Connexion by Boeing and NTT DoCoMo Explore Linking Networks for Internet Access on International Flights
Connexion by BoeingSM , a business unit of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA), and NTT DoCoMo, Inc (NYSE: DCM), Japan's leading mobile communications company , today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for negotiating an associate service provider agreement that would make the Connexion by Boeing SM real-time, high-speed Internet service available to NTT DoCoMo's popular MzoneTM wireless LAN service users. Based on the terms of the agreement the availability is expected to begin around August 2004 .
As part of the MOU, Connexion by Boeing and NTT DoCoMo will explore linking their respective networks, providing NTT DoCoMo's Mzone users with a seamless and simplified solution for accessing the full richness of the Internet when in flight. Airline passengers who have an Mzone account will enter their user identification and password to access the Connexion by Boeing service, and they will be able to subsequently receive their billing for service access as an add-on to their existing Mzone bill. The companies will also consider jointly developing new in-flight wireless services for international passengers.
"We are very pleased to join with NTT DoCoMo in making Connexion by Boeing's wireless broadband service more easily accessible for its Mzone users," said Connexion by Boeing President Scott Carson. "Connexion by Boeing is proud to serve NTT DoCoMo's Mzone customers in making their air travel experience even more productive and enjoyable."
In announcing the agreement, Kimio Tani, executive vice president and managing director of Mobile Multimedia Division of NTT DoCoMo commented, "NTT DoCoMo is promoting global mobility support, so we are delighted to cooperate with Connexion by Boeing to offer a convenient mobile environment to our customers in the air."
About Connexion by Boeing
Connexion by Boeing, recipient of the 2003 World Travel Award for World's Leading High-Speed In-flight Internet Services Provider, brings high-speed Internet, data and entertainment connectivity to travelers via a broadband connection to the aircraft. Connexion by Boeing has definitive agreements with Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System, Japan Airlines, ANA and Kingdom Holding Co. to equip their long-haul aircraft with the service. In addition, Singapore Airlines, China Airlines and Korean Air have announced their intent to install the Connexion by Boeing system on their long-range aircraft. Connexion by Boeing also offers a high-speed connectivity solution for the business aviation and maritime markets. For more information, please visit the Connexion by Boeing website.
About NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications company with more than 48 million customers. The company provides a wide variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia services. These include i-mode®, the world's most popular mobile internet service, which provides e-mail and internet access to over 41 million subscribers, and FOMA®, launched in 2001 as the world's first 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA. In addition to wholly owned subsidiaries in Europe and North America , the company is expanding its global reach through strategic alliances with mobile and multimedia service providers in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America . NTT DoCoMo is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM), and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. For more information, visit the NTT DoCoMo website.
Forward-Looking Information is Subject to Risk and Uncertainty
Some of the statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. These forward-looking statements reflect our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks. Because actual results could differ materially from our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about the future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements contained in this news release with caution.
i-mode and FOMA are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and other countries.
NTT DoCoMo's FOMA service is available only to subscribers in Japan.
Mzone is a trademark of NTT DoCoMo, Inc in Japan.
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For further information:
Naoko Masuda
Boeing Japan
+81-3-5223-1234
mobile: + 8190 2415 4000
Boeing Japan
+81-3-5223-1234
mobile: + 8190 2415 4000
Susumu Takeuchi
NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
Public Relations Department
+81-3-5156-1366
Fax: +81-3-5501-3408
press_dcm@nttdocomo.com
NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
Public Relations Department
+81-3-5156-1366
Fax: +81-3-5501-3408
press_dcm@nttdocomo.com
Takuya Ori
NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
Public Relations Department
+81-3-5156-1366
Fax: +81-3-5501-3408
press_dcm@nttdocomo.com
NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
Public Relations Department
+81-3-5156-1366
Fax: +81-3-5501-3408
press_dcm@nttdocomo.com