TOKYO-KDDI and J-Phone continue to expand their subscriber bases of next-generation services.
KDDI, the second-largest mobile operator in Japan, announced that the number of subscribers for the carrier’s third-generation (3G) services based on cdma2000 1x technology exceeded 3 million. KDDI is targeting to get 7 million 3G service users by the end of March 2003.
KDDI launched its 3G service last April. The subscriber numbers expanded rapidly, with the operator reaching 1 million subscribers by the end of June and 2 million at the end of August. KDDI successfully won such a large number of subscribers for its 3G service since its dual-mode handsets can be used in the areas where 3G service is not yet available.
NTT DoCoMo launched its FOMA 3G service last October. However, it has so far failed to expand subscriptions.
J-Phone, a Vodafone company in Japan, announced the number of subscribers for its picture mail service reached 7 million. J-Phone in June 2001 launched the picture mail service under the service name of “Sha-mail,” which has won much attention in the market.
J-Phone is providing 20 handsets available for the popular Sha-mail services, and 54 percent of J-Phone service subscribers are subscribing to the Sha-mail services. J-Phone last March launched advanced motion picture mail services. According to J-Phone, the number of subscribers for the service has already reached 800,000.
