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Latest News from Japan to provide the information about the current trend in Japanese
economy and information technology. You'll see the market and technology transition
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October 2, 2001 DoCoMo launches 3G mobiles NTT DoCoMo Inc. launched on Oct. 1 a world first - a so-called third-generation (3G) high- speed cellular phone service providing i-mode access to the Internet 40 times faster than previously available, company officials said. Three cell-phone models that cater to the Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access (FOMA) service were put on the market on 1st. morning in Tokyo metropolitan area, the first area to support the new service, the officials said. More than 20,000 units were shipped to 260 outlets, including DoCoMo-run shops, prior to October 1st launch. One of the models, which is equipped with a video camera, allowing it to be used as a videophone, was sold out at many of the outlets on that day. Along with a Net connection speed of 384 kilobytes per second, FOMA technology offers significantly better voice quiality than other cell-phone services, the officials said. Video transmission, which is data-intensive, is smooth, they added. 
DoCoMo, the nation's largest cell-phone service operator, expects to extend the service to Osaka and Nagoya in
December.(Reported on October 2, 2001 edition of The Daily Yomiuri.) September 2, 2001 DoCoMo to start fixed-fee service NTT DoCoMo has decided to introduce what will for all intents and purposes be a fixed price system for its next-generation cellular phone services, company sources said. A basic \8,000 monthly i-mode fee will allow unlimited use of the i-mode service, worth up to \120,000 according to the sources. Currently, the basic monthly i-mode fee for DoCoMo cell phone is \300, which does not include transmission and permunite charges. NTT DoCoMo will launch its commercial third-generation service - dubbed FOMA (Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access) - in October. The fixed-price system will allow FORMA users cheaper access to the i-mode service, according to the firm. Usually, i-mode users are charged according to the size and amount of data transmitted, as well as how long the transmission takes. In a bid to have the new service spread quickly in its early stages, however, DoCoMo will enable users to download and transmit data-intensive content such as animated images and music without having to worry about the cost. DoCoMo will apply with the Public Management Ministry for approval of the 3G services, with the quasi-fixed price system its centerpiece. (Reported on September 2, 2001 edition of The Daily Yomiuri). August 25, 2001 DoCoMo to assist foreign carriers NTT DoCoMo Inc. reached an agreement with three major European mobile carriers, to provide them with high-speed data transmission technology, conmany officials said. The tree European carriers are E-Plus of Germany, KPN Mobile N.V. of the Netherlands, and KPN Orange of Belgium. This is the first time for DoCoMo, the world's second largest cell phone company, to conclude a contract to sell technical licenses to foreign firms. With the provision of this technology, DoCoMo intends to accelerate its strategy of boosting its influence over foreign companies, the officials said. This global strategy is expected to intensify competition with Vodafone of Britain, the world largest telecommunications firm, observers said, The technology to be provided covers the high-speed transmission and reception of images and other data via mobile phones. This technology is already used for Internet services provided through cell phones. The three European carriers plan to start a service to transmit and receive images via cell phones in September, the first such service in Europe. DoCoMo has invested a total of \1.8 trillion in U.S. and European mobile phone firms, including AT&T Wireless and KPN Mobile, a unit of KPN Telecom N.V. The overseas investments are intended to expand the international market for i-mode Internet and next-generation mobile phone services. However, until now, DoCoMo has not attempted to initiate technology transfers or launch its i-mode service overseas, as the foreign firms it has invested in have yet to develop next-generation mobile phone services. (Reported on August 25, 2001 edition of The Daily Yomiuri.) July 16, 2001 NTT plans wireless Net service NTT East Corp. and NTT West Corp. plan to build a wireless network to provide high-speed Internet access in areas not covered by fiber-optic cable networks. According to the sources, fiber-optic networks are difficult to install in densely built-up areas. The NTT wireless network would allow residents of such areas to receive a high-speed service with a maximum speed of about 10 megabits per second, 200 times faster than that available from telephone lines. The monthly subscription fee will be about \4,000, less than the cost of using fiber-optic services. (Reported on July 16, 2001 issue of The Daily Yomiuri) May 31, 2001 DoCoMo launches testing of 3-G cell phone service NTT DoCoMo Inc., the nation's largest cellular phone service operator, started the world's first third-generation (3-G) cellular phone service on an experimental basis in Tokyo's 23 wards and parts of Yokoham and Kawasaki. The 3-G phone units, named FOMA (Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access), can transmit data such as pictures more smoothly than previous models, enabling faster access to the Internet and video-phone units. It will operate the service until late September on an experimental basis. (Reported on May 31, 2001 edition of The Daily Yomiuri) May 14, 2001 NTT firms to open up fiber-optic networks NTT East Corp. and NTT West Corp. will allow other telecommunications companies to use their fiber-optic cable networks, which link local telephone exchanges to households. Currently, the two NTT companies lease their fiber-optic networks to a limited number of businesses. Under the new plan, they will lease the networks to any business for a basic monthly charge of about \5,000 per fiber-optic circuit. NTT East and West will apply for permission to the Public Management Ministry shortly in the hope that it can launch the new service sometime in summer, according to sources. By using NTT's fiber-optic cable networks, newcomers in the tele- communications business, including Internet-related venture firms, will be able to offer households a ultrahigh- speed Internet connection without having to set up their own networks. The NTT's new service is expected to lower rates for high-speed Internet access, while at the same time diversifying related services, including the distribution of music and movies. The two NTT companies are currently connecting fiber-optic cables from local telephone exchanges to access points, which have been installed at a ratio of one for every 400 households nationwide. The companies have offered 60 percent coverage in major cities and prefectural capitals and 40 percent elsewhere. In December, fiber-optic cables