Docomo to go 'international' soon.

[difenbaker]

DoCoMo to make all models global standard - paper
Sat May 20, 10:22 PM ET

TOKYO (Reuters) - NTT DoCoMo Inc. (9437.T), Japan's largest mobile phone operator, plans to make all its models compatible with global standards so they can be used in more than 130 countries, a leading Japanese newspaper said on Sunday.

The move will have all of DoCoMo's models compatible with the Global System for Mobile Communications format (GSM) in two years, making it the first Japanese mobile company to do so, company sources were quoted as saying by the Yomiuri Shimbun.

At present, only a limited number of Japanese mobile phone models are usable overseas.

Under the new system, DoCoMo mobile phone users would also be able to use its i-mode internet services in over 70 countries, the Yomiuri said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060521/tc_nm/telecoms_japan_docomo_dc;_ylt=Ajq9pmIcIYFlBQ4O347Y NUL67rEF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--


cheers!

[carcomptoy]

I still don't understand the special-ness about i-mode...

But none the less, it says "the first Japanese mobile company to do"...but Wasn't J-Phone/Vodafone KK/now Softbank GSM all along?:confused:

[nk6600]

We already have i-mode in the UK. O2 have been running it for several months now.

[difenbaker]

DoCoMo Mandating GSM in all Japanese Handsets

Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper has reported that DoCoMo plans to be Japan's first cell phone operator to have all of its handset models compatible with GSM networks, to enable easier roaming for travellers. The report, citing unnamed sources said that suppliers will have two years before all handsets sold by the operator would mandate GSM capabilities.

While KDDI and Vodafone/Softbank do offer handsets which can roam overseas, DoCoMo is different in mandating the facility for all future handsets.

Currently, only five DoCoMo models are GSM-compatible. The company will make more new models in the future compatible with both W-CDMA and GSM, and make all new models compatible with both formats within two years.

The move comes as the country prepares to launch Mobile Number Portability, which would make it easier for customers to churn from DoCoMo to the other operators while retaining their phone number.

http://www.cellular-news.com/story/17469.php

[Jose_R.A.M]

I still don't understand the special-ness about i-mode...

But none the less, it says "the first Japanese mobile company to do"...but Wasn't J-Phone/Vodafone KK/now Softbank GSM all along?:confused:

I wasn't sure about it either until I found a video about i-mode in use.

Its quite intuitive (there's a thread about it), fast and easy to use. Its not exactly a big difference in terms of web browsing, just made a little easier for you.