TOKYO-NTT DoCoMo Inc. has expanded its European i-mode reach to Greece with a partnership agreement with mobile operator Cosmote. DoCoMo is licensing Cosmote to launch i-mode services, the Japanese operator’s highly successful mobile Internet service in Greece.
Cosmote will offer its i-mode service on its GPRS and third-generation UMTS networks, with DoCoMo providing know-how, technology and patents. The launch will precede the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, for which Cosmote is a grand national sponsor.
In addition, the two operators will cooperate on introducing i-mode services in other markets where Cosmote has subsidiaries and manages operations, including AMC in Albania, Globul in Bulgaria and Cosmofon in Macedonia.
“Cosmote as always is committed in satisfying its customers’ needs by offering simple and user friendly value-added services, whiles at the same time paving the way for 3G services,” said Evangelos Martigopoulos, Cosmote chief executive officer.
The agreement marks DoCoMo’s eighth partnership for the i-mode service. KPN Mobile offers the service in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium; Bouygues Telecom offers the service in France; Telefonica Moviles in Spain; and KG Telecom in Taiwan. Wind plans to launch i-mode in Italy by year-end.
