 891bn yen. (The Register) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo To Offer Video Streaming to PCs
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo is reported to be planning to offer a 3G video streaming service that will send pictures from mobile handsets to PCs. According to Dow Jones Newswires, DoCoMo is teaming up with NTT Broadband to develop and market the service. At present it is only possible for users of DoCoMo’s 3G FOMA service to send video clips to other FOMA subscribers. With only just over 149,000 individuals signed up to FOMA, the appeal of mobile video services has so far been limited. (BWCS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo hit by Moodyfs downgrade
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Moodyfs Investors Service Inc. said Tuesday it has changed the outlook for the Aa1 senior long-term debt ratings on NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japanfs dominant mobile phone operator, to negative from stable. "The change reflects Moodyfs concern over the future of DoCoMofs competitive advantage in third-generation (3G) telecommunications services, which are important for maintaining the long-term stability of the companyfs cash flow generation," the U.S. credit-rating agency said. (Japan Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Cap Spending Next Year as FOMA Sales Fizzle
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., the world’s second-biggest mobile phone operator, will cap spending on new equipment next fiscal year at current levels because expansion won’t bolster its high-speed wireless Internet service. DoCoMo Chief Executive Officer Keiji Tachikawa said in an interview the company will spend about 800 billion yen ($6.7 billion) to build networks and base stations for mobile phones, including its FOMA high-speed network, in the year starting April 1. It plans to spend about 891 billion yen this year, he said. ``Reckless spending on network expansion won’t help promote FOMA,’’ Tachikawa said. ``So we’d better focus more on returns on investment.’’ (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/7/2003
|
| |
New i-Mode wireless phone
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. will begin marketing a new i-shot compatible handset, the mova F504iS with dual cameras. The F504iS is third in the 504iS series DoCoMo launched in November to meet the growing Japanese market demand for camera-equipped phones. This PDC-based i-Mode series offers packet data transmission speeds of up to 28.8 Kbps, infrared communications and i-appli capability. The new F504iS features two built-in 110,000-pixel CCD cameras. The inner camera located on the main display lets users take self-portrait shots, while the external camera on the backside of the phone allows scenic or group photos. Users can easily switch between cameras with the simple touch of a button. (3G.co.uk) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo expects five-fold increase in European i-mode users
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has said that it expects its European i-mode subscriber base to rise from a present level of 200,000 to 1m by the end of 2003. In order to boost subscriber numbers, NTT DoCoMo plans to make available a wider range of i-mode enabled handsets, to be produced by vendors other than the present two suppliers, NEC and Toshiba. (Europemedia.net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/6/2003
|
| |
DoCoMo eyes European expansion
Monday, January 6, 2003 |
| |
Summary
Mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo plans expand the European user base of its i-mode five-fold to one million users this year. DoCoMo will increase the number of i-mode terminal suppliers in Europe from the existing two Japanese companies to between seven and 10 suppliers, the major newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported. Telefonica Moviles of Spain is also due to start the DoCoMo i-mode service in a few months. DoCoMo plans to expand its i-mode support staff in Europe from the present 50 workers, including those based in the company’s Dutch subsidiary, the report added. (News.com.au) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/27/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo, AT&T to Start 3G Service by Dec 2004
Friday, December 27, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s dominant mobile phone company, said on Thursday it will begin offering third-generation (3G) wireless data services in four U.S. cities with AT&T Wireless Services Inc by December 2004. The service, which offers high-speed Internet access and face-to-face video calling, will be launched in San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas and San Diego. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/26/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Increase Stake in Software Firm
Thursday, December 26, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top wireless telecoms carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc is to inject $13.63 million into software developer Access Co Ltd, raising its stake to 9.61 percent, Access said on Thursday. The two firms have agreed a deal in which Access, which makes software for mobile phones and digital home appliances, will issue 1,400 new shares on January 16 to DoCoMo, which already owns a two percent stake in it. The move is aimed at strengthening their joint development of a browser for DoCoMo’s future mobile phones, an Access spokesman said. The transaction will make DoCoMo the fourth-largest shareholder in Access. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/25/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Puts Emphasis on Cell Phones with Cameras
Wednesday, December 25, 2002 |
| |
Summary
The strategies of the three major cell phone carriers in Japan can be seen from the semiannual financial settlements in 2002. As the cell phone market becomes saturated, every carrier is focusing on cell phones with a built-in camera, which can increase data communications charges. None of the carriers is aggressively emphasizing third-generation cell phones. The catchy "Sha-Mail," by J-Phone Co., Ltd. has boosted the market of cell phones with a built-in camera and shaken the strategies of competitors, but it also is clear that no carrier has yet to find the killer apps, other than camera-equipped cell phones. (NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo finds spam tough to swallow
Wednesday, December 25, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Advertisers sending unwanted e-mail trick filtering programs. Spammers preying on cellphone users are finding new ways to get around efforts by network operators to slow a deluge of unwanted e-mail. One cellphone carrier said 90 percent of spammers are now using illegal methods. Replacing a character or inserting a space in the legally required header for unsolicited e-mail, for example, enables the message to slip through spam filters. `We are aware spam is getting through (to cellphone users),’’ said an official of the telecommunications ministry. ``We hope to catch senders somehow, but they are difficult to trace. There are no good ideas on how to fight them.’’ (Asahi) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/24/2002
|
| |
KPN Mobile’s Xmas Cheer : i-mode in Europe
Tuesday, December 24, 2002 |
| |
Summary
KPN managed to sign up its 100,000th i-Mode customer in the Netherlands. Given that across its three mobile operators -- E-Plus Mobilfunk GmbH in Germany and BASE in Belgium, in addition to the Dutch parent -- just 143,000 users were recorded in November, there has clearly been a pre-Christmas surge. Spokeswoman Carla van Lomwel says "E-Plus also has more than 100,000 i-Mode users," but that it’s too early to give any figures for the Belgian operation, which only launched its i-Mode service in October. This gives KPN more than 200,000 i-Moders in total, having launched in Germany in March 2002, and in the Netherlands in April. The company has a target of 1 million i-Mode users in the combined territories before the end of 2003. (Unstrung) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/23/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Camera Phone Sales Exceed 4 Million
Monday, December 23, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that sales of i-shotEhandsets have topped the 4 million mark, some six months after DoCoMo’s i-shot service was introduced. i-shot allows subscribers to transmit still images taken with compatible mobile phones having built-in digital cameras to virtually any device capable of receiving e-mail. Following the successful launch of this series, i-shot sales began accelerating at a rapid pace, reaching 4 million just three weeks after topping the 3 million mark. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/20/2002
|
| |
FOMA handsets delayed
Friday, December 20, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has announced that the introduction of its new FOMA handsets, announced earlier this month, will be delayed at least until January 2003. DoCoMo had said that the first model would be available 20th December 2002. (PMN.co.uk) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/19/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo abandons Microsoft video format
Thursday, December 19, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo is switching from a Microsoft video format to an open industry standard for its video-on-demand service offered over its third-generation cellular network. The company is dropping the use of ASF (Advanced Streaming Format) on its i-motion service in favour of MP4, a wrapper format for MPEG4 video and audio and text, because of the cost of licensing fees levied for use of the system by Microsoft, according to an NTT DoCoMo spokeswoman. (CW360) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo President Tachikawa Anticipates Developments Abroad
Thursday, December 19, 2002 |
| |
Summary
"We expect that Hutchison 3G UK Ltd. will swing into full-scale W-CDMA service at the beginning of the new year," NTT DoCoMo President Keiji Tachikawa said at a regular news conference on Dec. 12. He was discussing the future outlook abroad for the W-CDMA third-generation (3G) mobile phone. (NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/18/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Looks Beyond Current 3G Services
Wednesday, December 18, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japanese newspaper Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun reported today that NTT DoCoMo is preparing to switch to an advanced FOMA 3G service in just over two years time. While some critics argue that the mobile operator should concentrate on getting its current FOMA offering up to scratch, the paper claims that the new service will greatly increase data speeds available to customers. If the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun report is correct, then the giant Japanese mobile operator would be able to hold out the promise of increasing its mobile data rates to 14.4Mbps, up from the currently available 384kbps. (BWCS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/13/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo says plans share buyback in 03/04
Friday, December 13, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top wireless operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc, said on Thursday it planned to buy back some of its own shares in the business year starting next April, but did not indicate the scale of the buy-back."Given the sluggish performance of our share price, an ideal way to reward shareholders using our free cash flow would be a buy-back of our own shares," DoCoMo President Keiji Tachikawa told a regular news conference when asked what steps the company was planning regarding its ample cash flow. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/11/2002
|
| |
New NTT DoCoMo FOMA Models
Wednesday, December 11, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. will introduce three new 3G mobile phones featuring continuous dynamic stand-by of approximately 170-180 hours or 230-250 hours of static stand-by time, approximately 3.3 times longer than the original FOMA models. The three models are the N2051 (mid December release), F2051 (late December) and P2102V (late January). (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Unveils New Handsets to Recharge Flagging 3G
Wednesday, December 11, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc. rolled out third-generation (3G) mobile phones on Tuesday with a much longer battery life and promised more improvements next year as it struggles to recharge the flagging high-speed service. Japan’s dominant mobile phone company said the three new handsets, made by NEC Corp., Fujitsu Ltd. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., offer at least 40 percent longer battery life than current models. The new phones, the first of which will hit shelves as early as mid-December, can run for 170 to 180 hours in standby mode before needing a recharge, up from 125 hours in its last model, from Toshiba Corp, and 55 hours in earlier models. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/6/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo looks to Europe for potential growth
Friday, December 6, 2002 |
| |
Summary
The company sees more of an opportunity in the European market than in Asia, despite the failure of an earlier mobile technology. NTT DoCoMo Inc is turning to Europe as the market with the greatest potential to expand its most popular Internet service because carriers there are more likely to embrace it than those in Asia, a DoCoMo executive said. "I see more potential in Europe," said Takeshi Natsuno, general manager of strategy for i-mode, which offers cellphone users online shopping and entertainment. "European carriers are trying to distinguish themselves by providing unique services." I-mode subscribers in Europe will probably top 1 million by the end of next year, compared with about 100,000 at the end of August, Natsuno said in an interview. (Taipei Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Toyota, NTT DoCoMo, Decide on Hands-Free Specification
Friday, December 6, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Toyota Motor Corp., Denso Corp., NTT DoCoMo Inc., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Toshiba Corp. jointly defined a Bluetooth wireless hands-free specification to be applied inside automobiles. The specification is called "Car Communication Application Promotion" (CCAP). With a Bluetooth-based wireless connection between a mobile phone and car audio equipment inside the car, the system will provide safer communication in a moving car. (NEAsia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/5/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo set to reject KPN Mobile capital plea
Thursday, December 5, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s largest wireless carrier, is leaning towards rejecting a capital increase for Dutch telecom operator KPN Mobile NV, a source at DoCoMo said on Friday. The source said DoCoMo would probably make a formal announcement some time next week. DoCoMo could have purchased new shares in KPN Mobile to maintain its 15 percent stake after parent company KPN Telecom NV KPN.AS said in November it would purchase new shares in the mobile unit as part of a debt-for-equity swap. The request for additional capital comes as Japan’s dominant mobile phone operator faces increasing criticism from shareholders about its 1.9 trillion yen ($15.22 billion) in overseas investments, which backfired after the burst of the tech and telecoms bubble. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/4/2002
|
| |
Japan’s DoCoMo eyes pet-tracking, health services for growth
Wednesday, December 4, 2002 |
| |
Summary
If your beloved dog goes astray in Japan a few years from now, you may find him more quickly with a wireless device than by sticking notices on telephone poles. Pet-tracking is just one of the applications cellular giant NTT DoCoMo Inc is looking at to boost demand. Like cellular carriers in many markets nearing saturation, DoCoMo is desperate to come up with reasons for people to use more wireless services. ``Some people say growth comes to a halt if cellphone usage reaches 70 or 80 percent of the population. But that’s only one way of looking at it,’’ NTT DoCoMo Senior Vice President Tamon Mitsuishi told Reuters in an interview. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/27/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo camera phone sales accelerate
Wednesday, November 27, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has sold 3m handsets with integrated digital cameras since June 2002, and more than 1m since 13th October 2002. The rate of adoption is accelerating as DoCoMo expands the range of handsets available with new products for both entry level and high end consumers. DoCoMo has also added an instant reply capability to its i-Shot picture messaging service, simplifying the process of exchanging messages. About 7 percent of DoCoMo’s 42m customers are now equipped with camera phones, compared to over 50 percent at rival J-Phone. (PMN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/26/2002
|
| |
Showing emotions over e-mail
Tuesday, November 26, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Anyone who’s tried to sound sarcastic or sensitive in an e-mail, only to find that the point didn’t quite get across as intended, understands that text messages often come across as too blunt. So the Japanese cellphone company NTT DoCoMo is working on a human-sized experimental robot that someday might use gestures to augment mobile communications. In a future envisioned by the company, a home robot will read e-mail while moving in exactly the same way as the sender did while speaking the message, perhaps with a little shrug or a tilt of the head. (digitalMASS.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/21/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Gives ISPs Access To i-mode
Thursday, November 21, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has introduced a service that enables ISPs to offer i-mode services via its second-generation PDC network. The move is aimed both at bringing fixed line and mobile internet services closer together and further enhancing the content available via i-mode. The new packet data service will allow ISPs to generate new revenues by offering online content to DoCoMo’s 35 million i-mode customers. Meanwhile, mobile users will be able to send and receive emails via their normal ISP mail account. (BWCS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/20/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo introduces remote control handset
Wednesday, November 20, 2002 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that the company will market its N504iS from November 22, 2002. The N504iS is second in the 504iS series DoCoMo launched last week to meet the growing Japanese market demand for camera-equipped phones. Integrating an infrared communications port, the new i-Shot compatible N504iS is the first DoCoMo phone that can be used as a remote control for TV, video and other appliances. The N504iS features a built-in 310,000-pixel CMOS camera with 3x zoom lens and five settings for adjusting brightness. A separate macro lens, when attached, allows users to take extreme close-up shots of such written material as phone numbers, e-mail addresses or URLs. These numbers and addresses are automatically formatted and stored for easy access. (PMN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/17/2002
|
| |
NTT back in black, sales dip raises concern
Sunday, November 17, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp, the world’s biggest telecoms firm by sales, said on Monday its earnings rose strongly in the first half of the year as it shifted workers into lower paying jobs, but analysts said weaker sales may be a precursor to more cost cutting. Sales slipped 1.7 percent to 5.37 trillion yen ($45 billion) from the previous year as fierce price competition hit NTT’s fixed-line business and growth slowed at its mobile phone unit. It was the first decline in sales since the company’s privatisation in 1985. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT expected to return to profit in H1
Sunday, November 17, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, the world’s biggest telecoms firm by sales, is likely to report a strong rebound in half-year earnings but investors will be looking for signs that streamlining will lead to more growth. The company’s share price has largely factored in an expected cut in its forecast for full-year net profit to reflect hefty charges by mobile unit NTT DoCoMo Inc, which has chalked up big losses in its overseas investments. Investors are expected to focus on operating profit, which is not affected by one-off items such as writedowns on foreign investments, and is considered a better indicator of whether cuts in personnel costs and other streamlining is working. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/15/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo says KPN Mobile wants capital injection
Friday, November 15, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s largest wireless carrier, said on Friday it had received a request from Dutch telecom operator KPN Mobile N.V. to inject more capital into it and maintain the Japanese operator’s current 15 percent voting interest. The request was made as KPN N.V. is to purchase new shares to be issued by KPN Mobile, the Japanese carrier said in a statement. NTT DoCoMo said it has not decided on its response, but will make a decision by the middle of December. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/14/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Establish New U.S. Advisory Board
Thursday, November 14, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that the company will set up a second U.S. Advisory Board with new members on November 15, 2002. The first Advisory Board, established in December 2000, completed its mission in November 2002. The panel will meet twice a year in the U.S. to provide DoCoMo with advice and insight on social and economic circumstances from a global perspective regarding management policy. DoCoMo believes that such counsel is important for the company to maintain its position as a leading global telecommunications entity-one that is truly in touch with society and is demonstrating this by creating a new "communication culture." (Japan CorpNet) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/13/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Claims 3D First
Wednesday, November 13, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. just has to be first, doesn’t it? Not happy with simply being first with 3G (in a WCDMA sort of way), now it says it’s going to be first with 3D. How exciting is this? Well, when you think about the amount of image depth you are likely to get on a mobile phone screen, it may not seem like the catalyst for an impulse purchase. In Japan, though, any new technical innovation inspires a spike in handset sales, so DoCoMo can expect a few net gains to its subscriber base as well as the migration of some current users to the i-shot service. (Unstrung) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Latest i-shot Model Offers First 3D Mobile Phone Screen
Wednesday, November 13, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. will introduce a new i-shot handset, the SH251iS featuring a 3D color LCD, on November 16, 2002. The company’s popular i-shot service allows users to transmit still images taken with compatible mobile phones having built-in digital cameras. The SH251iS is the world’s first mobile handset to incorporate a 3D color LCD and 3D editor function, enabling users to convert 2D still shots and downloaded content into 3D images. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/8/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo is streaming video to cell phones
Friday, November 8, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Similarly as year 2002 was a year of color displays in cell phones, the year 2003 will be a year of video in cell phones...M-stage V Live is a streaming service for video that is being provided by in Japan by cellular network operator NTT DoCoMo. The platform used is NEC’s StreamPro - a streaming content distribution platform. The service distributes both life and archived video streams to PDAs that are connected to PHS compatbile cell phones in NTT DoCoMo network. (Wireless Software.Info) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/7/2002
|
| |
NEC Implements NTT DoCoMo’s Streaming Service
Thursday, November 7, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nov. 6, 2002. NEC Solutions announced has implemented M-stage V Live, NTT DoCoMo’s video streaming service, on StreamPro, its streaming content distribution platform. A new DoCoMo service launched on October 1, M-stage V Live distributes live and archived videos to PDAs connected to DoCoMo PHS handsets. The DoCoMo service also uses pv3 Mobilemedia System, US company PacketVideo’s mobile video distribution system. It complies with the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standard, and makes it possible to transmit MPEG4 videos. The NEC platform also supports industry standard streaming formats such as Windows Media Technologies and RealVideo. (Japan Corporate News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo reports falling profits, ARPU
Thursday, November 7, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nov. 7, 2002. Profits at NTT DoCoMo fell 95 percent to just YEN 4.17b (USD 34.28m) for the half year ending September 2002. The figures were hit by DoCoMo’s switch to US accounting standards and the decision to recognise a YEN 573b impairement to its foreign investments. Revenues were up just under 2 percent at YEN 2.38 trillion. ARPU for i-Mode rose slightly from YEN 1,540 to YEN 1,670. The percentage of its total subscriber base using i-Mode also rose from 78.8 percent to 82.7 percent. Ringtones and entertainment services continued to be the most popular data services among DoCoMo’s customers, accounting for 37 percent and 22 percent respectively. DoCoMo saw a rise in the percentage of data traffic attributed to information access (85 percent) and a slight decline in the amount used for messaging (15 percent). (PMN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo revises FOMA subscriber numbers
Thursday, November 7, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nov. 07, 2002. NTT DoCoMo said it forecasts only 320,000 FOMA third-generation (3G) subscribers by the end of March 2003, a decrease from its early predictions of more than 1 million subscribers by end-March. NTT DoCoMo launched FOMA service in October 2001, and uptake has been much less than expected. The company is planning to increase its FOMA coverage area and enhance its content to reverse the slow demand for its W-CDMA services. The company’s average revenue per user (ARPU) for FOMA was about US$60. ARPU generated purely from i-mode services was US$17.30 for the second fiscal quarter ending 30 September. (Global Wireless News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to cut executive pay by 10-20%
