Wireless Java: Sun and NTT DoCoMo Unveil Prototypes of Next-Generation Java Technology-Based Cellular Phones - NTT Mobile Communications Network, Sun Microsystems - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, June 21, 1999

Sun Microsystems and NTT DoCoMo Tuesday delivered the first prototypes of NTT DoCoMo's Java technology-enabled i-mode wireless phones and services. Powered by Sun's K virtual machine (KVM), formerly known as project KJava VM, prototypes of these next-generation i-mode cellular phones will be demonstrated by Matsushita/Panasonic, NEC, Fujitsu and Mitsubishi Electric this week at JavaOne '99 in San Francisco. A key component of Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition, the KVM is ideal for high-volume, small-footprint consumer lifestyle products such as mobile phones, pagers and personal digital assistants.

"As evidenced by the i-mode prototype phones, Java technology will deliver far more entertaining and engaging capabilities to cellular phone users," said Keiichi Enoki, general manager, Gateway Business, NTT DoCoMo. "Java technology's rich security features and download capabilities will enable our network services to be more robust and flexible. Through the prototyping efforts, we became totally convinced that Java technology is the key to make our network more attractive to consumers and content providers."

"We are very pleased to announce the progress we have made in our promising venture with NTT DoCoMo. This demonstrates Sun's commitment to consumer markets as well as the robustness of the K virtual machine," said Mike Clary, vice president and general manager, Consumer and Embedded. "Sun expects to see a range of innovative Java technology-based network services made available to i-mode users in Japan very soon."

Java technologies are expected to make the i-mode service even more compelling by providing enhanced security for mission critical applications such as online banking and trading and increased functionality, including game downloading services. In addition, Java technology, designed specifically for the wireless market, will allow NTT DoCoMo to dynamically upgrade and manage i-mode software and services.

"The Java technology-enabled i-mode phone is a fascinating concept. We see great prospect for the i-mode service as a platform for innovative entertainment, including games. Bandai is fully committed to developing content for Java technology-based i-mode phone services," said Toshiki Hayashi, general manager, New Property Development, Bandai.

Growing at record-breaking speed, NTT DoCoMo's i-mode service has added over 300,000 subscribers in the past three months. Plans to add commercial Java technology applications to the i-mode service infrastructure and handsets by the end of Calendar Year 2000 are under development

"This Java platform is small and fast. It runs 3Dgraphics games at comfortable speed on a cellular phone that has limited memory space and processor speed. We are very satisfied with the outcome of the prototype development," said Yoshiaki Kushiki, Director of Multimedia Development Center, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

"We are very pleased to see Java technology for light weight devices like cellular phones become a reality. It took a short time to complete porting several Java technology-based applications," said Hiroshi Monden, general manager, Software Design Laboratory at NEC. "Consumers will soon be able to take advantage of all benefits materialized by the integration of Java technology and mobile devices."

Requiring less than 64KB of memory, the KVM is optimized for high-volume lifestyle products that have limited memory, battery life and processor power. KVM requires class libraries and depending on the device, a typical memory footprint including the KVM is approximately 128KB. Devices supporting the KVM will allow developers to rapidly and cost-effectively develop, deploy and enhance industry-leading e-commerce, entertainment and information services. The KVM allows wireless carriers and service providers to leverage their existing infrastructures to provide a rich variety of value-added content and services to their customer base.

NTT Mobile Communications Network, Inc. (NTT DoCoMo), Japan's largest Mobile communications operator, provides a comprehensive range of wireless services including cellular phone, paging, satellite mobile communication, maritime telephone and in-flight telephone. Services are provided nationwide by nine regional subsidiaries. NTT DoCoMo had more than 25.7 million mobile phones subscribers as of April 1999, including both Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) and Personal Handyphone System (PHS) mobile phone customers. Consolidated sales reached 3.1 trillion yen in fiscal 1998, which ended in March 1999. NTT DoCoMo expects to introduce third-generation mobile communications system based on Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) system next year.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network is The Computer," has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. to its position as a leading provider of high quality hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $11 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.