[JTND] Macromedia Flash for DoCoMo i-mode Phones

[Matatabi Report <editor@matatabi.com>]

[The DoCoMo i-mode service fees are calculated according to the numbers
of packets transmitted. The first 400 packets/month(a packet= 128
byte) are free (they are included in the basic monthly fee) and 0.3
yen/packet thereafter. Many i-mode users don't like those i-mode web
sites with unnecessary graphics since they increase their packet fees
a lot. Savvy users turn off displaying graphics on their phones. I
don't see the value of flash on my tiny cell phone display. Flash may
be just another trick to bring more packet fees to DoCoMo from those
who are not well informed about their fee arrangement.

The subscriber growth rate has slowed down. However, the mobile web
market in Japan is already huge. Over 60 million users access the net
from their mobile phones at the end of Jan. 2003. About a half the
population of Japan and i-mode has 60% market share. ]

From DoCoMo Press Release(English):

NTT DoCoMo to Embed Macromedia Flash Technology into i-mode Service 
  
TOKYO, JAPAN, February 24, 2003-Japanese mobile phone operator NTT
DoCoMo, Inc. and U.S. software maker Macromedia, Inc. announced that
the two companies have reached an agreement to jointly deliver Flash?
technology to , DoCoMo's proprietary 2G/3G mobile Internet platform,
in Japan. The technology will be embedded into the new i-mode
handsets, starting with the 505i series, which is scheduled for
release later this year.

(snip)

DoCoMo Press Release (English)
http://www.nttdocomo.com/current_information/product/pressrelease/article/20030224_15061710.html

[key_mobile]
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