Latest news with #NTTDocomoInc
Asahi Shimbun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Latest chapter in the history of emoji draws to a close in Japan
Pictograms used in smartphone apps and other applications (Asahi Shimbun file photo) Birthday messages from friends are never complete without a flurry of emojis. Whether sent from just down the street or halfway across the world, the visual language they carry is remarkably universal—cakes, candles and flower bouquets light up the screen with festive familiarity. At times, these symbols come with delightful cultural flourishes. One friend from Italy, where the birthday custom includes gently tugging the celebrant's ears for each year of life, once added an ear emoji to the message—a whimsical nod to tradition. There's a quiet joy in simply taking in this digital bouquet, each emoji a tiny but heartfelt gesture of celebration. The global spread of the Japanese word 'emoji' is often credited, in part, to its phonetic similarity to the English word 'emotion'—a coincidence that smoothed their adoption abroad. Another theory points out that long before emoji became ubiquitous, the West had already embraced 'emoticons,' a portmanteau of 'emotion' and 'icon,' used to represent facial expressions through simple punctuation, like ':)'. Whatever their linguistic roots, emojis have long since transcended borders, evolving into a shared visual language of emotion in the digital age. Against this backdrop, a recent announcement by NTT Docomo Inc. carries a note of quiet poignancy: the company will end support for its original 'Docomo Emoji,' a pioneering and widely used set that helped shape the way we express ourselves online. Beginning later this month, newly released smartphones will no longer include these foundational pictographs. Docomo first introduced its emoji set in 1999, alongside its groundbreaking 'i-mode' mobile internet service. At the time, the notion of conveying emotion through tiny digital images felt nothing short of revolutionary. I still remember the thrill of discovering them for the first time. I eagerly embraced the set—featuring a laughing face with a wide, block-like mouth, simple hearts, and a bold upward-curving arrow. Even now, their pixelated simplicity retains a certain nostalgic charm, evoking the early days of mobile communication when expression found new life in just a few pixels. The original set featured about 200 symbols. Today, the global emoji repertoire has expanded to nearly 4,000. In her book 'Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language,' Canadian linguist Gretchen McCulloch describes emojis as digital 'gestures'—tools that help written communication mirror the nuance, tone and emotional shading of spoken conversation. Humanity has always strived to refine its means of expression. And in an era where smartphones transmit vast volumes of information in an instant, I sometimes find myself nostalgic for that simple, pixelated heart from the early Docomo emoji. —The Asahi Shimbun, June ２ * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
The Mainichi
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
NTT Docomo to acquire SBI Sumishin Net Bank in diversification push
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's largest mobile carrier NTT Docomo Inc. plans to acquire SBI Sumishin Net Bank to diversify its operations as growth slows in its core telecommunications segment, a source close to the matter said Thursday. If the purchase goes ahead, NTT Docomo would join other major Japanese mobile carriers in shifting focus to non-core services such as cashless payments and reward point programs, which help retain customers in an increasingly competitive market. It is currently the only one without a bank in its group. NTT Docomo, which holds the biggest share in the mobile carrier market, has lagged behind its rivals, KDDI Corp., SoftBank Corp. and Rakuten Group Inc., all of which operate their own financial institutions. As of the end of March, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and SBI Holdings Inc. each held about 34 percent of SBI Sumishin Net Bank, which was listed on the Standard Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2023. NTT Docomo aims to gain a majority stake in SBI Sumishin after acquiring all shares held by SBI Holdings and additional stakes from other investors, while Sumitomo Mitsui Trust will likely retain its shares, according to the source. NTT Docomo has already acquired major online securities company Monex Inc. and financial firm Orix Corp.'s credit card loan business, now known as Docomo Finance Inc., in a bid to diversify its revenue sources.
Asahi Shimbun
22-05-2025
- Asahi Shimbun
After 26 years, NTT Docomo is retiring all its emojis in June
Japan's largest telecommunications operator NTT Docomo Inc. announced on May 21 that it is discontinuing its "Docomo Emoji" set that comes with each of its devices. The decision to phase them out was made "in light of the current status of emoji usage." The set will no longer appear on models released in late June and beyond; this applies to Android smartphones and Docomo cellphones. Galaxy series phones are briefly exempt as all new models from July will no longer feature the emojis. Those with older models will also see the set eventually disappear following a software update scheduled for October at the earliest. The company is calling for users to switch over to emojis created by Google Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Docomo's emojis were first introduced to cellphones in 1999 via the provider's "i-mode" internet connection service. They gained widespread use to supplement or substitute text in those early days of digital communication. These deceptively simple designs have significantly impacted overseas emoji culture as well. In 2016, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York acquired and exhibited that original 176-emoji set.
15-05-2025
- Business
3 Major Japan Mobile Carriers Expect Sales Growth in FY 2025
News from Japan Economy Technology May 15, 2025 16:46 (JST) Tokyo, May 15 (Jiji Press)--Japan's three major mobile phone carriers expect year-on-year rises in their respective consolidated sales in fiscal 2025, reflecting increases in mobile phone rates, according to their earnings reports released by Wednesday. Of the three, NTT Docomo Inc. expects its sales to grow 2.0 pct to 6,336 billion yen in the year ending in March next year, thanks to its new mobile rate plans to be introduced in June, which are projected to lead to a hike in customer unit prices, as well as its expanding business for corporate customers. The company, however, forecasts its net profit to fall 6.9 pct to 669 billion yen, pressured by higher sales promotion costs aimed at strengthening its customer base. KDDI Corp.'s sales are estimated to increase 7 pct to 6,330 billion yen. It expects mobile rate hikes and other factors to have a positive effect of some 30 billion yen on an operating profit basis. SoftBank Corp. expects its sales to go up 2.4 pct to 6.7 trillion yen on the back of an increase in subscription contracts and the expansion of its finance business. "Now is the time for a price review," SoftBank President Junichi Miyakawa said, although he did not give specifics on the range or timing of price increases. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
