TOKYO, JAPAN, May 27, 2003 --- NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and its eight regional subsidiaries announced today a new 2G/3G service, called "i-mode My Box," for easy linkage to customized web pages via "iMenu," the official i-mode portal. The service will be launched on a trial basis beginning at 9:00 a.m. on June 2, 2003.
The service makes it easier for i-mode users to access their widest possible choice of favorite sites, while providing virtually any information provider (IP) with a direct channel to users via iMenu. The My Box menu appears conveniently on the top page of iMenu. Users simply press the dedicated i-mode button on their DoCoMo mobile phone to access iMenu, then go directly to the My Box menu to access their favorite sites.
By launching the service, DoCoMo now offers a direct link between the IPs and the users by providing a space for user-customized web pages within iMenu. Both official and independent i-mode IPs are expected to register their sites to provide users with easier linkage to customized pages. Initially, 10 IPs will participate in the trial. The number of IPs is scheduled to increase as the trial progresses.
The service is available to all i-mode users. DoCoMo only charges the subscriber for packet data transmissions when accessing the My Box menu and content within. IPs may require separate fees, which subscribers must pay directly, not via DoCoMo.
The trial will be conducted for a specific period to evaluate service and system performance prior to commercial launch.
About NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications company with more than 46 million customers. The company provides a wide variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia services. These include , the world's most popular mobile internet service, which provides e-mail and internet access to over 38 million subscribers, and , launched in 2001 as the world's first 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA. In addition to wholly owned subsidiaries in Europe and North and South America, the company is expanding its global reach through strategic alliances with mobile and multimedia service providers in the Asia-Pacific, Europe and North and South America.
NTT DoCoMo is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM), and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. For more information, visit www.docomo.ne.jp/english
i-mode and FOMA are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and other countries.