Re: Smart Card UIM in 3G Mobile Wireless
>> NTT DoCoMo Unveils 3G Mobile Service Details
Wireless Internet News
William Auckerman
Japan Correspondent
asia.internet.com
[December 5, 2000--TOKYO] NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan's dominant mobile phone service provider, has announced details of the third\ generation (3G) IMT-2000 cellular phone service that it will launch in May 2001.
That service, which will be the world's first 3G cellular phone system, will be marketed under the brand name "FOMA" (Freedom Of Mobile-multimedia Access).
Initially, FOMA subscribers will be able to utilize a 64k-bps circuit-switched voice/data communication service and a 64k-bps upstream/384k-bps downstream packet-switched data transmission service. Faster packet-switched speeds are planned for the future.
The company said its FOMA service will be based on direct-spread code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) technology to ensure high-quality voice communication with minimal interference and noise.
To promote its new 3G mobile phone service, NTT DoCoMo will introduce a variety of applications geared to FOMA's high-speed data transmission capability, including videophone and video content distribution services.
It will also offer multi-call (simultaneous voice and packet-switched data transmission) capability, high-speed Internet/intranet connectivity, and a next generation version of its popular i-mode wireless Net access and e-mail service. (I-mode currently has more than 15 million subscribers.)
NTT DoCoMo also unveiled two types of FOMA cellular handsets: a compact basic unit that supports both voice communication and packet-switched data transmission (including i-mode service) and a visual phone unit with built-in video camera.
These will be supplemented by a packet-switched data-only FOMA PC Card for use with mobile computers.
Each of these FOMA devices will utilize an user identity module (UIM)--a small IC card that holds subscriber data, including registered telephone number.
Service subscribers will be able to use any FOMA device by simply inserting their UIM card.
NTT DoCoMo will launch its FOMA 3G service in Tokyo, Yokohama, and Kawasaki in May 2001.
The company plans to expand the FOMA service area to Osaka and Nagoya by December 2001, and to all regions covered by NTT DoCoMo by April 2002. <<
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