3G gets real — FOMA PDA hits the streets - The Pulse - NTT DoCoMo launches device with video phone - Brief Article - Product Announcement

Japan, Inc., Sept, 2002

NTT DoCoMo has released the SH2l01V ([yen]125,000), a PDA device with a video phone designed for FOMA. With a compact (43g) wireless handset, SH210lV users can have phone conversations even when the PDA is folded. The main unit and the handset are connected via Bluetooth and the handset is equipped with a small LCD display, which lets you check email messages or play music from the display. The SH2101V is the first FOMA device to support the video distribution service, M-Stage visual, which has been available only on PHS until now.

Source: www.nikkeibp.asiabiztech.com/wcs/frm/Ieaf?

CID=onair/asabt/cover/195693

COMMENTARY: This is the first example of a PDA terminal for 3G and is interesting because it provides access to existing (2G) content -- the video clips provided until now only via M-Stage Visual on PHS. Why do we need a 3G terminal to access 2G content? Oh well.

This lends support to rumors we've heard that DoCoMo is having a tough time engineering a dualmode PDC/W-CDMA terminal due to power and other tech requirements. Presumably, this PDA's battery is larger and more robust than what a simple (and much smaller) cellphone could accommodate. Continuous standby time is 60 hours for the main unit and 80 hours for the handset.

The SH2101V also allows access to i-mode, I-Appli (Java) and the FOMA video clip download service (i-motion); it also has a camera (no surprise here -- Big D now has four 2G devices that are equipped with a camera). The SH2101V can videoconference with P2101V and D2101V handsets as well as with the Lookwalk PHS.

DoCoMo is clearly keen to establish any sort of dual-mode technology that it possibly can in order to boost FOMA usage. You can also get a steep discount if you have a 2G PDC handset and you agree to buy a 3G FOMA handset, keeping the PDC model for voice calling and using the FOMA model for data. We guess this provides a 'virtual' dual-mode.