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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.