3G Handset Sales Suspended

Japan's DoCoMo has been forced to suspend sales of its 3G handset, the F900i which was released on February 6, as it may have difficulties in automatically receiving incoming e-mail under certain circumstances. A software patch for download via the user's phone will be ready on March 5. Sales of the F900i were suspended yesterday, but will be resumed when updated handsets become available on March 6.

All other functions of the handset, including downloads via the i-mode center, e-mail, voice and video calls, web browsing and data communications, work normally.

The problem is due to a software bug that was discovered to be inhibiting e-mails received automatically by the F900i. Users may run into this problem in service areas under the following circumstances:

• When the handset is folded (closed) before the stand-by screen is displayed while within the service area (The stand-by screen appears following the consecutive appearance of the words "F900i" and "FOMA" after the handset is switched on.)
• When a folded handset turns on automatically while in the service area through the automatic switch-on function
• When a handset is switched on outside of the service area, but then brought into the service area in its folded position

DoCoMo issued an advisory to F900i users so that they may avert this problem until the update software becomes available. Users are recommended not to fold their handset before the antenna mark appears on the stand-by screen after they first switch on their phones. When the handset is switched on in an out-of-service area, the handset should be switched on again once a service area is reentered. If the handset automatically turns on due to its automatic switch-on setting, users are asked to turn it off and then on again in the service area.

DoCoMo will provide updated software that customers may download from March 6. Users will be immediately notified of details via DoCoMo's website and i-mode portal site. DoCoMo technical support staff will work with customers who would like to have the software updated directly at a DoCoMo shop location."

Posted to the site on 4th March 2004