NTT DoCoMo
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Samsung's latest Tokyo Olympics phone might actually happen
Samsung has unveiled a version of the Galaxy S21 to mark the Tokyo Olympics — provided the games aren't postponed again.
Japanese carrier 'cooks' shrimp in three seconds to sell you on LTE
NTT DoCoMo's LTE is so fast that ordinary life can seem slow by comparison. That's why the company's latest bizarre advert is showing you how to make a dinner of battered shrimp in under three seconds. All you'll need is an air cannon, some flour, batter and an open flame, as well as the mechanism to spray all three into the air. Then, just firing the creatures through each one will produce some tasty-looking, if microbiologically-unsound fare. Something, something, buy some LTE?
The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for May 28, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
NTT DoCoMo's vision of '5G' wireless: 100x faster than LTE, but not until 2020
We knew good and well that Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo would be divulging details about its 5G wireless plans at CEATEC, but the claims that we've stumbled upon here in Chiba are nothing short of bananas. Granted, the operator is making clear that its vision isn't intended to reach implementation until 2020, and it confesses that a 5G standard has yet to be ratified. That said, it's dreaming of a world where its network offers "1000 times the capacity and 100 times the speed as the current network." Representatives for the company told us that the challenge is going to be dealing with range limitations in higher frequency spectrum, but it plans to employ "high-frequency bandwidth by transmitting with a large number of antenna elements." The goal for looking so far forward? It's already seeing an insane appetite for video on networks that can barely maintain poise under the load, and the notion of transferring 4K content to the masses is going to require a substantial upgrade. CEATEC's known as a place that allows companies to dream big and aim for the fences, but we'll be honest -- we'd really, really prefer that 2020 arrived sooner rather than later. Mat Smith contributed to this report.
66% of ex-NTT DoCoMo users reportedly choose iPhone
One of the rather unsung points TUAW posted after the Apple Event on Tuesday is that Apple had inked a deal for Japan's leading mobile carrier -- NTT DoCoMo -- to carry the iPhone for the first time. While that doesn't sound like a big deal, it stands to help out NTT DoCoMo a lot. The company has 61 million subscribers, but churn (subscribers leaving to go elsewhere) has been a problem. How much of a problem? Well, research firm Kantar Japan says that a whopping two-thirds of those who have left DoCoMo for greener pastures have done so to buy an iPhone. The deal is big for DoCoMo, which formerly dominated the Japanese mobile market and has seen its market share shrink. But it's also a big deal for Apple, which now has full carrier distribution in the island nation. Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore thinks that an additional 10 million iPhones couid be sold in Japan in 2014, with most of them being the higher end iPhone 5s. That's enough to add about $2 to Apple's earnings per share for 2014, just from adding one carrier.
NTT DoCoMo gets new iPhones on September 20
NTT DoCoMo, the largest mobile carrier in Japan, will be carrying the iPhone 5s and 5c starting on September 20. The company had been an iPhone holdout, as it likes to load phones with a variety of "home-built" apps. Apparently the company has finally decided to knuckle under to Apple's pressure. Kaoru Kato, president and CEO of NTT DoCoMo, was quoted as saying, "We're thrilled to offer the incredible new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c to our customers. We know our customers will enjoy the amazing experience of iPhone on DoCoMo's high-quality network." Apple's press release for this news notes that "Beginning on Friday, September 13, customers can pre-order iPhone 5c at DoCoMo dealers and the first 30,000 DoCoMo Premier Club Premier Stage customers can pre-order from DoCoMo website."
NTT DoCoMo CFO thinks It would make good business sense to carry the iPhone
NTT DoCoMo is Japan's largest mobile carrier, with about 60 million subscribers. But it remains a holdout on the iPhone, primarily due to the fact that the carrier likes to pre-load applications and services on phones -- something Apple specifically forbids. A SankeiBiz interview with DoCoMo CFO Kazuto Tsubouchi reveals that the company has been in negotiations with Apple, although they don't expect to have come to agreement prior to the announcement of the next-generation iPhones expected on September 10. DoCoMo develops a "lifestyle system" for phones on its network that requires special software to come pre-installed on those phones, whereas Apple doesn't want carrier bloatware installed on iPhones. Market watchers say that the carrier must make a deal with Apple if they're to remain on top of the Japanese market. Although a DoCoMo representative made a comment in July about the iPhone no longer being "the god of all smartphones," the company can't afford to ignore the positive financial impact that the iPhone has had on many other carriers around the world. [via AppleInsider]
NTT DoCoMo's prototype breathalyzer knows if you're burning fat, could toughen-up boot camp
Next time you're back from a run, questioning whether it's been worth the agony effort, you might actually be able to find out for sure. Well, perhaps not the next time, but soon, thanks to a prototype breathalyzer developed by NTT DoCoMo that promises to instantly let you know whether your body is currently burning fat. We've seen the device before, but a recently published journal on its latest test results brings it one step closer to reality. The handheld unit uses gas and pressure sensors to monitor levels of acetone -- a substance created during fat burning, partly expelled via the lungs -- in the breath, and can display fat burning potential on a phone via bluetooth (or cable). The creators tested the prototype on a small group, and found that those who didn't diet or exercise, or did light exercise only, didn't show signs of fat burning, but those that watched what they ate, and upped activity did -- boosting hopes of its real-world use. No word on commercial availability just yet, but we're already wondering if it might up the ante on our potential second income.
