German wireless operator E-Plus Mobilfunk has won nearly 38,000
customers for I-mode, its wireless Internet service launched in
March.
One in every four I-mode customers comes from a rival German
operator, claimed chief executive officer Uwe Bergheim, and the
company has also attracted more than 100 content service providers,
he said.
E-Plus hopes to increase average revenue per customer, presently
hovering around €22 (£14) per month for standard GSM services, by
20% through I-mode.
NTT DoCoMo in Japan developed the technology, which allows users to
send and fetch e-mail and receive other Internet services. The
Tokyo mobile operator has, meanwhile, attracted around 33 million
customers with the technology.
I-mode is being closely monitored by third-generation mobile
operators in Europe planning advanced data services, such as
high-speed Internet access and video, over their broadband
networks. If I-mode takes off, its popularity would be a big boost
for 3G.