Looking back on DoCoMo's smartphones, from Japan's first Xperia and Galaxy to original models: ITmedia Mobile 20th anniversary special project (page 1/4)

In commemoration of ITmedia Mobile's 20th anniversary, we have reviewed the terminals of the three major carriers, focusing on feature phones. From now on, I will pick up my smartphone. The first is DoCoMo's smartphone.

　When thinking about what a smartphone is in the first place, it is difficult to draw a clear line in Japan. Even with a folding-style feature phone, it was possible to exchange e-mails and display sites for PCs, and it was possible to use applications such as games and maps. By the time smartphones appeared, there were models that supported Wi-Fi and Bluetooth even in feature phones, and there was an opinion that feature phones were already smartphones at that time.

　Nevertheless, like today's smartphones, it is equipped with a large display, and you can enter characters by touching the display instead of pushing physical keys, and while operating a web browser or application, you can hold the terminal to your ear and make a call. If we think of a smartphone as a smartphone, DoCoMo's first smartphone will be the "M1000" that appeared in 2005.

The M1000 was a Motorola-made terminal for corporate customers, but it was sold through all channels, including docomo shops, and could also be purchased by individuals. The OS is Symbian OS, and the 2.9-inch liquid crystal display is a pressure-sensitive touch panel. It also had a megapixel camera, wireless LAN, and Bluetooth. Although "i-mode" is not supported, I was able to send and receive POP/IMAP emails, and I was able to browse the site for PCs with Opera 7.5's "full browser". In the article at the time, it was described as "FOMA as a PDA."

　The "hTc Z" (2006) and "F1100" (2008) smartphones were mainly for corporate use, but from the 2008 winter model, several smartphones for consumers also appeared. From the conventional model numbers such as 90xi and 70xi, a new model number rule called "XX-00X" (manufacturer name - serial number year in order of release) was started, and the terminals were "PRIME", "STYLE", "SMART", and "PRO". Classified into 4 categories. The smartphone was developed in the PRO series.

　HTC's "Touch Pro" "HT-01A" equipped with QWERTY keys and the palm-sized "Touch Diamond" "HT-02A" equipped with a touch panel use Windows Mobile. Sharp's "SH-04A" uses a QWERTY key and a touch panel, but it was compatible with i-mode and was a model with a mobile phone inside and a smartphone shape. In addition, "BlackBerry Bold" was also deployed.

Since 2009, Android smartphones have appeared one after another

　Docomo's first Android smartphone is the 2009 summer model "HTC Magic "It's 'HT-03A'. In addition to being able to use various Google services such as Gmail, Google Maps, and YouTube, it was also possible to purchase applications from the "Android Market" (currently Google Play). It did not support i-mode and required a provider connection such as moperaU. In addition, using an application that applies "i-mode.net" (service ended in 2015), which allows you to send and receive i-mode mail on a PC, it is now possible to send and receive i-mode mail and receive new arrival notifications.

In the 2009 winter/spring model, Samsung Electronics, which is now familiar with the Galaxy, appeared for the first time in DoCoMo. The model at that time was the Windows Mobile "SC-01B", which was a straight model with a QWERTY key.

　Japan's first Xperia was announced to be launched in January 2010. Sony Ericsson (now Sony)'s first Android smartphone "Xperia X10" is based on the model sold globally as "Xperia SO-01B". In addition to the four categories, a new "docomo smartphone" category was established and launched in April of the same year.

　There are cases where popular models that were previously sold overseas are localized for Japan, such as LG Electronics' "Optimus" series, Samsung Electronics' Galaxy series, and Xperia series. There were many, but soon Japanese manufacturers also began to focus on smartphones.

Since the end of 2010, "LYNX 3D SH-03C" (manufactured by Sharp) equipped with a 3D liquid crystal display, "REGZA Phone T-01C" (manufactured by Fujitsu) equipped with FeliCa and One Seg, and also equipped with a waterproof function , Ultra-thin body "MEDIAS N-04C" (manufactured by NEC Casio Mobile Communications), etc. Many Android smartphones made by Japanese manufacturers that support Japanese specifications such as waterproof, 1seg, and Osaifu-Keitai have begun to appear. An Internet service for smartphones, "sp mode," has also started, making it possible to use carrier mail and deco-mail of "@docomo.ne.jp."

　The number of smartphone models has increased, and in the summer of 2011, including the spring model, half of the new model lineup was smartphones. In addition to providing docomo's own home application "docomo Palette UI" so that you do not get lost in operation regardless of which manufacturer's smartphone you purchase, i-mode service is compatible with smartphones, such as starting "i-channel" for smartphones also proceeded.

In addition, Sharp, which has developed the LYNX series, will start the "AQUOS PHONE" brand. In 2014, "PHONE" was removed, and Docomo developed mainly the "AQUOS ZETA" series, and the world's first model equipped with IGZO liquid crystal will also appear.

In 2011, Panasonic Mobile Communications, which later developed the "ELUGA" series, launched its first Android smartphone "P-07C". The menu icons were arranged in a semicircle on the home screen, and a "touch speed selector" was adopted to select by scrolling.

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