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Another threat to 3G phone services, as Docomo brings i-mode to Germany

DoCoMo is planning to bring the Japanese alternative to the universal mobile telephone standard, UMTS or third generation phones, into Europe, according to a Japanese news paper.

DoCoMo to roll out i-mode in Germany Thursday, February 7, 2002 at 18:00 JST TOKYO — NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan's top mobile phone operator, may launch its i-mode phones in Germany, as well as in the Netherlands and Belgium this April.

It is reported to be in talks with Germany's number-three mobile firm, E-plus, to introduce its i-mode mobile Internet access service there, according to web news service Japan Today.

The Japanese corporation says its Dutch partner, Royal KPN NV will handle the introduction of the technology into Europe introduce the service in the Netherlands and Belgium - and adds: "We are also holding negotiations with E-plus in Germany."

Analysis of the launch isn't unanimous. As Japan Today put it, "A successful launch of i-mode type services overseas would also help convince investors in European mobile carriers that the more than 100 billion euros spent on third-generation (3G) licenses was not in vain."

However, although i-mode might be useful as "test market" technology, the economics of i-mode require nothing like the huge investments that 3G phone networks would require; and if i-mode becomes popular here, it could lead to a delay in the launch of full UMTS services - by which time, alternative technologies might have evolved.

Japanese business newspaper Nihon Keizai said the service would start with phones supplied by Toshiba Corp and provide German and English-language services, including email, news and bank transactions.