Willcom announces Communication of Revolution & Evolution (CORE)

Willcom grabbed media’s attention with a series of announcements at the beginning of this week. One of them is the Communication of Revolution & Evolution (CORE), which is the next generation of its PHS network. Willcom plans to roll out CORE starting next spring in Tokyo and gradually extend it to Osaka by autumn same year. Overall, CORE’s deployment will require upgrade of 160,000 PHS base stations Willcom currently operates. In theory, CORE network should be capable of delivering over 100Mbps for both uplink and downlink (30MHz X 2 (MIMO)) to objects moving with the speed of over 300Km/h. However, the actual speeds at the time of CORE launch are yet to be announced.

Willcom also intends to take advantage of its numerous base stations by equipping them with cameras and some sensors that can feed data to passing cars via car navigation systems. The company is reported to be in a joint research project with car navigation companies to develop a special device compatible with Willcom’s CORE network.

Source: IT Media

Signs of LTE becoming a 4G technology of choice emerge in Japan

It is no wonder that WCDMA carriers like NTT DoCoMo and Softbank in Japan might pick LTE (Long Term Evolution) cellular technology for the upgrade of their current 3G networks. After all, LTE is considered to be a more optimal path for them than alternative 4G technologies, such as WiMAX. As a matter of fact, DoCoMo is already moving into that direction as it just announced the selection of Ericsson for its LTE base station development project. The two companies have a long history. Since 1992, Ericsson has delivered PDC base stations to NTT DoCoMo and, more recently, W-CDMA base stations for the operator's FOMA network. However, there are signs that even carriers from opposite to UMTS camp – CDMA, are hesitant about upgrading from their CDMA EV-DO networks to the Qualcomm’s proposed UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband). CDMA carriers worldwide, Verizon Wireless, Vivo, KFT and SKT in Korea, made a pledge for the WCDMA upgrade path. What’s more interesting is that Japan’s CDMA carrier KDDI also seems to be evaluating its options about 4G. upgrade. According to Jean-Pierre Bienamé, chairman of the UMTS Forum, he senses a change of direction in the KDDI boardroom. “They have frozen development on EV-DO Rev A and are now assessing Rev B and Rev C alongside all the other options, including WiMAX and LTE. The decision criteria will be on cost reduction per bit and it is here where LTE has an advantage,” he said in an interview to Telecommunications Magazine.

DoCoMo's HSPDA nationwide coverage reaches 96%

DoCoMo sees a direct correlation between network speed and increasing data ARPU. That’s why it aggressively rolling out HSDPA-compatible devices and blanketing the every corner of Japan with HSDPA coverage. At a press conference in January, the operator’s president Mr. Nakamura claimed the 96% of Japan territory to be in a service area of DoCoMo’s HSDPA network. DoCoMo plans to improve the coverage a notch up to 97% by March this year. A combination of flat data plan, mobile content services and high network speed start bearing fruit as the overall data ARPU has reached JPY2,200 (around $20), a healthy increase by 9.5% from last year. For comparison, the data ARPU of users on a flat data plan with HSDPA phones alone was impressive JPY3,950 ($36). Now, you can imagine why it’s important to have all three elements (network, handsets and content) in place for data revenues finally making a home run.

3G usage continues to rise in Japan

Recent research by In-Stat found that contactless payment, GPS, broadcast TV and related services were gaining traction in the Japanese mobile phone market. However, a good revenue-generating business case should be introduced in order for mobile TV phones to ship in bigger numbers. Other valuable bullet-points from the research are as follows:

• In 2006, 43.5 million 3G phones (92% of 47.8m) were sold in Japan.
• Camera, music player function, and above 2.4-inch screens with at least 240X320 resolution have become standard.
• 98 new 3G models were launched in the last 12 months in Japan

3G phone trends in more details:

• 98 3G phones were launched in Japan in fiscal year 2006.
• 68 were with 2.4 to 3.0-inch screens; 92 were with QVGA or higher resolution. The large displays are for multimedia, rich-content surfing, and multitasking on phones.
• Operators strived to generate revenue by providing large-size-attachment emailing and integrated mobile Internet-music player interfaces to push mobile data services based on camera and music functions.
• 49 phones were mobile wallet phones and 45 were GPS phones. The convenience and usefulness of mobile wallet payment and navigation services are gaining acceptance among customers and providing substantial business opportunities for operators, device makers, content providers, and others participating in the value system.
• 19 models supported One Seg mobile TV broadcasting in Japan. The limited models available are not due to the higher cost, but because of an unclear business model for operators to make significant revenue from the free-to-air TV broadcasting service.

