NTT DoCoMo unveils two lines, 19 new handsets

NTT DoCoMo today announced it will release 19 new handsets in its new FOMA 906i- and 706i-series this summer. The eight flagship 906i phones are highly featured and sport capabilities North American mobile markets are not yet supporting. This includes the DCMX mobile credit card and iD mobile credit payments, as well as 1Seg mobile TV streaming on their Full Wide VGA (typically 800x480) screens.

The 906i handsets are 3G and GSM enabled phones with international roaming, and can support two SIM cards, effectively allowing them to act as two separate phone lines. The range's GPS set-ups were likewise upgraded and include Mobile Google Maps software. All have at least an SD memory card slot, and integrated cameras that range from 1.9 to 5 megapixels. A voice-to-text translation feature is part of every 906i handset as well, capable of converting between English, Japanese and Chinese. Seven of the eight handsets allow Windows Media Video playback and Flash 8 content.

The 11 handsets that make up the 706i series get the distinction of including the slimmest 1Seg mobile TV capable handset, a waterproof 1Seg phone, Wellness health phone and an ultra user-friendly handset. All support the 3G data network, while four of the 11 are also GSM-enabled for international roaming support.

While the NM706i looks suspiciously similar to the Nokia 6220 handset, the similarities are believed to be strictly superficial. All come with 2GB SD card slots at a minimum,. All but the L706i support 1Seg TV and are capable of playing digital audio files. Only three phones in the range, the P706iμ, SH706iw and the SH706i, support WMV files.

Between the 19 handsets, NTT is offering 64 color choices. The first phone, the P906i, will launch in Japan and China on June 1, with other phones following soon thereafter, with the last release date being September's SH706iw debut. No prices have yet been announced.

906i handsets