I-Mode: A Primer [Paperback]

Nik Frengle (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764548840 | ISBN-13: 978-0764548840 | Publication Date: December 15, 2001

This book includes an explanation of I-mode; its history, technology, features and services available, and discussion of how it is being used -- followed by a developer's guide to show how to begin building I-Mode applications. The book also includes some case studies illustrating various implementations including what has worked and what has not. You will gain a very clear picture of both the hardware and software involved with this very successful implementation of a mobile phone-based Internet service, the cultural milieu that it occurred in, and how to develop for I-mode and the mobile Internet. Specific coverage includes: exploring handsets, deployment, 3G network plans, packet-switching, CHTML, and programming I-Applis, the I-Mode version of Java.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"This guide unveils the secrets behind Japan's successful cash-for-content model. Get on board the i-mode train as it heads for global expansion!" --Danny Williams, Editorial Director, Mobile Internet, Bakerville, Informa Telecoms Group

i-mode A Primer
Your i-mode Road Map With one-button browsing, robust HTML-based content, "always-on" high-speed connections, and over 27 million Japanese users, NTT DoCoMo's i-mode already delivers the kind of mobile Internet services that WAP developers are still struggling to implement. This comprehensive primer gives you the inside story on i-mode and shows you how to put this simple, yet powerful, technology to work. Nik Frengle deciphers DoCoMo's enigmatic partnering rules and the revenue model that helps e-business turn Web games, entertainment, business news, and more into phone-sized code and cash. Put i-mode to Work
* Explore the differences between WAP, regular Internet phones, and i-mode-enabled handsets
* Modify an existing Web page using cHTML to employ the keypad
* Build JSP and SQL databases to host dynamic content
* Use server-side scripts to access an SQL database from the handset
* Create an i-Appli game using the author's own translation of the i-mode Java API
* Learn how NTT DoCoMo's well-regulated partnerships provide content that users are willing to pay for
* Understand the underlying architecture of global expansion and how it affects your market
CD-ROM Includes:
* Sample code
* Java 2 SDK Standard Edition, v1.3 for Windows
* Forte for Java, release 3.0 Community Edition for All Platforms
* Adobe GoLive tryout
* MySQL, PHP, Apache, and phpMyAdmin
* Plus Chaku Melo Converter, UltraEdit-32, NJStar CJK Viewer trial version, and i-JADE Lite
System Requirements PC 120 MHz or faster, 32MB RAM, CD-ROM drive. See the "What's on the CD-ROM" appendix for details and complete system requirements. www.mandtbooks.com

About the Author

Nik Frengle has worked with i-mode since its introduction. He writes about the Japanese wireless Web for eimode.com, a popular i-mode Web site, and Mobile Internet, a respected industry newsletter. He has been a developer and programmer for more than 10 years and currently works as a Mobile Industry Analyst, analyzing and consulting on the Japanese mobile phone industry. Nik has lived in Japan for 11 years, where he has had the opportunity to witness the i-mode phenomenon first hand.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (December 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764548840
• ISBN-13: 978-0764548840
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,324,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am begining to understand i-mode a whole lot better now., February 10, 2002

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I-Mode: A Primer (Paperback)

I like to explore new topics and areas within computers to see what other things are out there. This book is an insight into a whole new arena for me. Judging from the content and the detail of the content, this author has certainly has shown me that he is one the foremost experts on the topic of i-mode.

Over 480 pages make up this manual which covers the model that Japan has found to be the best cash-for content model out there. In part 1 of the book you have the opportunity to look into the history of the i-mode as well as the hardware and software beginnings.

Part 2 is the i-mode environment, who would use the product, what type of audience can and do you target. Making it work so you can enhance the revenue. Finally part 3 is how to develop in i-mode. What application are used for development and the language used to create i-mode pages.

While most of the concepts are still a little beyond my understanding with the cd included , which has Java SDK, Forte for Java, a demo of Adobe Go Live and several other applications, I am beginning to understand what it takes.

Overall the author has spent a great deal of time and effort inputting together a seriously complete reference manual - well done.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I came, I saw, i-mode..., January 29, 2002

By 

Jean-Francois (Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka-ken Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I-Mode: A Primer (Paperback)

This book delivers exactly what the title promises, and more, with its surprisingly broad and deep look at every aspect of i-mode. In addition to being a guide for programmers, "i-mode A Primer" has valuable information for business readers. Although the focus is on i-mode and DoCoMo in Japan, the case studies in particular provide lessons applicable to anyone considering a mobile solution. Although I haven't had a chance to play with them yet, I'm looking forward to exploring the goodies on the CD included with the book.

An excellent buy. Very readable and well laid out, I'll keep this one within arm's reach for easy reference for the next long while.

PS Okay, I'm not sure what my review title means, but I thought it was catchy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE book on i-mode, February 11, 2002

By 

Daniel Shindel (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I-Mode: A Primer (Paperback)

Frengle definitely hits the nail on the head in this book: He tells us all we need to know about the i-mode business model, the i-mode content business, and i-mode's history. Calling this book a 'primer' is apt--it gives us the basic information we need to understand i-mode. But Frengle goes further, in the technical sections, telling us how to program i-mode Java programs, design data driven i-mode applications, and even simple things like how to get sounds on to an i-mode phone, and how to optimize graphics for use on i-mode.
Frengle knows his stuff, working in this field, it says on the back cover, in Tokyo. That definitely matters to me, and is more than can be said for the author of the other book (i-mode Crash Course) that I read about i-mode.
Great job! So, now that we have this excellent book, when do we actually get i-mode in Boston? AT&T Wireless will get the same five stars from me when they do that!