I agree. Whilst a packet network is probably a prerequisite for a successful
wireless data service, it alone does not guarantee success.
NTT DoCoMo very specifically chose and continues to choose open technology
standards (HTTP, cHTML, Java) to encourage a wealth of contents.
Also, I think DoCoMo could keep ALOT more than 9% of billing charges if they
wanted to, but they don't b/c they make more on packet use and want to encourage
more use. And I agree with Bruce that 9% probably barely covers infra costs.
The WAP Forum's biggest failure has been it's excessive inclusion of
technologists, operators, etc. and not enough contents providers. WML and other
WAP protocols are a perfect example of what happens when very smart engineers
invent technically brilliant standards that are completely out of touch with
business reality.
DoCoMo, on the other hand, when it was first devising i-mode, went and spoke to
potential contents providers (like banks) and found out that, for example, they
had all just gotten the hang of html, so if they could continue to use their
html skills and existing web infrastructure they'd be much more willing to
provide contents for i-mode. And DoCoMo listened.
Granted, anyone can join the WAP Forum and participate in the decision-making.
But that's alot different than if all of Europe's operators asked all the banks,
newspapers, and video game makers what they wanted/needed in order to bother
making wireless contents.
r e n
Bruce Kirk wrote:
> There seems to be commonly-held believe in Europe at the moment that the
> imminent introduction of high-speed GPRS packet networks will miraculously
> solve all the teething problems associated with WAP 1.0 and beyond. I'm not
> 100% convinced.
>
> Accessing content over CSD is a problem (reliability, cost, convenience,
> etc.) and packet will make this a more attractive proposition...However, the
> success of i-mode has got nothing to do with bandwidth. In Japan, it's
> already possible for users to have access to EZ Web's WAP service on a 64K
> packet-link, but it's still i-mode's 9.6K service which has build up a 10M+
> user-base. What's the point of increased data-speeds if you can only get 10K
> of memory on the handset with limited CPU capability?
>
> The success of i-mode comes down to NTT Docomo choosing (perhaps by
> accident) to replicate the internet experience for a mobile device rather
> than build something again from scratch a la WAP Forum. The choice of cHTML
> as a mark-up language and open access has allowed a huge community of
> unofficial content sites to grow in Japan (about 18,000 the last time I
> looked which account for 40% of total i-mode traffic). It's pretty easy to
> develop a site in cHTML...but how many developers out there are going to
> learn WML or rely on pretty unreliable content convertors? cHTML enabled
> handsets support (or will support very soon) colour screens, gifs,
> animation, MIDI, SSL, Java...etc., etc. ... If you want to introduce these
> types of rich content features on WAP then you're going to have to wait for
> the WAP Forum to debate, agree and then define them. It just doesn't make
> sense.
>
> re: Business Models ... People concentrate on the fact that Docomo makes 9%
> on the 5-600 content sites. Big deal ... I doubt if the revenue raised from
> that channel would be enough to cover their monthly stationery costs. The
> success comes down to the fact that there is content out there which people
> want to access (which isn't happening on WAP) and the content is in a format
> which closely resembles the internet (rather than black and white minitel in
> WAP's case) ... This in turn generates more data traffic and voice calls
> which is where Docomo make their money.
>
> The way the European operator and vendor community have seized upon the
> recent i-mode network failures as a sign that it somehow "doesn't work" may
> just be a case of sour grapes on their part ... and perhaps insecurity from
> those who have staked their careers and future on WAP. I'm sure the
> boardrooms of Detroit in the 1970s were full of similarly desperate
> sentiment about the success of compact Japanese cars in the American market.
> "It's a cultural thing ... will never take-off here ... nothing to worry
> about ..."
>
> -----Original Message-----
> 差出人 : Peter Roxburgh <peter.roxburgh@securetrading.com>
> 宛先 : keitai-l@appelsiini.net <keitai-l@appelsiini.net>
> 日時 : 2000年8月14日 19:22
> 件名 : (keitai-l) Re: New member/i-mode stumbles?
>
> >Susan
> >
> >Europe is perched on the edge of packet networks; we may then see an
> >explosion of I-mode type services. There is nothing stopping operators
> using
> >the same billing models and 'content-alliances' as NTT - other then shear
> >greed. Most European operators have tried to keep control (and the revenue
> >streams) with WAP; the I-mode model would require a massive paradigm shift.
> >
> >Could you please explain how WAP plays into this? If what's important about
> >i-mode is the business model
> >(and I agree), isn't it the same for the European carriers? Or does WAP
> >somehow
> >allow them to limit users' access to
> >sites? My apologies if this is a ridiculously uninformed question.
> >
> >
> >European carriers have the same options available to them as any other
> >operator. Yes, the important thing about i-mode is the business model. And
> >yes, the European operators could have adopted this model with WAP, but
> they
> >choose not to.
> >
> >
> >Limiting user's access if fairly simple with WAP. You can block your site
> to
> >any user that has not come through your WAP gateway (or any other choosen
> >gateway). However, by 'keeping control' operators do not have to block
> users
> >visiting other sites.
> >
> >
> >Peter Roxburgh
> >Mobile Solutions Developer
> >peter.roxburgh@securetrading.com
> >http://www.securetrading.com
> >Tel: +44 (0) 1248 672007
> >Fax: +44 (0) 1248 672017
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: keitai-l-bounce@appelsiini.net
> >[mailto:keitai-l-bounce@appelsiini.net]On Behalf Of
> >susank@mbizcentral.com
> >Sent: 11 August 2000 17:45
> >To: keitai-l@appelsiini.net
> >Subject: (keitai-l) Re: New member/i-mode stumbles?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
--
ascii: r e n f i e l d
octal: \162 \145 \156 \146 \151 \145 \154 \144
hex: \x72 \x65 \x6e \x66 \x69 \x65 \x6c \x64
morgan stanley dean witter japan
e-business technologies | engineering and strategy
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Received on Tue Aug 15 05:45:08 2000