I-mode Operators Pool Handset Buying Power

DoCoMo's i-mode 8 alliance partners have announced the first joint procurement tie-up for i-mode handsets. Initially, the eight operators that currently provide the i-mode service outside Japan procure Korean vendor LG Electronics' L342i handset. The handsets have started to reach the markets since the end of last month.

The eight operators involved in the joint procurement are:

• E-Plus Mobilfunk (Germany)
• KPN Mobile (The Netherlands)
• Far EasTone Telecommunications (Taiwan)
• BASE (Belgium)
• Bouygues Telecom (France)
• Wind Telecomunicazioni (Italy)
• COSMOTE Mobile (Greece)
• Telstra Corporation (Australia)

DoCoMo confirms that four other new operators have signed i-mode license agreements since November 2004 - Cellcom (Israel), Mobile TeleSystems (Russia), O2 (UK), and StarHub (Singapore) - will participate in upcoming joint procurement activities.

The L342i is a clam-shell GSM/GPRS handset with camera, embedded antenna and Java capability.

Additionally, i-mode subscribers outside Japan have already reached 5 million, raising the number of subscribers to approximately 50 million worldwide."

Posted to the site on 29th June 2005