Company History

The history of NTT DOCOMO is the history of mobile communications in Japan itself. From launching the mobile Internet service platform to our creation of a global standard for the next generation of mobile communications, the list record of technological and business achievements is remarkable.

NTT DOCOMO is Japan's leading mobile communications operator. With over 53 million subscribers as of March 2008, DOCOMO accounts for more than half of Japan's mobile phone market and has one of the largest subscriber bases of any mobile phone company in the world. Established in July 1992 to take over the mobile communications business of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), NTT DOCOMO launched its first digital cellular phone service in the next year.

Brief History

• July 1992 NTT Mobile Communications Network, Inc. takes over Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation's mobile communications business
• March 1993 Launches 800MHz digital cellular phone service
• April 1994 Launches "CITYPHONE" 1.5GHz digital cellular phone service
• March 1997 Launches "DoPa" packet data communications service
• October 1998 Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange
• December 1998 Takes over Personal Handyphone System (PHS) business from NTT Personal Group
• February 1999 Launches "i-mode" service
• March 1999 Discontinues analog cellular phone service
• April 2000 Changes corporate name to NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
• May 2001 Launches "FOMA" service on introductory basis
• October 2001 Launches "FOMA" service on fully commercialized basis
• March 2002 Listed on the London Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange
• December 2005 Launches "iD" Credit Card Brand
• April 2006 Launches "DCMX" mobile credit-card service
• March 2007 Discontinues "QUICKCAST" paging service
• January 2008 Discontinues PHS service
• April 2008 Reveals new corporate logo and new brand statement
• June 2008 Discontinues "CITYPHONE" service
• July 2008 Merges with eight regional subsidiaries

Posted on September 3, 2008