TOKYO -- NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that the company will launch WORLD WALKER™ (PLUS), a new international roaming service available for 2G handset users, on June 1, 2003.
WORLD WALKER™ international roaming service has been available since 1997, providing 2G users with overseas rental handsets and allowing subscribers traveling abroad to make and receive calls from their regular mobile phone numbers.
WORLD WALKER (PLUS) offers basically the same service as WORLD WALKER but allows use of one dedicated handset in multiple countries and regions. Conventional WORLD WALKER service requires separate handsets depending on the country or region. At the time of WORLD WALKER (PLUS) launch, a single handset will be useable in 52 countries and regions, which will later be expanded to 71.
To use the service, subscribers should rent a WORLD WALKER (PLUS) compatible handset manufactured by Motorola, available for 700 yen per day, or 15,000 yen per month. No basic monthly charge is required, and communications fees will vary according to the country/region in which the service is being used. In most areas, communications fees will be less than those charged when using the conventional WORLD WALKER service.
In a separate release:
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and its eight regional subsidiaries announced today that they will launch WORLD WING™, an international roaming service for DoCoMo 3G handset users, on June 1, 2003.
WORLD WING service allows subscribers traveling abroad to make and receive calls from their regular FOMA phone numbers. To use the service, customers simply insert the UMI chip that comes with their FOMA handsets into any GSM handset having international roaming service capabilities. The chip, called a "FOMA card," is available in two types, green and blue. Only the green FOMA card is compatible with WORLD WING. Users with blue FOMA cards will receive a green chip free in exchange for their blue chip when applying for the service.
WORLD WING will be available in 53 countries and regions at the time of launch, and will be expanded at a later date to encompass 72 countries and regions. There will be no basic monthly charge for the service, and communications fees will vary depending on the country/region in which the service is being used.
The number of FOMA users has been rapidly increasing following the introduction of enhanced handsets and expansion of service areas. DoCoMo expects the launch of WORLD WING to further stimulate demand for FOMA.
In conjunction with WORLD WING, DoCoMo will also provide rental GSM handsets for use overseas. A handset rental fee of 400 yen per day will be charged to subscribers who apply via the official i-mode site as of June 2, or the WORLD WING website at worldwing.nttdocomo.co.jp. A rental fee of 500 yen per day will be charged for applications made over the phone by calling the WORLD WING Rental Center (0120-892-400).
NTT DoCoMo Inc.