Windows mobile DRM gets DoCoMo backing

Leading Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo today announced a collaboration with Microsoft to incorporate Windows Media technologies into the operator's 3G FOMA handsets.

The pair will kick off the initiative with the F902iS handset to be launched this summer which will support both Windows Media Audio and Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM) 10 for portable devices.

i-mode alliance partners - which includes O2, Mobile TeleSystems, Cellcom, E-Plus and Wind - are also considering the use of Windows Media technologies in their own handsets.

The partnership will allow DoCoMo users' handsets, and potentially those of any i-mode provider worldwide, to play music downloaded to a PC from more than 100 online music services around the world, and also support music content ripped from CDs in Windows Media Audio format.

"Microsoft's Windows Media platform and the company's commitment toward enabling new digital rights management solutions for the wireless environment are helping to push the industry forward," said Takeshi Natsuno, senior vice president, managing director, Multimedia Services of NTT DoCoMo. "With support for Windows Media, users of our FOMA handsets will enjoy a broader range of services and more choices for entertainment."

DoCoMo is also evaluating the incorporation of Windows Media Video, Microsoft's version of SMPTE VC-1 in future handsets.

Last month, Microsoft has announced plans to make significant investments in DRM technologies.

"We're responding to our wireless partners around the world, and demonstrating our commitment to extending this platform to cover key wireless content scenarios," a Microsoft spokeswoman said.

In a separate announcement DoCoMo also boosted its 3G arsenal today with the introduction of the FOMA M2501 High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) data card for laptops.

Downlink speeds of up to 3.6Mbps are available in new HSDPA service areas in Japan, the company said. The card is also backwards compatible with WCDMA, GSM and GPRS networks, with data roaming possible in 69 countries/regions and voice roaming in 132 countries/regions.

The HSDPA coverage will also allow users to download music videos to HSDPA enabled laptops and future handsets at greater speeds.

From June, the operator will be offering full music videos available for download.

telecoms.com's comment:

In our view, DoCoMo's support of Microsoft's DRM adds weight to the chance that a proprietary solution could become the de facto choice just by being commonly used.

As of the end of March, i-mode services had been rolled out in 15 countries worldwide, and the aggregate number of subscribers of all the carriers in the i-mode alliance topped the 250 million mark.

Moreover, Microsoft's DRM may be just one of a total of 13 proposals being evaluated by the GSM Association (GSMA), which is searching for an alternative to the Open Mobile Alliance's (OMA) DRM solution.

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