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| Press Release |
March
17, 1998 |
| DDI
Pocket Introduces P-mail DX Function, Enabling Users Full-Scale
Text Messaging on PHS |
The DDI
POCKET PHONE group is pleased to announce today that it
will propose to the manufacturers the P-mail DX as a common
standard of PHS handset that features a full-scale text
messaging function that can be performed with the handsets
alone, and will introduce the service.
P-mail, whose service deployment began in the summer of
1996, is a common standard for PHS handsets. In the spring
of 1997, as handsets featuring P-mail became available
from each handset manufacturer, P-mail usage increased
to account for 20% of all PHS traffic.
Based on this trend, DDI POCKET believes that text messaging
is effective and will become an established means of communications.
Preparations have been underway since the summer of 1997
toward setting P-mail as the standard for PHS text messaging.
The DDI POCKET PHONE group has positioned the spread and
promotion of text messaging as one of its major business
for FY 1998, and intends to universalize non-voice communications
such as text messaging.
The initial text messaging function will be featured on
a PHS handset made by Bandai, Co., Ltd. Subsequently,
there will be more handsets supporting text messaging
available from other manufacturers. |
| Overview of P-mail DX
(Delux) |
The growth of P-mail and
other short messaging signifies that text messaging is
an effective introduction to a full-fledged mobile computing,
and also means that for general users, it is the most
effective means of non-voice communications.
It is also positioned as an entry level mobile computing
with functions such as receiving e-mails, the largest
purpose for people to access the Internet and Intranets,
and the transmission of hand written notes that is an
easy approach to the use of handsets in order to communicate.
Users will need a handset that can be used also for voice
communications, with ease.
P-mail DX is a standard common to PHS handsets, placing
importance on the above requirements. |
| The basic functions of
P-mail DX are: |
| * |
Receive and
send up to approximately 1,000 characters (Japanese Katakana,
Hiragana characters, Chinese characters, alphabets and
roman numerals, and symbols) |
| * |
Transmits
hand written notes |
| * |
Text-based
chat (exchanging text messages while on the phone) |
| Current P-mail Functionality |
| Initially, the P-mail DX
service will consisit mainly of direct communications
among handsets that support the service. In future, DDI
POCKET will deploy a high-performance server to relay
e-mails to and from other devices connected to the internet/intranets. |
| The flow of P-mail DX Messaging |
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