Another day, another new series of mobile phone handsets from NTT DoCoMo. The new "901i" series of FOMA handsets all have standard features including twin speakers for positional audio and improved 3D graphics capability. The first of the new handsets will go on sale from November 26.

NTT DoCoMo has announced the new "901i" series of FOMA handsets that have twin speakers and improved 3D graphics capability as standard features. Planned for release at the end of 2004, a total of five new handsets have been prepared, including three with i-mode FeliCa functionality.

In conjunction with the announcement of the new handsets, NTT DoCoMo conducted a press day on November 17 at which an outline of the new handsets was presented.

The five new handsets are the slide-body Mitsubishi D901i, the "custom jacket"-able Panasonic P901i, the fingerprint sensor equipped Fujitsu F901iC, the enhanced video-call capable NEC N901iC and the document-viewer equipped Sharp SH901iC. Of these, the F901iC, N901iC and SH901iC support the i-mode FeliCa IC chip-based electronic payment system. The SH901iC will lead off the sales charge with sales beginning November 26.

New features common to the 901i series handsets include twin speakers which will allow sound position information to be used in conjunction with melody (ringtone) playback. According to NTT DoCoMo, the new functionality represents "progress in melodies from the expression of sound quality to the expression of 'space'". During melody playback, users should feel like they are "wrapped" in the sound. In addition, i-mode 3D graphics functionality has also been improved, allowing users to enjoy more intense images than previous models.

Furthermore, from the 901i series onwards, handsets that support i-motion mail will be able to send image or video attachments from 100 - 500 kB in size. Chaku-motion and Chaku-uta size limits have also been increased to 500 kB from the previous 300 kB to allow more abundant content to be offered.

Other features include a pre-installed TV program guide i-appli with G-code support and the ability to obtain information such as time, signal strength and battery level via Flash content and alter screen animations or sounds accordingly. A "Security Scan" function is also installed that automatically checks content obtained from external sources for threats.

The three i-mode FeliCa handsets support a "Remote Lock" function that allows users to lock the FeliCa function of the handset by calling the phone from a pre-registered number if the phone is lost or stolen.

Inspired by:
http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/21452.html [1]

News release:
http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/new/contents/04/whatnew1117.html [2]