Hi All:
Thank you to all contributing to the i-mode in Europe discussion - very
interesting.
A few comments:
i-mode on GSM or GPRS? - the various contributions come down on both sides
of this issue:
Paul Eijkemans says with regard to I-mode on GSM:
>As far as I know KPN is absolutely not planning this<
While the article submitted by Kristian Solberg carrys a quote by
>Amos Kater, innovation manager for mobile data at KPN:
>I-Mode has proven itself as a technology and we are looking for a way >to
bring i-Mode applications to Europe," he said. "At the moment there >are
only few GSM cHTML phones available but we do not expect that to >become a
problem.<
Which seems to suggest that I-mode will be introduced on GSM.
While Bruce Kirk states in response to my question >Has KPN announced the
timing of the roll-out of GPRS< says:
>Don't know to be honest. Most of the main European carriers are trying to
aim for a Christmas / New Year launch.<
This would seem to suggest that it will be i-mode on GPRS.!!!
I'm still not sure which way to jump!!
Regarding handsets: I agree that the Japanese manufacturers have not been
major players in the European market but I would not take that as an
indication of what is about to happen. Japanese have demonstrated, time and
time again, their expertise in bringing *cool consumer products* to market
in high volume. In the area of handsets, they can produce new models in
less than 9 months where European and American manufacturers require close
to twice that time. Make no mistake about it - Japanese handsets will be in
Europe, and elsewhere, in a big way.
Mats Ulenius states:
>I think that sometimes we exaggerate some sort of fierce competition
between "Japan" and "Europe"<
The competition will be fierce, especially when carriers try to recover
their hugh investments in 3G licenses. Manufacturers cannot fail to be
drawn into the frey, alliences or not.
Declan
Received on Mon Aug 21 05:45:54 2000