3GScottishUser
26th May 2005, 06:26 PM
From CIO Today (26/05/2005):
NTT DoCoMo will stop developing new second-generation (2G) cellular phone handsets after two or so new models are released this year, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun learned Wednesday.
The leading Japanese cell phone service provider, which develops handsets for its services in cooperation with manufacturers, wants to concentrate business resources on its FOMA third-generation (3G) service.
Two or so mova brand handsets slated for release this year will likely be the last of the new 2G handsets to be put out by DoCoMo.
NEC , Panasonic and others that codevelop handsets with DoCoMo already have halted R&D operations for new mova handsets.
While some 92 percent of customers at rival KDDI are subscribers to the firm's 3G service, FOMA users accounted for just around 25 percent of DoCoMo's overall customers as of the end of April.
In an attempt to prop up its 3G service, DoCoMo in February released handsets about 10,000 yen (US$92) cheaper than existing models typically priced around 35,000 yen.
It intends to expand its 3G handset lineup further by starting to add new models, including one without camera functions and another featuring music player functions, in summer or later.
DoCoMo also plans to double handset suppliers to about 10 to boost competition and bring down prices. The company's decision to focus on 3G handsets also benefits suppliers because they can consolidate their R&D efforts.
http://www.cio-today.com/news/DoCoMo-Halts-2G-Handset-Production/story.xhtml?story_id=12200002LAHE
NTT DoCoMo will stop developing new second-generation (2G) cellular phone handsets after two or so new models are released this year, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun learned Wednesday.
The leading Japanese cell phone service provider, which develops handsets for its services in cooperation with manufacturers, wants to concentrate business resources on its FOMA third-generation (3G) service.
Two or so mova brand handsets slated for release this year will likely be the last of the new 2G handsets to be put out by DoCoMo.
NEC , Panasonic and others that codevelop handsets with DoCoMo already have halted R&D operations for new mova handsets.
While some 92 percent of customers at rival KDDI are subscribers to the firm's 3G service, FOMA users accounted for just around 25 percent of DoCoMo's overall customers as of the end of April.
In an attempt to prop up its 3G service, DoCoMo in February released handsets about 10,000 yen (US$92) cheaper than existing models typically priced around 35,000 yen.
It intends to expand its 3G handset lineup further by starting to add new models, including one without camera functions and another featuring music player functions, in summer or later.
DoCoMo also plans to double handset suppliers to about 10 to boost competition and bring down prices. The company's decision to focus on 3G handsets also benefits suppliers because they can consolidate their R&D efforts.
http://www.cio-today.com/news/DoCoMo-Halts-2G-Handset-Production/story.xhtml?story_id=12200002LAHE