NTT DoCoMo To Go GSM
In a strange move by Japan’s leading mobile phone provider NTT DoCoMo, TelecomAsia reports that they are planning to standardize on the Global Standard for Mobile Communications (GSM) for all their mobile phones for interoperability purposes. This in additional to their existing iMode system.
Japan’s largest mobile operator NTT DoCoMo plans to make all its models compatible with global standards so they can be used in more than 130 countries, a Reuters report said.
The Reuters report, quoting local paper Yomiuri Shimbun, said the move will have all of DoCoMo’s models compatible with GSM in two years, making it the first Japanese mobile company to do so, company sources said.
This is strange as DoCoMo’s iMode already uses a technology related (but not the same) as UMTS/3G systems (WCDMA). Looks like they are not hedging on the future technology, but are trying to capture a large number of their roaming subscribers who move around. We have to admit that GSM is still the world’s most popular mobile phone technology. Smart move I believe in increase roamability of DoCoMo handsets. This is probably a reaction to Japan’s up and coming Mobile Number Portability (MNP) law. Once this law is in place, it would be easier for subscribers to switch providers. This is a good move to avoid loosing subscribers to providers with better roaming.
