Work(ing Title)

NTT DoCoMo, in partnership with mmO2 plc, that they will be extending their i-Mode mobile data services into the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany. According to the DoCoMo press release, English and Irish services are slated to begin in the second half of 2005, with German rollout planned for Spring 2006.

I have been spouting off about this for over a year to anyone who will listen, and now my wishes are beginning to come true. This move will definitely give Vodafone and their recent Vodafone live! 3G program a run for its money, and it will further strengthen DoCoMo’s position as a dominant force in the global mobile industry.

It seems that O2 needed this deal, considering they are the runner-up in the UK market, and Vodafone’s 3G launch spans across the majority of Europe. DoCoMo also needs to continue to make bold moves into foreign markets in order to grow beyond their current role as an extremely strong yet land-locked company.

Personally I would like to see DoCoMo increase their visibility in the US market. Their investment in ATT Wireless hasn’t borne much fruit aside from a minimal 3G launch in small pockets of ATT’s coverage. Vodafone could stand to increase their brand visibility in the US market, mostly because I dread hearing about Verizon Wireless and the next feature-stripped handset.

If mobile customers in the US will wake up and begin to demand handset portability from their providers, then hopefully we can push GSM into a more dominant position, which would soften the ground for a proper global market.

The Electronic Arts slogan Challenge Everything, apparently extends to include the limits of their employees as well as their software development. Read the NY Times piece on the subject, which references an amazing blog post from the spouse of an EA employee.

In case anyone needed reassurance of this, I submit to you the following:

Flipper was a badass crime-solving porpoise, Bones in Johnny Mnemonic was a cypher mammal with Ice-T as his best friend, and of who can forget Debbie’s hand raised pseudo-baby from Sealab 2021.

This CNN piece further confirms what amazing animals dolphins are. Apparently they protected a family of Kiwi swimmers from impending shark attack.

All of this, plus they have sex for fun.

…Is really cool.

She’s a pro surfer! Check out her bio from Essential Surf Company.

These films have consumed my attention recently, and I will own them before the month is out.

First, for obscene violence, Mach!!!!!!!! Trailer / Amazon.jp

Second, for the best cell-shading ever, Appleseed. Trailer / Amazon.jp