|
TOKYO, JAPAN May 18, 2001 --- NTT DoCoMo, Inc. (NTT DoCoMo) announced today that it received applications for more than 147,000 mobile phones during a campaign to attract monitors for its "FOMA" third-generation (3G) service (introductory phase) which begins May 30, 2001. NTT DoCoMo will conduct the introductory phase of "FOMA" service until the launch of expansion phase in Japan on October 1, 2001. During the introductory phase service period, monitors will answer questionnaires about the service and offer comments and suggestions regarding possible improvements. Applications were accepted for just seven days beginning May 10, 2001 so the strong response reflects the extremely high level of interest in new 3G services, NTT DoCoMo believes. As announced, the company will issue only 4,000 mobile phones to monitors. The following shows how the applications break down in terms of mobile phones requested: |
| Corporate users: | approx. 43,000 mobile phones (for approx. 6,000 companies) |
| Individuals: | approx. 104,000 mobile phones |
| Gender: male: | 78% (of approx. 104,000) |
| females: | 22% |
| Ages: | 10s -- 3% 20s -- 35% 30s -- 42% 40s or older -- 20% |
|
Applicants could choose from three types of phones. In total, 30% chose the standard model (FOMA N2001), an upgraded version of the current i-mode cellular phone featuring sound quality similar to that of a fixed-line phone, 60% the "visual" model (FOMA P2101V) equipped with a video screen, and 10% the "data-card" model (FOMA P2401) for dedicated mobile high-speed data transmission. To ensure that the monitors represent various user groups, NTT DoCoMo will categorize applications from individuals by age and gender. Actual monitors will be selected by draw in each group, with the drawing to be monitored by a third party. Corporate monitors will be selected directly, on the basis of criteria including business field, type of business and plans for using FOMA services. Applicants selected to serve as monitors will be notified by May 29, 2001. |
