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DoCoMo smart card enables global GSM roaming

TOKYO -- Global roaming capabilities for mobile phone users may be taking a big step forward. But, the online application is in Japanese only. NTT DoCoMo is introducing its World Walker G-Card, a new smart card that will enable DoCoMo mova 2G subscribers to use both DoCoMo and non-DoCoMo GSM mobile phones for international roaming outside of Japan beginning next month.


The World Walker G-Card is a User Identity Module (UIM) smart card equipped with a chip to store the user's phone number and other data. The user simply inserts the card into any standard GSM mobile phone to make and receive calls using their regular mova phone number while overseas.


Phone rentals

The existing World Walker Plus international roaming service, which works only with DoCoMo-brand GSM phones, is aimed primarily at subscribers who just wish to rent a GSM phone temporarily, the company said. The new World Walker G-Card service, however, is aimed at subscribers who already own a GSM phone or wish to purchase one.

Calls from Japan are received normally and do not require any call transfer setup. When a call is received from Japan, the subscriber pays the international charges and the caller in Japan is only billed for normal domestic charges.

The signup fee for the World Walker G-Card service is 2,100 yen (about US$19). No monthly charge will be required. Users are charged 105 yen (less than a dollar) for each day in which an incoming or outgoing call occurs. Communications charges will be same as those of DoCoMo's current international roaming service.

Users need apply only once, not each time they travel overseas. Application may be made at the official i-mode site (go to i-menu, then click DoCoMo menu and select WORLD WALKER), online (http://worldwalker.nttdocomo.co.jp, Japanese only). For Japanese travellers, NTT advises that the application be completed before leaving Japan to allow time for the card to be delivered. Applications may also be made at DoCoMo World counters at major airports, where the applicant can receive their World Walker G-Card card immediately.


Costs reduced

NTT DoCoMo also announced that it will reduce the rental cost of DoCoMo-brand mobile phones for World Wing (the 3G FOMA international roaming service) and World Walker Plus. DoCoMo-brand GSM phones may be purchased at the DoCoMo Sentsu mova rental center.

TT DoCoMo is a leading mobile communications company, with more than 48 million customers. The company provides a wide variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia services. These include i-mode®, the world's most popular mobile internet service, which provides e-mail and internet access to over 41 million subscribers, and FOMA, launched in 2001 as the world's first 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA.

In addition to wholly owned subsidiaries in Europe and North America, the company is expanding its global reach through strategic alliances with mobile and multimedia service providers in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. NTT DoCoMo is listed on the Tokyo, London, and New York stock exchanges.


http://www.smarttravelnews.com/news/2004/05/docomo_smart_ca.html