DoCoMo 3G-FOMA i-mode videophone (P2102V by Matsushita):
12.1 How does i-mode differ on the 2G (PDC) network and 3rd generation (3G) FOMA service?
2G (MOVA) data rates are 9.6 kbps for upload and 9.6 kbps or 27.8 kbps for download.
3G (FOMA) data rates are typically 64 kbps for upload and 384 kbps for download.
At this time there are three parallel 3G networks in operation in Japan: NTT DoCoMo and Vodafone operate
3G networks based on the wCDMA standard, while KDDI / AU operates a network based on CDMA 2000-1x technology which has
recently been upgraded regionally to CDMA2000 1xEV-DO with download rates of 2.4 Mbps.
Functionality of these networks is very similar.
Japan is the world's first country to introduce 3G.
See here for information about 3G communications: [3G-FAQ]
| [3G-report] Return to imode-FAQ main page
12.2 Does i-mode offer identical services on 2G (PDC) network and 3rd generation (3G) network and handsets?
i-mode on 2G (MOVA) and on 3G (FOMA) are very similar but not exactly the same, since the network data rates,
and handset functionality are different. As an example, downloadable movie sketches and video transfer is only possible
on 3G (FOMA). On the other hand, there are some services which have been optimized for 2G and are not available for
3G users (as an example, Citibanks mobile banking at this point is only available for 2G not for 3G).
See here for information about 3G communications: [3G-FAQ]
| [3G-report]Return to imode-FAQ main page
12.3 Does i-mode 2G (PDC) and 3rd generation (3G) network cost the same?
Using i-mode data services is almost always cheaper for the user on 3G than on 2G network. For high quantity users selecting
a high volume plan, the same data transfer on 3G (FOMA) is about 15 times cheaper than on traditional 2G (MOVA) service,
and KDDI/AU as well as DoCoMo offer fixed all-you-can-eat data plans with flat rate data at a fixed monthly rate.
See here for information about 3G communications: [3G-FAQ]
| [3G-report]Return to imode-FAQ main page
