NTT DoCoMo USA’s namikiteru™ announces Japanese e-mail compatibility for BlackBerry®
New Orleans, March 14, 2005 — NTT DoCoMo USA, Inc., the American subsidiary of Japan’s largest mobile communications company, NTT DoCoMo, Inc., announced today that it has developed a software application which enables the sending and receiving of Japanese-language e-mail via Research In Motion’s BlackBerry® devices. The software, jointly developed with NTT Multimedia Communications Laboratories, will be available around June 2005 for subscribers of namikiteru service, which is DoCoMo USA’s proprietary Public Wireless LAN access service for Japanese-speaking residents of the United States.
Currently, users are able to send and receive e-mail in the Japanese-language after installation of namikiteru software on their Java™-enabled mobile handsets. The new software will greatly enhance the usability of namikiteru for Japanese-speaking business people in the U.S., as users can send and receive e-mails written in Japanese via BlackBerry® devices while they are out of range of namikiteru’s access points.
Launched in November 2004 as the first service marketed by NTT DoCoMo USA, namikiteru has been expanding its coverage area, which consists of over 7,000 access points in the U.S. (including major airports and hotel chains) and a total of 13,000 points worldwide. “We are pleased to see the expansion of namikiteru, and to offer even more choices for wireless solutions to US-based Japanese expatriates,” said Nobuharu Ono, President & CEO of NTT DoCoMo USA.
Applications to subscribe to namikiteru service are available on the namikiteru Japanese-language web site: http://www.namikiteru.com. Detailed information regarding the hardware and software specifications required for the service and other terms and conditions for the services are outlined on the web site. Subscription fees which include 50 hours of access are $34.99/month for a monthly contract, or a discounted rate of $29.99/month for an annual contract.
During the CTIA Wireless 2005 Conference held in New Orleans March 14-16th, visitors to the NTT DoCoMo booth located in Hall G #6533 will be able to meet with representatives from NTT DoCoMo USA for further information about namikiteru.
About NTT DoCoMo USA, Inc.
NTT DoCoMo USA, Inc. is the fully owned U.S. subsidiary of NTT DoCoMo, Inc., Japan’s leading mobile communications company. Established in November 1999, NTT DoCoMo USA contributes to its parent company’s global competitiveness by actively developing business relationships and researching the U.S. wireless and IT industries. In addition, its subsidiary DoCoMo Communications Laboratories USA, Inc. pursues breakthrough research innovation in mobile communications for future generations of wireless networks.
namikiteru is a trademark of NTT DoCoMo USA, Inc. in the United States.
Java is a trademark or registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
BlackBerry® is a trademark of Research In Motion in Canada, the United States and other countries
