NTT DoCoMo to Offer I-mode in Europe
T O K Y O, Jan. 19, 2001 -- NTT DoCoMo is launching a European version of itshit "i-mode" wireless Web service later this year with KPN Mobileof the Netherlands and Telecom Italia Mobile, the Japanese companyannounced.
The service will be offered to the more than 30 million mobilephone subscribers who use either KPN and TIM in Belgium, Germany,Italy and the Netherlands.
Separately, in another development targeting the wirelessInternet market, America Online announced Thursday that itsNetscape unit will develop a version of Nokia's microbrowser thatwould customize mobile devices for AOL services.
I-mode Expands Globally
The Netscape-branded browser, the latest step in AOL'smulti-pronged push into wireless, will be the company's first basedon WAP, a leading technology format for delivering Web content tocell phones and handheld devices. AOL's other wireless forays haveincluded deals to feature its services on Sprint PCS phones and acustomized version of the BlackBerry two-way pager.
Much like AOL is trying to expand the dominance of its Internetservice into the wireless arena, NTT DoCoMo has made no secret ofits ambitions to parlay the huge success of i-mode into a globalphenomenon.
In less than two years, i-mode has signed on more than 17million subscribers, who can use their mobile phones to accessspecial Web sites featuring games, e-mail cartoon images, andinformation on news, weather, travel and restaurants.
Buoyed by i-mode's popularity, NTT DoCoMo has been vigorouslyinvesting overseas, buying 15 percent of KPN Mobile and 16 percentof AT&T Wireless of the United States.
On Thursday, NTT DoCoMo said it hoped to offer the Europeanversion of i-mode in Austria, France, Greece, Spain and Turkey at alater date. The Japanese company is also planning to launch a U.S.version of i-mode, but the timing is still undecided.
NTT DoCoMo also announced Thursday that it will introduce apremium, high-capacity version of i-mode in Japan on Jan. 26.
New Service Based on Java
The new service, called "i appli," will be based on Javatechnology, a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems.The high-speed service will allow users to download informationincluding elaborate games and automatic stock updates.
Initially, two models of "i appli" phones will be available,from Matsushita Communication Industrial Co. and Fujitsu. Pricesfor the phones, which will also link to i-mode sites, have not beenset.
Access to "i appli" will be included in i-mode's monthly feeof about $2.50, but connections to the high-speed service will beup to four times more expensive than regular download rates.
NTT DoCoMo also plans to be the first in the world to offer amore advanced form of wireless technology, known as 3-G or ThirdGeneration, that will allow for video, audio and other heavy-dutytransmissions. A limited rollout in the Tokyo area is slated forMay.