Thursday, November 7, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nov 8, 2002. NTT DoCoMo Inc confirmed that it will cut compensation for its executives, including company President Keiji Tachikawa, by 10-20 percent. The executives are shouldering the responsibility for the massive losses booked by the company during the first half that ended September 30 on its investments in overseas wireless phone service providers. NTT DoCoMo is expected to report that first-half net profit fell 96 percent from a year earlier to 4 billion yen (US$32.84 million). Until next March, monthly pay will be reduced by 20 percent for the president, 15 percent for the vice president, and 10 percent for other executives. This is the second time that their pay has been reduced due to overseas losses. Bonuses will also be suspended for a second time. (Asia Pulse/Nikkei) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/6/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo said to slash profit forecast by 60 percent
Wednesday, November 6, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nov. 7, 2002. Japan’s top wireless operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc., is set to cut its net profit estimate for the business year ending next March by 60 percent due to hefty appraisal losses on overseas investments, the business daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo CEO Finds Investors Wary About Global Strategy
Wednesday, November 6, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nov. 7, 2002. To take the blame for DoCoMo's overseas losses, NTT DoCoMo Inc. Chief Executive Keiji Tachikawa cut his monthly salary by 20 percent beginning in April for three months. DoCoMo expects its older wireless Internet service, known as i-mode, to operate outside Japan through KPN Mobile in the Netherlands, its units E-Plus Mobilefunk GMBH in Germany, BASE in Belgium and KG Telecom in Taiwan. Users of the service totaled about 100,000, a fraction of the 35 million i-mode subscribers in Japan. ``I want DoCoMo to raise dividends instead of spending cash on overseas assets,'' Japan Investment Trust's Michitaka Kato said. DoCoMo pays an annual dividend of 500 yen a share. Its yield -- the dividend divided by its stock price -- is 0.2 percent, compared with 1.8 percent for Vodafone Group Plc, Europe's largest cellular-phone operator. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/5/2002
|
| |
Bouygues Telecom to Launch i-mode Service in France
Tuesday, November 5, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nov. 05, 2002. NTT DoCoMo, Inc. said that Bouygues Telecom S.A. has announced it will introduce , the service developed by DoCoMo, to the French market beginning November 15, 2002. France marks the sixth market for i-mode service, which is already available in Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, Taiwan and Belgium. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Japan govt body urges DoCoMo transfer rate-setting rights
Tuesday, November 5, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nov. 5, 2002. The arbitration unit of Japan’s Telecoms Ministry said fixed-line carrier Heisei Denden should be allowed to set its own rates for calls made from its fixed lines to mobile phones operated by NTT DoCoMo Inc. Heisei Denden, an unlisted start-up carrier, earlier this year filed a petition to the ministry to gain rate-setting rights for calls that go from fixed-lines to mobile phones, saying DoCoMo’s charge of 80 yen ($0.66) per three minutes was too high. DoCoMo’s charge compared to the prevailing rate of 60 yen for calls from mobile phones to fixed lines. Although no law gives mobile phone operators exclusive rights to set rates on calls from fixed-line networks, all mobile phone operators in Japan currently set phone rates on such calls. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo growth strategy eyed as H1 results near
Tuesday, November 5, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nov. 5, 2002. Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc is expected to post a bearish half-year net profit this week, but with losses on overseas investments now factored into the share price, investors will focus on clues to future growth potential. Also providing some insight into DoCoMo’s growth potential is its per-user revenue for July-September. For the April-June quarter, DoCoMo’s average revenue per user, totalled 8,150 yen a month, down from an average 8,480 yen during the year ended last March. DoCoMo’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), which shows a company’s raw earnings power, is estimated at $15.9 billion for the current year, Merrill Lynch said in a recent research note. That figure compares with $15.2 billion at major carrier Vodafone Group and $4.6 billion at French-owned Orange SA. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/1/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo to introduce wireless card services
Friday, November 1, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. will introduce wireless card data communications services in the spring that use the personal handyphone (PHS) network, allowing users to transfer data using personal computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) while away from their homes or offices. The nation’s top mobile-phone operator said it would set the monthly rates for the service, which will provide unlimited access to the Internet, at between 4,000 yen and 5,000 yen, lower than the fixed rates offered by competitor KDDI Corp.’s DDI Pocket. Analysts predict DoCoMo’s entry into the market for wireless card data communications services likely will cause a rapid increase in the number of PHS card users. (Yomiuri Shimbun) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo’s downturn
Friday, November 1, 2002 |
| |
Summary
In the Headquarters of NTTDoCoMo, every element -- colour, furniture, decor -- has been minutely planned so that it fits with, and reinforces, the next. The effect is of a hermetically sealed whole, designed to convey certain themes. Power. Masculinity. Technological superiority. Wealth. "Only God could have predicted two years ago what has happened to the current telecommunication market," president Keiji Tachikawa pronounced at a solemn Tokyo news conference in April. (Canada.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/31/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Mulls Halt On Overseas Invest; Poor 3G Outlook
Thursday, October 31, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo is considering a moratorium on further overseas investment as many overseas telecom operators delay implementation of third generation mobile phone services. DoCoMo is already facing around 80% in valuation losses on the Y1.8 trillion it has spent to promote its 3G moving-image technology overseas mainly due to the bursting of the global information technology bubble. Instead, it will focus on promoting tie-ups to offer its leading "i-mode" technology for Internet-capable mobile phones overseas, the report said. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT says DoCoMo’s overseas strategy intact
Thursday, October 31, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (NTT) said on Wednesday the overseas investment strategy of NTT DoCoMo Inc remained unchanged despite huge appraisal losses on the wireless unit’s assets abroad. DoCoMo, Japan’s dominant wireless carrier, said early in October it would post a 573 billion yen ($4.66 billion) appraisal loss on its stakes in foreign carriers, including AT&T Wireless Services Inc, amid a prolonged global telecoms slump. "DoCoMo invested in overseas carriers to form alliances and to create a global standard by themselves. By doing so, DoCoMo aimed to boost the corporate value of partner firms and itself," NTT President Norio Wada told a regular news conference. "We haven’t abandoned this strategy. Rather, we plan to press ahead with it." (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo reconsiders overseas drive
Thursday, October 31, 2002 |
| |
Summary
The Japanese mobile phone giant NTT DoCoMo has warned that it may freeze all its overseas investments. The company dominates Japan’s mobile phone market, and is a world leader in the roll-out of third-generation mobile phones. But in recent weeks DoCoMo had to write off $4.7bn of its investments in the United States, Britain, the Netherlands and other foreign markets hurt by the global economic slump. And at home DoCoMo has already spent some two trillion yen ($16.25bn) on third-generation (3G) mobile phones, which allow users high-speed internet access and video-conferencing. But the new service has yet to make a profit and the company is pondering the cost of allowing its users global roaming. (BBC) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/30/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo to halt new foreign investment-Asahi
Wednesday, October 30, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s largest mobile phone operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc, plans to halt new investments abroad for the time being after suffering huge losses on its stakes in foreign carriers, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper said on Wednesday. DoCoMo spent nearly two trillion yen ($16.25 billion) to promote its high-speed third-generation wireless technology as the next global standard and ensure it could provide a global roaming network under the W-CDMA (wideband code division multiple access) standard. The Asahi report said DoCoMo planned to forgo new capital tie-ups with overseas firms for the time being and concentrate instead on tie-ups focused on providing technology instead. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT says no decision on DoCoMo stake
Wednesday, October 30, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s largest telecoms company, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (NTT), said on Tuesday it had not come to any decision regarding a possible reduction in its 63 percent stake in top wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc. NTT has been under pressure from the government to lower its stake to promote competition among NTT group firms and invigorate Japan’s telecoms sector. The possible cutback would be expected to give DoCoMo an increased freedom in mapping out its business strategy. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/29/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to halt optional services
Tuesday, October 29, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has announced changes to its mobile phone, pager, satellite and PHS services in an attempt to improve efficiency and profitability. Customers affected by the changes will be notified when they receive their monthly invoices. The rationalisation reflects the changing nature of NTT DoCoMo’s customer base, which is dominated by advanced i-Mode voice and data terminals operating over PDC packet data networks. (PMN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo to launch FOMA payment system in April
Tuesday, October 29, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will launch a service in April that to allow customers to use integrated circuit-equipped phones to pay for fares at automated ticket gates at East Japan Railway Co. stations and shop at am/pm chain convenience stores by simply holding their phones over the cash register. The system will be introduced for models using NTT DoCoMo’s FOMA. The system is similar to JR East’s Suica ticketing system, which allows passengers to pass through ticket gates by simply holding an IC-equipped pass over automated machines, and am/pm’s Edy electronic payment system. Five million prepaid passes have been issued for the Suica system, which has gone into effect at 470 stations in Tokyo and neighboring prefectures. Dedicated machines at the stations, however, have to be used to add money to the passes. Under the NTT DoCoMo system, which will be effective at the stations and about 1,300 shops, including convenience stores, users can charge their phones wherever they are. (The Yomiuri Shimbun) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/28/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo holds first 4G tech summit
Monday, October 28, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has held a summit addressing fourth-generation mobile technology, gathering together representatives of major telecommunication and electronics companies, with the intention of generating interest for 4G services and sparking initial discussions between NTT DoCoMo and industry participants. "I think it is the first time that all of the members of the ecosystem were pulled together at one site hosted by NTT DoCoMo and to understand their shared vision," said Tony Sica, vice-president and director of marketing at Intel’s Wireless Communications and Computing Group, who attended the meeting. DoCoMo aims to launch a commercial service by 2010, which offers data transmission speeds that are around 275 times faster than the 364kbps top speed of the carrier’s 3G network. (CW360) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo soars by tapping power of emotions
Monday, October 28, 2002 |
| |
Summary
’’In Japan, nearly one-third of the population already works, plays, and shops with wireless, continuously connected to a universe of data, services and other people. The force responsible is a young, visionary company, with a name that means `anywhere’ in Japanese: DoCoMo.’’ This quote shows just how pervasive DoCoMo is in Japan. In spite of its short life of a mere three years, it’s already a major force in the country, with 30 million users. What is DoCoMo and why is this company so notable that a book should be devoted to it? The subtitle of John C. Beck and Mitchell E. Wade’s book dubs DoCoMo a ’’wireless tsunami,’’ a moniker that is indicative of the influence of the company in Japan’s moribund marketplace. (Boston Globe) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/24/2002
|
| |
Hacker Tampers With NTT DoCoMo Web Site
Thursday, October 24, 2002 |
| |
Summary
An unidentified hacker broke into the Web site of NTT DoCoMo Inc., the top provider of Internet-capable mobile phone services, and tampered with part of its contents, the company said Wednesday, Kyodo reported. The tampered page, which is for corporate customers, has been rendered inaccessible, making it impossible for users to take advantage of services that had been offered via the page. It is rare for a hacker to succeed in tampering with the contents of the Web site of a telecom carrier with expertise in Web technology. According to Kyodo, an NTT DoCoMo official said, "This is the first such case for our company." NTT DoCoMo said the hacker intruded into the Web page offering services to allow corporate customers to modify contractual terms online with NTT DoCoMo or place orders for NTT DoCoMo commodities. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/22/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo to offer tiny camera phone
Tuesday, October 22, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top wireless operator, NTT DoCoMo, said this week it would offer a new camera-mounted mobile phone to meet growing consumer appetite for handsets that take photos. The new model is made by NEC Corp, Japan’s largest cellphone maker, on an original equipment manufacturing (OEM) basis and is slated to hit stores on Saturday. The new model, barely bigger than a business-card case, is expected to sell for between 15,000 yen and 20,000 yen ($120-$160), an NTT DoCoMo spokesman said. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/21/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Accept i-mode Applications for Bank Payments
Monday, October 21, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. will soon allow customers nationwide to change their monthly bill payment options via their i-mode mobile phones. This represents a significant upgrade from the current procedure, which requires users to fill out and sign a hard-copy application and then wait up to two months before the changes take effect. With the introduction of online application, users can register in real time. Transactions will go into effect the following month. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/15/2002
|
| |
Belgium’s BASE launches DoCoMo’s i-mode
Tuesday, October 15, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc said Belgian mobile phone operator BASE launched commercial operations of DoCoMo’s "i-mode" service on Tuesday, becoming the fourth overseas carrier to offer the innovative Internet access service. The i-mode launch by BASE, Belgium’s third-largest mobile phone company, was preceded by Germany’s E-Plus, Netherland’s KPN Mobile and Taiwan’s KG Telecom. E-Plus and BASE are owned by KPN Mobile. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/14/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Introduces Anti-spamming Functions
Monday, October 14, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo and its eight regional subsidiaries announced today that they will introduce a new function that will allow users to block "wangiri" (one-ring) calls, starting October 31, 2002. The move is a part of ongoing anti-scam countermeasures DoCoMo is taking to eliminate the massive number of offensive calls being placed. The new function allows users to register up to 19 offending telephone numbers on a dedicated DoCoMo network. The network will immediately intercept calls placed from these numbers and play a recording that informs scammers that calls will not be accepted by the receiving party. As the scammer will be charged a connection fee, the service is expected to deter offenders from placing "wangiri" calls. (JCNews.Corp) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/10/2002
|
| |
There’s No End to DoCoMo’s Wireless Hangover
Thursday, October 10, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Flashback to 2000: Intoxicated by the success of their i-mode mobile Net service in Japan, NTT DoCoMo execs were looking abroad for new growth opportunities. By November, 2000, the Japanese operator had invested nearly $16 billion in four overseas cellular companies, including KPN Mobile in Europe and AT&T Wireless in the U.S. In exchange, those carriers agreed to roll out i-mode and DoCoMo’s version of third-generation, or 3G, mobile technology. As the foreign partners built up their data services, the thinking went, they would provide DoCoMo with a steady stream of intellectual-property revenues from i-mode and 3G patents. Even better, DoCoMo would benefit as the partners’ share prices continued skyward. (Business Week) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo’s 4G 100Mbps Transmission Experiment Succeeds
Thursday, October 10, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. said it has succeeded with a 100Mbps-download and 20Mbps-upload transmission experiment in an indoor environment using an experimental system for fourth-generation mobile communications. As a part of its research on 4G mobile communications, DoCoMo said it has conducted indoor trials on an experimental system that incorporates base station and mobile station equipment to assess key technologies for 4G mobile communications. DoCoMo added that Japan’s Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications is taking the initiative to develop key 4G technologies by 2005 for commercial deployment scheduled around 2010. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/9/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Exhibits ’Radio Poster’ Using Mobile Phone
Wednesday, October 9, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. exhibited an information provision system using a mobile phone and a non-contact integrated circuit (IC) tag called "radio poster." Before using the non-contact IC tag, users at first need to register the mail address of their mobile phone. Then, when they hold this non-contact IC tag near a special poster with a tag-reader on its back, they receive information related to that poster by e-mail. As an application of this system, users can get on-the-spot event information or more detailed information beyond what’s written on the poster. On the part of advertisers, the system allows them to send customers the latest information. Japan Railway Co. also employs it for the "Suica," an electronic pass system at the train gates. (NE Asia Online) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/7/2002
|
| |
NTT, DoCoMo Transfer PDA Data Through Human Touch
Monday, October 7, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. and NTT DoCoMo Inc. have jointly developed technology to allow people to exchange data via their personal digital assistants (PDAs) just by touching each other, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported. The technology, which takes advantage of the human body’s conductivity, will be applicable in various situations, and the companies will try to commercialize it as a new communications medium, the sources said. The technology, in which human bodies are seen as communications circuits, sends weak electrical signals through people, via a signal-receiving/sending device attached to a PDA. (Nikkei) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/4/2002
|
| |
J-Stream to Market Mobile Site Streaming Video Distribution
Friday, October 4, 2002 |
| |
Summary
J-Stream announced yesterday that it will begin providing Channel Scheduler 24-V, an ASP-based streaming video distribution platform, on October 4. Channel Scheduler 24-V targets content providers who send streaming video content to users of NTT DoCoMo’s 3G FOMA cellphones, and PDAs capable of using DoCoMo’s PHS service via M-stage V Live - DoCoMo’s video distribution service. Channel Scheduler 24-V allows the content providers to mix on-demand and live videos, and multicast them following a timetable similar to TV broadcasts. The ASP service costs 100,000 yen ($813) for an initial setup. There are three service options: pay-per-use, revenue-sharing, and fixed. The pay-per-use service costs 150,000 yen ($1,220) per channel per month, and there is a 30 yen (24 cents) access charge. (Japancorp.net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo set to refocus on home market -analysts
Friday, October 4, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Overseas losses hit Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc hard this year, but investments abroad still hold the key to its future, analysts said. For now, though, its time to look homeward. Hironobu Sawake, a senior analyst at J.P.Morgan, said DoCoMo’s priority is now to focus on expanding its 3G mobile service in Japan, which would help promote the W-CDMA standard globally. With DoCoMo’s stock prices falling almost 30 percent this year, analysts said further overseas investments right now would not bode well for the market. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT firms demand Mizuho pay compensation for glitch
Friday, October 4, 2002 |
| |
Summary
The four core firms of the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) group have demanded compensation from leading Japanese financial firm Mizuho due to problems caused by the bank’s computer system glitches in April, NTT company officials said. The action follows several similar demands from other organisations and is another blow to the battered image of Japanese banks. NTT East and NTT West, along with NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s largest wireless carrier, and NTT Communications, are seeking a combined total of some 260 million yen ($2.12 million) in compensation from Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank for expenses incurred in dealing with the glitches, spokesmen for each company said. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/2/2002
|
| |
Japan’s mobile giant NTT DoCoMo to write off US$4.66 billion
Wednesday, October 2, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s biggest mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo will write off 573 billion yen (US$4.66 billion) in losses on its investments in three major foreign partners in the first fiscal half, citing the slowdown in the global telecommunications market. The largest loss of 339 billion yen (US$2.76 billion) for the half year that ended Sept. 30 comes from the company’s investment in AT&T Wireless in the United States. DoCoMo also lost 108 billion yen (US$878 million) from its investment in Dutch telecom KPN Mobile N.V. and another 126 billion yen ($1.02 billion) from Hutchison 3G UK Holdings of Britain, it said. (AP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/30/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo shares slide as 3G disappoints
Monday, September 30, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Shares in NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s biggest wireless carrier, fell on Monday as the market digested a report it would sharply cut its subscriber target for advanced third-generation services, the latest in a string of bad news. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun business daily reported on Saturday that DoCoMo’s 3G subscriber target for the business year to next March would be cut by 70 percent to 400,000, reflecting sluggish uptake in the first half. This also suggests NTT DoCoMo has limited expectations for the three new handset models it is releasing. In August, DoCoMo had 133,500 users of its 3G service, less than one-tenth its full-year target of 1.38 million. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/27/2002
|
| |
New FOMA 3G Phone
Friday, September 27, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo that it will begin marketing the FOMA(R) T2101V 3G mobile phone equipped both for the company’s i-motion(TM) video-clip transmission service and videophone on September 27, 2002. The model’s continuous stand-by time is approximately 125 hours, the longest of any DoCoMo 3G phone and the unit weighs just 110 grams. The T2101V can be set to save up to four 15-second or two 30-second video messages from incoming calls, which are stored directly in the phone itself and do not require the user to access a server for playback. A special "remote sensing" feature enables the T2101V to turn on automatically in videophone mode when calls are received from up to 20 user-designated phone numbers of other video-equipped (3G-324M compatible) mobile phones. E-mails with attached photos can be received from other digital devices, with messages appearing on the phone’s screen directly below the attached photo. (3G.co.uk) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Japan’s NTT Docomo to Write Down Value of Foreign Investment
Friday, September 27, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. President Norio Wada indicated Thursday that NTT DoCoMo Inc. will take substantial additional charges against the losses on its investments in overseas mobile telephone companies in the fiscal first half ending this month. NTT DoCoMo has invested a total of 1.9 trillion yen (US$15.54 billion) in foreign mobile phone carriers, including AT&T Wireless Services Inc., Hutchison 3G UK Ltd. and KPN Mobile NV. There is a strong possibility that the write-down will swell to around 500 billion yen. (Asia Pulse) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/26/2002