NTT DoCoMo outs Raku-Raku F-09E smartphone for 'beginners'
It's been more than a year since NTT DoCoMo unveiled its F-12D Raku-Raku handset, so it's only natural the company would follow up with a successor in 2013. The Japanese firm just introduced the F-09E, an easy-to-use, Android-based device tailored for folks looking to get their feet wet on the smartphone craze. Hardware-wise, this Fujitsu-made, 4.3-inch (qHD) F12-D will be running Android 4.2.2, while a 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600, 2GB RAM, 16GB of built-in storage and a 2,100mAh battery round out the spec list. Don't get too attached to what's under the hood, though: NTT DoCoMo notes the new member of the Raku-Raku family is still in development and things could change by the time it launches, sometime in "between late September and early October."
Samsung's Galaxy S 4 gets 'blue arctic' paint-job for NTT DoCoMo
Samsung can add "mist" and "frost" to its color names, but deep down we know the Galaxy S 4 only comes in black or white. That is, unless you're one of NTT DoCoMo's customers, who can expect the Korean flagship to arrive in blue arctic as well. A leaked pamphlet reveals that the third shade will be announced when the quad-core handset is announced on May 15th -- confirming once and for all that Japanese mobile users get all the fun.
NTT DoCoMo announces 12 new mobile devices for the spring, launches Smart Home initiative
Change of season? You can bet NTT DoCoMo has an armload of new devices to announce -- it's almost a tradition. This time around, the Japanese carrier has revealed 10 new smartphones, two tablets and a mobile WiFi hotspot. Large, 4.5 to 5-inch displays and quad-core processors pepper the entire spring smartphone line, but there are a few notable standouts, including the previously leaked LG Optimus G Pro, Huawei's Ascend D2 and the NEC Medias W -- a curious dual-screen smartphone we first saw at MWC 2012. DoCoMo fills its tablet quota with the Sony Xperia Tablet Z and a carrier branded device called the dtab, a 10.1-inch WiFi slab apparently built for DoCoMo's Smart Home initiative. Don't let the name run away with your imagination -- the Japanese carrier is focusing on sharing music, video and digital content between smartphones and other home electronics, not automating your apartment. The dtab is compatible with a handful of carrier exclusive services, such as the dmarket and DoCoMo cloud. It's not technically part of the carrier's mobile line, but DoCoMo had one more announcement for spring: an HDMI dongle. The SmartTV dstick gives HDTVs access to the carrier's dvideo, danime store and dhits services, and can be controlled with via smartphone or a similarly named tablet. Spring hardware will start hitting Japan on January 25th with the Aquos Phone EX, and continue to roll out through March. Read on for the official press release. Update: Apparently, we're looking at a different Ascend D2 than the one we saw at CES, one with a smaller screen (4.7-inch 720p vs. 5-inch 1080p) and battery (2150mAh vs. 3000mAh).
LG's Optimus G Pro revealed in leaked image with 5-inch 1080p display, 3,000mAh battery and LTE
LG's Optimus G won the hearts of our reviewers and finding the barely-different Nexus 4 is a feat worthy of a mythological hero -- so here's some exciting news. A tipster has sent us the above leaked slide, revealing that there's a new(er) kid on LG's block in the form of the Optimus G Pro. The 5-inch handset comes with an upgraded 1,920 x 1,080 display and is packing a 1.7Ghz Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064, 2GB RAM, 32GB Memory, LTE and a 3,000mAh battery -- tallying with a separate leak we've spied on Blog of Mobile. Reportedly weighing in at 160 grams and measuring 139 x 70 x 10.1mm, there's talk of Jelly Bean, a 13-megapixel rear camera and 2.4-megapixel forward-facer for even better self portraiture. Naturally, as it's destined for Japan's NTT DoCoMo, you'll also find One-Seg and NOTTV functionality baked inside -- which only adds to our complex that those in the Far East get all the best toys. [Thanks, Anonymous]
NTT DoCoMo changes its tune, now open to carrying iPhone
It would appear that Japanese mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo is performing an about-face with regard to supporting the iPhone on its network. Following reports late last year that it had seen record defections of customers to other carriers, the company's president now says it is open to carrying Apple's smartphone, something it has been openly against in the past. NTT DoCoMo president Katoru Kato recently told the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun that the company has actually wanted to offer the phone to its customers, but that Apple has been demanding it guarantee certain sales quotas before allowing it to. According to Kato, this would require the iPhone to amount to 20 to 30 percent of NTT DoCoMo's total annual sales. The carrier serves more than half of Japan's mobile customers, but has seen its subscriber base on the decline during 2012, particularly after the launch of the iPhone 5 on rival networks Softbank and KDDI. Both saw six-digit growth in new subscribers each month following the phone's introduction, while NTT DoCoMo saw five-digit losses. [Via The Mac Observer]
Samsung reportedly launching Tizen-based phones on NTT DoCoMo in 2013
According to Japan's Daily Yomiuri, NTT DoCoMo is partnering with Samsung to develop phones running the open-source Tizen operating system, with the first handsets reaching the market next year. According to the Yomiuri, other mobile carriers are also getting behind the development of Tizen because they "fear the hegemony" of Apple and Google. We've heard about Tizen as far back as September of 2011 -- this Linux-based (and Intel-backed) software came about when Nokia's MeeGo OS bit the dust, and we've already seen evidence of a Tizen-based Galaxy S III.
