NTT DoCoMo announces new FOMA 904i handsets

We've all accepted the reality that Japan has the straight up coolest handsets on the planet, and this lineup of NTT DoCoMo's new flagship 9 series does nothing but up the ante. From the pic's top left to bottom right, we have the NEC N904i, Sharp SH904i, Panasonic P904i, Fujitsu F904i, and Mitsubishi D904i. As an upgrade to the FOMA 903i series, the new 904i stable brings a pile of new goodies to the table with features like "2in1" support (more on that in a moment), Uta-hodai (full track download), and Chokkan Game (game downloads with motion control), with One-Seg mobile TV reception and HSDPA on select models The 2in1 support is one of our faves, with two separate phone numbers, email addresses, and address books, all accessed via a mode-switching function which allows a, b, or dual-mode -- no word if dual-mode enables both numbers at once. We're also loving the Chokkan Game support, but the press release shared no detail about the touted "intuitive motion" beyond mention of finger tracing, tilting and waving as means of control. Pocket Wii, anyone?

[Cesar Cardoso @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:47PM]

I imagine a Japanese seeing our excitement with the likes of iPhone and N95 and thinking... "ugh, those Westerners and their ridiculous phones..."

[EDomain @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:57PM]

While tech savvy, I'll admit to being a n00b with cell phones. I have the lame one I got for free when I switched to Verizon. I am finally accepting that I need a smart phone, but what I want to know is this: Are the Japanese smart phones better than what we have here, and can I get one to work with my Verizon service plan? Can foreign phones be made to work here? If I am gonna spend the coin, I want the best.

[Jeff @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:55PM]

"Are the Japanese smart phones better than what we have here, and can I get one to work with my Verizon service plan? Can foreign phones be made to work here?"

"Foreign" and "Japanese" are not the same thing.

"World phones" as are sold both here and in Europe will work here. Japanese phones use a different frequency that's unique (for the moment) to Japan.

I have read that one of the carriers (not Verizon... maybe T-Mobile?) is putting together a UMTS-2100 network that will *eventually* be compatible with some of the networks in Japan. But not initially; even though it's the same standard, there are apparently some slight differences that will make them incompatible at first. So you've probably got a year or two to wait, at least, and even then it's not gonna be Verizon.

Japanese "smart phones" are not as common, though, as they are in America. The reason being they don't really need them; their regular phones are so powerful and are always connected to the internet that they can just do anything they need to either on the phone itself with the included software or through a net app (java or whatever). So you may not even find a Japanese phone you want, given the state of American networks and service plans.

[CuriousChickKimmi @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:59PM]

It's amazing... I love the first sentence, "We've all accepted the reality that Japan has the straight up coolest handsets on the planet, and this lineup of NTT DoCoMo's new flagship 9 series does nothing but up the ante."

It's totally true! And I hate it!! Here I thought the new W580i is cool enough, not that I've seen these babies, I'm absolutely dying! Gosh, I want one so bad..... =____= It's perfect how they can do function without forsaking the looks... *coughN95cough*

[AndrewNeo @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:05PM]

These phones are cool, but my friend is looking at going to Japan and was looking at some DoCoMo phones.. even in the old line, the D903iTV looks pretty sweet.

[Eric @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:47PM]

I thought that said "chikan game support" i got excited for a moment :(

[brava @ Apr 24th 2007 1:43AM]

Uta-hodai is not simply a "full track download" (which could have been just the ther 2 services: chaku-uta full or napster-to-go) but a music-on-demand service with fixed monthly charge

some of you need to brush up your Japanese
or read the English press release carefully

[Michael Chastain @ Apr 24th 2007 1:08PM]

I would kill for that 2in1 support. I refuse to resort to carrying two phones, and personal calls on my work phone is a hassle. I would gladly pay Verizon for a second phone line to keep my personal calls separate, but that's the one case where they apparently have no desire to take my money.

Hopefully the technology will find its way here sooner or later.

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[maeda @ May 1st 2007 7:30AM]

N904i has WVGA display.
http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/product/foma/904i/n904i/index.html