Dai wrote >
Do you think that the media blitz suggests that DoCoMo are about to
introduce an i-mode service in Europe, or is this just to make sure we
Europeans don't forget they exist?
<
Dai, DoCoMo has made several moves of late. It's more than just keeping
their profile above water.
Notably DoCoMo had problems with writing down $3.3bn on the KPN investment
which did not look good
on their balance sheet.
(http://www.wirelessworldforum.com/printout.php?item=10726&s=0&n=20&c=0&i=0)
Furthermore, DoCoMo is rumoured to be after the French 3G license that has
gone spare. D is curently
in talks with France's telecommunications regulator over the possible
purchase of a licence. CSFB's daily telecom
report said a that DoCoMo has been to visit the French regulator several
times over the past couple of weeks.
(http://www.wirelessworldforum.com/printout.php?item=10747&s=0&n=20&c=0&i=0)
We need to also remember that D is a shareholder in UK based Hutchison 3G
which plans a 3G launch late 2002.
This service, although not directly based on the i-mode system will draw
considerable input from the Japanese
experience.
DoCoMo has research labs in Germany and France as well as an HQ in France
and the London Docklands. As far as
I know, they are restricted in the % shareholding they may hold in foreign
operators (due to their memorandum -
can someone confirm this ?) but that notwithstanding I would expect that a
further purchase in stock in their
partners in UK, Holland (France) and Italy will certainly be on the cards.
Graham
www.wirelessworldforum.com
W2F - competitive intelligence for the wireless industry
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Received on Thu Oct 25 15:53:49 2001