14 DAY TRIAL // NTT DoCoMo just made one of the most important announcements in its almost 20 years of existence. The launch of the first Japanese LTE network service (“Xi”), which will be available in December, as well as the largest roadmap ever published by a carrier, which includes 28 handsets, smartphones and LTE data terminals.
The carrier's Winter 2010 / Spring 2011 product lineup will be launched on or after November 12 and offers a wide selection of FOMA 3G handsets, high-end smartphones, as well data terminals for the DoCoMo's upcoming Xi LTE service.
The recently announced lineup includes smartphones equipped with Japanese-specific services such as mobile-wallet (Osaifu-Keitai) and “one-segment” mobile digital terrestrial television.
All smartphones that include mobile wallet functions come with an application for checking credit balances and usage histories of services for e-money, credit cards, coupons, ticket, membership ID and reward cards.
Overall, DoCoMo's lineup includes 11 waterproof models, 3 with Wi-Fi router capability, 10 with touchscreens, 9 that features high-definition video capabilities and 5 that can record in Full HD.
The carrier also stated that its i-concier menu of highly personalized concierge-like services will be improved with a new feature that enables users to record notes that automatically deliver useful information.
The popular notes editor application Evernote will be bundled on all of the new lineup's smartphones. Lynx 3D SH-03C, BlackBerry Curve 9300, REGZA Phone T-01C and Optimus chat L-04C will be the four smartphones launched during the December 2010 – February 2011 timeline.
DoCoMo's PRO series includes the L-03C, SH-05C and the SH-06C, which embeds a mini-projector to display photos and video on walls/screens.
The carrier's SMART series includes two feature-phones: F-03C (waterproof body) and P-01C.
The largest series announced is called STYLE and features 9 handsets that are mostly targeting trendsetters and fashionistas.
NTT DoCoMo's PRIME series features 3 waterproof/dust handsets, as well as the Lumix phone, which embeds a 13.2-megapixel monster camera that can capture HD videos.
More in-depth details about DoCoMo's handset roadmap, as well as pictures, can be found on the carrier's website.