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J-Phone launch 3G services in Japan
December 20, 2002
Mobile phone giant Vodafone Group took its first step into 3G services
on Friday when its Japanese subsidiary, J-Phone Corp, Japan's third-largest
wireless carrier, made its delayed launch of high-speed, W-CDMA
3G data phones.
Although 3G technology phones are not expected to ring up huge
revenues for Europe's largest mobile phone company in the short
term, the launch in one of the world's most tech-savvy nations is
expected to help shed light on how new mobile data services might
be received elsewhere. J-Phone is targeting one million 3G users
by March 2004
"The rest of the Vodafone group views Japan as a crystal ball for
wireless services," said Bruce Kirk, equity research director for
KBC Securities in Tokyo.
"Colour screens were introduced first in Japan. Wireless Internet
was introduced first in Japan. Now, 3G is being introduced first
in Japan. There will be a lot of attention on how Vodafone rolls
out its services here."
Scepticism over whether 3G phones will yield fresh revenues from
services such as high-speed Internet, video and music has been fuelled
in part by a dizzying $103 billion that companies have paid for
European 3G licences.
Having taken what was once billed as the biggest gamble on an untried
technology in corporate history, European mobile operators are battling
to weather a two-year collapse in share prices amid investor concerns
about rising debts, a slowing global economy and technology delays.
Operators have long complained that a lack of suitable handsets
has delayed 3G launches. And Vodafone declined to divulge how many
phones would be on sale in Japan. There would be a sufficient quantity
to satisfy demand, a spokeswoman said.
J-Phone plans to expand the population coverage of its 3G service
from around 70 percent to 98 percent by March 2004. J-Phone's 3G
service area includes Tokyo Metropolitan area (inside National Route
16) and major cities nationwide with 865 cities, wards, towns and
villages (approximately 71.1% population coverage).
Three handsets will be available at launch:
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V-N701 (by NEC) - Video phone
- Network: 3G (W-CDMA)/GSM900/GSM1800
- Display at 65,536 TFD LCD, 2.2 inch (162 x 132 pixels)
- Camaras at 100,000 pixel CMOS x 2 (videotelephony only,
no still pictures)
- 52 x 109 x 33mm
- 146g
- (Continous talk time/standby time) 3G: approx. 100 min/50
hrs, GSM: approx. 150 min/100 hrs
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Nokia 6650 (by Nokia) - Video phone
- Network: 3G (W-CDMA)/GSM900/GSM1800
- 4096 color TFD, 2 inches (128 x 160 pixels)
- Cameras: 320,000 pixel CMOS (For videotelephony and still
photos)
- 52 x 133 x 25mm
- 140g
- (Continous talk time/standby time) 3G: approx. 170 min./120
hrs, GSM: approx. 160 min./336hrs
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V-SA701 (by Sanyo) - Video phone
- Network: 3G (W-CDMA)
- 260,000 color TFT LCD, 2.2 inches (220 x 176 pixels)
- 110,000 pixel CCD x 2 (For videophone and still photos)
- 50 x 99 x 29mm
- 120g
- (Continous talk time/standby time) Approx. 130 min./80 hrs
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To download J-Phone 3G service overview, click
here (280KB)
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3G Motorola A920