were extended to households from the access points, enabling household users to connect to the Internet at ultrahigh speeds. NTT East and West shortly will ask the Public Management Ministry to approve a draft clause stipulating conditions to be imposed on other communication companies that want to lease NTT's cables. (Reported on May 14, 2001 edition of The Daily Yomiuri) April 4, 2001 The Management and Coordination Agency of Japanese Government decided to require all of mobile phone organization to release their communication network at the end of May. As reported on Mar. 21, NTT DoCoMo has decided to open up their mobile phone communication network called "i-mode" to the other internet providers in coming two years. With this requirement by the Government, it is forecasted that other mobile phone organizations, "EZ Web" by KDDI and "J-Sky" by J-Phone will open up their communication network in next year. This means that all of mobile phone user will be able to access to any PC provider. Mar. 31 2001 The Universal Studio Japan launched in Osaka on Mar. 31. About 27,000 people visited on this day and 35,000 advance tickets for next day have sold out exceeding the original plan of 30,000. The success of The Universal Studio Japan brought much influence to the economy in Osaka such as hotels and railways. Mar. 21, 2001 NTT DoCoMo, the biggest mobile phone organization with more than 20 million users decided to open up their mobile phone communication network to the other communication organizations in Spring of 2003. This means that DoCoMo's mobile phone users will have free selection of internet provider and mobile phone network business will drastically expand. Conventionally, the internet access by mobile phone has been operated individually by each mobile phone organization and the user is not able to access to the other provider. NTT DoCoMo's decision is to provide the possibility for their mobile phone users to access any personal computer provider such as Nifty, Biglobe by NEC and OCN and many which are providing online shopping with credit card etc. NTT DoCoMo is going to invest about 50 billion Yen for coming 2 years to complete the infrastructure construction for this project. It is forecasted that other organizations such as KDD and J-Phone will follow and mobile phone internet market will drastically expand. Mar. 8, 2001 Internet connection contracts from mobile phones have exceeded 30 million as of the end of February, 2001. The Electric Communication Business Association reported that the internet connection contracts from mobile phones have reached to 31.41 million as of the end of February, 2001. The breakdown of this total number counts 19.78million approx. by NTT DoCoMo, 6.11million by KDDI (AU Tsuka), and 5.52million approx. by J-Phone. The record shows that it took more than 1 year to pass 10 million contracts mark, and after that, 5 months to pass 20 million and 4 months to pass 30 million accelerating its speed. (Reported on March 8 edition of The Yomiuri Newspaper.) Feb. 26, 2001 NTT plans to establish new fire-optic subsidiary NTT Corp. plans to establish a new fiber-optic communications firm as early as autumn that may become one of the group's key businesses. The officials said the new firm will access the current fiber-optic network and provide communication services nationwide. Fibre optics are expected to provide data transmission speeds 100 to 1,000 times faster than regular phone lines. The fibre-optic network is believed to be as indispensable infrastructure for information technology. The government hopes to connect about 10 million households with the fiber-optic network by 2005. (Reported on February 26, 2001 edition of The Daily Yomiuri). Jan. 31, 2001 The Ministry of Economy and Industry and its extra-departmental body, E-commerce Promotion Council and Accenture, a major consulting organization announced the result of their joint investigation. The market scale of e-commerce (total of sales and contract amount) in the 2000 fiscal year reached 21.6 trillions among the enterprises and 824 billions by consumers (private use). The former counts 2.5 times during two years since 1998 and the latter counts 2.5 times during one year. This drastic expansion of consumer related e-commerce is due to the increasing internet service for mobile phone. (reported on January 31, 2001 by the Yomiuri Newspaper.) Jan. 28, 2001 The Financial Agency decided to change existing authorization system to notification system for Banker's store establishment or discontinuance. This came from the current situation of expanding internet banking system. (reported on January 28, 2001 by the Yomiuri Newspaper.) Jan. 23, 2001 The first meeting of "The Promotion Strategy Headquarters for High Intelligence Communication Network Society (The Information Technology Strategy Headquarters)" in which all of the member of the Cabinet and the learned men discuss was held on January 22nd. 2001, and decided "The e-Japan strategy" for Japan to be the most advanced information technology nation in the world within coming 5 years. 15 information technology related bills will be submitted to the ordinary session of the Diet for the popularization of internet and the expansion of e-commerce. These bills include the subsidy system for the optical fiber network establishment and the policy to release telegraph poles owned by electricity supply companies for the communication network etc.(Reported on January 23, 2001 edition of the Yomiuri Newspaper.) Nov. 25, 2000 Recent investigation found the unbelievable fact that many imitation of overseas designer's brand products being sold in almost all of retail stores such as major department stores, major supermarkets and specialty stores etc. For example, 95.7% of retail store including major department stores and major supermarkets are selling the imitations of Polo-Ralph Lauren products at the price of a half to one third of normal prices. Most of major stores are selling not intentionally but some specialty stores are intentionally with their own policy to satisfy consumers' needs in their way. They analyze this phenomenon as the consequence of that Japan is No.1 kingdom of brand-oriented country. (Reported in TV program on Nov. 25, 2000.) Nov. 9, 2000 It was reported that the Information Technology Bill passed the House of Representatives on November 9th 2000. Oct. 19, 2000 The Japanese government introduced a budget of 11trillion Yen for comprehensive economic countermeasures titled "The new evolution policy for the rebirth of the Japanese economy" on October 19, 2000. It is aimed, in addition, to set autonomous recovery of the economy on it's way, to promote the structured reformation of the Japanese economy by promoting the Information Technology revolution, etc. (Reported on October 19, 2000 edition of the Yomiuri Newspaper.) The Japanese internet population reached 27.06 million including mobile phone connection at the end of 1999 (according to the research of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication.) Please click on Online Marketing Solution for complete reference on this web site. |