“DDI POCKET, Inc.” has restarted on February 2 (Wed.), 2005 with a new company name “WILLCOM, Inc”. At the same time, wireless data communications service “AirH” has completely been renewed and its logo and alphabetic expression have been unified to “AIR-EDGE”.
     A keyword of the renewal of this time is “Speed-up”. From both aspects of the basic and perceived data speed, WILLCOM is trying to increase the data speed of AIR-EDGE. Currently 128 kbps packet service by bundling four 32 kbps communication channels is being provided as the highest data speed service, however, the highest data speed is increased up to 256 kbps by doubling the number of links while communicating by a new service AIR-EDGE[PRO] from the middle of February 2005.
     Further, MEGA PLUS service which can increase the perceived data speed up to 500% by using an effective communication protocol and optimizing a data file is launched. With this service, not only new AIR-EDGE PHONE but also existing “AirH” PHONE users will be able to use the MEGA PLUS.
     Thanks to AIR-EDGE[PRO] and MEGA PLUS service, mega class perceived data speed can be realized first as the full flat-rate mobile data service in Japan.
     In order to properly represent the data speed with the renewal of this time, the name of the method has been changed according to the number of channels to be bundled as former 128 kbps packet method to 4x packet method and this new 256 kbps packet method to 8x packet method respectively.
     “AX510N” (manufactured by NEC NEC Infrontia Corporation) is the first terminal available for 8x packet method communications service. (Refer to the separate article: “NEC Infrontia launches first wireless PC Card exclusive for “AIR-EDGE [PRO]” Service”)
     Further, with the renewal of this time, not only the card type terminal but also the high-speed data service which can increase AIR-EDGE PHONE’s perceived browsing speed up to 200% is launched. AIR-EDGE PHONE “AH-K3001V” (manufactured by Kyocera Corporation) is equipped with the “Opera” browser capable of browsing an Internet site for PC first in Japan as the mobile handset. By using the high-speed data service of this time, the browsing solely by AIR-EDGE PHONE becomes available more comfortably. It can be usable by making an online signup at the AIR-EDGE PHONE center for changing the phone’s setup.
     Further increase of the communication speed per one channel by changing the modulation method or increasing the number of channels to be bundled is now planned. An enhancement of the Cell Stations is also being carried on as well.
     It can be said that new WILLCOM has succeeded in providing more comfortable mobile data communications environments with this complete renewal and it will be strengthened further with various strategies from now on.