|
| |
14% of cell phone ads illegal, DoCoMo says
Thursday, September 26, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Roughly 14 percent of bulk e-mail ads received by mobile phones are illegal because they do not indicate they are unsolicited ads, according to a survey by NTT DoCoMo Inc. Under legislation that took effect July 1, senders of the ads, known in the )industry as spam, must attach messages explaining they are unsolicited and tell recipients how to reject them. The regulations also prohibit senders from resending the ads after individuals have rejected them. According to the survey, conducted in August on 270 mobile phones, the ratio of illegal e-mail ads to legal ones remained unchanged in September, DoCoMo officials said, indicating the new legislation is too weak to fight spam. The telecommunications ministry and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry have received about 30,000 complaints about unsolicited e-mail and issued more than 1,000 warnings to the senders. (Japan Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/25/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo To Expand Video-Related Mobile Services Oct 1
Wednesday, September 25, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will add three new services to its "M-stage" video content distribution service Oct. 1 The move aims to attract PDA (personal digital assistants) users to DoCoMo’s mobile communications services. The "M-stage V-Live" service is a one-to-many video streaming service that transmits live and archived video content to PDAs connected to a PHS (personal handyphone system) terminal. DoCoMo said this new service will also be distributed via its third-generation "FOMA" handsets in spring. The "M-stage Visual Net" service enables up to eight subscribers to participate simultaneously in mobile videoconferencing via 3G video-enabled phones. The "M-stage Book" service transmits digitized books and articles to PDAs and personal computers which are connected to a PHS or 3G terminal. DoCoMo said it will charge a monthly fee of Y100 for each service and extra PHS transmission fees of Y15 a minute. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/20/2002
|
| |
Access, NTT DoCoMo Develop New Browser for FOMA, Smart Phone
Friday, September 20, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Access Co., Ltd. and NTT DoCoMo Inc. developed a new Web browser for "FOMA"’s next models. It will take the place of "Compact NetFront," which Access has been supplying for i-mode mobile phones. The new browser will be based on "NetFront v3.0," which is used for advanced functioning terminals such as PDAs and game machines. The detailed specifications have not been made public yet, but the new browser appears likely to support "smart phones" that are equipped with a larger screen than normal mobile phones. Compact NetFront can show contents written by Compact HTML and XHTML Basic, however, the newly developed browser also is expected to be able to display some of Web pages produced with HTML. (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/12/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo hits 42-month low, growth in doubt
Thursday, September 12, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Shares of wireless giant NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan’s largest company by market capitalisation, fell to a 3-year low on Thursday on concerns about its growth prospects and potential writedowns on poorly performing overseas investments. The stock dropped 2.58 percent to 227,000 yen, the lowest price since March 1999. Analysts said DoCoMo shares have been hit by a one-two punch of weaker overall market sentiment and by problems in its own maturing industry where it is struggling to sign up customers. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/11/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo sees sharp decline in August new subscribers
Wednesday, September 11, 2002 |
| |
Summary
The number of Japanese new mobile subscribers in August was merely 385,300, a significant drop from July’s 528,300, according to a survey compiled by the Telecommunications Carriers Association. Carriers tended to shrink their sales in August, just after the Japanese typical bonus season. (In Japan, companies traditionally pay semi-annual bonuses in June and December.) New subscribers for NTT DoCoMo and J-Phone shrank; KDDI increased its number of new subscribers. NTT DoCoMo saw drastically decreased new subscribers from 299,000 in July to 161,000 in August. Market watchers said NTT DoCoMo’s cost-reduction strategy suppressed its competitiveness in the market, which eventually impacted the number of new subscribers. (Global Wireless News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Pres. Tachikawa Miffed at Heisei Denden
Wednesday, September 11, 2002 |
| |
Summary
The furor over the setting of charges for landline-to-mobile phone calls is growing beyond the bounds of Japan’s Minister of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (MPHPT). President Keiji Tachikawa of NTT DoCoMo Inc. voiced his displeasure that rival carrier, Heisei Denden Co., Ltd., had filed a complaint the same day with the Japanese Fair Trade Commission (FTC), accusing a number of telecom carriers, including NTT DoCoMo, of violating the Anti-Monopoly Law. "I wonder if it is appropriate to file with the FTC when the dispute is already being handled by the MPHPT?" Tachikawa said. (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/10/2002
|
| |
New DoCoMo boss to review European assets
Tuesday, September 10, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Kunihiko Adachi, the European head of NTT DoCoMo, said the company would decide whether to raise its stake in a British joint venture after reviewing all its European assets. Adachi, who moved to London eight days ago as managing director of the Japanese group’s new holding company, DoCoMo Europe, plans to assess DoCoMo’s European strategy as investor confidence in new mobile services hits an all-time low. It remains unclear whether DoCoMo, which conceded this month that it would miss customer targets for new-generation mobile services even in tech-savvy Japan, will continue to offer support through equity ownership or pure technology expertise. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/9/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo AOL, Sony Test TV Phone Service
Monday, September 9, 2002 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo AOL, Inc., a joint venture in which NTT DoCoMo Inc. has a 43.2% stake, and Sony Corp. will begin testing the connection environment for PC-to-PC TV phone services. Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. and Calgon Carbon Corp. will set up a Tokyo-based joint venture with capital of Y600 million to make and sell carbon-related products in Japan. Calgon Mitsubishi Chemical Corp., in which the Japanese company will hold a 51% stake and the U.S. partner 49%, will target Y10 billion in annual sales in the fiscal year ending March 2006. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo squares up
Monday, September 9, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Akiko was shocked by what popped up in her e-mail inbox one day in July. It was an internal memo from NTT DoCoMo Inc., the nation’s No. 1 mobile phone operator, and it contained a brief guideline on "ways of examining and dealing with a certain [DoCoMo] customer." This apparently involved "the recording of the customer’s phone consultations and their visits to branch offices," the memo said. More ominously, there was a plan to "investigate" the troublesome customer. The document, says Shukan Shincho, proves the rumors to be true: The nation’s biggest mobile phone operator spies on its clients. (Japan Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/6/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Adds Net Total Of 161,000 Cellphone Users In Aug
Friday, September 6, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. added a net total of 161,000 cellphone subscribers in August from the previous month, for a total of 41,922,000 subscribers in August. For its third-generaton "FOMA" cellphone service, DoCoMo added 6,100 subscribers in August, making a total of 133,500 3G subscribers. DoCoMo’s "i-mode" mobile Internet service saw an on-month increase of 380,000 subscribers to 34,444,000 subscribers in August. Subscribers to DoCoMo’s PHS (personal handyphone system) handsets, however, fell by 24,000 to 1,848,000 subscribers in August from July. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo retains No. 1 mobile spot
Friday, September 6, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. retained the top spot in the nation’s mobile phone market in terms of net new subscribers in August, according to the Telecommunications Carriers Association. DoCoMo’s new subscriptions exceeded cancellations by 161,000, the association said. KDDI Corp. grabbed second spot with a net increase of 125,200 subscribers to its au mobile phone service, followed by J-Phone Co. with 106,200 net new subscribers, the TCA said. The Tu-Ka Group suffered a net decrease of 7,100. While DoCoMo has maintained the top spot since June, its lead over rival companies has narrowed due partly to sluggish sales of its third-generation cell phone service. (Japan Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/5/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo says likely to lower 3G target
Thursday, September 5, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top wireless carrier, NTT DoCoMo Inc, said on Thursday it would likely lower its third-generation (3G) subscriber target for the business year to next March, casting a cloud over its growth prospects. DoCoMo, Japan’s largest issue by market capitalisation, originally aimed to sign up 1.38 million 3G users by March, but it has so far met with tepid demand due to limited service areas and relatively expensive handsets with a short battery life. As of the end of July, 127,400 people had signed up for DoCoMo’s 3G service, compared with 1.64 million 3G users at rival KDDI Corp, whose 3G service is based on a different technological format. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo, Mitsubishi Estate Mull IT Mobile-Primed Area
Thursday, September 5, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. and Mitsubishi Estate Co. are considering jointly developing an office area primed for IT mobile technologies. As part of the joint development, the biggest Japanese mobile phone operator and the second biggest Japanese real estate firm are considering installing base stations for NTT DoCoMo’s 3G mobile phone service into office buildings owned by Mitsubishi Estate all at once by using fiber-optic network held by Mitsubishi’s subsidiary. Usually, base stations are installed in buildings one by one. They are also considering introducing NTT DoCoMo’s wireless LAN or local area network service into coffee shops in Mitsubishi Estate’s office buildings. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo nears 42-month low, growth in doubt
Thursday, September 5, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Shares in Japan’s top wireless carrier, NTT DoCoMo Inc, flirted with a three-and-a-half year low on Wednesday due to concerns about its growth prospects and a global slump in telecom shares. DoCoMo, Japan’s largest issue by market capitalisation, lost 4.92 percent to 232,000 yen, drawing close to strong technical support at a 42-month low of 228,000 yen marked one day after the September 11 attacks in the United States. The stock has lost more than 50 percent since the start of the business year on April 1, which compares with a 16 percent decline in the broad TOPIX index and a 30 percent fall in the communications sector subindex .ICOMS.T . (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/4/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Phones to Take Advantage of New Anti-spam Legislation
Wednesday, September 4, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and its eight regional subsidiaries announced today a new feature that will enable i-mode(R) users to block spam mail (unsolicited e-mail advertisements) as the result of anti-spam legislation that took effect on July 1, 2002. The new law requires that the subject line of spam mails begin with the Japanese phrase mishodaku kokoku ("unsolicited advertisement") and a special mark. As a convenience to its customers, DoCoMo will begin automatically blocking all such e-mails starting October 1, 2002. (JapanCorp.net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/30/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Fights Phone Scams
Friday, August 30, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and its eight regional subsidiaries announced today new countermeasures to combat the problem of companies calling mobile phones and then hanging up after one ring in a scam to solicit business. DoCoMo and its regional companies have already advised customers not to return calls from unknown numbers. Nevertheless, customers are being bombarded with unwanted calls, necessitating the introduction of the special new countermeasures. (Unstrung) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/29/2002
|
| |
No need to change DoCoMo fee system-NTT
Thursday, August 29, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp said mobile carriers should retain the right to set fees for calls from land lines to mobile phones, defying other fixed-line carriers’ complaints that the fees were too steep. NTT, Japan’s dominant telecoms carrier and the parent of mobile operator NTT DoCoMo Inc reasoned that DoCoMo operates the systems that puts through the calls, and therefore had the right to set the rates. "Basically, whoever owns the systems should be the one to decide the rates," NTT President Norio Wada told a news conference. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/27/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Aims to Use PHS to Boost Sluggish Demand for 3G
Tuesday, August 27, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. has started bringing out a succession of new video phone models in a serious bid to develop the market for video communications based on mobile phones. DoCoMo’s aim is to appeal to users by offering new video phones -- also known as "visual phones" in Japan -- with features that are not available on the handsets of its rivals. The company also hopes that more widespread use of video communications will help stimulate greater demand for its FOMA third-generation (3G) service, which has been struggling to attract users ever since its launch. (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/21/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo to cut i-mode service rate
Wednesday, August 21, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s biggest wireless carrier, NTT DoCoMo Inc, said on Tuesday it will offer discounts to frequent users of its wildly popular "i-mode" Internet service to boost data traffic, an area considered ripe for growth. From September 1, DoCoMo will cut the rate by a third for users in Japan who pay more than 30,000 yen ($255) a month -- the first rate cut since i-mode was launched in February 1999. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/20/2002
|
| |
Japanese credit cards to carry contactless cash
Tuesday, August 20, 2002 |
| |
Summary
The Edy electronic money system created by BitWallet, a 25-member consortium headed by Sony and NTT DoCoMo, is to be adopted by seven of Japan’s major banks and credit card companies for use with their credit cards. The move is expected to result in the Edy contactless cash system becoming an industry standard. The seven companies that have decided to adopt the Edy system on their credit cards are UFJ Bank, Life, Daiei OMC, DC Card, Kokunai Shinpan, Sumitomo Mitsui Card and Sony Finance International. BitWallet expects to circulate 8.5 million Edy-embedded cards by the end of 2003, and hopes about one-third of them will be issued by these seven companies, Yamada said. "As there is no competitor in the industry at the moment the Edy system is likely to become the standard," he said. (CW360)
Editors Note: MMJ is watching these digital payment systems with great interest. Earlier this month (August 7th) NTT DoCoMo announced it would be issuing a credit card called the "DoCoMo Card" with eight major Japanese credit card companies. NTT DoCoMo is beginning to lay the groundwork for the use of electronic cash functions in DoCoMo phones. NTT Communications also set up a JV with Pia Corporation this month offering an elecronic ticketing and coupon system using DoCoMo phones. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo ARPU Declines
Tuesday, August 20, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT Corp. released a report regarding the number of subscribers and the average revenue per user (ARPU) for the whole NTT group as of the end of June 2002, including the two regional telephone companies and NTT DoCoMo Inc. The number of subscribers to NTT DoCoMo’s mobile phone services increased from the end of March by 679,000 to 41,462,000 at the end of June. The ARPU at the end of June was 8,150 yen, a 330-yen decrease from the 8,480 yen marked at the end of March 2002. (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Matsushita Electric Works, Oki Electric Form JV for Location
Tuesday, August 20, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. and Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. said they set up a joint venture to provide a position location service for corporate customers, mainly small companies who want to control and manage their commercial vehicles through the service. The new company, named NAIS Location Systems, will start operations in September 2002, hoping small- and mid-sized companies will become major customers. The venture will provide applications to users of GPS with the Docomo Location Platform developed by NTT DoCoMo Inc. (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/18/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo camera phone shipments top one million
Sunday, August 18, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top wireless carrier, NTT DoCoMo Inc, said on Friday it had shipped more than a million camera-equipped mobile phones since launching them in June, gaining on photo phone pioneer J-Phone Corp. DoCoMo’s total shipments of camera-mounted phones, which can take photos and allow them to be shared with other phone users, totalled 1.05 million units as of Thursday, said a spokesman for DoCoMo, Japan’s largest issue by market capitalisation. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/13/2002
|
| |
Hitachi Kokusai Electric Links Security Cameras to FOMA Terminals
Tuesday, August 13, 2002 |
| |
Summary
The company will bring to market the WEB Encoder PT-IP40TF in late October. Priced at 385,000 yen ($3,208), the device converts analog video signals from surveillance cameras into MPEG-4 digital signals and send them to NTT DoCoMo's streaming server for them to be displayed on 3G FOMA mobile phone terminals. NTT DoCoMo plans to market the system for security, production management in factories, monitoring of franchise shops, and other purposes. Hitach Kokusai is aiming to sell 500 systems annually. (JapanCorp.Net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/8/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo keeps top spot in Japan user growth in July
Thursday, August 8, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top wireless carrier, NTT DoCoMo Inc secured the top spot in user growth in July for the second month in a row as a series of new camera phones lured users, industry data showed on Wednesday. But DoCoMo’s struggle in recruiting subscribers for its strategically important third-generation (3G) services continued, with such users totalling 127,400 at the end of July, less than 10 percent of its target of 1.38 million users by March. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/7/2002
|
| |
Don’t leave home without DoCoMo
Wednesday, August 7, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Now NTT DoCoMo will strive to make sure people carry not just one of the company’s wares in their pockets but two -- a cellular phone and a DoCoMo branded credit card -- so that customers have the wherewithal to spend as easily as they can communicate. Japan’s No.1 mobile carrier is teaming up with eight credit card companies in Japan, including market leader JCB and Visa, to launch a new card on Aug. 19. Those who sign up for the "DoCoMo Card" will qualify for various discounts and privileges at about 500 locations nationwide, including resort hotels and leisure facilities, depending on points earned. (CBS MarketWatch) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/6/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo’s Weaker Signal in the U.S.
Tuesday, August 6, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Besieged by rivals at home, NTT DoCoMo appears to be scaling back its ambitions in the tough U.S. cellular market When NTT DoCoMo agreed to hand over $9.8 billion in November, 2000, for a 16% stake in service provider AT&T Wireless, it was supposed to be just the beginning of a major move into the U.S. The Japanese company -- which many analysts consider the most innovative wireless outfit in the world -- recruited big-name advisers and looked into taking stakes in other U.S. businesses, say insiders. DoCoMo may even have considered buying control of AT&T Wireless. (Business Week) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Clings to Its American Dream
Tuesday, August 6, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Nobuhary Ono, president and CEO of NTT DoCoMo USA, the U.S. subsidiary of the Japanese wireless communications giant, is a key point man at a time when the company is facing major challenges. The value of its $9.8 billion, 16% stake in AT&T Wireless has plunged to a fraction of its purchase price, and it is facing heavy competition in its home market. (Business Week) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/4/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Unit Develops Remote Surveillance System
Sunday, August 4, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. group has developed a system that enables users to remotely operate a monitoring camera and home electric appliances through its third-generation FOMA mobile phone service. The system will allow users to view images captured by a monitoring camera on their mobile phone displays. Dialing up a special number with a FOMA mobile phone will activate the system and images will show up on the phone’s display. NTT DoCoMo Tohoku plans to expand the application of the system, enabling users outside their homes to observe their pets and, for instance, adjust the room temperature. (Nikkei) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Launch Pocket PC-Based PDA with Built-In FOMA
Sunday, August 4, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will launch a personal digital assistant (PDA), called "musea," with a built-in wireless packet communication function for "FOMA," DoCoMo’s 3G service. It will be the first PDA terminal with FOMA built-in wireless communications functions on the operating system. It also has a built-in wireless communication function for the PDC mobile phone, and not only can it perform packet communication of maximum transmission speed at 384kbps using FOMA, but also circuit-switched communications at 9.6kbps and packet communications at 28.8kbps using PDC. The PDA supports PDC mobile phones, PHS, FOMA packet communication and DoPa. The estimated sales price will be less than 50,000 yen. The launch date will be Sept. 6. (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/3/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo 3G ARPU slips 7.5 pct in April-June
Saturday, August 3, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, the world’s first third-generation (3G) mobile phone operator, said its 3G average revenue per user (ARPU) in April-June fell 7.5 percent from the previous quarter to 7,800 yen ($65.43) a month. It was down 25 percent from October-December, the first quarter after its October 1 launch of the 3G service. Domestic and overseas mobile operators have been closely watching DoCoMo’s ARPU to see if 3G can be profitable and would allow companies to recoup hefty licence fees and steep infrastructure costs. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/2/2002
|
| |
Gartner Japan: FOMA to take off in 2005
Friday, August 2, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Gartner Japan, a Japanese business unit of Gartner Group, has predicted the mobile handset market on a unit basis will expand at an annual increasing rate of 5.3 percent between 2001 and 2006 in Japan, however, NTT DoCoMo FOMA service will not take off until 2005. Gartner Japan said because the population coverage of FOMA networks would be almost the same as PDC networks, the Japanese system for second-generation service, by 2005 and user needs for high-speed service would be matured by around 2005, FOMA service would take off in that same year. As of July 25, FOMA subscribers numbered only 125,000. (Global Wireless News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/30/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Enters Formula One
Tuesday, July 30, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. today announced a partnership with the Lucky Strike B.A.R Honda Formula One team to apply its mobile communications technology on Formula One racing circuits. In a technical alliance, DoCoMo and B.A.R will develop a circuit wireless communications system (CWCS)-a reliable, high-quality, high-security communications system for the extreme environment of 300kph+ speeds. (Unstrung) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Expanding FOMA Service Areas
Tuesday, July 30, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. is expanding the service area for its third-generation (3G) mobile phone service, "FOMA." As of the end of July, its service area will cover about 69 percent of Japan’s population and about 93 percent of the population in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region (the middle part of Japan). (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/26/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo considers reducing AT&T Wireless stake
Friday, July 26, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo may cut back its current 16-percent stake in AT&T Wireless due to the U.S. carrier’s declining stock price, even though DoCoMo recently increased its investment in AT&T Wireless to maintain its current holding, following AT&T WirelessEstock-based purchase of TeleCorp PCS. (Global Wireless News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo and AT&T Wireless to Showcase 3G Service in U.S.
