NTT DoCoMo Enables Mobile Phones to Browse Video Files on Home PCs

May 26, 2008 19:27 Yukiko Kanoh, Nikkei Electronics

Nine companies of NTT DoCoMo Group announced that they will begin "Pocket U," a service that allows subscribers to view and browse content such as video, music, image and text files stored in their home PCs using mobile phones from outside, June 6, 2008.

The service will become available after installing "Pocket U Soft" dedicated software on PCs at homes. Mobile phones use their browser, "i-motion" video provision service and PDF viewer for video viewing and browsing. For the connection between a home PC and NTT DoCoMo Inc's network, a VPN (virtual private network) will reportedly be used to prevent third-party users from pretending to be subscribers and using the service.

As of May 22, 2008, compatible handsets include the "902i" and later series, "703i" and later series, "Raku-Raku Phone" series, "F1100", "HT1100," which is slated for market debut within May 2008, and handsets that support "Flat-Rate Data Plan" services. However, models from the 703i series and later, as well as the Raku-Raku Phone series handsets, include some models that cannot use the service, DoCoMo said.

Users must subscribe for one of DoCoMo's flat-rate packet services, namely "Pake-Hodai (Packet Flat-Rate Service)," "Pake-Hodai Full," "Biz-Hodai," "Flat-Rate Data Plan High-Speed" or "Flat-Rate Data Plan 64K." Monthly charge of the Pocket U service is ¥525 including tax.

NTT DoCoMo said it will continue to add functions through software version-ups in the future. As one of those new functions, it is planning to start a service, which allows mobile phones to view video stored in HDD recorders that can be used in conjunction with Pocket U in the second quarter of fiscal 2008, DoCoMo said.

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