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NTT Group Develops World's First Real-time Video Communication Platform



RELATED SYMBOLS: (DCM)(NTT)

Tokyo, Japan, Jan 28, 2003 (JCN Newswire via COMTEX) -- The NTT Group companies
have adopted the "Vision for a new optical generation- Broadband leading to the
world of resonant communication," announced last November, as the group's common
concept. They are committed to making a resonant communication network
environment with superior usability a reality, and to creating a broad variety
of new and sophisticated services and business models.

Three NTT Group companies, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (hereafter
referred to as NTT; headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Norio Wada),
NTT Broadband Initiative Inc. (hereafter referred to as NTT-BB; headquartered in
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Hidetoshi Shirakawa), and NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
(hereafter referred to as NTT DoCoMo; headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo;
President and CEO: Keiji Tachikawa), have developed, for the first time in the
world, a video communication platform conforming to international standards. The
platform enables real-time bi-directional video communication between personal
computers at home or in the office connected to a broadband network environment
and FOMA handsets (See Note below) provided by NTT DoCoMo, and also between
personal computers.

Prior to launching a commercial service, these companies will carry out trial
services with both general and corporate users to verify business feasibility,
user interfaces and other aspects.

1. History and objectives of developing the platform

As the number of broadband access users, utilizing FTTH, ADSL, etc., increases
rapidly, there are growing demands for mobile video communication, high quality
audio and video, and end-to-end communications backed by the presence function
(see glossary).

The newly developed platform enables bi-directional communication between IP
networks and the FOMA network. This form of communication had been difficult to
achieve because of the differences in the bearer service and protocols used by
these networks. In addition, this platform makes it possible to improve the
quality of the communication between personal computers. It can dramatically
expand the range of handsets with which communication is possible, and provides
an environment for ubiquitous communication with anyone, anytime and anywhere.

The new environment for ubiquitous communication will allow the creation of new
business opportunities, such as active and efficient collaboration within a
corporation through face-to-face video communications, consulting services using
connections between a personal computer and FOMA handsets, and mobile electronic
commerce. For individuals and the general community, the ability to use a FOMA
handset for these communications will make their communication simpler and more
convenient.

2. Role of each company in the development of the platform

NTT Cyber Space Laboratories have developed the Instant Messenger, which enables
real-time, high-quality, end-to-end video communication between a personal
computer connected to an IP network and a FOMA handset and also between personal
computers.

NTT DoCoMo has developed bearer-service and protocol conversion functions
between an IP network and the FOMA network. This conversion function achieves
seamless, bi-directional communication between a personal computer and a FOMA
handset by making the communication pass through an ISDN.

NTT-BB will build a trial service system by implementing NTT Laboratories'
Instant Messenger and NTT DoCoMo's IP network-FOMA network conversion function
on top of its platform that is used to provide a full-blown broadband service
(BROBA), and by adding security and other functions.

The above-mentioned arrangement has made it possible to provide real-time,
bi-directional video communication, using the Instant Messenger, between a
personal computer and a FOMA handset for the first time in the world.

3. Provision of a trial service and future directions

NTT-BB will accept applications to participate in a trial from general and
corporate users on its website from February 2003, and carry out a trial service
for two month. It plans to accept seventy applications from general users and
thirty applications from corporate users. All applicants are required to sign up
for BROBA service in order to participate in this trial.

The objective of the trial service is to verify specific business models and the
suitability of the system for a variety of applications. These applications
include expert support of salespersons when making presentations to customers in
remote locations, remote monitoring of distant construction sites from an office
personal computer, remote monitoring of home from a distant place, video
collaboration at a SOHO, and distance learning from home or a place outside
campus that the student is visiting.

After the trial service, the plan is to begin a commercial service across the
country by September 2003.

Based on the results of the trial service, the companies will continue with
development to further improve usability.

"FOMA handset" refers to a FOMA handset that supports the videophone function.

*FOMA is a trademark or registered trademark of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and
other countries.

Glossary

Resonant communication:

The communication concept proposed in the "Vision for a new optical generation"
in November 2002.

Presence function:

The capacity to continuously monitor, manage and notify the status of the
destination handset and the network, and the information about available
services.

IP network:

A network that transfers data using the Internet Protocol (IP).

Bearer service:

A service for which only the lower layers (layers 1 to 3) are defined, whereas
handset functions and the higher layers (layers 4 to 7) are not defined.

Protocol:

A set of rules for exchanging information between computers.

Ubiquitous:

Derived from the Latin word ubique, ubiquitous means to be everywhere at the
same time.

Instant Messenger:

An application that checks whether the users of the same software on the
Internet are online or not, and, if they are online, can initiate a chat or
transfer files.

An overview of the end-to-end real-time video communication platform is
available at http://www.ntt.co.jp/news/news03e/0301/030128.html.

About Nippon Telegraph and Telephone

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (TSE: 9432)(NYSE: NTT) was
established in 1952 as a state-owned telecommunications public corporation and
in 1986 converted to a private company to be the largest telecommunications
company in Japan and the second largest in the world. NTT and its subsidiaries
provide a wide range of telecommunications services.

About NTT DoCoMo

NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications company with more than
44 million customers. The company provides a wide variety of leading-edge mobile
multimedia services. These include i-mode(R), the world's most popular mobile
internet service, which provides e-mail and Internet access to over 35 million
subscribers, and FOMA(R), 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 and South America, the company is expanding its global reach through
strategic alliances with mobile and multimedia service providers in the
Asia-Pacific, Europe and North and South America. NTT DoCoMo is listed on the
Tokyo (TSE: 9437), London (NDCM), and New York (DCM) stock exchanges.

Source: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone

Source: NTT DoCoMo

Contact:


Hideki Omichi, or Noriko Takaya,
Public Relations,
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
Phone: [phone]

Taku Hasegawa, or Masahiko Nittono,
Broadband Promotion Office,
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
Phone: [phone]

Keihiro Ochiai, Teruo Hagino, or Tomokazu Yamashita,
Planning Division, PR,
Cyber Communications Laboratory Group,
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
Phone: [phone]

Masakazu Inori, or Yuichi Oichi,
General Planning Department,
NTT Broadband Initiative Inc
Phone: [phone]

Norio Hasegawa,
Public Relations Department,
International PR, NTT DoCoMo, Inc
Phone: [phone]


Copyright (C) 2003 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network KK.

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