Friday, July 26, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and and AT&T Wireless will open a 3G demonstration room with a FOMA base station in an AT&T Wireless office in New York this fall. Visitors will be able to experience, with actual handsets, FOMA’s many unique features which may include videophone, "i-mode" mobile internet, "i-motion" sound and video-clip distribution service, "Multiaccess" simultaneous voice/data communications, as well as quality voice and high-speed data transmission. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/25/2002
|
| |
FOMA to Grow Gradually: NTT DoCoMo President
Thursday, July 25, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. President Keiji Tachikawa said his company would foster FOMA to be used for many years to come. NTT DoCoMo will work on fields in addition to the existing voice communications business to increase revenues in three main areas: non-voice communications, communications among all things that move and strengthening of its overseas strategies. In addition to "people-to-people" services such as data communications and mail services among users, DoCoMo will pin its hopes on "people-to-machine" communications, such as distribution of music, electronic settlement, and "machine-to-machine" communications, such as a remote monitoring and intelligence transport system (ITS). (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/24/2002
|
| |
Docomo to Set Up Holding Firm for Europe Operations
Wednesday, July 24, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan's largest mobile phone company, NTT DoCoMo Inc, will set up a holding company to promote its "i-mode" Internet-enabled and third-generation (3G) services in Europe. DoCoMo said it would convert its London-based subsidiary to a holding company, named DoCoMo Europe Ltd, in September. The new firm would serve as European headquarters for NTT DoCoMo. Its three other European subsidiaries would become wholly owned units of the new holding firm. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/23/2002
|
| |
Mud in Your I-Shot
Tuesday, July 23, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Glitches abound in the high-tech systems of the world, though few companies ever admit to their problems. So hats off to NTT DoCoMo Inc., which is to reimburse some of its picture messaging customers for messages that were never delivered but for which they were billed. Some 40 million (US$334,000) is to be returned to affected i-shot users, and DoCoMo admits that 23 percent of its 600,000 i-shot customers suffered the effects of the glitch. Even more incredible is the operator’s claim that the problem was discovered because of accounting discrepancies uncovered in late June and not because any customers had complained. (Unstrung) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/19/2002
|
| |
IYBank Mulls Cashing System Using NTT DoCoMo’s ’504i’ Mobile
Friday, July 19, 2002 |
| |
Summary
IYBank Co., Ltd. announced on July 16 that it was looking into introducing a new service called "Mobile Cash Card (tentative name)" using automated teller machines installed at Seven-Eleven and other convenience stores, and the 504i series of NTT DoCoMo’s mobile phones. Under the plan, information registered in the cash cards is input into DoCoMo’s 504i series mobile phones, which in turn will be transmitted to ATMs using infrared ray communication functions of mobile phones, enabling users to deposit or withdraw cash from their accounts. (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Launch Two Mobile Phone Models with Camera
Friday, July 19, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. launched sales of two "i-shot"-compliant mobile phone models -- the "D251i" and "F251i" -- that can send still images taken by a built-in camera. The "D251i" can use a "Memory Stick Duo," a small-sized Memory Stick by Sony Corp. as a recording medium. The attached 8MB Memory Stick Duo can store up to about 970 still images. The built-in memory can record about 700 images. The "F251i" model, on the other hand, can record more images, or a maximum of 1,000, in its built-in memory. (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/17/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Establish i-mode Consulting Firm in Europe
Wednesday, July 17, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. will establish a subsidiary in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to serve as a hub from which to promote i-mode services in Europe. DoCoMo i-mode Europe B.V. will provide consultation regarding technology and marketing, as well as support in the setup and operation of i-mode services. The clients will be the following operators in Europe to which DoCoMo has licensed i-mode technology: KPN Mobile N.V., E-Plus Mobilfunk GmbH & Co. KG, BASE, and Bouygues Telecom S.A., in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and France, respectively. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/16/2002
|
| |
IY Bank ATMS to be accessed via DoCoMo phones-newspaper
Tuesday, July 16, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s IY Bank has teamed up with mobile phone giant NTT DoCoMo Inc. to provide a service that will allow depositors to access the bank’s ATMs via cell phones, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said in its Tuesday online edition. The service will enable users of DoCoMo’s new 504i handsets, equipped with chips containing account information and infrared functions, to deposit or withdraw cash without using ATM cards. The service is expected to be available in fiscal 2003. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/12/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo adds new i-Shot Cameras
Friday, July 12, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has added to the momentum growing behind its recently launched i-Shot picture messaging service with the announcement of two new handsets. The mova D251i and F251i feature integrated cameras and two colour displays: one which functions as the main screen and another, on the exterior of the device, serving as a viewfinder and status window. (PMN.co.uk) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
53.6% of i-Mode Users Showing Interest in Investing in Stock
Friday, July 12, 2002 |
| |
Summary
A survey of 27,244 subscribers to NTT DoCoMo’s i-mode Internet-enabled cellphone service found that 53.6% of them have never traded stocks but are interested in doing so. The survey, conducted in June by market researcher Info Plant, also found that 25.4% of men and 40.4% of women are not at all interested in trading stocks. (JapanCorp.Net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Hitachi Starts Distributing Electronic Books with DoCoMo
Friday, July 12, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Hitachi plans to provide its electronic book distribution service for PDAs jointly with NTT DoCoMo Inc., Sharp Corp. and Digi-Book Japan Inc. Hitachi will be responsible for managing the distribution and charging systems of electronic books. NTT DoCoMo and Sharp will build their respective Web sites for distributing contents that users may access with their PDAs and from which users can download their favorite electronic books. (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/11/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo too "restates" earnings and reveals losses
Thursday, July 11, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has revealed that it made a 116bn yen loss last year under US accounting rules. The new figures contrast with the release in May of figures under Japanese accounting standards, which produced a narrow profit. The change is the result of heavy write-offs of the company’s high-priced foreign investments.The profit announced in May had taken observers by surprise, because it contrasted with DoCoMo’s own predictions of a loss in the year to March 2002. But according to the new numbers, prepared under the US’s Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP), the loss is three times what the company had originally predicted. (BBC) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo eyes 3G tieups with Asian firms
Thursday, July 11, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s top mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo may forge technical and other ties with Singapore Telecommunications and South Korea’s KT Freetel in the third-generation mobile phone sector. DoCoMo said it has already cooperated with SingTel on 3G experiments, but that the two firms have no capital ties. DoCoMo has no technical or capital ties with KT Freetel, which could become a major DoCoMo partner when it looks to branch into the South Korean market. Last year, DoCoMo held talks with SK Telecom, but negotiations were aborted when the two failed to agree on terms. (Japan Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/10/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Introduce FOMA Two-piece Wireless Terminal
Wednesday, July 10, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will market a new 3G -compatible two-part terminal - a PDA base unit with a Bluetooth wireless handset. The FOMA SH2101V base unit has a built-in camera that enables 64kbps real-time videoconferencing - while the wireless handset is used for voice communication. The handset can also be used, via the PDA, as a simple voice phone or for checking e-mail (even when the PDA is folded away), or as a remote control when playing downloaded music on the PDA. It features a 3.5-inch, 262,144-color TFT LCD touch-panel screen and a keyboard, and is compatible with DoCoMo’s packet-based services including i-motion and i-Appli, with a maximum download speed of 384kpbs. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo ’hijacked’ AT&T domain?
Wednesday, July 10, 2002 |
| |
Summary
In a decision released today by the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Arbitration Center, Japanese telecoms giant NTT DoCoMo has been found guilty of reverse domain name hijacking, or bringing a formal domain name complaint in bad faith. Such findings are relatively rare under domain dispute policies and it is all the more surprising in this case where the registrant of the domain name was none other than another telecoms giant - AT&T. The disputed domain name was imode.biz. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/9/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo To Let Cell Phone Users Pay By Credit Card
Tuesday, July 9, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Starting September 2002, NTT DoCoMo will allow users of its cellular phone service to settle their monthly bills by credit card. JCB, Sumitomo Mitsui Card, Nippon Shinpan, American Express and about 10 other credit card companies will sign contracts with the cell phone firm in August. They are expected to earn commissions equal to several percent of the phone charges paid using their cards. NTT DoCoMo hopes the move will help reduce the risk of unpaid bills and cut expenses related to recovering monthly charges. Currently, NTT DoCoMo customers pay phone bills at banks, post offices and convenience stores or have the bills charged directly to their bank accounts. (Dow Jones/Nikkei)
Editor’s Comment: Welcome to the 20th century, DoCoMo. Anyway, this should silence the din we heard about discrimination against foreigners who were required to pay a deposit for signing up, since they can now just show a valid card. MMJ predicted that allowing card payments was the obvious solution to this problem. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/5/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Launch Communications Satellite
Friday, July 5, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, will launch its third communications satellite, N-STAR c, manufactured by Lockheed-Martin Corporation, on July 6, 2002 (Japan Standard Time), by Arianespace, the European space transportation company, from its launch site in French Guiana. N-STAR c will serve to ensure the continuation of the company’s satellite mobile communications service. (JapanCorpNet) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/4/2002
|
| |
Spam off the menu in Japan
Thursday, July 4, 2002 |
| |
Summary
More than 950 million emails are sent and received on mobiles every day with more than 84 per cent of them - about 800 million messages - consist of spam. This week the Japanese government passed new legislation which will force spammers to put a special character in the subject line of each ad message forcing spammers to identify themselves. If the spammers fail to comply with the rules they could face government fines. (Vnunet) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/3/2002
|
| |
New anti-spam solution for i-mode in Japan
Wednesday, July 3, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Starting in October, NTT DoCoMo will introduced a new feature enabling i-mode users to block spam mail (unsolicited e-mail advertisements). New Japanese anti-spam legislation requires senders of advertisements to begin the subject line of each mail message with the Japanese kanji characters (transliterated as mishodaku kokoku, which means unsolicited advertisement) plus a special mark. The law took effect on July 1, 2002. NTT DoCoMo will maximize the benefits to its customers of this new legislation by enabling users to automatically block all e-mails with mishodaku kokoku at the head of the subject line. (Telecom Paper) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/2/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo’s quick ascent slows with new venture
Tuesday, July 2, 2002 |
| |
Summary
To understand the ambition that drives Japanese wireless giant NTT DoCoMo, take a trip to the "Magic World Club-D," the company’s showroom. Visitors are seated in black leather recliners in a theater and treated to a film, "DoCoMo Vision 2010." Eight years from now, the company pictures a scene where you call someone, and a portal in space opens up to reveal a full-length 3-D hologram of the person. (Seattle Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/28/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Still Reviewing Unprofitable Pager, PHS Ops
Friday, June 28, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. is reviewing its unprofitable pager and personal handyphone system operations and has yet to make a decision on these businesses. The company has been trying to maximize its profitability since posting its lowest group net profit since listing in 1998. Last fiscal year, DoCoMo reported a group net loss of Y58.7 billion on its PHS business and a group net loss of Y6.3 billion on its Quickcast business, formerly known as its paging business. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Wireless Camera Phones Sales Going Well in Japan
Friday, June 28, 2002 |
| |
Summary
According to research by "Nikkei BP GfK SalesWeek3200," which provides through the Internet sales trend data of 3,400 volume retailers of home electronics products, NTT DoCoMo Inc.’s "SH251i," a cell phone with a built-in camera, was in second place in the sales ranking of cell phones during the third week of June 2002 (June 10-16). This is the first, second-generation cell phone from NTT DoCoMo equipped with a camera. (3G.co.uk) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/26/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo files suit over mass e-mail advertising
Wednesday, June 26, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. has filed suit with the Tokyo District Court against a Tokyo Internet advertising company, demanding 6.5 million yen in compensation for costs incurred when the company sent e-mail advertising a dating service to millions of nonexistent addresses. It is the first time NTT DoCoMo has attempted to sue an e-mail advertising company for abusing its i-mode service, company officials said. Fees for e-mail messages sent to cellular telephones are charged to the recipient of the message, not the sender. (Yomiuri Shimbun) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Introduces Service Plan for US Roaming
Wednesday, June 26, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo introduced a new service plan for use of DoCoMo’s international roaming service exclusively in the United States, starting on June 28, 2002. WORLD WALKER service provides PDC subscribers with overseas rental handsets and forwards calls from their regular mobile phone numbers to their location abroad. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/25/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo To Offer New Fee Plan For Overseas Roaming Svc
Tuesday, June 25, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will introduce a new fee plan for use of DoCoMo’s "WORLD WALKER" international roaming service exclusively in the U.S. The move is aimed at lowering communication charges as the service area is limited to the U.S. Under the new fee plan, DoCoMo will charge Y270 per minute for outgoing international calls, Y200 per minute for outgoing domestic calls and Y190 for incoming calls. DoCoMo also said it will continue to charge rental fees of Y1,000 per day, or Y20,000 per month, for mobile phones which will be used in the U.S. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/21/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo to offer GPS phones
Friday, June 21, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo is to offer global positioning system handsets by the end of the year, in a bid to catch up with rivals. The company plans to roll out global positioning system (GPS) phones by the end of this year. DoCoMo’s competitor KDDI, Japan’s second-largest telecoms firm, has been gaining momentum with its GPS handsets rolled out in December, having signed up about 1.4 million users so far. (ZDNet) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/20/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Aims To Retake Top Spot In New Net Subscribers
Thursday, June 20, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo expects to retake top market share of net subscribers in Japan’s cellphone market soon, mainly owing to the recent release of new handsets, a senior company official said Thursday. The comments come as Japan’s mobile phone giant frets over its first-ever drop to third place, in May, in terms of net subscriber additions. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/19/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Doubles Up On Billing
Wednesday, June 19, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Minor relief for NTT DoCoMo’s 3G users will have national coverage via one number, but will need to use a 2G PDC i-mode phone to receive calls outside the few areas currently covered by W-CDMA cells. This is DoCoMo’s latest effort to coax consumers onto the struggling FOMA service, this time by countering one of the major problems with the 3G service -- the fact that it doesn’t yet work in most places in Japan. "Why would you want to subscribe to FOMA when you still have to carry two phones?" asks Nathan Ramler, telecom analyst with UBS Warburg in Tokyo. (Unstrung) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/18/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Launch Dual Billing for FOMA
Tuesday, June 18, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will roll out a dual network service under which 3G service subscribers will be able to assign the same phone number both to FOMA and PDC (800 MHz) phones beginning July 1, 2002. The PDC phone can be placed under the FOMA service contract, so there is no duplication of monthly fees for owning a PDC as well as FOMA mobile phone. DoCoMo expects the service to encourage conventional PDC users to migrate to FOMA, especially since they can continue to use their PDC phones with the dual network service. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
FOMA: Too Ambitious, Too Soon
Tuesday, June 18, 2002 |
| |
Summary
For anyone with an eye on the Japanese mobile market, the rumor late May that NTT DoCoMo Inc. was "shifting its strategy" to pull its 3G service, FOMA (Freedom Of Mobile Multimedia Access), out of the limelight was both intriguing and disappointing. DoCoMo may just have been too bold in its efforts to be first with a major, commercial, third-generation network and service. (Unstrung) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/13/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo releases "SH251i" camera-equipped phone
Thursday, June 13, 2002 |
| |
Summary
One-and-a-half years after the launch of J-Phone’s "Sha-Mail," NTT DoCoMo has released the Sharp SH251i, the company’s first camera-equipped PDC terminal. Since the hit of Sha-Mail, many users had been rushing into DoCoMo shops asking for camera-installed mobile phones. However, DoCoMo had been refusing to accept their requests. The reason for the turnaround is the disappointing performance of FOMA. (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/12/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Comes Third, for the First Time
Wednesday, June 12, 2002 |
| |
Summary
