Tom,
European i-mode is not a straight copy from the Japanese. Let me mention a
few differences:
- imail costs 19 Eurocent per mail (maximum 1000 characters) which is much
higher than in Japan; E-Plus did not want to trigger a price war on SMS
which would certainly have broken out when they had introduced the Japanese
pricing model.
- erotic content is allowed in the European i-mode.
- international roaming is possible; not with Japan ;-)
- first reaction of a consumer visiting CeBit is not too positive
http://web.planet.nl/multimedia/2002/cebit2002/eplus-imode3.wma interview
with a consumer
http://web.planet.nl/multimedia/2002/cebit2002/eplus-imode2.wma interview
with Ralph Hauck, E-Plus responsible for introduction of imode in Germany
The problem for the Japanese handset manufacturers is the lack of a
powerful retail channel in Europe. Being part of the i-mode camp and let
the mobile operator market the handsets makes sense for them.
Arjen van Blokland
ab@104.com
www.104.com
------------------------------------------
Arjen van Blokland
VP International Business Development, 104.com
E: ab@104.com
M: +81-90-7630-5776 (Japan)
------------------------------------------
Received on Sat Mar 16 22:12:34 2002