The logic is simple. Share prices in every tech sector in the U.S. are depressed. That means easy pickings for the cash-rich company from Nippon. As for DoCoMo's core wireless focus, the U.S. is clearly the lowest-hanging fruit of the remaining major markets. The immature U.S. market clearly has much growth potential.
DoCoMo executives are concerned about growing competition in the very lucrative Japanese market.
So by going global they hope to stay ahead of smaller rivals in Japan. Add to this a growing call in the company's senior ranks for substantial acquisitions, and you have all the ingredients necessary for a buying binge in the U.S., says Adventis' Cole. The blueprint could follow along the lines of DoCoMo's wildly successful i-mode wireless data service in Japan. The company staked out new wireless turf by offering the first always-on connection to the Web that charged customers a small monthly fee. Since many Web developers favor the format, the service has enjoyed a wealth of offerings from cell-phone quiz shows to downloadable cartoons.