imode

[sajiv]

The imode is the NTT Do Como s new Internet access system. It is an advanced intelligent messaging service for digital mobile phones and other mobile terminals that will allow you to see Internet content in special text format on special imode-enabled mobile phones. Enabling information access from handheld devices requires a deep understanding of both technical and market issues that are unique to the wireless environment. The imode specification was developed by the industry s best minds to address these issues. Wireless devices represent the ultimate constrained computing device with limited CPU, memory and battery life and a simple user interface. Wireless networks are constrained by low bandwidth, high latency and unpredictable availability and stability.

The imode specification addresses these issues by using the best of existing standards and developing new extensions when needed. The imode solution leverages the tremendous investment in web servers, web development tools, web programmers and web applications while solving the unique problems associated with the wireless domain. The specification ensures that this solution is fast, reliable and secure. The imode specification is developed and supported by the wireless telecommunication community so that the entire industry and its subscribers can benefit from a single, open specification.

NTT DoCoMo: The Creators of imode

NTT DoCoMo is a subsidiary of Japan s incumbent telephone operator NTT. The majority of NTT-DoCoMo s shares are owned by NTT, and the majority of NTT s shares are owned by the Japanese government. NTT-DoCoMo s shares are separately listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and on the Osaka Stock Exchange, and NTT-DoCoMo s market value (capitalization) makes it one of the world s most valued companies.

Goals of the imode.

The goals of the imode forum are listed as follows. >>To bring Internet content and advanced data services to wireless phones and other wireless terminals.

>>To develop a global wireless protocol specification that works across all wireless network technologies.

>>To enable the creation of content and applications that scale across a wide range of wireless bearer networks and device types, i.e. to maintain device and bearer independence.

[VelMurugan]

IMODE

Launched in Japan on 22 February 1999 and planned and designed by a team led by Mari Matsunaga, NTT DoCoMo's i-mode is a wireless Internet service admired in Japan and is gaining foot in other parts of the world, such as Israel (Cellcom being the main company to sell i-mode phones and service there). Top executive Keiichi Enoki oversaw the technical and overall development while Takeshi Natsuno was responsible for the business development. i-mode advert on the London Underground. Rivals KDDI and J-Phone launched EZweb and J-sky respectively and by June 2006, these three major mobile data services have over 80 million subscribers in Japan. J-Phone including J-Sky was later acquired by Vodafone and renamed as Vodafone Live! Vodafone adapted J-Sky as Live for Europe and other markets.

I-mode borrows from fixed Internet data formats such as C-HTML based on HTML, as well as DoCoMo proprietary protocols ALP (HTTP) and TLP (TCP, UDP) in contrast with the WAP standard, which uses WML on top of a specific protocol stack for wireless handheld devices. I-mode was a hug hit for its well-designed services and business model and also due to the strong demand for mobile email services.