For the first time in its history, the dominant Japanese mobile operator, NTT DoCoMo, has been overtaken by its rivals in the race to add new subscribers. According to the Telecommunications Carriers Association in Japan, DoCoMo‘s new customer total of 139,000 for May 2002 was lower than the 150,200 who signed up to KDDI’s au service and below the 140,200 new users which opted for Vodafone’s J-Phone. The TCA reports that this is the first time DoCoMo has come third since the Association began counting monthly customer growth six years ago. (BWCS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/4/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo camera-phone to use Sony’s Memory Stick
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japanese high-tech giant Sony Corp said will begin using its Memory Stick would be used in NTT DoCoMo’s camera-equipped cell phones, opening up a potentially vast market for the tiny storage device. "The next-generation PlayStation will be linked to the Memory Stick to form a new platform... The Memory Stick Duo will be mounted in July on DoCoMo’s ’i-shot’," Sony President Kunitake Ando told a seminar, referring to the mobile phone giant’s new photo-enabled handsets. "Given this momentum, we could soon be surrounded by the Memory Stick." (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/30/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Unveils "i-shot" Service for New Phone
Thursday, May 30, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo and its eight subsidiaries will introduce i-shotTM, a new service that allows users to transmit still images taken with " SH251i" mobile phones that feature built-in digital cameras. Both the new service, available throughout the nationwide PDC (800MHz)-based network area, and handsets will be launched on June 1, 2002. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/29/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo pulls FOMA out of starring role
Wednesday, May 29, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Mobile telecom titan NTT DoCoMo Inc. has switched strategy, holding off making its FOMA advanced mobile service the lead player for now, company sources said. Instead, DoCoMo will concentrate on its present-generation service. Step one of the strategy shift is the release today of a foldable handset with its own digital camera, to join its line of second-generation hand-held gear. Rivals J-Phone and au already have such functions, so DoCoMo hopes the consumer response so far will help bolster sales of its entry. (The Asahi Shimbun) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/24/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Test New Mobile Videoconferencing Platform
Friday, May 24, 2002 |
| |
Summary
An NTT DoCoMo-led consortium will conduct field trials on a newly developed 3G FOMA mobile communications platform that enables numerous people to participate simultaneously in mobile videoconferencing. The trials will involve more than 35 companies from a variety of industries and will begin May 31. Developed in March of this year by DoCoMo, the new platform is the world’s first for mobile phone video-teleconferencing. The platform is compatible with FOMA video phones equipped for 3G-324M protocol, the IMT-2000 standard for audio-video mobile communications. (JCN Newswire) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/23/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Offers 504i I-Appli Development Tool
Thursday, May 23, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. released an i-Appli Java program development tool and technical materials for the new 504i mobile phone series to be launched soon. They can be downloaded from NTT DoCoMo’s Web site (in Japanese). The tool consists of an emulator for i-Appli and a tool for building it. The tool will be applicable to emulation of 2D animation as well as 3D graphics, and it runs on Windows 98/2000. Its Java run-time environment requires Java2 SDK, Standard Edition Version 1.3.1. The tool can be integrated with the Java development environment "Forte for Java" provided by Sun Microsystems. (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo To Offer Dual-Browser 3G Phones By Year-End
Thursday, May 23, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo plans to offer by the end of this year new third-generation cellphones equipped with dual browsers. The dual-browser 3G cellphones can handle mark-up languages for both DoCoMo’s "i-mode" mobile Internet service and for WAP (wireless application protocol) version 2.0, the international standard for mobile Internet services. The move reflects DoCoMo’s increasing efforts to introduce its advanced 3G cellphones into overseas markets. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/22/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo’s Cellular Phone with Camera Unveiled
Wednesday, May 22, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. revealed two of the new i-mode phone handset models, D504i (photo included in story) and F504i. Both models feature faster packet communication speeds for download, which improved from the current 9600bps to 28.8kbps. NTT DoCoMo also is exhibiting the ishot, a cellular phone with a built-in camera. The details of its specification, price, and when it is to be released are not yet available, but it is expected to have the same functions as Sha-mail from J-Phone. (AsiaBizTech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
New DoCoMo Phones Boldly Go Where No Data Have Been
Wednesday, May 22, 2002 |
| |
Summary
DoCoMo’s new "504i" series phones beam data via infrared technology to other specially equipped handsets, multimedia devices and cash registers. Japan’s mobile phone giant unveiled Tuesday its first series of enhanced "i-mode" Internet-capable cellphones that feature data transmission speeds of up to 28.8 kilobits per second, three times faster than current devices. Initially, however, DoCoMo will launch the Mitsubishi and Fujitsu 504i handsets May 24. These will soon by followed by 504i models from Matsushita Communication and NEC Corp. DoCoMo shares rose 1.8% on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, while the benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 0.5%. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/20/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo gives U.S. investments a rest
Monday, May 20, 2002 |
| |
Summary
The U.S. unit of Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo reported it had no plans to invest further in its U.S. partner AT&T Wireless Services this year, and revealed no interest in investing in other U.S. wireless operators. Nobuharu Ono, chief executive of NTT DoCoMo USA said a huge challenge for DoCoMo’s U.S. operations was that there were too many wireless operators, unlike Japan, where DoCoMo enjoys a 60 percent market share. "In New York, Boston and other East Coast areas, users will have access to mMode by this fall. They will get ’real’ services more like I-mode by then," Ono said. (CNET) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/15/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo To Introduce Online Bar Code For Paying Phone Bill
Wednesday, May 15, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will introduce a new billing system that enables "i-mode" subscribers to pay their monthly cellphone bills at convenience stores using a bar code displayed on the screens of their cellphones. The move aims to simplify consumers’ payments of their monthly cellphone bills by eliminating the need for hardcopy invoices. DoCoMo said the new system can be used from May 20 at two convenience stores operated by am/pm Japan Co., and then at about 1,400 am/pm Japan stores nationwide by early July. The system will also be available at several convenience stores operated by Lawson Inc. by mid-July and at some 700 Lawson stores in Tokyo and Nagoya in September, DoCoMo said. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/14/2002
|
| |
Japan TV in i-mode games tie-up
Tuesday, May 14, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Codetoys and Japan’s Fuji TV will bring the mobile game version of the TV show, "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" to Docomo’s mobile phone users. The mobile game is the first branded interactive quiz to become available to NTT Docomo’s 32 million plus i-mode subscribers. The game, which ties in closely with the television show, will be marketed on the show and appear on Fuji TV’s official i-mode site. (Cellular News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/10/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Sales/Profits Up, Predicts 1400%+ Growth for FOMA
Friday, May 10, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced May 8 its consolidated financial settlement for the fiscal year that ended March 2002. Sales were up 5.1715 trillion yen, or 10.4%, and operating profit was 1.0028 trillion yen, up 29%. Net profit, however, fell drastically to 800 million yen from 365.5 billion yen due to poor performance in overseas investments. Projections for the new fiscal year were a 3.9% increase in sales and 4.2 increase in operating profits. DoCoMo expects the number of PDC subscribers to be 42.4 million (+4.2%) FOMA subscribers to be reach 1.38 million (+1443%). Average monthly revenue per unit was down slightly, to 8,480 yen. Revenue per unit for voice communication has fallen to 6,940 yen, and according to DoCoMo, voice communication will decline and voiceless communication will increase until they are at equal levels in 2005. (128.62 yen = US$1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/8/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo shares jump on better outlook
Wednesday, May 8, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Shares in NTT DoCoMo Inc jumped as high as 5.4 percent on Thursday morning after Japan’s largest mobile operator forecast a steady outlook this business year following brutal write-downs in the 12 months to last March. "DoCoMo demonstrated that it is well aware that it has entered a mature growth phase and will focus on cutting costs to deal with slower revenue growth," said Hitoshi Hayakawa, analyst at ING Financial Markets. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Profit Withers on Writedowns, Sees Recovery
Wednesday, May 8, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan’s largest mobile operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc, said on Wednesday it eked out a net profit of 862 million yen ($6.7 million) in the last business year despite huge appraisal losses on overseas investments. Even that negligible profit for the mobile pioneer outperformed expectations after the company said in early April it expected to be in the red by 36 billion yen due to a non-cash writedown of 813 billion yen for 2001/02. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo To Raise Stakes In Regional Units To 100%
Wednesday, May 8, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will turn its eight regional companies into wholly owned subsidiaries by summer. By converting the companies, in effect, into a single firm, Japan’s largest cell phone firm hopes to speed up decision-making. DoCoMo currently holds 80%-90% of the units covering the regions of Kansai in western Japan. The remaining stakes are held by first-tier regional banks, power companies, broadcasters and others. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/6/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo to Post First Loss on Decline in Overseas Investments
Monday, May 6, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc., the biggest mobile-phone company, will probably post its first loss since selling shares to the public in 1998 as it writes down the decline in the value of overseas investments. DoCoMo probably had a 134 billion yen ($1.05 billion) loss in the six months ended March 31. DoCoMo said it would book a 550 billion yen charge in the second half to write down the value of its shares of AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and other investments. After spending about 1.9 trillion yen to buy shares in mobile-phone companies outside Japan, DoCoMo has seen the value of its investments slump. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo to Post First Loss on Decline in Overseas Investments
Monday, May 6, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will probably post its first loss since selling shares to the public in 1998 as it writes down the decline in the value of overseas investments. The company probably had a 134 billion yen ($1.05 billion) loss in the six months ended March 31, a Bloomberg News survey of nine analysts showed. DoCoMo said it would book a 550 billion yen charge in the second half to write down the value of its shares of AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and other investments. DoCoMo will probably report record sales in the second half after adding 2.4 million new customers in Japan. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/3/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo’s FOMA Reaches 100,000
Friday, May 3, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo’s FOMA, Japan’s first 3G mobile service, has finally passed the 100,000-subscriber mark following its launch on 1 October last year. DoCoMo initially had high expectations for FOMA, predicting at least 150,000 customers by the end of March, but at the end 2001 the service had attracted just 27,000 users, while DoCoMo 2G network gained 1.2 million new customers over the same three-month period. (BWCS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/2/2002
|
| |
KPN Downplays Report Of Ailing German I-Mode Service
Thursday, May 2, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Royal KPN downplayed reports in a Japanese newspaper that its new I-mode service isn’t a success in Germany. The report, published in Mainichi Shimbun, said KPN’s German unit E-Plus is cutting prices on I-mode-enabled handsets due to a lack of demand. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 5/1/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo to post loss, put focus on rebound
Wednesday, May 1, 2002 |
| |
Summary
With a huge write-down and net loss warnings already out, analysts expect few surprises from NTT DoCoMo’s full-year results next week, but they are keen to hear how Japan’s top mobile firm will turn itself around. "The question is whether we can see a rise in profitability. Since growth is slowing, they will have to demonstrate a plan to keep costs under control,’’ said Hironobu Sawake of J.P. Morgan. DoCoMo’s chief executive, Keiji Tachikawa, warned in an interview with Reuters last month that he expected 30 percent fewer new subscribers in the current business year to next March. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/29/2002
|
| |
PacketVideo technology used for DoCoMo’s video streaming
Monday, April 29, 2002 |
| |
Summary
U.S.-based supplier PacketVideo has partnered with NTT DoCoMo on its V-Live video streaming service, which the Japanese wireless carrier introduced last week for its FOMA video-enabled handsets. PacketVideo’s pv3 Mobilemedia System is being used as the foundation for the service, allowing MPEG-4 streams to be transferred in Realtime Transport Protocol from PacketVideo’s pvServer and converted into a 3G-324M-based format compliant with FOMA video handsets. (Global Wireless News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/26/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Recall/Replace Faulty Mova R211i Mobile Phones
Friday, April 26, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will recall and offer free replacement Mova R211i mobile phones due to a technical problem, while sales of the model have been suspended from today until the problem is fixed. Approximately 7,400 Mova R211i mobile phones are currently in circulation and users of the affected phones will be notified via direct mail when new replacement phones are. Due to a software bug, the incoming and outgoing call logs, voice messages and voice memos are erased when the phone’s power is turned off after replaying a new voice message. The problem occurs if the phone’s power is shut off manually, automatically or due to a depleted battery. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Celebrate 10th Anniversary
Friday, April 26, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, Japan's largest network operator, has announced that it will launch a number of promotions and initiatives to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The celebrations are divided into a number of categories including customer appreciation, shareholder appreciation, civic-minded programmes and interaction with customers. Discounts will be offered on usage of DoCoMo's services over a certain period, a special YEN 500 dividend will be provided to shareholders and DoCoMo will expand its woodland conservation programmes, direct more funding to welfare organisations and offer scholarships to foreign students. (DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Starts 3G Video Trials
Friday, April 26, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has launched a trial version of its forthcoming streaming video service. The service, dubbed V-Live by the carrier, streams both live and archived video content to phones and PDAs via its third-generation (3G) FOMA system. The content will include music, sports highlights, news and tourist information. The platform uses the MPEG-4 standard and must be delivered to video-enabled phones. (allNetDevices) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/25/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Starts 3G Video Trials
Thursday, April 25, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has launched a trial version of its forthcoming streaming video service. The service, dubbed V-Live by the carrier, streams both live and archived video content to phones and PDAs via its third-generation (3G) FOMA system. The content will include music, sports highlights, news and tourist information. The platform uses the MPEG-4 standard and must be delivered to video-enabled phones. (allNetDevices) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/24/2002
|
| |
AT&T Wireless Beefs Up mMode Lineup
Wednesday, April 24, 2002 |
| |
Summary
AT&T Wireless continued to aggressively fill out its roster of applications for its mMode wireless service. mMode customers can create mobile communities and chat groups based on technology from Upoc. Similarly, Swedish vendor Aspiro is offering its Temptation Zone, which it calls a "love community service." A variety of wireless on-line shopping opportunities will be offered by InfoSpace, while Airborne Entertainment was selected to offer games for mMode subscribers. (AllNetDevices) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Activists urge DoCoMo boycott
Wednesday, April 24, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Activists are challenging DoCoMo's policy of seeking a 30,000 yen deposit from non-permanent residents is discriminatory. Two foreigners' rights groups are calling for a boycott of the mobile phone titan. United for a Multicultural Japan (UMJ) and Internet-based activist group The Community are urging people to cancel their DoCoMo subscriptions until the company stops demanding the deposit. A DoCoMo spokeswoman said its position will not change because ``we have to protect our revenue.'' Activists point out that permanent resident status is difficult to obtain and is generally enjoyed only by those with a Japanese spouse or ethnically non-Japanese born in the country. (IHT/Asahi) Editor's Comment DoCoMo is taking the heat here, but it is hardly unique in trying to minimize exposure. In the USA, VoiceStream Wireless requires a US$500.00 deposit for service contracts without a credit card guarantee. With DoCoMo, new customers have to give their bank information for autodebit billing OR give a Y30,000 deposit. DoCoMo could do better by accepting credit cards and guaranteeing its payment through the card companies. DoCoMo has missed the point with its new program, since with a bad customer, giving a bank account no. does not mean there will be any money in the account when bills come due...Good luck putting out this little PR fire! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/22/2002
|
| |
Japan's NTT DoCoMo strives for international fame
Monday, April 22, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan's telecom giant NTT DoCoMo Inc. has already invested some 15 billion dollars in European, US and Asian counterparts. The advantage of i-mode in Europe is that "Internet access through your mobile phone is infinitely easier than through WAP (wireless application protocol) phones," said Martin Bouygues, chairman and chief executive of the French industrial group Bouygues. DoCoMo's ultimate goal "is to encourage the adoption of its wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) standard in Europe which is the next step up the interactive ladder from i-mode," said Merrill Lynch telecoms analyst Yasumasa Goda. (AFP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/19/2002
|
| |
Can mMode import wireless Web craze?
