Thanks NTT Docomo

Today, and January 26th annually, is Mobile App Day 携帯アプリの日. It marks the anniversary of a major turning point in Japan’s mobile culture. On January 26, 2001, NTT Docomo launched its groundbreaking iアプリ service, allowing users to download games and tools directly onto their phones.

It was a revolutionary idea at the time, long before the App Store or Google Play existed. This innovation helped Japan become a global leader in mobile technology. It wasn't the only way that NTT Docomo helped shape smartphones. In 1999 they launched the world's first mobile internet platform (i-mode). It is considered the pioneer of mobile web browsing.  Moreover, in October 2021 they launched the world's first 3G service further to being a key contributor in W-CDMA.

There are several other examples why NTT Docomo is significant in mobile phone history. It is probably one of the reasons they remain one of the largest and most popular and are considered one of the leading "Big 3" (Docomo, au/Kddi, Softbank) phone carriers in Japan.