COSTA MESA, Calif., Dec. 1, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The CDMA Development Group (CDG) (www.cdg.org) congratulates KDDI on the launch of CDMA2000(r) 1xEV-DO services in major metropolitan areas in Japan. Branded CDMA 1X WIN, the new service complements KDDI's already successful EZWeb product and will enable the operator to offer most advanced broadband applications. KDDI is the ninth carrier worldwide to commercially deploy CDMA2000 1xEV-DO.
"KDDI is a leader in 3G" said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "Capitalizing on the high-speed data capabilities of CDMA2000 1X, KDDI introduced a wide range of advanced applications and innovative services that has already attracted millions of users and put them ahead of their competition. With CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, KDDI is well-positioned to further strengthen its 3G leadership position in Japan."
KDDI launched CDMA2000 1X in April 2002 and now reaches over 10 million 3G subscribers, capturing approximately 90% of the Japanese 3G market. Driven by strong demand for its "au" 3G services, KDDI led the Japanese market in new customer additions for the first half of 2003. CDMA 1X WIN services are now available in Kanto, Chubu and Kansai, and will expand to other major cities nationwide by the end of March 2004. CDMA 1X WIN will enable KDDI to deliver the popular EZWeb services at broadband speeds and to introduce new content-rich services such as live video distribution, video downloads of up to 1.5 Mb, electronic publishing and multimedia messaging with video capabilities.
"CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is a natural evolution for our CDMA2000 network," said Tadashi Onodera, president, KDDI. "With minimal addition of equipment overlaid to our existing network, we were able to greatly enhance our high-speed data delivery and, with that, expand our product offering and greatly improve customer experience. With CDMA2000, we are well-positioned to meet the needs of our users and grow our business."
SK Telecom was the first service provider to deploy CDMA2000 1xEV-DO January 2002 in Korea, followed closely by KT Freetel also in Korea. Since then, Vesper and Brasil Telecom in Brazil, PT Wireless Indonesia, Asia Pacific Broadband Wireless Communications in Taiwan, and Monet Mobile Networks and Verizon Wireless in the United States have deployed 1xEV-DO networks. There are 41 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO devices currently available.
CDMA2000 dominates 3G today, with more than 64.5 million subscribers, or 99 percent of the global 3G market. There are 78 commercial CDMA2000 networks today and 11 will be deployed within in the next six months in Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
More information on CDMA2000 is available on the CDG Web site at www.cdg.org.
About the CDG
The CDMA Development Group is a trade association formed to foster the worldwide development, implementation and use of CDMA technologies. The 110 member companies of the CDG include many of the world's largest wireless carriers and equipment manufacturers. The primary activities of the CDG include development of CDMA features and services, public relations, education and seminars, regulatory affairs and international support. Currently, there are more than 500 individuals working within various CDG subcommittees on CDMA-related matters. The subscriber numbers in this release are estimates provided by third parties on a quarterly basis and have not been independently verified by CDG. For more information about the CDG, contact Valerie Christopherson of the CDG News Bureau at +1-714-540-1030, ext. 14, e-mail vchristopherson@bockpr.com, or visit the CDG Web site at www.cdg.org.
Note to editors: cdmaOne is a trademark of the CDG. CDMA2000 is a registered trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA-USA).