Friday, April 19, 2002 |
| |
Summary
With the debut of "mMode," US carrier ATT Wireless is offering games, messaging services and other features on a customer's mobile phone. Keith Waryas, an analyst with research firm IDC, said he believes customers might have a tough time swallowing AT&T Wireless' billing practices for the mMode service. AT&T Wireless then tallies up the number if kilobytes downloaded every 24 hours, rounding up to the nearest kilobyte. "During a 30-day billing cycle, they are rounding up 30 times," Waryas said. "People might get a little (perturbed) at all the data they are losing." (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo's overseas strategy on track with new tack
Friday, April 19, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo's with French mobile operator Bouygues Telecom SA this week marked an important shift in the Japanese wireless giant's overseas strategy and should please investors, analysts said on Friday. Japan's biggest mobile firm agreed on Wednesday to license its popular "i-mode" mobile Internet access platform to Bouygues Telecom, but in a departure from previous alliances did not invest in the subsidiary of French construction and media conglomerate Bouygues. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/18/2002
|
| |
Sharp, DoCoMo Develop E-Books For PDAs, Cell Phones
Thursday, April 18, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo plans to begin in autumn distributing electronic books based on the XMDF mobile document format, which will combine Sharp's image technology and NTT DoCoMo's expertise in telecommunications. The format enables the display of novels and text for language study with vocal instruction and animated illustrations on PDAs and NTT DoCoMo FOMA third-generation phones. (Nikkei) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/16/2002
|
| |
AT&T Wireless reportedly in merger talks with Cingular
Tuesday, April 16, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Mobile phone carrier AT&T Wireless Services Inc. of Redmond is in merger talks with rival Cingular Wireless, according to a report Monday by Bloomberg News. The report, citing sources close to the negotiations, said the two companies could eliminate expenses by selling one brand. Cingular has 21.6 million subscribers, making it the second-largest carrier in the United States behind Verizon Wireless, with 29.4 million. AT&T Wireless is third with 18 million. AT&T Wireless is 16 percent owned by Japan's NTT DoCoMo Inc. Bloomberg noted that a NTT spokesman said the company is unaware of merger talks involving AT&T Wireless. (Puget Sound Business Journal) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/12/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo's `foreign' tariff
Friday, April 12, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Saying foreigners are skipping out on mobile phone bills at six times the rate of Japanese, NTT DoCoMo Inc. is now demanding a 30,000 yen deposit from many non-Japanese subscribers. The new policy to treat foreigners as credit risks was quietly introduced April 1. DoCoMo is demanding the deposit from non-permanent residents-a category that includes the vast majority of non-Asian foreigners living in Japan-who choose to pay their bills at convenience stores. (Asahi.com) Editor's Comment No point hanging this one on anti-foreignism at DoCoMo. Foreigners have been skipping out of Japan without paying their bills and spoiling things for those who do not. In any case, DoCoMo has always been less flexible than KDDI, for example, which allows you (unlike DoCoMo) to pay your monthly bill via credit card. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/11/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Misses 3G Target
Thursday, April 11, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has admitted that it failed to reach its own target for 3G customers by the end of last month. When the giant mobile operator finally launched its commercial 3G service, in October of last year, it set itself the goal of amassing 150,000 subscribers by March 31, 2002. In the end it managed only 89,000. For the coming twelve months DoCoMo is predicting an overall slowing of its mobile expansion, with growth down by around 30%. This would still mean that the company would add 3.3 million new mobile customers by 31 March 2003. (BWCS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/5/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Rebuts US Claim Of Exorbitant Japan Access Fee
Friday, April 5, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has disputed U.S. government claims that it charges "exorbitant" fees to allow other carriers to access its mobile communications network. "Access charges in Japan are lower than in Europe," said DoCoMo President and Chief Executive Keiji Tachikawa. "Japan's (charging) system is different from the one in the U.S., so a comparison can't be made." Tachikawa told a news conference the U.S. should change its charging system to match that of Japan before it makes any such comparisons. He was responding to criticism by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in its 2002 annual report on foreign trade barriers. (Dow Jones). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 4/2/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo to Write Down Half Its AT&T Wireless Stake, Analysts
Tuesday, April 2, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. may write down as much as half its $10 billion investment in AT&T Wireless Services Inc. after the third-largest U.S. wireless company's shares fell by almost two-thirds, analysts said. AT&T Wireless' shares ended last week at $8.95, about 62 percent less than what DoCoMo paid for a 16 percent stake in 2000 and 2001. DoCoMo President Keiji Tachikawa has said the No. 1 mobile-phone operator would reassess its AT&T Wireless investment at the end of DoCoMo's fiscal year, which concluded yesterday. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo renews effort to oust web phone spammers
Tuesday, April 2, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has announced a new plan to target i-mode spammers. The Japanese firm says the move is necessary to counter growing volume of unsolicited messages reaching its next-generation phone subscribers. The aim is to make it more difficult for unscrupulous parties to forge domains. NTT DoCoMo thought it had tackled the problem by allowing i-mode phone users to stipulate up to ten domain names they are prepared to receive mail from. (Ananova) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/28/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo to Post 1 Trilion Yen Charge on Overseas Stakes
Thursday, March 28, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, the world's largest mobile-phone company, will take 1 trillion yen ($7.54 billion) in charges in its fiscal year ending Sunday to account for a decline in the value of its overseas investments. The company will post a group loss of about 100 billion yen as a result, its first loss since selling shares to the public in 1998, the report said. DoCoMo has spent about 1.8 trillion yen since 1999 buying minority stakes in such mobile-phone operators as AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and Hutchison 3G UK Holdings Ltd. to expand its wireless Internet services around the world. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/26/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Fee Cuts Per Second
Tuesday, March 26, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. and its eight regional companies have notified the Japanese government of their new contract terms, including revised lower fees for interconnection with other telecommunication operators, the Japanese mobile phone service company said Monday. Mobile phone interconnection fees per minute will be cut by 14.2% within the DoCoMo service area and by 13.4% outside the DoCoMo service area, the company said. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/21/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo May Launch I-Mode in U.S. This Year
Thursday, March 21, 2002 |
| |
Summary
The head of Japan's largest wireless operator NTT DoCoMo Inc. on Tuesday said its U.S. partner AT&T Wireless Services Inc. may launch DoCoMo's i-mode mobile Internet service later this year, although the timing will depend on AT&T Wireless. DoCoMo has a 16 percent stake in AT&T Wireless, the nation's No. 3 wireless operator, and has a partnership with the company to roll out i-mode in the United States on AT&T Wireless' next-generation networks. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/19/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Wireless Video Project in Works
Tuesday, March 19, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has begun building an experimental system for fourth-generation wireless communications that can relay high-quality video. Fourth-generation or 4G technology would carry information about 260 times faster than NTT DoCoMo's 3G service. In October, DoCoMo began 3G, which relays information at about 40 times the speed of current cell phones and includes a videophone. Video on 4G will be as good as high-definition television or more than double the resolution of regular TVs. DoCoMo hopes to start offering 4G commercially by 2010.(AP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/14/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Develops Mobile Video-Conferencing Platform
Thursday, March 14, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has developed a third-generation mobile communication platform that enables several people to participate in a wireless video conference, and aims to commercialize the platform in future. DoCoMo said its mobile video-conferencing platform is the world's first cellphone platform for video teleconferencing, can also work with some fixed-line video phones, and accomodates a maximum of 16 people simultaneously. Field trials of the new platform starts this May. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
KDDI Pres. Calls Demand for FOMA Videophones "Questionable"
Thursday, March 14, 2002 |
| |
Summary
In a press conference about KDDI's new third-generation (3G) phone services, KDDI Corp. president Tadashi Onodera questioned the demand for NTT DoCoMo's FOMA videophones. Onodera declared KDDI would end up grabbing the largest chunk of the 3G phone market. Onodera says that by the end of March 2003 the company will have supplied users with over 7 million 3G phone handsets. As of February 2002, five months after the launch of the FOMA service, DoCoMo only claims 55,000 users who had signed up for the service, or fewer than 0.2 percent of DoCoMo's total phone users. (Nikkei Computer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/13/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Entry into Wireless LAN could spark NTT Group Battle
Wednesday, March 13, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan's cellphone giant NTT DoCoMo is considering entering the wireless local-area-network market that provides users with wireless access to high-speed Internet networks. Such a move would likely bring the company into competition with other members of the NTT group such as NTT Communications. Reports cite DoCoMo plans to release a card-type terminal enabling customers to use both wireless LAN and its third-generation "FOMA" cellphone services via base stations, accessible in areas within 50 kilometers of base stations. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/7/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo, Oracle to ally on Japan corporate services
Thursday, March 7, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo and database software maker Oracle Japan Corp will jointly develop and market advanced mobile services for corporate customers. DoCoMo has been seeking partners to help harness the full capabilities of its nascent third-generation mobile phone services, whose high speeds enable video conferencing and large data downloads. Other recent international alliances include ties with German software maker SAP AG to develop services for corporate customers and with IBM's Lotus Software group to develop multimedia applications. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo's Tachikawa Hints at Big Extraordinary Losses
Thursday, March 7, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Following its listing on New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange on March 1, NTT DoCoMo President Keiji Tachikawa expressed hope that the listing of the stock on those two exchanges would enable more investors to trade its shares and thus enhance the liquidity, but hinted that NTT DoCoMo may post large extraordinary losses in the settlement of accounts for the business year through March 31, 2002. Listed as reasons were the performance of investments in AT&T Wireless Corp., Taiwan-based KG Telecom munications Co., and Dutch KPN Mobile NV. Losses from the falling stock price of AT&T Wireless alone have cost DoCoMo about US$6.4 billion (about 840 billion yen). (Nikkei Business) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/6/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo chief sees few key reasons for mergers
Wednesday, March 6, 2002 |
| |
Summary
The head of Japan's largest wireless carrier, NTT DoCoMo, said any acquisitions on his part in the U.S. market would only be carried out with specific strategic targets in mind. Consolidation should be carried out between partners ``for technology, spectrum and coverage,'' according to CEO Keiichi Tachikawa. NTT DoCoMo's listing on the New York Stock Exchange last week was meant ``to increase the global liquidity for our shares and increase our fundraising options,'' he said. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/4/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo jumps after overseas listing, peers follow
Monday, March 4, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Shares in NTT DoCoMo jumped more than five percent on Monday to as high as 1.51 million yen after Japan's largest wireless carrier debuted on the New York and London exchanges. DoCoMo shares will be split five-for-one on May 15 for shareholders as of March 31. DoCoMo, which hopes to introduce its advanced mobile phone technology to other countries, has been seeking ways to boost its global profile and make its stock more appealing for retail investors. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 3/1/2002
|
| |
Access Users Try New NetFront v3.0 PDA, Browser for Free
Friday, March 1, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Access Co., Ltd., started offering people the chance to try out its new advanced browser software -- NetFront v3.0 for Pocket PC -- for a free trial period that began on Feb. 20. Access has developed the new browser to run on personal digital assistants (PDAs) that use Microsoft Corp.'s Pocket PC and Pocket PC 2002 operating systems.(Nikkei Electronics) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/28/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Shares to Trade in NY/London as i-mode goes to Europe
Thursday, February 28, 2002 |
| |
Summary
With global ambitions to make its wildly popular "i-mode" service another mighty Japanese brand, the country's top wireless carrier is set to begin trading on the New York and London Stock Exchanges. The listing Friday could be a milestone for NTT DoCoMo. I-mode is Japan's biggest success story in years. Earlier this week, Tokyo-based NEC Corp. announced it will be making the first i-mode handsets outside Japan, providing them for KPN Mobile, NTT DoCoMo's European partner. (AP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/26/2002
|
| |
J-League ties up with DoCoMo
Tuesday, February 26, 2002 |
| |
Summary
The J-League said Sunday it has tied up with NTT DoCoMo Inc, the mobile phone arm of telecom giant Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT), and three other NTT group companies to develop services such as distributing images of soccer matches to mobile phones. One of the major focuses will be developing a system to transmit video images of game highlights such as goals as well as interviews with popular soccer players to NTT DoCoMo's third-generation FOMA mobile phone service, the J-League said. (Kyodo News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/25/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo Releases "open i-area" Guidelines
Monday, February 25, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has relased service specifications for "i-area," which allows any information service provider to supply content to i-area users. "i-area" is a feature of DoCoMo's service, delivering weather, dining, traffic, and other types of information accessed from 482 separate areas throughout Japan. Up until now, only official information service providers selected by DoCoMo were allowed to provide i-area content via i-mode portal sites. The open i-area guidelines are available in Japanese on the company's website at http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/p_s/imode/iarea/open.html. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/19/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Subscribers Reach 40 Million, One Third of Japan'
Tuesday, February 19, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo announced on Feb. 15 that the number of total subscribers of its cellular phone services provided by nine DoCoMo group companies has reached 40 million, which nearly equals one-third of Japan's population of 127 million. It took one year and nine months to reach 40 million since NTT DoCoMo gained 30 million subscribers in May 2000. Growth of subscribers has been spurred by its mobile Internet service "i-mode," says NTT DoCoMo. The i-mode service acquired more than 30 million users since it was launched in February 1999. (Asia Biztech) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Nissan, DoCoMo team up on car internet services
Tuesday, February 19, 2002 |
| |
Summary
Japan's third-largest automaker, Nissan Motor Co Ltd , and mobile telecoms giant NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Tuesday they were teaming up to develop multimedia services for cars. The move greatly boosts Nissan's potential in offering ``telematics'' or net-based car information and entertainment services while helping DoCoMo lay the groundwork for further growth in its nascent third generation 3G mobile network.3G's fast transmission speeds offer access to rich Internet content such as video and music downloads. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/13/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo goes to debt market for 70 bln yen
Wednesday, February 13, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan's largest mobile communications firm, has set final terms for an issue of 70 billion yen ($528 million) in 10-year bonds, Nomura Securities Co said on Wednesday. The straight domestic bonds, which carry a coupon of 1.64 percent, mark DoCoMo's first foray into the debt market this year. The issue is part of efforts to secure financing for the firm's overseas expansion and investment in high-speed third-generation wireless services. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo goes to debt market for 70 bln yen
Wednesday, February 13, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has set final terms for an issue of 70 billion yen ($528 million) in 10-year bonds, Nomura Securities Co said on Wednesday. The straight domestic bonds, which carry a coupon of 1.64 percent, mark DoCoMo's first foray into the debt market this year. Market players said the bond was priced at a higher premium than the previous issue to attract investors. DoCoMo's last 10-year issue in October, of 100 billion yen, carried a 12-point spread. DoCoMo issued 530 billion yen in bonds last year. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/9/2002
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Debuts Mobile Phone from Sony Ericsson
Saturday, February 9, 2002 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has released the MOVA SO211i, its first mobile phone produced by Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, a joint venture established by Sony Corp. and LM Ericsson of Sweden. Features include a speaker on the back of the cover, an antenna that extends diagonally for convenience, and a screen with 4,096 colors. It is the second Sony Ericsson handset to hit the Japanese market, the first being the C1002S designed for KDDI Group's AU mobile unit. (Asia Biztech) Editor's Comment: PLUS: This handset is a leap forward in look-and-feel over the previous DoCoMo Sony handsets, particularly in its metallic appearance and compact size. MINUS: the size factor is due to the fact that it is NOT enabled for i-Appli (Java), and its smallish screen is curiously dim and cloudy (especially in direct light) when compared to its Sony cousin, the SO503i. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 2/6/2002
|
| |
AFP to provide photos on Japanese mobile phones
Wednesday, February 6, 2002 |
| |
Summary
French news agency Agence France-Presse and Japanese technology services company Creative Link will provide NTT DoCoMo mobile phone users in Japan with photos from AFP. NTT DoCoMo users will be able to access mostly sports photos for a subscription fee of 200 yen (1.75 euros, 1.50 dollars) per month. Creative Link will choose about a hundred photos per day, translate the captions and transmit them. (AFP) Editor's Comment: This will be a service worth checking out, although it is not the first of its kind by a news agency - Reuter's has already recently launched a news photo service--in English--for J-Sky users on J-Phone's new International Menu. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 1/24/2002
|
| |
DoCoMo to open i-mode network to ISPs in November
Thursday, January 24, 2002 |
| |
Summary
ISPs and search engines have been eyeing wireless portals as a new business frontier for some time. With KDDI now offering its users access to non-official i-mode sites, pressure has been building for DoCoMo to open its carefully cultivated "walled garden" of content. Originally DoCoMo said it would open up its content menu to outside wireless portals by March 2003, but according to this report it will happen by November this year. (M. Thuresson) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/5/2001
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo may not buy SK Telecom stake
Wednesday, December 5, 2001 |
| |
Summary
After two years of talks, South Korea's SK Group may not be able to reach an agreement to sell a 14.5% stake in its SK Telecom Corp. unit to Japan's NTT DoCoMo Inc. "The possibilities may not be so good," said Chung Hwan Choi, a manager at SK Telecom's investor relations department. "It's hard to say what is going to happen." The SK Group and NTT DoCoMo are still negotiating and the Korean group said it hoped to wrap up the deal by the end of this year. Choi declined to comment on the reasons why the talks were not going well. But he said that even if the negotiations for the stake sale failed, NTT DoCoMo could still work with SK Telecom, South Korea's largest mobile phone carrier, as a strategic partner or through other methods. (TheDeal.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 12/3/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo launches BlueTooth phone
Monday, December 3, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has announced that it will begin marketing PHS handsets compatible with Bluetooth. The new browser phone, dubbed "Paldio 633S," will be marketed through all DoCoMo sales channels starting on December 3, 2001. The model is capable of performing various wireless functions with other Bluetooth Ver. 1.1-compatible devices, including 64 kbps circuit-switched data communications and exchanging up to 500 entries from address books, e-mail and electronic business cards. The handset has an LCD screen with 65,536 colors, 32-chord ring melodies compatible with PCM sound generator system, and weighs 99 grams. Talk time is 7.5 hours, reduced to 2 hours if BlueTooth is active and standby is 550 hours, also reduced to 180 hours when using BlueTooth. The phone supports data connections speeds of up to 64kbps. (cellular news) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/29/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo to begin convenient cell phone fixing service
Thursday, November 29, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will begin a service offering downloads of fixing software to iron out cellular phone bugs, initially to users of DoCoMo Digital Mova 504 from next spring. Customers experiencing problems with phones will be able to download the software at DoCoMo affiliated stores, a process expected to take just a few minutes without affecting other phone functions. Japan's top cell phone operator will also build a detailed database of software problems this month, which will be opened to manufacturers to help them develop trouble-free products. Software bugs have forced NTT DoCoMo to recall a total of 730,000 handsets and to suspend sales of its phones six times this year alone. (The Nihon Keizai Shimbun) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/28/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo begins position-info service for companies, providers
Wednesday, November 28, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo began a position-information service called DoCoMo Location Platform (DLP) using a special terminal. Its targets are application service providers (ASPs) and corporate customers using the position-information for their services or businesses. The DLP service includes two functions: (1) position-information service and (2) ASP support. The position-information service locates a position using global positioning system (GPS) satellites. Users themselves can search their positions or information around them, and can convey their location information to third parties. ASP support is an additional service that NTT DoCoMo provides on behalf of ASPs or other companies. (Nikkei Communications) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/27/2001
|
| |
Sharp to offer handheld PC-mobile phone for DoCoMo
Tuesday, November 27, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Sharp Corp. will offer a phone and a handheld computer set linked without wires for NTT DoCoMo's high-speed Internet service. The handset and the keyboard-based personal digital assistant set will probably be linked with Bluetooth technology, which allows short-range, wireless transmission. The company declined to name the release date, price, or the operating system. (Bloomberg) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo recalls 1,500 new 3G phones due to glitch
Tuesday, November 27, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo said 1,500 of its latest third-generation mobile phones would be recalled because of a software glitch that causes some of its memory to be lost. The phones, the FOMA N2002 built by NEC Corp., are capable of downloading short video clips over DoCoMo's 3G wireless network and were introduced along with a video streaming service this November. Sales of the FOMA phone will be halted for the time being and will be replaced from December 1 when sales resume. The N2002 loses its Internet e-mail, application downloads and certain settings when accessing certain Web sites, due to a software bug. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/22/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo to limit e-mail greetings on New Year
Thursday, November 22, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will restrict the transmission and reception of e-mail on Jan. 1 to prevent the system from crashing due to the massive number of New Year greetings expected to be transmitted to and from its Internet-capable i-mode mobile phones. It will be the first time for a mobile phone operator to impose a restriction only on e-mail communications. The restriction on e-mail communication will last several hours, starting from a couple of minutes before 12 a.m. on New Year's Day and lasting until dawn. The operator's i-mode centers will accept outgoing e-mail sent from i-mode-capable mobile phones one out of every eight times. Users whose messages are refused will receive a message saying, "please wait." (Yomiuri Shimbun) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/21/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo to launch global positioning service
Wednesday, November 21, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will launch a global-positioning service on Nov. 27. The service, dubbed DLP service, or "DoCoMo Location Platform," is similar to KDDI Corp.'s global positioning service, to be offered on its mobile phones from December. It allows users to determine their geographic location or identify the whereabouts of others via satellite. DoCoMo will also provide special functions enabling corporations to manage user information based on their geographic locations, such as via wireless intranets. The plan also includes services to enable companies to distribute location-based information, such as on discounts from video rental stores in specific neighborhoods, to groups of users who pre-register their location. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/20/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo and IBM Lotus explore mobile business
Tuesday, November 20, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo and IBM Lotus Software will study the feasibility of developing solutions to run business applications on DoCoMo's mobile networks, including the FOMA third-generation (3G) mobile network. They will also explore possibilities for incorporating mobile technology in various business applications. Through this arrangement, NTT DoCoMo expects to accelerate the development of a corporate market for FOMA. (PRNewswire) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo to provide servers for FOMA image distrib.
