GSM operators like Sonera started offering 38 kbps data transfer speed last September
Come on--you and I both know that the 38K you cite is not the "true" speed.
Do I think i-Mode will be beaten? Yes, I certainly do. I know you do too. Do you really think DoCoMo, who complained of constrained capacity years ago, will keep piling on data subs indefinitely? W-CDMA is not coming to save them by end 2000 as they had hoped, nor will it be there to save them by March 2001 as their fearless leader predicts. All the while, the CDMA service will be quietly spreading, increasing their data rates to 115K, gathering up subs, etc. What can DoCoMo do? They were handily whupped when DDI/IDO started service. With an aggressive free phone campaign, they have evened the score somewhat. It's only a matter of time though. DDI/IDO started with zero. They'll be just fine.
As for HTML, if a sub needs the full internet experience, pop a card into your laptop and surf away at speeds higher than landline and at a cost of a fraction of the NTT wired rates. HTML on a phone is more of a nuisance than an advantage. All the CDMA phones in Japan are now WAP enabled, and their are hundreds of sites set up for service.
It will be interesting to watch data wars escalate in the US. As VodaBAM/GTE/PrimeCo meld together, there will be quite a battle with WCOM/Sprint PCS as far as subs and data services go.
The world is an interesting place. |
