The model required a debugging of its embedded software, prompting DoCoMo to announce on May 25 that distribution of the new visual phone would be completed by the end of June at the latest.
The 1,200 monitors will be notified of the distribution from today and instructed to pick up their visual handsets at NTT DoCoMo service stations in Toranomon, Marunouchi, Shinjuku, Ueno, Ikebukuro, Shibuya and Kanagawa. A total of 700 units will be distributed to private users and the remaining 500 will go to corporate users.
NTT DoCoMo launched its introductory "FOMA" service on May 30, 2001. The company has already distributed 1,400 standard phones, which are an upgraded version of the current i-mode mobile phone, to volunteer monitors. The standard handset features sound quality similar to that provided by a fixed-line phone. DoCoMo has also distributed another 1,200 "data-card" phones for dedicated mobile high-speed data transmission.