Tuesday, November 20, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo intends to lease servers for moving-image distribution experiments free of charge. Targeted at corporate users, this testing is for the 3G mobile communication service "FOMA". The company plans to continue the experiment through the end of February 2002. By providing the distribution servers for free, it hopes to have many corporations test and experience the advantage of moving-image distribution using FOMA, which it hopes can lead to the expansion of the commercial service. After the trial period, DoCoMo plans to lease the server for a fee. (Nikkei New Media) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/19/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo, Nokia join to promote W-CDMA
Monday, November 19, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. and Nokia Corp. agreed to standardize specifications for middleware to promote the W-CDMA third-generation mobile telecom system on a global scale. The agreement was made to pave the way for accelerated development of global content providers and international roaming services by standardizing specifications for browsing, messaging, and the application execution environment for W-CDMA cellular phone handsets. Also, both telecom operators will standardize specifications on the multimedia messaging service (MMS), a combination of short messaging and Internet mail exchanged among cellular phone handsets. (Nikkei Communications) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/16/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo rolls out wireless multimedia
Friday, November 16, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo said Wednesday that it is about to start distributing video and other multimedia over its FOMA service. The multimedia service, dubbed i-motion, will be available to the company's 3G customers from November 19. The company said that 28 content providers initially will offer the videos. The videos and other multimedia can be downloaded from sites that are accessed via DoCoMo's wireless portal. Initially, the content providers will offer promotional videos and news clips, still frames with sound showing scenes from popular movies, and music files. The multimedia service will be included in the basic monthly fee paid for subscribers of DoCoMo's 3G service. The company also will start selling a handset on November 19 that is compatible with i-motion. (allNetDevices) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/15/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo launches dual-band handset
Thursday, November 15, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo unveiled a dual-band mobile phone handset, "MOVA F211i," manufactured by Fujitsu Ltd. It supports two ranges of radio frequencies, 800MHz and 1.5GHz, and is based on the personal digital cellular system. Every local base station automatically decides which frequency band to allocate to a particular user of the mobile phone in its coverage area, depending on the radio wave conditions of the area. DoCoMo is marketing the 1.5MHz service under the trade name of "City Phone." DoCoMo believes the dual-band use on one model would be useful in alleviating call traffic and securing the voice quality, particularly in crowded areas such as downtown areas. (Nikkei Communication) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/8/2001
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Profits Drop 52 Percent
Thursday, November 8, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Profits at NTT DoCoMo, Japan's top mobile telephone carrier, dropped by 52 percent in the first six months of the fiscal year because of a sharp decline in the value of its investment in Dutch partner KPN Mobile. NTT DoCoMo said Wednesday it earned 103.8 billion yen ($858 million) in the six months ended in September, down from 217.5 billion yen a year ago. The decline reflected a charge of 263 billion yen ($2 billion) taken to reflect the plunging value of its 15 percent stake in KPN Mobile. Revenue climbed 18 percent to 2.6 trillion yen ($21 billion) from 2.2 trillion yen a year ago. The profit decline marked a reversal for a company that has consistently recorded robust profits on the success in Japan of its Internet-linking mobile service called i-mode. NTT DoCoMo stock closed down 4 percent at 1.53 million yen ($12,600) on the Tokyo Stock Exchage just before its earnings report. (AP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo strikes deal with Dutch firm on i-mode license
Thursday, November 8, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. said Wednesday it has reached an accord with a Dutch firm to license its popular i-mode technology services to the Dutch telecommunications group for 10 years to Jan. 1, 2012, enabling them to launch i-mode-style mobile Internet services in the Netherlands and Belgium. The services, the first of their kind in Europe, will be launched as early as the April-June quarter next year. Similar services have been available in Hong Kong since May 2000. NTT DoCoMo said it will collect licensing fees from this Dec. 7 to Jan. 1, 2012. Subscribers to KPN Mobile services in the Netherlands and in Belgium will have access to a variety of contents and mobile Internet services, including stock prices, ticket reservations, restaurant guides, online games and more, using cellular phones equipped with dual browsers for i-mode-compatible HTML and WML1.X.As of the end of September, subscribers to KPN Mobile services are estimated at 5.21 million in the Netherlands and 900,000 in Belgium. (Japan Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/6/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo publishes i-mode secrets
Tuesday, November 6, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has for the first time published details of the technical specifications for its hugely successful mobile internet service, i-mode. DoCoMo released an i-mode Service Guideline that includes information about the platformfs protocol stacks, security, user interfaces and download and messaging functions. However the operator has been keen to emphasize that the document is not a service specification for its Japanese i-mode service but is designed to assist overseas mobile manufacturers in developing international i-mode products. The company made the disclosure to encourage the adoption of i-mode technologies by mobile handset and server vendors. (BWCS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 11/5/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo seen posting 300 bln yen special loss
Monday, November 5, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo is expected to write down 300 billion yen ($2.47 billion) in special losses on its stake in Dutch mobile telecoms carrier KPN Mobile. DoCoMo would log such losses for the six months ended in September as its investment in KPN Mobile, an unlisted unit of KPN Telecom NV , had deteriorated. DoCoMo bought a 15 percent stake in KPN Mobile in August 2000 for 407.3 billion yen. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/31/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo unveils revamped Web site
Wednesday, October 31, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will unveil a new Web site to make it easier for overseas investors and media to get information on Japan's top mobile operator. Coloured in shades of blue, green and grey, the new English home page (http://www.nttdocomo.com) will go live on November 1. It is also planning a redesigned bilingual version of its Web site (http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp) for users in Japan. The revamped Web site focuses on providing financial information and explaining technology, such as i-mode and third-generation high-speed cellphone services. The new Web site also features video clips of its promotional videos and executive presentations, and has animated drop-down menus. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/30/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo fights back against junk e-mail
Tuesday, October 30, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo said it clinched a temporary injunction against a company sending massive amounts of unwanted e-mail to users of 'i-mode'. When it launched i-mode in 1999, DoCoMo had unwittingly made it easy for Web operators to bombard i-mode subscribers with junk mail. This is because the addresses were based on users' phone numbers and not on more complicated arrangements of letters and digits. In response, DoCoMo took steps in July to make existing users change their addresses and encourage new subscribers to choose their own. Since August it has also offered a limited amount of free data transmission since users are charged for mail received as well as sent. DoCoMo estimates the steps it has taken to alleviate the junk mail problem will cost about 27 billion yen ($220.1 million) in lost revenue in the year to March 2002. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/24/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo to take French 3G licence?
Wednesday, October 24, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo is rumoured to have held talks with the French telecoms regulator, the ART, over the possibility of buying the country's 3G licence. The story is based on reports of several recent visits that DoCoMo officials have made to the ART offices. While it is impossible to verify the story, it is certainly true that the Japanese giant is stepping up its European strategy. DoCoMofs ambitious expansion is partly enabled by its low debt base. Over the next three years it plans to invest steadily in 3G services across Europe and later in the US, while relying on its domestic mobile and data business to provide funding. (BWCS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/19/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo to book loss on KPN
Friday, October 19, 2001 |
| |
Summary
The ailing financial condition of Dutch KPN Mobile, a unit of KPN Telecom NV, has led its Japanese partner NTT DoCoMo Inc. to a decision to book a valuation loss of about 400 billion yen ($3.3 billion). NTT DoCoMo will book the loss as an extraordinary charge in its fiscal first-half results ended Sept. 30. DoCoMo bought a 15 percent stake in KPN Mobile in July last year. Meanwhile, DoCoMo does not intend to book a valuation loss related to its stake in AT&T Wireless Group Inc., its biggest overseas investment, because it believes the U.S. partner's stock price will rebound in future. NTT DoCoMo spent 1.15 trillion yen on a 16 percent stake in AT&T Wireless in January this year. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/17/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo to tap bond market for 100 billion yen
Wednesday, October 17, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo said on Tuesday it would issue 100 billion yen ($828 million) in 10-year bonds, marking its fourth foray into the debt market this year. The straight domestic bonds are needed to finance overseas expansion and the rollout of its high-speed third-generation (3G) wireless service. The issuance raises DoCoMo's total debt funding in 2001 to 480 billion yen. The company sold 10-year bonds worth 120 billion yen in May and 180 billion yen in March, as well as 80 billion yen in five-year bonds in June. DoCoMo said it would put one trillion yen over the next three years into the rollout of its 3G mobile phone network without having to rely on the volatile stock market, which it tapped in February when it issued a record 800 billion yen in new shares. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/15/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo talks with SKT collapse
Monday, October 15, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Talks between NTT DoCoMo and SK Telecom for the Japanese mobile phone operator to take a minority investment in Korea's largest mobile phone operator, are on the verge of collapse. DoCoMo has been in talks with SKT for about two years over taking a stake of about 15 per cent in the Korean operator. The talks have been hampered by disagreements over price. SK Group has set aside a 14.6 per cent stake in SKT for a possible sale to DoCoMo. However, DoCoMo has also been disturbed by apparent reluctance within SKT towards an early roll-out of W-CDMA, the third-generation mobile phone standard adopted by DoCoMo and many European operators. DoCoMo fears SKT is not fully committed to the W-CDMA standard. DoCoMo had been particularly keen to form an early partnership with SKT because of the high level of travel between Japan and South Korea and the forthcoming World Cup series, which will be hosted jointly by the countries. SKT has a licence to offer a W-CDMA service, but already offers 3G services using a competing technology, CDMA 2000 1X. (Financial Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/12/2001
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo taps bond lead managers
Friday, October 12, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan's largest wireless telecoms firm, has selected Mizuho Securities Co Ltd and Daiwa Securities SMBC Co Ltd to lead-manage a straight domestic bond issue due later this year, market sources said on Thursday. The maturity and the amount of issuance, DoCoMo's fourth tapping of the bond market in 2001, has yet to be decided.In June, DoCoMo, Japan's biggest company by market value, offered 80 billion yen ($665.2 million) in five-year bonds, bringing its debt issuance so far this year to 380 billion yen. The funds are needed to finance an overseas expansion and the rollout of DoCoMo's third-generation wireless services, which debuted commercially at the beginning of this month. The June issuance of five-year bonds marked a switch from the 10-year maturities sold in the first two issuances this year. Moody's Investors Service has an Aa1 investment rating on DoCoMo and its parent Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp, while Standard & Poor's rates both at AA. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/10/2001
|
| |
NTT shares down, hit by earnings report, and DoCoMo slumps
Wednesday, October 10, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Shares in Japanese telecoms giant NTT slumped four percent by midday on Tuesday in Tokyo, weighed down by gloomy earnings prospects and a ratings downgrade by UBS Warburg, which also cut sizably NTT DoCoMo's target price. NTTs shares were down 4.09 percent at 563,000 yen, sharply. The daily Japan Industrial Journal reported earlier on Tuesday that NTT's two regional units, NTT East and NTT West, would likely suffer a combined loss of around 100 billion yen ($835 million) for the six months ended in September, against an interim loss of 11.1 billion yen a year earlier. Also weighing on NTT shares was a rating downgrade by UBS Warburg telecoms analyst Kate Lye, who cut the firm to "hold" from "buy". In a report dated Friday, Lye cited ongoing debate over NTT's restructuring, heightened competition that resulted in steep rate cuts at the regional units, and a new round of talks due to start in a few months over connection charges. UBS Warburg lowered its target price for NTT to 650,000 yen from 840,000 yen, and cut that for NTT's mobile unit, NTT DoCoMo, to 2.0 million yen from 2.8 million yen. Shares in DoCoMo sagged 6.25 percent to 1.65 million yen by midday. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/4/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo shrugs off subscriber figure concern
Thursday, October 4, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc President Keiji Tachikawa on Wednesday shrugged off concerns that the Japanese company may be losing market share. NTT DoCoMo, Japan's top wireless operator, had 272,000 new subscribers in August but only attracted about 50% of all new sign-ups, down from 58.5% the previous month. Meanwhile, J-Phone Communications run by Japan Telecom and Britain's Vodafone grabbed 34% of new users, up from 28% in July. ``It's true J-Phone's growth increased in July and August nationwide,'' Tachikawa told a news conference. ``But September figures will come out soon and...perhaps they will erase your concern.'' Despite the slowdown, DoCoMo has kept its market share at 58.8%, with 38.06 million total users in August, while J-Phone's share slightly expanded to 16.9 percent from 16.7% in July.Tachikawa, DoCoMo CEO, said mobile penetration in Japan is over 50%, so wireless operators should focus on profitability rather than on increasing monthly subscriptions. DoCoMo aims for six million 3G users at the end of March 2004, or 15% of its total current customer base. Shares in DoCoMo fell 6.4% to 1.61 million yen on Wednesday in a depressed Tokyo market. The benchmark Nikkei average ended down 2.09%. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 10/2/2001
|
| |
Competitors make inroads as DoCoMo focuses on 3G
Tuesday, October 2, 2001 |
| |
Summary
The launch of third-generation wireless services in Japan on Monday is first proof that 3G works, but pundits warn it may distract NTT DoCoMo Inc from the more pressing problem of keeping current growth alive. Carrying the hopes of an industry, DoCoMo, after a four-month delay, is now selling mobile phones capable of zipping Internet data and video across airwaves at accelerated speeds to users in Tokyo's greater metropolitan area. While DoCoMo concentrated on ironing out all the kinks during those four months, analysts say it may have given up some ground in current-generation services. Recent data suggest DoCoMo is giving up its valuable lead against its two main rivals, KDDI Corp and Japan Telecom Co Ltd, which looks set to come under the control of British mobile giant Vodafone Group. DoCoMo still commands a dominant 58.8 percent share of Japan's 64.18 million mobile phone users, thanks to its popular "i-mode" Net access service that lets users surf the Web, check email and read the news on credit card-sized screens. But in August, DoCoMo's share of new subscriptions fell to 50.9 percent compared to levels above 60 percent in the first three months of this year and 79.6 percent a year earlier. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/28/2001
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo plans hybrid dual 2G-3G units to stem limitations
Friday, September 28, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. plans to introduce hybrid mobile handsets compatible with both its current service and its soon-to-be introduced third-generation service next spring. DoCoMo's Foma will be the first third-generation (3G) service to enter commercial service when it goes on line in October with data transmission rates that will handle video phone and other advanced functions. Service is initially limited to subscribers in parts of Tokyo and Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures. Foma users will not be able to make calls outside of those areas. DoCoMo is therefore hoping to develop a market for Foma by introducing the dual-mode handsets, which will allow users to call outside the Foma coverage area. Foma makes use of WCDMA (wideband code-division multiple access). WCDMA transmits its data on a frequency of 2 gigahertz, while DoCoMo's current personal digital cellular service, which is unique to Japan, uses a transmission frequency of 800 megahertz. Foma's initial coverage area will include all of Tokyo's 23 wards and areas within the loop formed by National Highway 16 in surrounding prefectures. The service area is to be further expanded to Nagoya and Osaka in December, and to all major cities nationwide by the end of next March. Service will be extended to all areas of Japan in 2005 at the earliest. (Asahi Shimbun) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/14/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo keen to develop 3G in Brazil with Telefonica
Friday, September 14, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo intends to work on third generation telephony projects in Brazil in partnership with Telefonica, local newspapers reported, citing NTT DoCoMo Brazil technical director Eikichi Suzuki. NTT DoCoMo has a 7 percent stake in Telefonica Celular. The Japanese telecom giant does not intend to buy stakes in other local operators. (Telecom.paper/AFX) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/13/2001
|
| |
SingTel, DoCoMo frontrunners for Time dotCom
Thursday, September 13, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Singapore Telecommunications Ltd is likely to vie with Japan's NTT DoCoMo for Khazanah Nasional Bhd's 30 percent interest in Malaysia's Time dotCom. Time dotCom has been looking for a strategic partner, as its parent company Renong struggles to get out of debt. SingTel had already tried to buy a stake in Time dotCom last year, but the deal fell through because of political issues. Instead, Khazanah bought 30 percent of the company with the condition that a "strategic partner" would be found by July this year to take over at least 15 percent of the firm. "Other speculated suitors for Time dotCom's 30 percent stake include Hutchison Whampoa Ltd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Maxis Communications Bhd and Celcom (M) Sdn Bhd," an unnamed executive of a Malaysian mobile operator told Malaysia's Business Times. He added that "the acquirer is expected to be a foreign entity as local players just cannot afford to make that kind of investment at this point in time." Khazanah's stake is worth over RM2 billion (S$920 million). (ZDnetAsia) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/5/2001
|
| |
Views Differ on 3G's Impact on NTT DoCoMo's Revenue
Wednesday, September 5, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo this week silenced those who had doubted it would be able to start 3G wireless services in a month as planned, but new questions have already arisen over the outlook of its multimedia-based revenue. Although few expected Japan's top mobile operator to delay the full commercial launch of 3G (third-generation) services again after an initial setback in May, analysts were split on Tuesday over how much revenue would be generated by users downloading data such as Internet pages, video and music over 3G's fast wireless connections. DoCoMo itself projects 3G data ARPU will only be 50 percent higher than the 2,000 yen generated by i-mode users. DoCoMo has seen its stock slump by 50 percent from its peak in May, although it managed a 5.07 percent one-day gain on Tuesday to 1.45 million yen. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 9/4/2001
|
| |
Tokyo Residents Protest New DoCoMo Tower in Sumo District
Tuesday, September 4, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Plans for a cellular-phone communications tower in an older area of Tokyo have whipped locals into a furor over the health hazards posed by electromagnetic waves. NTT DoCoMo wants to build a communications tower atop a 27-story skyscraper on a plot of land previously used by NTT near the Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo hall in Tokyo's Sumida Ward. Residents have collected the signatures of 9,000 people opposed to the tower's construction and are considering lodging a complaint with the Tokyo metropolitan government's mediation committee. NTT DoCoMo officials claim the tower is needed to accomodate increased usage and to improvie sound quality of its 3G phones. Opponents argue the area is home to numerous public facilities, including several schools and a hospital. Residents of Ryogoku are not the first to protest the construction of a communication tower. There are currently at least 50 residents' protest movements against construction of similar towers The government has commissioned a panel of experts to conduct a study on the potential dangers of electromagnetic waves. (Asahi Shimbun) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/21/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo partner KG launches GPRS in Taiwan, preps for i-mode
Tuesday, August 21, 2001 |
| |
Summary
KG Telecom, the Taiwan partner of Japanese wireless giant NTT DoCoMo, launched the island's first GPRS service on Monday, giving mobile phone users a constant connection to the Internet. While unlisted KG took a conservative line on revenue to be milked from GPRS, or general packet radio services, the company said it was an important technological stepping stone towards the third generation of wireless service. It would also pave the way for services similar to i-mode launched by DoCoMo in Japan, KG's 21.43 percent owner. All of Taiwan's main mobile telephone service firms say they have wrapped up testing on their GPRS networks, but KG's competitors are waiting for a broader array of handsets, viewed as a major bottleneck to growth. Taiwan's mobile telephone market has grown at a breakneck pace since the sector was opened to private firms in 1998, but companies are now running out of new customers and many hope data services will generate more per-user revenues for its population of 23 million. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/20/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo fixes network to avoid mobile phone repair
Monday, August 20, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Top Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo has fixed a technical glitch in part of its mobile phone network, making a repair of 100,000 Panasonic Net-enabled handsets unnecessary. The phones, of which over 800,000 had been sold, were the latest in a series of technical problems to hit DoCoMo this year. Last month, DoCoMo said that it would temporarily stop sales of the Panasonic P503i, after it found that around 100,000 of them were unable to receive incoming calls at certain geographical locations. Instead of fixing the mobile phones by requiring users to visit a shop and rewrite their software system, DoCoMo made changes to base stations that provide wireless communications to cells in order to fix the problem. DoCoMo has 26.4 million people browsing the Web on its i-mode phones while 5.34 million use its Java-based "i-appli" service. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/14/2001
|
| |
State warns NTT over competition issue
Tuesday, August 14, 2001 |
| |
Summary
The Japanese government will reject a Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. business plan if it fails to promote competition among NTT group companies. In May, the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry asked the telecom giant to submit a plan to promote groupwide competition by cutting its equity stakes in group companies, opening its regional telecom networks to other carriers and promoting efficient operation at its two regional carriers, NTT East NTT West Corps. In particular, NTT is at odds with the ministry over reducing the company's equity stake in mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo Inc. and long-distance and international phone arm NTT Communications Corp. to less than 50 percent. NTT owns 64 percent of NTT DoCoMo and all of NTT Communications. If NTT refuses to make concessions, in the event the plan is rejected, the government may drastically review the structure of the NTT group, a senior official said in reference to the possibility of dismantling NTT as a holding company. (Japan Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/13/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo listing delay not seen as a problem, analysts say