Source: In-Stat

Softbank last to hit 50% milestone with 3G subs in Japan

Having added 560,100 subscribers to its 3G service in April, Softbank finally passed a 50% 3G penetration milestone for its subscriber base. The leader in conversion cell phone users from 2G to 3G camps remains KDDI au, which has managed to get 97.9% of its total subscriber base to be equipped with 3G phones. DoCoMo so far persuaded only 69.1% of its customers to switch to 3G.

3G penetration in Japan to hit 87% by March 2008

Asahi Shimbun reports that according to MM Research Institute's estimates, about 75 percent of cellphone subscribers in Japan will have 3G handsets by the end of March 2007 and the rate will climb to about 87 percent by the end of March 2008.

3G subscribers come near 46 million in Japan

Japan 3G user base grew to 45.9 million in February, surpassing the number of wireless users with 2G handsets (44.8m). This milestone was achieved because of energetic efforts by three major carriers to switch their 2G subscribers to 3G services.

DoCoMo outshined KDDI au in a second time in a row, adding 828 thousand subscribers to its 3G FOMA service, while KDDI au signed only 309 thousand 3G customers. KDDI au reports 96% or 21.1 million of its customers now being subscribed to 3G service (this includes both CDMA2000 1x and EV-DO services). In contrast, DoCoMo has switched to 3G only 43% (22m) of its customer base. Vodafone added 195 thousand 3G subscribers, ending February with 2.7 million (18%) 3G users.

Japan's wireless market week wrap-up

Vodafone inks deal to unload Japanese unit
Vodafone Group reportedly has reached a deal to sell a 98% stake in Vodafone K.K. to Softbank. Softbank may pay as much as 2 trillion yen ($17.2 billion) for 98 percent of Vodafone K.K.

Japanese 3G mobile phone users exceed 50 percent
According to the Telecommunications Carriers Association, more than half of Japan's 90.8 million mobile phone users are on high-speed 3G networks.

DoCoMo unveil basic 3G FOMA SIMPURE series
NTT DoCoMo announced that they have developed the 3G FOMA SIMPURE series of basic and compact handsets for people who do not require highly sophisticated functions.

Openwave reports 20m KDDI users
Openwave Systems announced that more than 20 million of EZweb subscribers are using Openwave products and solutions to power KDDI mobile phone services using the WAP2.0 and TCP/HTTP standard protocols.

Casio’s WCDMA move

With the number of WCDMA users accelerating throughout the globe, Casio decided that it was time to start producing 3G phones compatible with UMTS standard as well.

Having entered the handset business in 2000, Casio initially acquired licenses from Qualcomm to make CDMA One and CDMA2000 1x/EV-DO mobile phones. The company was shipping CDMA handsets to KDDI domestically and to South Korea internationally. However, in February 2006 the company expanded the licensing deal with Qualcomm to cover handsets, supporting the rest of 3G pack -- WCDMA and TD-SCDMA technologies. With this deal, Casio will have an opportunity to target at any 3G operator in the world, not to mention NTT DoCoMo and Vodafone in Japan. The question though is how successful will it be in this endeavor?

Source: Casio press release (Japanese)

3G service helps Japanese consumers to remotely control home electric appliances

What is a good way to increase the number of 3G lines for an operator in the nearly saturated market? NTT DoCoMo might have found the answer. At least, the wireless carrier decided to promote a gadget with a weird name Remocon Saucer that works with DoCoMo’s 3G phones to control up to eight home electric appliances from outside.

How it works?
Manufactured by Sugiyama Electron the Remocon Saucer uses infrared connectivity to turn on and off electric devices at home. To do that, users need to be subscribed to two DoCoMo FOMA phones – one to be connected via the headset jack to the saucer at home and the second one to make calls. While outside, the user can dial the number of the phone connected to the saucer at home and when the connection is established he can press the pre-programmed keys on his phone to switch on the air conditioner for example. Moreover, the user can initiate a video call and monitor the situation at home, making sure he really turned off that cattle on the stove.

