DoCoMo to stop accepting 2G subscriptions

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NTT DoCoMo Inc said Thursday it will stop accepting applications for its “mova” second-generation mobile phone service on Nov 30. DoCoMo said it will concentrate on its FOMA third-generation service featuring high-speed data communications, because mova subscribers have been steadily switching to FOMA.

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The company will waive the normal charge of 2,100 yen for any mova user who transfers to a FOMA subscription beginning Friday.

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But the company will continue its service to existing mova subscribers as late as July 2012.

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DoCoMo launched mova phones in 1993 and introduced an Internet connection service for the phones in 1999, the first among mobile carriers.

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The number of mova subscriptions grew as high as 44,408,400 in August 2003 before hitting a downtrend.

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At the end of July, the number totaled 8,134,400, accounting for only 15.1% of all DoCoMo subscribers.

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Among DoCoMo’s rivals, KDDI Corp has already ended its second-generation mobile phone service, while Softbank Mobile Corp has stopped accepting second-generation subscriptions and is due to end the service at the end of March 2010.

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