----------------------------------------------------------------<br><div class="gmail_quote"><p>
Japan Inc Magazine Presents:<br>
W I R E L E S S W A T C H</p>
<p>READ WIRELESS WATCH ONLINE AT:<br>
<a href="http://www.japaninc.com/" title="www.japaninc.com" target="_blank">www.japaninc.com</a></p>
<p>The Latest News From The Wireless Industry In Japan</p>
<p>Issue No. 172 Monday, March 31, 2008<br>
Subscribers: 9467<br>
SUBSCRIBE AND UNSUBSCRIBE TO WIRELESS WATCH:<br>
<a href="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up" title="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up</a></p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
CISCO WIRELESS PHONES FROM PBXL</p>
<p>PBXL 802.11b wireless phones use the same Cisco technology<br>
as our industry-standard handsets so you can work everywhere<br>
you need to be.</p>
<p>Every PBXL Cisco 7921 phone comes with a big color screen,<br>
a 03 Tokyo number, voicemail, and more!<br>
Everything you expect from the best office phone system<br>
on the market.</p>
<p>Call today for a free quotation: 03-4550-2557<br>
<a href="mailto:info@pbxl.jp" target="_blank">info@pbxl.jp</a><br>
<a href="http://www.pbxl.jp/seminarstt" title="www.pbxl.jp/seminarstt" target="_blank">www.pbxl.jp/seminarstt</a><br>
-----------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>Mr i-mode moves on</p>
<p>Takeshi Natsuno one of the people behind the introduction of<br>
i-mode will leave NTT DoCoMo in April, according to leading<br>
business newspaper the Nihon Keizai Shinbun on March 28.<br>
Together with Mari Matsunaga and Keiichi Enoki, he pioneered<br>
the phone browsing and revenue sharing concept with content<br>
providers in 1998. Natsuno was also the driving force behind<br>
the introduction of i-mode overseas. While it is easy to say<br>
that i-mode failed abroad, Natsuno and his team deserve all<br>
credits for their work – today almost 88 million Japanese pay<br>
for phone browsing and email services. Many overseas carriers<br>
and service providers have used i-mode as an inspiration for<br>
their own business. </p>
<p>EMOBILE starts voice services</p>
<p>Mobile broadband service provider, EMOBILE commenced their voice<br>
services on March 28. EMOBILE's subscription models are easy to<br>
understand. Monthly basic fees are free of charge, but phone<br>
calls to mobile phones, PHS and fixed-lines are expensive –<br>
18.9 yen per 30 seconds. Paying an optional 980 yen per month<br>
will make phone calls cheaper – 5.25 yen to fixed-lines and 9.45<br>
yen to mobile phones. The contract term is for a minimum of two<br>
years. Cancelling your contract within this term comes at a<br>
hefty penalty – after 6 months you pay 38,000 yen and 12 months<br>
26,000 yen. </p>
<p>Two handsets are launched: a PDA-type phone from HTC with<br>
Windows Mobile and a clam-shell model from Toshiba based on<br>
a SoftBank model. Without subsidy, the PDA costs 67,980 yen and<br>
clam-shell model 57,980 yen. </p>
<p>EMOBILE is building its own infrastructure. About 70% of the<br>
population is already covered – the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya<br>
regions for more than 95%. It has an agreement with NTT DoCoMo<br>
to roam over its network when there is no coverage outside the<br>
large cities. Underground service at subway stations and<br>
shopping malls is still an issue. Negotiations between EMOBILE<br>
and the Japan Tunnel Association to obtain permission for<br>
placing base stations will take about one year. </p>
<p>EMOBILE is not affected by the global financial crisis unlike<br>
Willcomm that has a problem finding investment. Two years ago,<br>
EMOBILE's CEO Semmoto raised US$3.6 billion to fund his business<br>
expansion. However, recent trouble with the Carlyle Group, a<br>
major backer of EMOBILE, could have a negative impact if the<br>
private equity investment firm does not get its act together<br>
soon. </p>
<p>EMOBILE will attract Willcomm's PHS customers with faster data<br>
services and country wide coverage. Willcomm's subscriber base<br>
already slightly decreases every month. EMOBILE also benefits<br>
from mobile number portability that allows new customers to<br>
bring their own number. We are interested to see how SoftBank<br>
will be affected by EMOBILE's aggressive pricing strategy.<br>
Stay tuned. </p>
<p>By Arjen Van Blokland</p>
<p>To comment on this newsletter please visit the website version of<br>
the article at <a href="http://www.japaninc.com/ww172" title="www.japaninc.com/ww172" target="_blank">www.japaninc.com/ww172</a></p>
</div><br>