DoCoMo
DoCoMo

DoCoMo

DoCoMo Issues Battery Advisory

NTT DoCoMo and Mitsubishi Electric announced today, at a hastily called press conference, that some D06-series batteries, which were manufactured through May 2006 and installed in the D902i-series handsets, could generate excessive heat and possibly rupture during charging if the batteries have been subjected to a strong external impact. The companies estimate that some 1.3 million D06 series batteries were manufactured through May 2006. Sales of the D902i, D902iS and D903i have been suspended for the time being.

Asia-Pacific Mobile Alliance – Conexus

Asia’s largest alliance of mobile operators, as announced April 2006, today welcomed Smart Communications, Inc., the Philippines’ leading mobile operator, into the fold. With SMART’s participation, the group has expanded its coverage footprint to over 130 million mobile subscribers in nine countries and regions. In conjunction with the introduction of its newest member, they have also announced the new official name – Conexus Mobile Alliance – and launched this new website, as its members begin to roll out value-added roaming and corporate mobile services amongst each other.

DCMX Posts Strong 1H Growth

DoCoMo made an announcement recently regarding the performance of their new DCMX m-commerce product [WWJ video here], which launched 28 April 2006. Noting the claim that the number of contracts exceeded 1 million as of 12 November – just over six months – with 30 handset models now on the market, we decided to dig a little a little deeper and see how the intial 1H growth for DCMX compared with DoCoMo’s flag-ship i-mode portal six months after it debuted in February 1999.

DoCoMo and Kadokawa to Form Alliance

Kadokawa Holdings, comprising group companies engaged mainly in publishing or movie content, and DoCoMo have announced that they will form a comprehensive alliance through a capital tie-up. The parties will develop mobile content related with Kadokawa movies and animation, including original video content developed initially for the mobile environment, prior to release via other media. Also, Kadokawa will increase the range of content it distributes through some 40 sites it has on the i-mode portal.

DoCoMo Finds Handsets Cloned in China

Cell phones “cloned” by using IC cards from NTT DoCoMo Inc.’s FOMA handsets were found to have been used in China and other countries illegally, according to sources. In six cases, perpetrators are thought to have taken the IC cards from disused third-generation cell phones and inserted them into other handsets, creating cloned cell phones. DoCoMo, which had previously insisted cloning its cell phones was “technically impossible,” admitted it had confirmed such clones had been found through in-house investigations.

UPDATE: DoCoMo has issued a coment [in Japanese] about this article stating that it’s a legacy issue with older FOMA model handsets. They state the function to refuse a connection with the DoCoMo side switchboard was added as of February 2006.

Sanyo Rumored to Exit Handset Business

Sanyo, which is headed for its third straight loss this business year, plans to sell its cellphone operations as part of a new restructuring plan, the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported on Thursday. The business daily said Sanyo, which earlier this year issued $2.6 billion worth of preferred shares on very favourable terms to Goldman Sachs and two other financial institutions to ensure its survival, will also sell its semiconductor division. Sadakazu Shima, a spokesman for the Osaka-based electronics maker, declined to comment on the report.

UPDATE: Sanyo has denied the rumor and will disclose details of its reorganization when it reports first-half earnings on Friday.