Panasonic P-02E smartphone appears in the FCC flesh, looks Japan-bound
Earlier this month, a supposed Panasonic P02-E smartphone popped up on an NTT DoCoMo Japanese server log, but such scant evidence required more than a few grains of salt to swallow it. Now, the ever-reliable FCC has revealed the device to be an actual thing, and putting the two sources together would make it a 5-inch, 1,920 x 1080, Android 4.1.2 smartphone with a quad-core, 1.5GHz APQ8064 Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, along with LTE and NFC capability. Don't get too excited if those specs float your boat, however -- judging by the retractable TV antenna, NTT DoCoMo origins and general Panasonic elusiveness in the west, it looks to be aimed squarely at the Japanese market only.
NTT DoCoMo subscribers on the decline without iPhone
It's difficult to imagine, but Japan's leading cellular carrier still doesn't offer the iPhone. In fact, NTT DoCoMo is seeing its subscriber base shrink by record numbers as its competitors, Softbank and KDDI, continue to grow. Both have been offering the iPhone for some time. NTT DoCoMo saw its subscribers drop by 40,800 in November alone according to Reuters and freely admits that its lack of the iPhone is to blame. By comparison, Softbank gained 301,900 new subscribers in the same month, and KDDI did almost as well adding 228,800 customers. Both carriers are seeing brisk sales of the iPhone 5, which launched in Japan on September 21. Despite admitting that its subscriber numbers are suffering without iPhone on offer, NTT DoCoMo continues to be staunchly pro-Android. The company remains wary of iPhone, citing Apple's closed platform (read: the inability to modify the OS) as its rationale. [Via VentureBeat]
Fujitsu's Arrows V F-04E launches with 4.7-inch display, fingerprint scanner, lust for ramen
When Mr. Fujitsu was designing the Arrows V F-04E for NTT DoCoMo's winter lineup, he probably wrote "ALL THE FEATURES" and knocked-off early. That might explain the pile of tech nestled beneath that 4.7-inch, 1,280 x 720 display -- including 64GB Storage, a 13.1-megapixel camera, NFC, 2,420mAh battery and a fingerprint scanner. The Tegra 3-powered handset also comes with Fujitsu's Human Centric Engine, which, like all J-Phones, promises a few quasi sci-fi features like calibrating the display to be comfortable for your age. It's also water-and-dust resistant and you'll be able to watch 1-Seg broadcasts while on the Bullet Train -- the perfect combination to make westerners feel jealous.
The first smartphone with a low-power IGZO display: the 4.9-inch Sharp Aquos Phone Zeta SH-02E
Japanese mega-operator NTT DoCoMo has just unveiled a interesting addition to its winter line-up: the Sharp Aquos Phone Zeta SH-02E, which is the first production smartphone we've seen with an IGZO display. If you hadn't heard, the indium gallium zinc oxide technology promises higher translucency compared to regular LCDs, which reduces the demand for backlighting and hence means less battery drain -- and you can learn more from our hands-on at IFA. Fortunately, in addition to its new-fangled 4.9-inch 1,280 x 720 panel, the SH-02E boasts a healthy spec sheet in other departments too, including a 16-megapixel camera, 1.5GHz S4 Pro quad-core engine with Adreno 320 graphics, NFC and compatibility with NTT's LTE network. The only slight downer is that it comes with Android 4.0 out of the box, but that's hardly going to be an issue by the time a model with this type of display lands stateside -- assuming it ever does.
NTT DoCoMo opens Japanese pre-orders for the LG Optimus G L-01E tomorrow, sales start October 19th
LG revealed Japan's NTT DoCoMo would be the first carrier to offer its Optimus G (which it's been proud enough to announce more than once) and now we have an exact date. Pre-orders for the L-01E start tomorrow ahead of it going on sale October 19th, bringing its quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon CPU, 4.7-inch True HD IPS LCD, 13MP camera, Android 4.0 packaged with the waterproofing, DMB tuning and FeLiCa wallet support local buyers will expect. While we wait for release details in the US on AT&T and Sprint (or another leak of that supposed LG Nexus phone) you can check out the red and black variants rolling out across the Pacific.
Via Licensing assembles an LTE supergroup to share standards-essential patents
Dolby spinoff Via Licensing has shone a signal into the night sky and assembled some of the world's biggest telecoms players to form a patent supergroup. AT&T, NTT DoCoMo and Telefonica are some of the names that'll pool their standards-essential LTE patents to prevent getting embroiled in litigation over FRAND licensing. While there are some notable holdouts to the team, we suggest company president Roger Ross coax them over by hiring Michael McCuistion to write them a rockin' theme song.