The usage scenarios
The companies envision the following real-life usage scenarios:

• Before returning home, you can remotely switch on the air conditioner to warm up the apartment
• While on a lengthy business trip, you could create an impression that you never left the house by turning the lights on in the evening and getting the TV on. I bet this could come in handy for that kid from Home Alone movie.

Value
To sweeten the deal DoCoMo offers a discounted service plan, which is only 200 yen ($1.68) more expensive than the single line plan. The Remocon Saucer plan will cost 4,340 yen ($36) for two lines, including data communications. The saucer itself will come up with the 12,000-yen ($86) price tag.

To sum up, the service might be useful in some real-life situations and the price is attractive, but it lacks the practicality and mass-market appeal, thus it will have a limited uptake, targeting at niche segments. After all, it is a waste to keep a 3G handset sitting at home, doing some simple pre-programmed operations. They should equip the saucer with a camera and 3G chipset to do the work.

DoCoMo's Remocon Saucer Promotional Page

NTT DoCoMo: 20 million of 3G users now

NTT DoCoMo announced that its 3G subscriber base had reached 20 million users by the end of 2005. Now 3G users constitute about 40 percent of company's total subscribers.

It took five years and three month to get this milestone for NTT DoCoMo, which markets its 3G service as FOMA (Freedom for Mobile Access). The company plans to accelerate the process of switching users from 2G to 3G phones, by having a goal to convert 50% of its users to 3G base by Q1 2006.

June 2005: 3G handset shipments account for 70% in Japan

JEITA published the number of cellular phone shipments in Japan in June 2005. Overall, the sales of handsets in June 2005 totaled 4,170,000, which is 4.1% more than in June last year.

The growth in handset shipments was boosted by summer sales campaigns initiated by major carriers. Replacement upgrades were the main sales driver in a nearly saturated Japanese market.

PHS sales overcome last year results in straight five months -- 113,000 of PHS phones were sold in June 2005, which is 176.9% more than last year.

More importantly, Japan’s carriers continued to switch their subscribers from 2G to 3G handsets in big numbers. More than 3 million of 3G handsets were sold in June, pushing the share of 3G handset shipments to 70%.
Source: JEITA

DoCoMo aims at 80% 3G sales

Japanese mobile giant NTT DoCoMo has set itself a target of selling more than 20 million high-speed mobile handsets this year. This is equal to twice the number of 3G users that the company currently has.

KDDI's 3G subscriber base reaches 18 million users

According to KDDI, the total number of subscribers for 3rd generation cellular phones provided by KDDI and Okinawa Cellular exceeded 18 million on April 6, 2005.

Sales record through breaking the 18-million subscriber level

April 1, 2002       Start of 3G service
June 23, 2002       Over 1 million subscribers
Jan. 16, 2003       Over 5 million subscribers
Sept. 16, 2003      Over 10 million subscribers
July 20, 2004       Over 15 million subscribers
April 6, 2005       Over 18 million subscribers

Vodafone and Toshiba teamed up to market 3G handsets

The world's largest cellular operator Vadafone announced that it had agreed a strategic partnerships with Toshiba to market a range of handsets in Europe, Australia and Japan, according to The Financial Times.

Initially, they will start with the shipping of TS 921 3G handset in Europe, also known as V903T in Japan.

For Toshiba it will be an opportunity to break out of its domestic market, which accounts for 40m handset sales a year, and enter the European market, which is more than three times larger than Japan, with 148m phones sold every year.

The TS 921 is Toshiba's first 3G handset based on UMTS standard. The group currently has a 10% market share in Japan, where it is hamstrung by not having a relationship with NTT DoCoMo, the dominant mobile phone operator.

Japanese mobile handset makers are desperate to enter the global mobile phone market, because their domestic market witnesses a decline in sales. Now, with a global spread of 3G standards, they have this chance. They will learn from Toshiba's attempt how to export their products to the West as they need to address many factors, including localization of their handsets.

Vodafone will ship the V903T 3G handset in Japan in April this year. The handset features USB connectivity, Bluetooth, PC Link, IrDA, Video output, QR Code reading, etc.

Vodafone highlights the following main features of the Vodafone 903T:

• Active Turn Style design for enjoying a variety of viewing styles in different situations
• Auto focus 1.92 megapixel mobile camera
• Twin stereo speakers for greater enjoyment when listening to long version Chaku-Uta musicdownloads and ringtones
• Fully supports Vodafone 3G services
• International roaming support for seamless voice, mail, web and video call services