DoCoMo Pins 3G Hopes on New Handsets

DoCoMo will seek to revitalise lacklustre sales of its FOMA service with the launch of three new handsets. From next month DoCoMo will start receiving an estimated 6m 3G handsets from NEC, Panasonic and Fujitsu in a bid to increase its 3G customer base to 10.6m. In conjunction with the new handsets, DoCoMo has earmarked Y120bn ($1.1bn) of tariff cuts during the current financial year.

The new handsets are an attempt by DoCoMo to step up its attack on rival KDDI, which has been winning the lion’s share of new 3G subscribers in Japan. The launches will also put further pressure on Vodafone’s Japanese business, which has so far failed to attract 3G users in significant numbers.

Vodafone is likely to face some tough questions over its performance when it unveils its annual results tomorrow. Arun Sarin, chief executive, has previously stated that Vodafone will begin catching up on 3G subscribers in Japan when it launches a range of new phones later this year. Continue >>