DoCoMo enlisting 4,000 3G guinea pigs

Successful applicants for the 3G test drive will be exempted from service fees and given free handsets

In this story: Collecting feedback First in the world RELATED STORIES, SITES

By CNN's Kristie Lu Stout

TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- NTT DoCoMo is enlisting 4,000 people to test drive its 3G service, before its formal launch in October.

The recruitment campaign starts today, following news of a delayed commercial launch that was originally scheduled for this month.

DoCoMo's limited roll out and evaluation of the 3G service later this month nevertheless marks a milestone in the global rush towards third generation mobile systems.

Collecting feedback

Applicants interested in the hyper-speed mobile trial must sign up for the service before May 16 and live within an NTT DoCoMo business area, including the 23 wards of Tokyo and selected areas of Yokohama and Kawasaki cities.

Successful applicants will be exempted from related service fees, and will be provided with free handsets.

The array of handsets available for the soft launch include "standard," visual," and "data-card" models.

The subjects will then be required to complete questionnaires, offering comments and suggestions regarding possible service upgrades.

NTT DoCoMo is conducting the trial service to collect customer feedback prior to its full-scale launch of 3G services in October, according to an official company statement.

First in the world

The mobile operator expects to be the first in the world to begin fast third-generation, or 3G, wireless services on May 30 when it begins its introductory service.

DoCoMo plans to invest $8.25 billion over the next three years on 3G and said it would be profitable in four years.

The company posted a stronger than expected $3 billion net profit for the past business year, powered by its fast-growing mobile Internet services.

DoCoMo, Japan's largest company by market capitalization, said on Wednesday that consolidated net profit rose 45 percent to a record 365.5 billion yen ($3.01 billion) for the year ended March.

DoCoMo says nationwide 3G by 2002
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DoCoMo posts record $3 billion profit
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NTT DoCoMo Net

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