Dave:
with all due respect to one of the greatest news operations in the
world, I beg to differ in or complement some points.
"DAVE MCCOMBS, BLOOMBERG/ NEWSROOM:" wrote:
>
> in addition to the many other reasons cited for i-modes success, in contrast wit
> h WAP,
(a) contrasting imode with WAP is like contrasting
Air-France with Rolls-Royce Jet engines
(just imagine we start a discussion:
which is better: Air France or Rolls-Royce Jet engines ?):
WAP is a protocol (i.e. something on paper),
imode is a trade-mark + a complete communication system covering a
pretty large country
In my view the implementation is much more important than the protocol, although
the protocol also is a factor
(b) WAP as such is not unsuccessful at all: there are more than 4
million users in
Japan. Actually, it is often overlooked that:
- about 54% of the world's WAP users are in Japan
- about 13% of the world's WAP users are in Europe
(more info: http://www.eurotechnology.com/imode/faq.html )
> let us not forget:
> 1. i-mode is the cheapest, simplest way to get email in Japan. were conv
> entional PC-based email cheaper and easier to get set up on in Japan, i-mode mig
> ht not have become so popular.
I fully agree. But there is an additional factor here: the huge
NTT local loop access charges.
> 2. pocket bells were already extremely popular, establishing a base popularity f
> or mobile messaging, complete with abbreviated input characters and phrases
> 3. a good number of japanese don't have the extra room in their apartment for a
> desktop PC. this means they're probably interested in buying a laptop, which fur
> ther pushes the cost benefit to i-mode's favor.
another factor is, that with the mobile phone you can send email from anywhere,
from trains, walking etc.
Best regards,
Gerhard Fasol
http://www.eurotechnology.com/
fasol@eurotechnology.com
Received on Tue Sep 26 09:11:48 2000