(keitai-l) Re: Frustration makes way for...

Benedict, don't get me wrong, I am not comparing GSM technically against
iMode - simply saying that a non-GSM technology was a better fit for Japan
for many reasons.
GSM is great for places that need a standard network to cover different
geographies, countries, handsets, and carriers.
Japan as a domestic market (with NTT as the major player) had the luxury of
not having to worry about any of the same problems above that drove the GSM
standard into existence.
"Horses for courses" I believe the saying goes.
Let's just see which horse (if any) wins, or whether there will just always
be different courses.
Andrew



-----Original Message-----
From: keitai-l-bounce@appelsiini.net
[mailto:keitai-l-bounce@appelsiini.net]On Behalf Of Benedict Evans
Sent: 31 January 2001 18:59
To: keitai-l@appelsiini.net
Subject: (keitai-l) Re: Frustration makes way for...

>Obviously, to not go with a GSM infrastructure was a decision based >more
>on usability and service to Japanese domestic customers than >trying to
>dominate the world.
>
>this is probably also why it has worked so well!

Not really. Western Europe, which is GSM only, had 100 million net new
subscribers last year, taking penetration to 70%, so it's pretty hard to
claim it hasn't worked well.

More, PDC doesn't support roaming (so far as I understand), which is rather
a crucial handicap.

-Benedict Evans

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