DoCoMo has plans to introduce flat-rate billing options for all types of mobile data services by the end of 2008 according to this article from the Asahi Shimbun. DoCoMo has already introduced a flat-rate system for i-mode and subscribers for their flat-rate portal access service has exceeded 10 million. However, details of the planned total flat-rate billing options have yet to be decided.
The Next-Generation of UI’s hit the street here recently on DoCoMo 3G handsets produced by Sharp and NEC. The Vivid UI by Tokyo-based Acrodea “integrates various types of multimedia content including 3D graphics, Flash animation and full-screen movie backgrounds which enable handsets to be easily personalized with graphically enhanced menus and dynamic standby screens.”
As more developers get their hands on the content creation tool, and as brand owners begin to realize this is a natural vehicle to connect with their markets, we fully expect this style of user interface to become a common standard in the near future.. and not just in Japan. Meanwhile, remember you saw it first here on WWJ!
NEC has received orders for its Mobile Internet Platform (“NEMIP”) from Hutchison (HTHK), the largest 3G operator by subscribers in Hong Kong, which commenced i-mode services on May 30, 2007. This platform is an integrated solution composed of well integrated subsystems such as gateways, mail server systems and portal systems which incorporate multi-operator functions.
Global sales of mobile phones in the first quarter of 2007 reached 257.4 million units, a 14 percent increase from the same period last year, according to Gartner. The growth was bolstered by strong demand from key countries in Asia/Pacific, such as China, as well as Japan. Western Europe and North America registered the expected slow down after strong Christmas sales and saw only moderate growth over the same period in 2006.
The 22nd meeting of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector Working Party 8F (WP 8F) in Kyoto, Japan reached a significant milestone in its work when it forwarded for approval a new terrestrial radio interface for IMT-2000, “OFDMA TDD WMAN” as a specific subset of WiMAX. This new terrestrial radio interface complements the existing family of IMT-2000 radio interfaces and is in direct response to the demands of ITU Members to address the continuously growing wireless marketplace.
Our research partners over at Infinita dug-up a great little nugget here today, a cool new service called Koacheki or Face Check. Launched by J-Magic just one month ago the site has already registered an incredible 15 million requests! Based on face-recognition software announced by Oki Electric late last year, the company scans photos submitted from users cellphones and responds with a link to review their top three celebrity matches. A simple yet brilliant way to gather a massive marketing mail list for advertisers and other more advanced services that J-Magic offers.
