Press Releases

TOKYO, JAPAN, February 23, 2012 --- NTT DOCOMO, INC., Japan’s leading mobile operator and provider of integrated services centered on mobility, announced today that from March 1 it will begin operating the Disaster Voice Messaging service, part of the company’s ongoing introduction of new disaster-preparedness measures since the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The Disaster Voice Messaging service has a function that stores spoken messages from DOCOMO mobile users and then sends the messages as data files to a network server. The sender simply enters the recipient’s phone number and then records a message with their smartphone or mobile phone. A maximum of 20 messages, each up to 30 seconds in length, can be stored for up to 10 days. When a message arrives at the server, an SMS text message is sent automatically to the recipients’s phone. In parallel, the sender also receives an SMS message after the recipient downloads the data file and listens to the message. Thus, the sender can notice the status of each stored message.

The Disaster Voice Messaging service becomes operative in the event of a wide-scale disaster, such as an earthquake with an intensity of at least “6 lower,” or when a disaster leads to serious network congestion during which time customers might experience difficulties placing voice calls.

In principle, most docomo smartphones running Android™ 2.2 or higher, and i-mode™ mobile phones (docomo STYLE series) released after November 2011, are compatible with the service, with some exceptions. The smartphone app is free*, although packet communication charges apply when downloading the app. Software in compatible i-mode mobile phones must be updated.
DOCOMO will operate the Disaster Voice Messaging service on a trial basis from March 1 to 31 to enable customers to familiarize themselves with the service and its usage.

During disasters, DOCOMO will continue to operate its existing Disaster Message Board service, which enables users to communicate their safety to friends and loved ones via text messages sent to a special website.

*Some subscribers to mopera U may pay packet communication charges depending on their billing plan. Some sp-mode subscribers who play voice messages while overseas may pay packet communication charges depending on their billing plan.

About NTT DOCOMO

NTT DOCOMO is a world-leading integrated-services company centered on mobility. The company serves over 59 million mobile customers in Japan via advanced wireless networks, including a nationwide 3G network and one of the world’s first commercial LTE networks. Leveraging its unique capabilities as a mobile operator, DOCOMO is a leading developer of cutting-edge technologies for NFC mobile payments, mobile GPS, mobile TV, intuitive mobile assistance, environmental monitoring, smart grids and much more. Overseas, the company provides technical and operational expertise to eight mobile operators and other partner companies. NTT DOCOMO is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM) and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. Please visit www.docomo.ne.jp/english for more information.

Android is a trademark or registered trademark of Google Inc.
i-mode is a trademark or registered trademark of NTT DOCOMO, INC. in Japan.
i-mode is only available to subscribers in Japan.
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