I-Mode: A Primer

Rating:
Summary: Definitely worth a read
Review: Excellent insight into a topic and technology that seems likely to become prevalent on a global scale in the very near future.

Whilst my interest in buying this book and researching i-mode is more from a business rather than technical perspective, both angles seem to have been covered equally well. I appreciated Frengle's well thought through and clearly outlined discussions on a broad variety of topics relating to i-mode and the mobile industry in Japan. The text was very useful in clarifying a number of questions I had and overall I felt the contents in the book was easily accessible and user friendly.

It's definitely worth a read for anyone interested in the mobile industry in Japan or i-mode in general.

Rating:
Summary: THE book on i-mode
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: I am begining to understand i-mode a whole lot better now.
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Very readable.
Review: I was developing Java apps for i-mode phones in under 4 hours. That was after reading 2 chapters. The rest of the book was a bonus read. The text is a bit outdated w.r.t. European WAP phones, he doesn't seem to realise we have long battery lifes too, WAP on gprs to boot! That's not going to stop me giving it 5 stars. One of the downloads you really need is no longer at the link published in the book. I sent an e-mail to the author late one night pointing this out. When I woke and checked my mail he had answered and I could get what I needed.

This book was worth it as a "get started with i-mode development" and was interesting as a "how they made wireless internet economically viable".

Rating:
Summary: Great introduction to modern mobile technology
Review: i-mode and similar technologies are very popular in Japan and other Asian countries. The book is a good encyclopedia about what i-mode is and what it may be. It contains a lot of historical and technical information including personal experiences and observations. Great introduction to i-mode if you know nothing about it.
As business expands, i-mode will soon come to your country, thus be the first guy on the block who knows what i-mode is.

Rating:
Summary: I came, I saw, i-mode...
Review: 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.