The Birth of i-mode: An analogue account of the Mobile Internet [Paperback]

Mari Matsunaga (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Chaung Yi Publishing Pte Ltd (2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9812394737
• ISBN-13: 978-9812394736
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,828,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Stone boring, March 5, 2007

By 

Doug Wray (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Birth of i-mode: An analogue account of the Mobile Internet (Paperback)

Ms. Matsunaga "was voted Asia's Most Powerful Businesswoman in 2000 by Fortune magazine"-this is a quotation from the cover blurb-and was recruited to DoCoMo's development team as a manager of sorts. Please note the passive voice used twice here: it gives an idea of the flavor of the story related in this book.
"i mode" comprises Matsunaga's chronologically ordered reminiscences of her work for NTT DoCoMo (Japan's leading mobile telephone company) when the "i mode" series of products was being prepared for launch. ("i mode" refers to a service whereby mobile phone users can access various parts of the Internet through phones.) Matsunaga had come from consumer publications and was inexperienced with technological gadgets when she began the NTT work. By her own admission, she remained inexperienced when she left the company. Readers will learn nothing of how cellular telephones, the Internet, or the design of new electronic devices works by reading this book because Matsunaga does not try to make up for her lack of knowledge by doing any research to illuminate the fields for the reader.
What the reader will learn is that new product launches often undergo delays and unforeseen difficulties. Um...duh....
To give Ms. Matsunaga credit (or, rather, to not disparage her too much), she does deal with scads of proprietary information here; I guess this might be one reason the book is so vague. Unfortunately, the book comes off as being vague because Matsunaga does not have anything of interest to relate, not having done anything anyone could not have done in the launch of this (in the hands of any other writer) potentially interesting product.
Potential readers should be aware that Matsunaga assumes a thorough knowledge of contemporary Japanese culture and society; if you are not familiar with the country, there is much you will find inexplicable.
One is forced to guess that this book was just a quick was to exploit the small measure of fame Matsunaga gained after the success of i mode. Certainly there is nothing in the book to justify its having been published: the material here wouldn't even make an interesting article in the weekend edition of a newspaper.
Do not read or buy this book.