Technical Topics

I-mode:

What is I-mode?

I-mode is a service that offers wireless web browsing and e-mail from cell phones. This technology was introduced by NTT DoCoMo in Japan in 1999.

Purpose of I-mode

First, using I-mode allows you to reserve airline tickets, find restaurants, check your bank accounts and transfer money. Also, you could receive and send emails and access the internet directly. You could even take a picture using I-mode, which has a little camera that allows you to send pictures instantly to others. It gives more chances for busy people to communicate with other people and enhances peer to peer communication using cell phone technologies.

How's I-mode different?

Before I-mode was introduced, cell phones were used to make and receive voice calls. However, I-mode allows users to access information and communication services via internet and e-mails. 

Details of I-mode

I-mode uses compatible HTML based on extended cHTML (compact HTML for small information appliances).  Pictures are supported in GIF format only. Videos and audio can be downloaded to the new 3G phone using MPEG4.Transport is provided by HTTP over TCP/IP. I-mode phones transmit data at a speed of 9.6 kbps to 14.4 kbps. Compared to a usual 56 kps computer, I-mode is a bit slow. However I-mode limits to only 500 bytes for each email and I-mode sites are relatively lightweight, users won't feel it's too slow. 

I-mode VS. WAP

There are two main standards of cell phone technologies. One is I-mode which is offering by NTT DoCoMo in Japan. The other is WAP (Wireless Application Protocol).

WAP Technology: WAP is a system of protocols and technologies that lets cell phones and other wirelress devices with tiny display, low-bandwidth connections, and minimal memory access web-based information and services. Although WAP supports HTML and XML, WML (Wireless Markup Language) is devised for tiny displays.

I-mode Technology: I-mode is a rival standard developed by Japan's NTT DoCoMo which is widely used in Japan and just introduced in Europe. I-mode uses compact HTML and packet switching, which allows users to be constantly connected to the network and content providers to broadcast relevant information to users.

Who can or will, provide similar service in the U.S.?

NTT DoCoMo bought 16% of AT&T Wireless to pay $9.8 millions in November 2000 and brought I-mode technology to the US by the end of 2001. AT&T introduced "M-mode" in 2002. However, there is no provision for content providers to bill the consumer and the service cost is similar to that of others. Although technologies have been replicated, this cannot be US I-mode services.

Currently, no wireless carrier in the USA provides the level and quality of coverage across the country. The reason is that USA has low population density compared to Japan. Also, it has a higher number of carriers in each market. These factors have led to huge costs to the US carriers in building nationwide infrastructures.  

Related Websites

http//:www.mobilemediajapan.com: Information for advanced mobile phones in Asia.

http://www.kisa.or.kr/english: Good sources to know comparison between WAP and I-mode. I refer graphs from this website.

http://www.wirelessmewsfactpr.com/: Information and update news for wireless devices.

http://www.nttdocomo.com : NTT DoCoMo official website