KDDI: New 3G service, new phones

[Steve Bildermann]

KDDI has officially announced the start date for its 3G 1x EV-DO service and the first two handsets. Both are compatible with the new GPS service announced recently, take movies and stills, and can view a variety of multimedia content (of which more below).

Regarding the service itself, one of the biggest features is a flat-rate data plan--for Y4,200 you get unlimited email and downloads, which is a first for Japan. The other conspicuously new service is EZ Channel, which will offer multimedia content "packages" put together along the lines of a TV program or magazine, combining movies, animations, still pictures, sounds, and text, that can be viewed through the phone's SMIL-compatible browser. These "programmes" will appear daily or weekly and can be booked for downloading overnight.

KDDI press release in Japanese has photos of both new phones.

[Taro Toporific]

KDDI has officially announced the start date for its 3G 1x EV-DO service and the first two handsets.

I looooove those two new BIG button handsets for my big fingers.

Now if I could figure out a way defeat the terrible restriction that the new " flat rate will not allow users to collect a notebook to the Internet" .

I wonder if there is a DoCoMo-like "Pocket Board" that connects to an Au phone ?? Does any know out there?

KDDI to start flat rate for e-mail, Internet transmissions in Japan

This is the first time for a telecoms operator to provide a fixed rate for data transmission via mobile phones in Japan.
KDDI will set the flat rate at 4,200 yen a month for its "au" cellular phone service, starting on November 28.

SOLD!
But.... the Asahi very mysteriously reports in the print edition in Thursday's "Business Briefs" pg 21 of Oct 23 that:

"The carrier said it will be the first flat-rate service for data transmission though cellphones, although the flat rate will not allow users to collect a notebook to the Internet.

WTF!:?:

Check later to see if the full story is posted http://www.asahi.com/english/index.html

[kamome]

If I could actually take that thing overseas and use it there, like certain Vodaphone models, I'd buy it in a hearbeat.