TOKYO-Eight wireless carriers that currently offer i-mode wireless Internet services based on NTT DoCoMo Inc. technology announced joint procurement for i-mode handsets. The carriers initially have procured Korean vendor LG Electronics Co. Ltd.’s L342i handset, which began reaching markets at the end of last month.
The eight operators involved in the joint procurement are Germany’s E-Plus Mobilfunk, KPN Mobile in the Netherlands, Taiwan’s Far EasTone Telecommunications Co., Base in Belgium, Bouygues Telecom in France, Italy’s Wind Telecomunicazioni, Greece’s Cosmote Mobile Telecommunications and Telstra Corp. in Australia.
Four other carriers that have signed i-mode license agreements but that have not yet launched service will participate in upcoming joint procurement activities, DoCoMo said.
The number of i-mode subscribers outside Japan has reached 5 million, raising total i-mode subscribers to about 50 million worldwide.
