NTT DoCoMo and Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong Form Strategic Partnership to Bring i-mode to Hong Kong and Macau Exclusively
Partnerships
June 1, 2006, Tokyo, Hong Kong --- NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong, a subsidiary of Hutchison Telecom International Limited ("Hutchison Telecom"; SEHK:2332; NYSE: HTX) jointly announced today that a strategic partnership* has been formed to bring i-mode™ services to Hong Kong and Macau exclusively.
DoCoMo will provide the technology, know-how and marketing expertise to the partnership, enabling Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong to offer i-mode services via its territory-wide networks. In addition, the parties have also agreed within the scope of this long-term partnership to jointly consider the application of contactless IC card technology services, widely known as wallet-phone in Japan on i-mode enabled handsets in Hong Kong and Macau.
With these revolutionary services, Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong's customers will enjoy another exciting dimension of mobile service, including easy access to a broad variety of Internet lifestyle options, fun and convenient content as well as full e-mail capabilities.
The i-mode platform allows service providers to readily integrate their Internet content and applications for mobile i-mode usage. Since its launch, i-mode has brought more than five thousand official sites offering thousands of relevant services worldwide, to life. Additionally, there are more than one hundred thousand independent i-mode sites available in Japan, creating an entire generation of i-mode enthusiasts in the country.
Commenting on the partnership, Dennis Lui, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Telecom said, "We are delighted by this partnership. In addition to providing cutting-edge services for our customers, it consolidates our position as Hong Kong's most forward-looking mobile operator, as we continue to lead innovative developments in the mobile industry and seek to shape the communications market into the future."
NTT DoCoMo Senior Vice President, Managing Director of Multimedia Services, Takeshi Natsuno commented, "I am very pleased and excited that i-mode will be offered in Hong Kong and Macau through one of the world's leading telecommunication companies Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong's solid networks. We are confident that this strategic partnership will bring multiple synergies for both companies as well as other member operators. We are also proud to announce our common strategy in bringing our wallet-phone experience from Japan to the region. This new partnership will certainly drive further expansion of i-mode in the global arena."
The i-mode service is provided on an open platform based on de facto Internet standards. This functionality has attracted numerous content and application providers, creating a vibrant and virtual market place where thousands of sites serve the mobile needs of diverse customer lifestyles.
"With its proven business model and unique service platform, i-mode creates an open gateway for content providers. They will be able to immediately tap into the vast potential of one of the largest mobile customer bases in Hong Kong supported by one of the most advanced mobile networks in the world. We will work with content providers to spearhead the next generation of mobile Internet development in Hong Kong." Mr Lui added.
With the signing of this agreement, there will be 16 i-mode operators in 24 countries and areas around the world. In addition to DoCoMo in Japan, they include: KPN Mobile N. V. (The Netherlands), BASE N.V./S.A. (Belgium), E-plus Mobilfunk GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Far EasTone Telecommunication Co., Ltd (Taiwan), Bouygues Telecom S. A. (France), Telefonica Moviles Espana, S. A. (Spain), Wind Telecomunicazioni SpA (Italy), COSMOTE Mobile Telecommunications S.A. (Greece), Telstra Corporation Limited (Australia), Cellcom Israel LTD. (Israel), O2 plc (UK and Ireland), Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (Russia) and StarHub Ltd. (Singapore). SMART Communications, Inc. is currently also preparing to launch the service in the Philippines.
For further details, or anyone wishing to find out how they can make their applications or services available on i-mode and Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong's advanced mobile network, please email
selena.chiu@hthk.com.
*The strategic partnership refers to the Integrated i-mode Service Package Agreement entered into between DoCoMo and Hutchison Telephone Company Limited (a direct subsidiary of Hutchison Telecom) dated 1 June 2006.
About Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited
Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited ('Hutchison Telecom' or 'the Group') is a leading global provider of telecommunication services. The Group currently offers mobile and fixed-line telecommunication services in Hong Kong, and operates or is rolling out mobile telecommunication services in Macau, India, Israel, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Indonesia and Vietnam. It was the first provider of 3G mobile services in Hong Kong and Israel and operates brands including "Hutch", "3" and "Orange".
Hutchison Telecom is a listed company with American Depositary Shares quoted on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker HTX and shares listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong under the stock code 2332. A member of the Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa Group, Hutchison Telecom is dedicated to providing superior telecommunications services in dynamic markets. For more information about Hutchison Telecom, see
www.htil.com.
About Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong) Limited
Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong) Limited ("Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong") is one of the largest mobile telecommunication service operators in Hong Kong. Since 1983, it has always been a pioneer in the development of mobile telecommunication deploying multiple mobile technologies including 1G AMPS/ TACS, 2G GSM/ CDMA and 2.5G GPRS/ IS95B in Hong Kong.
Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong is committed to providing high quality mobile telecommunication services, telecom retail services and call centre services in Hong Kong and Macau, as well as mobile telecommunications consultancy services in Mainland China. It is also the first operator in Hong Kong to roll out world-class 3G service under the "3" brand, leading Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong's technical and service excellence into the 3G era.
Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong is a subsidiary of Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited ("Hutchison Telecom"). Hutchison Telecom is a leading listed telecommunications operator (SEHK:2332; NYSE:HTX) focusing on dynamic markets. It currently offers mobile and fixed-line telecommunication services in Hong Kong, and operates or is rolling out mobile telecommunication services in India, Israel, Macau, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Indonesia and Vietnam. For more information about Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong, see
www.three.com.hk.
About NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications company. DoCoMo serves more than 51 million subscribers, including an unmatched 24 million people subscribing to FOMA™, launched as the world's first 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA in 2001. DoCoMo also offers a wide variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia services, including i-mode™, the world's most popular mobile e-mail/Internet service, used by more than 46 million people. With the addition of credit-card and other e-wallet functions, DoCoMo mobile phones have become highly versatile tools for daily life. NTT DoCoMo is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM) and New York (DCM) stock exchanges.
For more information, visit
www.nttdocomo.com.
i-mode and FOMA are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and other countries.
NTT DoCoMo's FOMA service is only available to subscribers in Japan.
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