TOKYO-Japanese wireless giant NTT DoCoMo Inc. released its latest line-up of advanced handsets for its FOMA third-generation network. The carrier’s new 901i series of mobile phones feature advanced video calling, increased memory and support for a variety of features.
Although DoCoMo does not name its phone suppliers, news reports named Fujitsu Ltd., Sharp Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., NEC Corp. and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. as the manufacturers of the phones.
DoCoMo said the first phone in the series, the SH901iC, will be available next week and will feature a new surround-sound technology that will improve game play and ringtone quality. The phone also supports miniSD memory cards and sports a 2.2-inch color screen.
The new phone series will feature anti-virus technology from McAfee Inc., which the company said will protect users from potential mobile-phone software viruses.
DoCoMo’s phone releases are often noteworthy as the carrier sits on the leading edge of handset technology.
In other phone news, Nokia Corp. announced it scored a phone deal with Virgin Mobile in the United States. Under the deal, Nokia will sell CDMA phones through the carrier starting next year.<
