eMobile starts voice service, releases eMonster terminal

eMobile finally enters the mobile voice market in Japan with two handsets from HTC and Toshiba scheduled for official launch in March 28. HTC’s device called EMONSTER S11HT is a Windows Mobile 6 smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard and unlocked SIM card, which makes it possible to be used abroad with a local SIM card. Toshiba’s handset is a voice-centric clamshell with one-seg TV tuner inside.

EMONSTER Specs
Model:	S11HT EMONSTER
Carrier:	eMobile
Maker:	HTC
Price:	TBD
Form factor:	PDA-centric clamshell
Color variations:	grey metallic
Weight:	190g
Dimensions:	59 X 112 X 19mm
Main display:	2.8" QVGA TFT LCD (touchscreen)
Talk time:	up to 264 minutes
Standby time:	up to 350 hours
Platform / OS:	Windows Mobile 6 Pro Edition
Memory:	N/A
Memory card slot:	microSD (SD2.0) X 1
GPS / Location:	Yes (Mobile Google Maps, Navitime)
Bluetooth:	2.0 + EDR
Infrared:	N/A
USB:	miniUSB (2.0 Full Speed)
Wi-Fi:	802.11 b/g
Camera:	3MP (main with autofocus) + VGA (sub)
Video calling:	Yes
One-seg TV:	No
Music player:	Yes
Browser:	IE Mobile
Cellular radio:	HSDPA/WCDMA (1700MHz)
Mobile Wallet:	No
QR-code:	N/A
Other:	MS Office Document viewer, QWERTY keyboard

Toshiba H11T Specs
Model:	H11T
Carrier:	eMobile
Maker:	Toshiba
Price:	TBD
Form factor:	Clamshell
Color variations:	white, blue, black, pink
Weight:	160g
Dimensions:	50 X 104 X 17.9mm
Main display:	2.8" Wide QVGA LCD (240 X 400)
Talk time:	approx. 160 minutes
Standby time:	approx. 350 hours
Platform / OS:	N/A
Memory:	approx. 50MB
Memory card slot:	microSD (sold separately)
GPS / Location:	N/A
Bluetooth:	A2DP compatible
Infrared:	IrMC 1.1
USB:	N/A
Wi-Fi:	No
Camera:	3.2MP (autofocus/ anti-shake)
Video calling:	No
One-seg TV:	Yes (Toshiba REGZA TV technology)
Music player:	Yes (AAC/MP3/WMA)
Browser:	Full HTML NetFront browser
Email:	NetFront Messaging client
Mobile Wallet:	No
QR-code:	Yes
Other:	Access NetFront Mobile Client Suite (JV-Lite 2, etc.)

Source: eMobile press release (Japanese)

eMobile first to introduce 7.3Mbps DL speeds

eMobile announced that they would upgrade their HSDPA network’s download speeds from 3.6Mbps to 7.2Mbps starting December 12th. They are first in Japan to do so, however the upload speeds remain unchanged at 384Kbps. In order to enjoy the new speeds, eMobile’s customers will need to buy the USB-based PC card D02HW by Huawei. According to eMobile’s management, currently the company’s user base accounts for 160,000 subscribers. Besides providing mobile broadband access directly and through MVNOs, eMobile also eye IP-based voice services to compete directly with cell phone operators. Last month, eMobile announced a partnership with Silicon Valley-based VoIP startup JaJah to pre-install its client onto the EM・ONEα smartphone. With JaJah onboard, eMobile promises domestic and international calling rates not only cheaper than those offered by carriers but even by Skype.
Source: eMobile

A new contender lures customers with EM-ONE smartphone

A new contender in the Japanese mobile market E-Mobile reported getting aboard 30,000 subscribers as of end of April 2007. Considering that the service went commercial in March 31, it is not bad at all for a new operator in Japan's nearly saturated market. Apparently, the Sharp EM-ONE smartphone attracted new subscribers at a bigger scale than expected as almost half of 30,000 users bought this HSDPA-enabled MS Windows Mobile terminal.

eMobile bets on mobile broadband services: roadmap revealed

Along with the new brand logo, eMobile also revealed its service and product roadmap:

March 2007:

• Commercial rollout of data-only HSDPA services in the 1.7GHz band covering three metropolitan areas: Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.
• Next rollout phase will include Sapporo, Sendai, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and other big cities.
• Devices: HSDPA data cards.
• Downlink: up to 3.6Mbps.
• Target: businesses and consumers
• Strategy is to lure customers by cost-competitive and easy-to-understand rate plans.

March 2008:

• Rollout of voice services in Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Fukuoka areas, Niigata prefecture, in Sapporo and its surroundings, and in Sendai, Hiroshima cities.
• Due to lack of own base stations, eMobile will get into roaming agreement with NTT DoCoMo to cover the rest of the country for voice service.
• Active build up of its own network with the 250bn yen (around $2bn) investments.
• Devices: from voice-centric clamshells to smartphones and data-oriented communicators, including those with QWERTY keyboard.

2009:

• Plans to offer HSDPA embedded modules for integration into consumer electronic devices.

March 2010:

• Anticipate 3 million subscribers.
• Start convergent voice and data services - seamless communications.

November 2010:

• Shift from DoCoMo's to own network.

2012:

• Goal is to reach 5 million subscribers.
• Upgrade to Super 3G (30~100Mbps).

eMobile presents new corporate logo

Another Japanese wireless contender - eMobile, intorduced its brand logo which will be used in marketing campaigns and placed on mobile terminals when the company starts operations in March 2007. Here is how eMobile explains the shape and color of its new brand logo:

The new brand logo adopts "red" as EMOBILE's corporate color, expressing "infinite possibility of the mobile market", "strong will of EMOBILE's challenge" and "EMOBILE's passion and energy".

The logo also adopts a design which both letters can be viewed as either E or M from different viewpoints. This design expresses EMOBILE's strong will to break through the traditional view and challenge with new perspectives.

Sharp, yet gentle and round design expresses our focus on innovation and continuous stimulation to people's sensitivity, however at the same time, expresses our commitment on users comfort.

As you remember Emobile is a daughter company of eAccess, an ADSL broadband provider who received a license to rollout mobile services.

Source: eMobile

Japan's wireless market week wrap-up

Japan's eMobile picks Ericsson for 3G network build-up
eMobile, a new entrant to the Japanese 3G market, has selected Ericsson as the prime supplier of its new WCDMA/HSDPA network.

DoCoMo rival calls for wireless giant's breakup
Sachio Senmoto, CEO of Japan's eMobile, said NTT DoCoMo should be broken up to make the country's wireless market more competitive.

Carlyle prepares for Willcom IPO
The Carlyle Group, which owns 60% of Willcom, Japan's largest operator of PHS (personal handyphone system) services, reportedly is planning an IPO for Willcom. Willcom added 64,900 subscribers in February for a total of 3.8 million -- an increase of 25 percent since March last year when it introduced the flat-rate voice plan.

Equity companies want to outbid Softbank to get Vodafone
Cerberus Partners and Providence Equity Partners Inc. reportedly are putting together a $15 billion offer to buy Vodafone K.K. Japanese Internet provider Softbank already is in talks with Vodafone Group about buying K.K.

Vodafone finally sells Japanese operations to Softbank for $15.4bn
Vodafone Group plc confirmed that it will sell its struggling Japanese operation to Japanese Internet conglomerate Softbank in a deal valued at about $15.4 billion.