The following news item seem to indicate that DoCoMO is certainly not
putting all its eggs in one basket re: FOMA. Sounds quite like the Mobile
services initiative from the GSM association, with the important difference
that it is likely to be implemented.
John
John Whelan
Alatto Ltd.
Linden Court
Stillorgan Plaza
Co Dublin
Ireland
t:+353-1-209-0787
m:+353-87683-8850
http://www.alatto.com
TOKYO, Sept 10 (Reuters) - NTT DoCoMo Inc (9437), Japan's top mobile
operator, said on Monday it plans to boost the speed at which information is
sent to its i-mode phones, which boast 27 million users surfing the Net on
credit card-sized screens.
While DoCoMo is at the cutting edge of wireless technology with plans to
launch fully commercial third-generation (3G) wireless services in less than
a month, its i-mode network is based on a digital technology that limits
download speeds to 9,600 bits per second.
The wireless carrier said in a statement that it will upgrade its i-mode
network next spring to allow newer model phones to receive content three
times faster at 28.8 kilobits per second.
That will allow users to download more enriched content such as digital
images, ringing tones and mini programmes written in Java, a versatile
programming language.
DoCoMo said it will also triple the amount of memory to store mini Java
programmes to 30 kilobytes. Currently, 6.3 million i-mode users download
games and other applications onto their phones.
DoCoMo said that while the upgrade will take place next spring and will
cover all of Japan, the new speeds can only be accessed on i-mode phones
models sold after that time.
DoCoMo's 3G service, which starts October 1, will offer download speeds of
up to 384 kilobits per second, allowing fast Net access, video and music
downloads.
Despite its lead in technology, worries over telecommunication shares around
the globe have weighed on DoCoMo's share price, which fell to fresh 28-month
low on Monday.
At 1.22 million yen ($10,150), DoCoMo was down 5.43 percent on the day and
38 percent from the beginning of the year.
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Received on Mon Sep 10 14:07:59 2001