Monday, August 13, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Japanese mobile phone giant NTT DoCoMo Inc was tightlipped about reports it has postponed the listing of its shares on the New York and London stock exchanges, and analysts saw scant impact. A day earlier, DoCoMo shares plunged 7.03 percent along with other telecoms shares on renewed concern over valuations after a major brokerage revised its price targets. DoCoMo has decided to postpone the listing of its stock on the New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, reportedly planned for September, because of the prolonged slump in IT stocks worldwide, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun. A source close to the listing arrangements said that in any case the overseas debut would have little impact on DoCoMo because it would not involve new shares, and thus the company had not looked to the listing as a fund-raising source. As of March 1, foreign investors held 13.5 percent of DoCoMo. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Now Announcing Operational Data on Quarterly Basis
Monday, August 13, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has announced that it will begin releasing its consolidated operational data on a quarterly basis. The company previously disclosed such figures every six months when releasing its fiscal financial results. Such data will include the ARPU (Average monthly Revenue Per Unit) and MOU (Minutes of Usage) for individual DoCoMo users on monthly basis. Also included is finer data not easily accessible, such as the number of Java-based "i-appli" sites, access percentages for various i-mode services, and calculations of ARPU "generated purely from i-mode." (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/10/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo Procuring Experimental '4G' Mobile System
Friday, August 10, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Amid trials of its third-generation "FOMA" mobile-communications system, NTT DoCoMo is planning to procure experimental systems for "fourth generation" mobile communications. Systems it will acquire include four base station and six mobile station units. Purchase is scheduled for June 2002. Submissions from vendors are due Aug. 31. DoCoMo will select one company from the applicants as its supplier. Specifications for 4G mobile communications do not yet exist. However, transmission speeds are anticipated to be set at around 100Mbps or faster maximum downstream transmission speed, and 20Mbps or faster upstream. (Nikkei Electronics) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo delays IPO on NYSE and LSE
Friday, August 10, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Japan's leading mobile communication provider, NTT DoCoMo, Inc., has postponed the listing of its stock on the New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on Friday. DoCoMo had been preparing to finalize details of its IPO on the two exchanges in September to facilitate trading of DoCoMo stock by foreign investors. The decision to delay the deal was based on the prolonged slump in information technology stocks worldwide, Nikkei reported. DoCoMo would consider launching the IPO within a year, if the floundering stock markets turned around, the report said. As of March 1, foreign investors held a 13.5 percent stake in DoCoMo. In February, DoCoMo raised 950 billion yen ($7.85 billion) through a secondary stock offering to build up capital for the following year. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/9/2001
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo looks to invest US$10B in Chinese market
Thursday, August 9, 2001 |
| |
Summary
According to the Yue Gang Xinxi Ribao (GD-HK Information Daily), NTT DoCoMo recently said that it hopes to invest more than US$10 billion in exploring the Chinese cellphone market. DoCoMo would introduce its i-mode mobile Internet access services jointly with Chinese cellphone manufacturers using wireless application protocol (WAP) and other technologies. According to the report, since China Unicom is currently using the same code division multiple access (CDMA) network used by DoCoMo, the latter may adopt 3G wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) technology, and China Unicom could potentially partner up with DoCoMo. Currently, the company's investment in Asia is only 100 billion yen (US$812.32 million), far less than its total investment in the European and U.S. markets, which amount to 1.8 trillion yen (US$14.62 billion). High-ranking officials from DoCoMo said that the companyfs investment in Asia would be increased to the same level as that in the European and U.S. markets. (ChinaOnline) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/3/2001
|
| |
FOMA trial user evaluation survey reveals mediocre results
Friday, August 3, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has made public results of a customer-satisfaction questionnaire from participants in its trial of FOMA, DoCoMo's new 3G mobile phone service. According to the survey, the phones' video-phone function was given "satisfactory" marks by 48 percent of users. In addition, 61 percent reported they experienced faster service when accessing i-mode at 64 kpbs via FOMA phones than via existing 9,600 i-mode phones. 43 percent of users were satisfied with FOMA's 384kbps data packet service. Regarding voice calls, 71 percent of users were satisfied with FOMA's sound quality, and 70 percent rated it "good" compared to mobile phones used previously. However, 47 percent were dissatisfied with poor network connectivity, and 53 percent rated the service as "bad" for its number of dropped calls. FOMA trial service began May 30, and will run until the scheduled launch of full commercial FOMA service on Oct. 1, 2001. (Nikkei Communications) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Results from NTT DoCoMo's WAP-NG Initiative seen in WAP2.0
Friday, August 3, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has announced that a set of Internet technology specifications, which it jointly initiated with Ericsson, has been adopted as a standardized specification for WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) 2.0. NTT DoCoMo has already adopted specifications equivalent to the ones for WAP2.0 for its i-mode service included in the introductory service of "FOMA," the company's third-generation (3G) wireless service. NTT DoCoMo will work to make its i-mode/FOMA service compatible with the newly fixed official WAP2.0 as soon as possible. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/2/2001
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo expects to sell 4.5 cellphones for every Japanese
Thursday, August 2, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo increased previously-announced projections for domestic demand for mobile telephones from 360 million to 570 million units in 2010, or 4.5 handsets per person at Japan's current population level. The increased projection is based on estimated use of applications and appliances incorporating mobile phones including TV sets and digital cameras that utilize a mobile telephone interface, according to an NTT DoCoMo spokesman. Plans include refrigerators with built-in cameras with mobile telephone connections that will enable people to take stock of their contents from the supermarket. Japan's population stands at 126.9 million, according to the latest census released by the Management and Coordination Agency. (AFP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 8/1/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo to Launch Wireless Money Trials
Wednesday, August 1, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Users of NTT DoCoMo's i-mode service will be able to purchase canned drinks using their telephones shortly as the company, together with Coca-Cola (Japan) and Itochu, launches trials of a new system that allows users to pay for goods with their cell phone handsets. The three companies plan to launch trials of the service with a small number of equipped vending machines in late August or September, according to company sources. The price of drinks purchased is then added to the telephone bill. Under the new I-vending service, users of I-mode will be able to load credit into electronic wallets in their telephones using the vending machines. This credit will then be available for purchasing drinks from the machines. Users will also be able to collect loyalty points that can be exchanged for free drinks or promotional merchandise. (IDG) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/24/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo targets businesses amid slower growth
Tuesday, July 24, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Japan's NTT DoCoMo Inc, which almost single-handedly put the Internet into the pockets of ordinary users with its wireless Web services, is now looking to repeat its success in the largely untapped business market. DoCoMo dominates Japan's sizzling mobile communications market with 58.6 percent of all 63.4 million cell phone users. Nearly all are registered individually rather than on business accounts. Subscriber growth, which averaged 1.8 percent a month in 2000, is now decelerating. It was just one percent in June. Critics say DoCoMo, unlike Britain's Vodafone Group Plc , has not adequately addressed the needs of businesses, which make up only 10 percent of its subscriber base but are often willing to pay more for premium services. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/23/2001
|
| |
AOLi Service to Help NTT DoCoMo Expand into Overseas Markets
Monday, July 23, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo, which owns 42 percent of DoCoMo AOL as the largest shareholder, and DoCoMo AOL launched a joint e-mail service on June 1, as the first major attempt to demonstrate the global strategic alliance of NTT DoCoMo and AOL-Time Warner. The alliance was established in September 2000. In the AOLi service, customers are given a single e-mail address that can be used for both a cellular phone and a PC. This means that if users of "i-mode" becomes a subscriber for the AOLi, they can read e-mails forwarded to a given single e-mail address through either a cellular phone or a PC. (Nikkei Business) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/18/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo looks beyond i-mode to 3-G phones
Wednesday, July 18, 2001 |
| |
Summary
In an interview with the Daily Yomiuri, DoCoMo President Keiji Tachikawa said that that 3G trials were "going fine" and that part of the company's 3G strategy was to deliver high-speed services for business users to increase their work efficiency. Tachikawa commented that DoCoMo would need to ensure overseas companies use its W-CDMA technology in order to achieve its goal of delivering international roaming service. He also stressed the need to support DoCoMo's affiliates with technological know-how, adding that "Unless we have the ability to do research and development on our own, just like Vodafone does, we won't be able to display leadership globally." (Daily Yomiuri) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo nears year low on profit jitters
Wednesday, July 18, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Shares of NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan's dominant mobile phone carrier, fell more than six percent by mid-afternoon on Wednesday after the latest in a rash of recalls and delays stoked lingering fears over its profit outlook.``It's not as if some big piece of news came out today to push the price lower, but the market is still chewing on reports its 'i-mode' service will be delayed in Europe and a number of other recent problems pointing at a worsening earnings picture for the firm,'' said Motoharu Sone, senior analyst at Tsubasa Securities. On Tuesday, the Asian Wall Street Journal said the carrier would delay the launch of its popular i-mode mobile Internet services in Europe because of technical problems at local operators. DoCoMo's stock had dropped 6.67 percent to 1.82 million yen by 0423 GMT, slipping for the fourth straight day and coming close to a year-to-date low of 1.8 million notched on March 5. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/17/2001
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo to Distribute Upgraded Standard-Type FOMA Phone
Tuesday, July 17, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will distribute an upgraded model of the NEC-manufactured standard-type FOMA N2001 phones to its 1,400 testing monitors. The upgraded FOMA N2001 is more stable than the earlier model and realizes a higher-quality connection with the network. The phone contains a universal serial bus (USB) connection that allows a user to connect a PC or other device with the phone, which supports high-speed packet data transmission. In addition, the maximum length of incoming i-mode e-mail will be increased from the previous 4,000 alpha-numeric letters, or 2,000 full-space Japanese characters, to 10,000 alpha-numeric letters or 5,000 full-space Japanese characters (9,998 alpha-numeric letters for outgoing messages). (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/16/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo to boost i-mode relay capacity
Monday, July 16, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc. plans to double the relay station capacity for its i-mode Web-browsing service to rid the popular mobile service of communication glitches. The expansion is designed to handle the surge in the number of i-mode service subscribers since its launch in February 1999. There are now more than 25 million people in Japan who subscribe to i-mode services. "The expansion is expected to make connecting trouble-free, even if the number of subscribers increases to 50 million," an NTT DoCoMo official said. (Japan Times) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/11/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo takes 2 million minutes to fix flawed i-mode phones
Wednesday, July 11, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Stopping short of issuing a recall, Japan's top wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo will issue "an advisory" to owners of 100,000 Web-enabled P503i i-mode phones after finding they are unable to receive voice calls and email at certain geographical locations. The announcement is the latest of a series of technical problems to hit Japan's mobile handset and wireless internet business. DoCoMo will also temporarily halt sales of the Panasonic phones, made by Matsushita Communication Industrial Co Ltd. (MCI), while it identifies which handsets are subject to the glitch by checking serial numbers. The servicing of the units entails the rewriting of software within the handset. Such rewriting will commence from July 24 (tentative) and the procedure will take about 20 minutes per handset. The P503i Hyper was one of first Java-enabled i-mode handsets released last January, with more than 800,000 units in circulation. (MobileMediaJapan.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/10/2001
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Moving U.S. Headquarters to N.Y.
Tuesday, July 10, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo will shift its U.S. headquarters from San Jose, California to New York City. As NTT DoCoMo's most important office in the United States, NTT DoCoMo USA, Inc. will work closely with local partners, including AT&T Wireless. DoCoMo's San Jose office will remain as an affiliate office of NTT DoCoMo USA and be renamed as the Pacific Division. The office will oversee all of DoCoMo's operations on the West Coast. DoCoMo will also set up an affiliated office in Washington D.C. to gather information related to the U.S. The new president of DoCoMo USA will be Nobuharu Ono, also apppointed a board member of AT&T Wireless. The goal of the NY office will be to strengthen cooperation with alliance partners, consider new alliances with East Coast companies, and to support NTT DoCoMo Tokyo Headquarters' investor relations and public relations activities in the US. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/5/2001
|
| |
SK Telecom CEO enthusiastic about DoCoMo alliance
Thursday, July 5, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Pyo Moon-soo, CEO of Korea's largest wireless carrier SK Telecom, said in a press conference July 4 that NTT DoCoMo is the "best possible" candidate for a strategic partnership. SK Telecom said earlier it will hold talks this month with NTT DoCoMo to forge an alliance and sell a 14%-15% stake. Pyo declined to say when the talks will take place this month, and didn't give other details. "But I could say NTT DoCoMo could be the best partner for our goal of becoming a leading telecom group in East Asia," he said. He said the company is "positively" considering an additional buyback of shares this year to boost its stock price. SK Telecom bought back about 3.57 million shares, or 4%, of its 89.15 million shares over the last two months. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Japan's DoCoMo to shift U.S. HQ to New York
Thursday, July 5, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo Inc will open a new subsidiary in New York to work more closely with its U.S. partner and prepare for a listing this fall, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on Thursday. An office in the U.S. capital Washington D.C. will also be established to work with the Federal Communications Commission and will bring the focus of DoCoMo's U.S. efforts to the East Coast, the business daily said. An NTT DoCoMo spokesman said the company had no comment on the report.Currently, DoCoMo's main U.S. operation is NTT DoCoMo U.S.A., which is based in San Jose, California. Current executive vice president Nobuharu Ono will become president of the U.S. subsidiary. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/4/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo offers in-flight data and fax service via satellite
Wednesday, July 4, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Japan's NTT DoCoMo Inc said in a company press release that it planned to launch telephone services using via-satellite communications on domestic airline flights by the end of this month. The company said it had applied to set up the service and the posts and telecommunications ministry had on Tuesday approved. The new service provides customers in-flight access to the Internet and facsimile services, the statement said. The service will be initially available on domestic flights of All Nippon Airways and be expanded to those of Japan Airlines and Japan Air System in skies over Japan's territory and its 200-nautical-mile offshore zone, it added. DoCoMo said the new service would add to the existing in-flight telephone service using analogue ground communications. (AFP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 7/2/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo: "People want to use the Internet anytime, anywhere"
Monday, July 2, 2001 |
| |
Summary
"For someone who is supposed to be at the cutting edge of wireless Internet technology, Keiji Tachikawa looks . . . well, a little stodgy. With his silver hair and conservative business suit, there is little to distinguish the 62-year-old from your run-of-the-mill senior-management type. But don't let the grandfatherly appearance deceive you. As president of NTT DoCoMo, Tachikawa has brought together close to a fifth of Japan's population through i-mode, the world's first and by far most successful mobile Internet service." (AsiaWeek) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
NTT Docomo says no change in KPN Mobile strategy
Monday, July 2, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Japanese telecoms giant NTT Docomo said on Friday it was fully committed to Dutch partner KPN Mobile but said there were no internal discussions about lifting its stake to a majority. NTT Docomo has seen the value of its stake in KPN Mobile plunge along with KPN's share price, fueling speculation about a change in strategy, such as writing down its 4.0 billion euro investment. KPN Mobile is not publicly traded. The share value of its parent company, KPN Telecom, has dropped over 90 percent since March 2000, putting its current market capitalisation at 7.2 billion euros. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo Maintence to interrupt i-mode for 2-3 hours Aug. 8-9
Monday, July 2, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo and its eight regional subsidiaries will upgrade software at i-mode centers in Tokyo and Kanagawa in order to improve i-mode service. The maintenance work will be performed on August 8 and August 9, 2001 from 2:00 a.m. to 4:50 a.m. During this timeframe, it will not be possible to use certain i-mode services and short mail service in the cases listed below. Normal voice service will not be affected by the maintenance work. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo struggles with junk mail
Monday, July 2, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Convenience is not always what it's cracked up to be -- at least not for Japan's NTT DoCoMo. The telecoms company is having to spend 27 billion yen ($217.2 million) to help alleviate a problem brought on by the ease of use that has made its Web-compatible i-mode mobile phones the most popular in Japan. The problem is junk mail. DoCoMo's system of mobile phone numbers doubling up as e-mail addresses seemed ideal when the service was launched in 1999. But the mobile phone operator had unwittingly made it easy for opportunistic Web-based services to bombard its 24 million i-mode users with junk mail simply by generating random 11-digit e-mail addresses on a computer. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/29/2001
|
| |
Talks drag on over DoCoMo investment in SK Telecom
Friday, June 29, 2001 |
| |
Summary
South Korea's leading mobile phone firm SK Telecom Co. said Thursday its two largest shareholders would discuss investment with Japan's NTT DoCoMo in July. SK Telecom and NTT DoCoMo have been negotiating the sale of a 14.5 stake which will make DoCoMo the second largest shareholder in SK Telecom. SK Telecom wants to strengthen ties with foreign firms as part of its campaign to become a global operator. Talks between SK and DoCoMo, which began in early last year, have stalled over price differences after a sharp fall in SK Telecom shares in line with the global downturn in the equities market. In Tokyo, NTT DoCoMo admitted informal talks were going ahead but said no agreement has been reached. (Dow Jones) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
DoCoMo moves are "problematic" in light of Antimonopoly Law
Friday, June 29, 2001 |
| |
Summary
A senior Fair Trade Commission (FTC) official implied that leading mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo may be targeted by a policy guideline to promote competition in Japan's cloistered telecommunications market. Without mentioning NTT DoCoMo by name, FTC Secretary General Akio Yamada referred to the company by saying that moves by "a mobile phone operator" to defer offering the technology it jointly developed with telephone set makers could be "problematic in light of the Antimonopoly Law." The guideline jointly drafted by the FTC and the telecom ministry is aimed at clarifying competition rules and complementing the Antimonopoly Law in governing telecom carriers. (Kyodo News) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/27/2001
|
| |
Japan's DoCoMo says it will boost investments in Asia
Wednesday, June 27, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo said it would invest as much in Asian partnerships as it had in Europe and the United States, and that it saw no need to write down the value of its existing overseas investments. DoCoMo has spent 1.8 trillion yen globally to acquire shares in other carriers likely to offer i-mode-like services. Only 100 billion yen of that money has been spent in Asia. However, DoCoMo said that any such move within Asia would take time, given existing regulations in various countries in the region and DoCoMo's desire to operate in open environments. (Reuters) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Japanese shareholders get a bit of attitude
Wednesday, June 27, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Shareholders in Japanese mobile telecommunications giant NTT DoCoMo Inc. Tuesday protested long and loud -- an unusual scene in Japan --over what they saw as a paltry dividend following huge profit growth. The protests saw the company's annual meeting stretch to two and a half hours, well beyond the scheduled hour. Despite posting impressive 45 percent profit growth in the year to March to 356.51 billion yen (three billion dollars), the company announced a dividend of just 1,000 yen, unchanged from last year. (AFP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/26/2001
|
| |
NTT DoCoMo Receives AAA Rating in Eco-efficiency
Tuesday, June 26, 2001 |
| |
Summary
NTT DoCoMo has received an AAA ranking in eco-efficiency from Innovest Strategic Value Advisors Inc., an international investment research firm. The ranking cites DoCoMo's recycling efforts, including high recovery of handsets and batteries, e-billing services, and contribution to environmental programs. The award not only acknowledges NTT DoCoMo's environmental initiatives, but also places the company ahead of its peers in terms of investment potential and shareholder value. (NTT DoCoMo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
DOCOMO News of 6/25/2001
|
| |
DoCoMo's i-mode user base hits 24.6m
Monday, June 25, 2001 |
| |
Summary
Japan's largest mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo has increased its i-mode subscriber base to 24.6 million as of 18 June, up some 600,000 subscribers since last month. DoCoMo executive director Takeshi Natsuno expects subscribers numbers to hit 25 million by the end of June. Says Natsuno, "...wireless Internet access is a 'must have' application for mobile users...not an additional application to voice anymore. It's as important as voice application." (ZDNet Asia) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Japanese mobile industry ponders Galapagos Effect |
| |
Summary (gilesrichter.com)
Japan has a super-powerful mobile ecosystem worth billions, brimming with futuristic technologies, business models, and experiences that the world wants to emulate. But is it a model or an anomaly? And does it only exist because it was incubated in isolat... |
|
|
|
Surprise? 10 years in, ComScore Discovers m-Commerce in Japan |
| |
Summary (New Media Age)
That's right. After ten years of leading the world in mobile commerce, Japan has leapt ahead to take the lead again, and it has snagged the attention of the foreign media. This surprising non-news was broken by ComScore at the Mobile World Congress an... |
|
|
|
Japan slices books into e-reader-sized bytes |
| |
Summary (News on Japan)
Would you pay $1 a copy to have all the books in your house cut up and scanned to PDF? That's what is happening in Japan, where cramped living conditions and the arrival of the iPad in May have spawned as many as 60 companies offering to turn paper bo... |
|
|
|
|
