European I-mode launch

European I-mode launch - After years of hearing how I-mode, being a much superior technology, would replace WAP in Europe within months, it finally arrives. DoCoMo's Japanese Mobile Internet standard will be offered to customers of it's German and Dutch subsidiary's (e-plus and KPN) within the next month or so. The main difference between the Japanese I-mode launch and the European WAP launch was never in technology though. Far more important is DoCoMo's insistance on controlling the interface. With high quality demands to content providers, only the best and most consistent site's are allowed official I-mode status, and are thereby able to bill customers directly over the telephone bill.
That means customer trust in I-mode content is much higher than in Europe. Combining that with DoCoMo's unique position as a majority operator in one of the worlds biggest mobile markets, and the degree of control over handsets that that provides them with, and you have a Japanese market launch where almost every detail of the "official" I-mode experience is controlled by the operator.

In brief, I doubt that the European I-mode introduction will have a profound effect on mobile Internet use in Europe, although certain successful applications are sure to show up.