KDDI primed for U.S. wireless launch

Japanese wireless carrier KDDI Inc.’s American operation has moved closer to launching a mobile virtual network operator in the United States, targeting Japanese speakers in America.
The carrier opened up a Web site over the weekend showing some teaser information about the service that appears set to run on Sprint Nextel Corp.’s network. The KDDI Mobile Web site shows a coverage map identical to Sprint Nextel’s CDMA map, but notes in its FAQ that service is not available in Alaska.
According to the KDDI Mobile Web site, the service will include both prepaid and postpaid offerings and that the MVNO “is also ambitious about bringing the Japanese . mobile culture to the United States.” The company notes that it will offer free international calls to Japan and roadside assistance in Japanese.
KDDI Mobile’s Web site currently shows two flip-style handsets for the U.S. market, the LG Electronics Co. Ltd. 225 silver clamshell for $150 and a dark bronze Sanyo Corp. 2400 for $130. The site’s FAQ notes that it plans to offer four handsets for launch. Handset subsidies are described as “discounts to customers, based on their rate plans and length of contract term.”
Several MVNOs in the United States are targeting specific ethnic groups: Movida targets the Latino population within the U.S., an MVNO called Red Pocket launched last year to serve Chinese-Americans, and Helio L.L.C. offers a Helio Powered By SK Telecom brand which features Helio handsets with Korean characters, leveraging the MVNO’s ties to the Korean company.
A representative of KDDI America Inc. could not immediately be reached for confirmation of the MVNO launch date.