Europe
: NTT DoCoMo, Inc., Motorola Inc. and Motorola Japan Ltd. announced
that they have signed an agreement to jointly develop a FOMA®
handset targeting business users by taking advantage of high-speed
3G FOMA technologies. Commercialization is scheduled for spring 2005.
The new handset,
which is compatible with GSM/GPRS technologies, will be the first
FOMA model that may be used outside of Japan.
Unlike i-mode®-capable
phones, the handset will enable access to the internet through mopera®
or any other available internet connection service. What's more, its
browser will be able to display standard web pages.
In addition, the
new handset will be compatible with public wireless LAN services offered
by DoCoMo and other providers, enabling users in hotspots to enjoy
high-speed internet access at fixed rates.
The handset can
also be used to view e-mail attachments created in formats such as
Microsoft® Word, Microsoft® Excel, PowerPoint®. The model
will support Bluetooth® connectivity for remote control via a
laptop or PDA for dialup to the internet, or for convenient hands-free
operation using a headset. In addition, the phone will be compatible
with PIM (Personal Information Management).
"NTT DoCoMo
is delighted to team with Motorola to develop an advanced FOMA handset
that meets the special needs of business users, which differ from
those of general users," said NTT DoCoMo's Executive Vice President
Kei-ichi Enoki.
"In particular,
the phone can connect to public high-speed wireless LAN networks to
browse the internet and receive e-mail. It also opens a variety of
attached documents in their original formats and even works on mobile
networks outside Japan. We believe that the new market aimed at business
people will join the existing i-mode market in seeing a future expansion,"
he added.
"Motorola
is proud to bring our 3G expertise to this partnership with NTT DoCoMo.
This device perfectly embodies our mission to enable users to have
a personal hub of communications in the palm of their hand,"
said Patrick S. Kung, Corporate Vice President, Motorola Inc., General
Manager, PCS North Asia.
"This FOMA
handset will help business users to multi-task and be more efficient,
especially when traveling outside Japan, because they can use the
phone and all its features anywhere in the world while staying connected
to Japan," he said.