Posted by goldenface
BRITISH MOBILE operator, O2 is now just weeks away from launching its i-mode service in the UK. In an attempt to ensure quality, however, O2 has said it will concentrate on 80-100 'official' content providers.
There won't even be a search engine on the O2 i-mode portal. So what about 'unofficial' sites? These have thrived in other territories – especially Japan. They can offer anything from news to personal blogs.
The first snag is knowing how to create an i-mode site. The second snag is finding an i-mode site to test against. The third snag is charging because it's difficult unless you become an official site.
Consequently, specialist comms site I-mode Insight has made available O2's 50 page guide to writing cHTML (compact HTML). Basically the guide details the special calls i-mode utilises to ensure text appears properly on an i-mode handset's screen.
Before this, getting information on cHTML in English was difficult. Plus, what do you do about testing when you can't yet buy an i-mode handset in the UK? Well, I-mode Insight has also made O2's cHTML emulator available too.
That may not be strictly necessary as you can look at i-mode sites with a decent desktop browser – like Opera 8. I-mode allows you to dial a number straight from an online icon. That won't work with a desktop browser but surprisingly it does work with Nokia's latest browser on a handset like the 6630.
So I-mode Insight has launched an i-mode site for you to browse. The address is www.insightbuilder.co.uk/imode. It's also an important proof of concept because the actual text is uploaded once and published simultaneously as standard HTML, WAP 1.0 and WAP 2.0 as well as i-mode.
If you want to test the WAP version out just point your handset to www.wapinsight.com.
Finally if you're an unofficial i-mode site and you want to sell content, you could always try signing up for the new Bango/Paypal service.
The point with O2's i-mode service is that it won't be a walled garden. So any i-mode handset can get to your unofficial site. All anybody needs is the URL. And I-mode Insight intends to collect those URLs. So send them in.
Link
Posted by goldenface
View article on O2's new i-mode handsets here
"From Samsung we have the S500i, a tri-band clamshell phone with 262k colour screen and integrated two megapixel digital camera. Video recording, Bluetooth connectivity and stereo speakers are also included on a device that – until now – had left as much concrete evidence of its existence as the Loch Ness Monster.
Interestingly, for a high end device, it will be debut on pay as you go (for £249.99) at the same time it appears on monthly contract. The size and weight of the S500i remain a mystery, but it doesn’t take a genius to recognise it eats a healthy breakfast every morning. We can’t tell you when the S500i will be available as it relies on O2 dropping its dictatorial standpoint, though industry sources suggest that could be “imminent”."
If the S500i is the Loch Ness Monster, the white 343i from NEC is the Yeti, so explorative IT sites across the globe will be cursing when they spot these snaps. As it turns out, the 343i is a trendy budget model with more than a hint of iPod about it, and it certainly would have been a more appropriate design for the first iTunes phone than the disappointing ROKR.
Specs for the 343i remain thin on the ground, but we do know for just £79.99 on a pay as you go contract you will get a tri-band device with 64k colour screen and VGA. Size and weight are again unknowns for this handset, but the nice slim profile suggests it will be extremely pocket friendly. A free month’s i-mode surfing is said to be on offer to purchasers.
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Please pm me free GPRS O2 contract settings.
[ This Message was edited by: goldenface on 2005-09-28 13:26 ]
Posted by n.evil
The NEC 343i, as previously stated does come with free i-mode browsing. I-mode browsing is free until the end of December 2005, I-mail, which is e-mail, picture messaging and txt messaging, based on content and recipient phone capabilities is free until end of April 2006.
Posted by amnesia
you can get the i-mode 343i from me for 69.99. Send me a pm if interested.
Posted by n.evil
@Amnesia, The NEC 343i is freely available in o2 stores for 69.99 anyway!
Posted by goldenface
Whats the monthly charge? I think the NEC is attractive.
Posted by Davo_169
we have i mode here in australia on the telstra network...from what i hear its just gay wap thats locked to certain sites
Posted by brix25
I think O2 is four years too late with i-Mode.
Posted by amnesia
@n.evil
I was merely stating that after this was said
"Specs for the 343i remain thin on the ground, but we do know for just £79.99 on a pay as you go contract you will get a tri-band device with 64k colour screen and VGA. Size and weight are again unknowns for this handset, but the nice slim profile suggests it will be extremely pocket friendly. A free month’s i-mode surfing is said to be on offer to purchasers. "
Phones4U, Carphonewarehouse and the Link sell it for that price.
I stepped into O2 today. They said that they dont have the phone for a while (again that might be my area).
So as i was saying, people can get it for the price I stated.
Simple as.
Posted by goldenface
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Yes but i-mode can't go out of fashion, it just gets bigger and more diverse.