NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced that data communications accounted for more than 50% of its entire PHS traffic in hour terms as of April 30, 2000.
Ever since NTT DoCoMo launched 32 kbit/s PHS data communications service in April 1997, the company has striven to improve the quality of service, such as through expansion of service area, which has led to an increased ratio of data communications in the entire PHS traffic. NTT DoCoMo has launched various data communications services. After 32 kbit/s PHS data communications service, the company launched an e-mail service in March 1998 and an Internet service in October the same year, accelerating widespread use of data communications services among the public. From December 1998, NTT DoCoMo began trial service of 64 kbit/s PHS data communications, and kicked off full-scale 64 kbit/s PHS data communications service in April 1999. These steps finally resulted in data communications traffic exceeding that of voice for the first time in April 2000. Under the circumstances, NTT DoCoMo released "P-in Comp@ct," the world's smallest and lightest data-card type PHS terminal this June. It measures only 42.8 mm by 51.4 mm by 6.0 mm (terminal only, with antenna folded) and weighs a mere 17 g. This is the company's first model with the compact flash memory size. When this is attached to a PDA (personal digital assistant) or a notebook computer, the user can engage in data communications at 64 kbit/s without the need for connecting cables. Use of PHS data communications services is anticipated to grow further, through introduction of the PHS-based music distribution service (refer to PHS MoU News No. 28) and other new types of service

Fig. 1 Development of PHS data communications

Photo World's smallest and lightest data-card type PHS