i-mode

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i-mode (iモード) was a mobile internet service created by NTT DoCoMo. It offered a means to allow mobile phones to access the internet.

Sega began supporting the service in Japan in December 1999, initially offering downloadable ringtones under Sega Kara branding. This is thought to have been Sega's first foray into mobile phones, and would release its first games starting in March 2000, when it began selling downloadable software through a portal called Sega Mode (セガ･モード).

i-mode-compatible software was strictly monochrome for its first couple of years, and Sega released small handful of software for the service over the course of 2000. On 26th January 2001, NTT DoCoMo released the 503i range of phones (initially the Digital Mova F503i Hyper (by Fujitsu) and Digital Mova P503i Hyper (by Matsushita)), which included support for "i-appli" (iアプリ), J2ME-based programs. In conjunction with this, Sega launched the Sonic Cafe service alongside a few i-appli games based on Sonic Team properties (initially for free as part of a trial period, until becoming paid downloads on the 25th February).

As more advanced i-mode phones were released, the i-appli branding was phased out. Sega continued to support the platform (both new and old handsets) for the following decade. Eventually Sega Mode was rebranded Sega Parade (セガ・パレード) to match the naming scheme seen on the rival J-Sky and EZweb platforms.

While i-mode subscriptions were strong through the 2000s, with the advent of the iPhone and Android devices, as well as greater support for web standards, the service began to be abandoned by customers, however remained in active service until 2026. Attempts have been made to sell i-mode devices in a number of countries outside of Japan, but none were as successful.

Hardware

New generations of i-mode phones were released almost every year, with major Japanese electronics manufacturers using NTT DoCoMo's specifications as a pseudo-standard. While the operating system and software was usually identical between manufacturers, the physical designs of the phones were not, something later emulated with Android devices.

501i series

The very first i-mode phone to be launched was the Digital Mova F501i Hyper (デジタル・ムーバ F501i HYPER) by Fujitsu in February 1999, starting what would be termed the 501i series.

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  F501i (Fujitsu; 1999-02-22)

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  D501i (Mitsubishi; 1999-03-24

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  N501i (NEC; 1999-03-24)

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  P501i (Matsushita; 1999-05-20)

502i series

The second generation of i-mode phones began offering colour screens as an option.

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  D502i (Mitsubishi; 2000-01-07)

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  N502i (NEC; )

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  SO502i (Sony; 2000-06-01)

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  N502it (NEC; 2000-09-01)

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  SO502iWM (Sony; 2000-12-01)

503i series

The 503i series were the first i-mode phones compatible with i-appli programs. However, said programs could not be larger than 10KB, limiting their use.

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  F503i (Fujitsu; 2001-01-26)

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  P503i (Matsushita; 2001-01-26)

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  N503i (NEC; 2001-03-03)

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  P503iS (Matsushita; 2001-05-08)

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  F503iS (Fujitsu; 2001-08-14)

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  N503iS (NEC; 2001-08-27)

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  D503iS (Mitsubishi; 2001-09-20)

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  SO503iS (Sony; 2001-09-20)

504i series

The 504i series can run i-appli programs up to 30KB (three times as large as the 503i series), though is fully backwards compatible with the older i-appli releases. The 504i software library is smaller than the 503i's, likely to ensure a bigger audience.

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  D504i (Mitsubishi; 2002-05-24)

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  F504i (Fujitsu; 2002-05-24)

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  N504i (NEC; 2002-05-29)

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  SO504i (Sony; 2002-06-03)

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  P504iS (Matsushita; 2002-11-12)

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  N504iS (NEC; 2002-11-22)

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  F504iS (Fujitsu; 2002-12-27)

505i series

The 505i series added Macromedia Flash support for web pages, and higher resolution i-appli programs branded as "i-appli DX".

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  D505i (Mitsubishi; 2003-05-23)

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  SO505i (Sony; 2003-06-04)

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  P505i (Matsushita; 2003-06-20)

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  SH505i (Sharp; 2003-06-20)

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  N505i (NEC; 2003-07-04)

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  F505i (Fujitsu; 2003-07-11)

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  P505iS (Matsushita; 2003-11-12)

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  D505iS (Mitsubishi; 2003-11-16)

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  N505iS (NEC; 2003-12-10)

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  SH505iS (Sharp; 2003-12-12)

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  SO505iS (Sony; 2003-12-12)

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  F505iGPS (Fujitsu; 2003-12-24)

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  P506iC (Matsushita; 2004-07-10)

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  SO506iC (Sony; 2004-07-23)

506i series

The 506i series offers much the same technical specifications as the 505i, with the major changes being to user interface and the camera.

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  D506i (Mitsubishi; 2004-05-19)

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  F506i (Fujitsu; 2004-05-19)

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  N506i (NEC; 2004-06-26)

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  SH506iC (Sharp; 2004-07-16)

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  SO506iC (Sony; 2004-07-23)

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  N506iS (NEC; 2005-02-05)

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  SO506iS (Sony; 2005-05-27)

90x series

After some previous experimentation, NTT DoCoMo decided to make the 3G-enabled "FOMA" phones the flagship i-mode devices. This coincided with a new "90x" numbering scheme, starting with the 900i series. i-appli programs could now be as large as 500KB, and other improvements in technical specifications allowed for real-time 3D. While there would be further upgrades over the coming years (901i, 902i, 903i etc.) Sega's chose instead to make its software compatible with all 90x devices.

70x series

Cost-reduced 70x "FOMA" phones were also sold. The specifications are ahead of the 505i series but below the 90x series.

Gallery

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  i-appli logo

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  Sega mode logo