Found on Dow Jones Newswires (most interesting the part at the end about
business and consumer markets):
FROM THE ARCHIVES: March 21, 2002
AT&T Wireless Plans Mobile Net Svc Using DoCoMo Tech -FT
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
TOKYO -- AT&T Wireless (AWE) will launch a mobile internet service in April
using NTT DoCoMo's (J.NTX or 9437) technology, in an attempt to duplicate
the success of its Japanese partner's popular i-mode service, the Financial
Times reported in its international edition Thursday.
The service, which will cater to both U.S. business and consumer markets,
will be called m-mode, the FT said without citing sources. It will be the
first result of DoCoMo's $1 billion investment in AT&T Wireless, which
bought it a 16% stake.
On Saturday, E-plus, the German mobile operator, launched its version of
i-mode , which provides access to e-mail and the internet through a mobile
phone. KPN Mobile N.V. (N.KPM), in which DoCoMo owns a 15% stake, is to
start an i-mode service next month.
However, the decision by AT&T Wireless to not use the DoCoMo i-mode name and
their licensing fee payment arrangement could strain relations and prove a
stumbling block to the success of the new service, the FT said.
DoCoMo's strategy is to rollout its i-mode services through its overseas
partners as a way to raise its global profile, increase the economic value
of those partners and improve returns on its investment.
Furthermore, its policy is to collect licensing fees from those partners for
their use of i-mode technology. Both KPN Mobile and E-Plus are paying
licensing fees for the use of the technology. AT&T Wireless, however, says
it has a royalty-free relationship with DoCoMo.
AT&T Wireless's services will be equally focused on consumers and business
users. This contrasts with i-mode , which boasts more than 30 million
subscribers and owes its success to the consumer market.
Received on Tue Mar 26 00:32:47 2002