NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s largest cell-phone service provider, said it hasn’t made a decision on letting other carriers use its network in rural areas, responding to a newspaper report. DoCoMo may share its mobile phone network in less-populated areas with competitors, the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported earlier, without saying where it got the information.
Roam, roam on the (wider) range. DoCoMo is extending international videophone and mobile roaming services for their 3G FOMA system. Starting 27 May, “World Wing” and “World Walker” roaming service users will be able to browse both i-mode and Web sites from China, keep the same i-mode mailing address while in the Middle Kingdom and access existing services for voice and SMS; China Mobile Communications Corp. will provide the local network. Data communications charges start at 50 yen for the first 50 packets and 0.2 yen per packet thereafter.
The Mobile Web Initiative, part of the W3C and described in this week’s WWJ Newsletter, has set up two public mailing lists: public-bpwg@w3.org (dedicated to discussion associated with the Best Practice Working Group), and public-ddwg@w3.org (dedicated to discussion associated with the Device Description Working Group). If you’re interested in participating in public discussions or if you have something to contribute, the folks running the Initiative would love to have you sign up.
Today, at the WWW2005 Conference, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) announced the launch of the Mobile Web Initiative (MWI) – an endeavor to make Web access from a mobile device as simple, easy, and convenient as Web access from a desktop device. “Mobile access to the Web has been a second class experience for far too long,” explained Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director. “MWI recognizes the mobile device as a first class participant, and will produce materials to help developers make the mobile Web experience worthwhile. “
Japan Airlines says it will expand its in-flight Internet connection service to flights between Tokyo and New York (JL006/005) from 10 May 2005; this will be the world’s first service on a transpacific flight according to the company. Provided by Connexion by Boeing Inc. (CBB) — a business unit of Boeing — the “JAL Inflight Internet Service” enables passengers to use their own wireless LAN-compatible personal computers to enjoy real-time Internet access during flight. Initially the service will be available on alternate days but towards the end of June it will be available daily. JAL’s Tokyo-New York route is popular with business travelers, who represent a high percentage of total passengers.
Fujitsu Microelectronics has introduced a highly integrated WiMAX system-on-chip (SoC), the MB87M3400 [ .jpg image ], which complies with the IEEE802.16-2004 standard and that will enable development of a new generation of WiMAX-compliant broadband wireless access (BWA) equipment.
