NTT DoCoMo has unveiled its first handset to operate
over its third-generation mobile network while also providing voice
over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls over wireless internet
networks.
The N900iL will go on sale in Japan later this year and will be
aimed at corporations for use by their employees, said Hitoshi
Yasuda, a senior director of NTT DoCoMo's product business
department.
The handset is based on a NEC mobile phone, the N900i, which is
currently being sold for NTT DoCoMo's 3G service. With the
exception of the IP phone specific features, the phone is almost
identical to the N900iL.
The addition of a wireless Lan chipset has added around 5 grams
to the handset's weight and will also have an impact on the price.
Yasuda expects the new phone to cost between ¥40,000 and ¥50,000
(£199 and £249) due to additional hardware and software development
costs.
When used inside offices, the N900iL has the ability to act as
an internal telephone for placing and receiving calls made over the
company's private exchange. The handset can also be used as a
conventional mobile phone whenever it is in range of a network
signal.
In addition to simple voice calls, the telephone provides some
extra features when used in a corporate environment, such as its
ability to access and browse websites on the company's intranet
through the built-in browser.
However, the phone will initially support only pages written in
Compact HTML, which is the same markup language used by NTT
DoCoMo's I-mode wireless internet service.
The phone also provides an instant messaging service between
users and features a buddy list-like function that can be used to
quickly find out if certain people are inside or outside the office
and, when in the office, whether they are in meetings, are
available to take calls or busy.
Users will not be able to use the wireless IP phone features
outside of the office network.
By allowing the N900iL to work on any wireless hotspot, NTT
DoCoMo could make the phone more useful for users who would be able
to make free calls within the company and send instant message
whenever they are within range of a hotspot.
Initially, the system will require NEC's Univerge SV7000
telephony server. NEC announced a solution based on this product
and the handsets.
With the increasing popularity of IP telephone systems in
companies, many handset makers are now looking at wireless IP
phones.
Last week, Fujitsu showed a prototype of such a handset that
supports wireless IP networks and also accepts plug-in cards to
extend support to mobile networks. The phone has a Compact Flash
card socket into which mobile telephone cards can be inserted thus
allowing the phone to be used on both wireless Lan and public
mobile networks.
It was developed by Fujitsu with Net-2Com, a venture company
started from Fujitsu in 2000. The two companies did not provide an
estimated launch date.
Martyn Williams writes for IDG News Service