NTT DoCoMo 3G glitch under magnifying glass

The beginning stages of NTT DoCoMo’s trial for third-generation mobile communications services had gone well, until Wednesday, when the carrier’s 3G and existing I-mode platforms were hit by a software problem that prevented subscribers from receiving email for more than 18 hours.

Although technical problems are par for the course when introducing new technology, the wireless industry’s attention is fixed on DoCoMo’s four-month trial of 3G services.

“There is no question everyone is watching this…everyone is focused on DoCoMo,” said Andrew Cole, principal analyst at Adventis. “The company is held as a bellwether for the future of wireless so this [glitch] does not help.”

However, as much as the industry expects glitches like this, it also believes DoCoMo will not be challenged by it.

“People in the industry expect this these days, especially considering [other issues like] a lack of handsets. These things are inevitable,” Cole continued. “People may have been surprised because it’s DoCoMo but most are confident they will resolve it. These things have to happen in order for them eventually to get it right.”

DoCoMo launched its 3G trial with 3,300 mobile business and consumer users that were chosen through a lottery process. An additional 1,200 users are expected to begin testing 3G videophones next month.