Changes

! Year !! Month and date !! Category !! Event type !! Details

| 1952 || || || Early development || Nippon Denshin Denwa Kosha ([[w:Nippon Telegraph and Telephone|Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation]] (NTTPC)) is launched as a public corporation and becomes the main engine for Japanese telecommunications {{w|R&D}}.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Okada |first1=Yoshitaka |title=Struggles for Survival: Institutional and Organizational Changes in Japan's High-Tech Industries |url=https://books.google.com.ar/books?id=URDCtQdnuI4C&pg=PA217&dq=1952++Nippon+Telegraph+and+Telephone+Public+Corporation&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiQg5Py4YbmAhW0LLkGHSxABswQ6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=1952%20%20Nippon%20Telegraph%20and%20Telephone%20Public%20Corporation&f=false}}</ref><ref name="fundinguniverse.com">{{cite web |title=Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation History |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/nippon-telegraph-and-telephone-corporation-history/ |website=fundinguniverse.com |accessdate=15 October 2019}}</ref>

| 1985 || May 30 || || Early development || State-owned Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corp. is privatized as Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) amid liberalization of the telecommunications sector.<ref name="fundinguniverse.com"/><ref name="docomo-sys.co.jp">{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.docomo-sys.co.jp/english/company/history.html |website=docomo-sys.co.jp |accessdate=12 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Takano |first1=Yoshirō |title=Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Privatization Study: Experience of Japan and Lessons for Developing Countries, Parts 63-179 |url=https://books.google.com.ar/books?id=3aW1AAAAIAAJ&q=Nippon+Telegraph+and+Telephone+Corporation+in+1985&dq=Nippon+Telegraph+and+Telephone+Corporation+in+1985&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9memH44bmAhXlD7kGHQ7IAWMQ6AEITzAF}}</ref> Operating domestic telecommunications, it is considered "one of the most powerful sparks that lit the communications revolution in Japan".<ref name="Communication">{{cite web |title=Communication |url=https://features.japantimes.co.jp/heisei-moments-part-8-communication/ |website=features.japantimes.co.jp |accessdate=26 November 2019}}</ref>

| 1985 || || Product Device || Mobile phone launch || NTT develops the first 'Shoulder phone', a car phone, that can be carried around in a shoulder trap.<ref name="Personal Media">{{cite book |last1=Rasmussen |first1=T. |title=Personal Media and Everyday Life: A Networked Lifeworld |url=https://books.google.com.ar/books?id=4uuhAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT36&dq=%22ntt%22+%22docomo%22+%22in+1985..1992%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjxz-aniYjmAhVsJrkGHULwD_YQ6AEIUDAF#v=onepage&q=%22ntt%22%20%22docomo%22%20%22in%201985..1992%22&f=false}}</ref>

| 1987 || || Product Device || Mobile phone launch || NTT offers the first handheld cellular phone, primarily for professional and organizational purposes.<ref name="Personal Media"/>

| 1989 || || Cellular network || Service launch || NTT launches a new digital standard, which creates a fast growth for subscribers.<ref name="Personal Media"/>

| 1991 || August || || Founding || NTT Mobile Communications Network is established by the {{w|Nippon Telegraph and Telephone}} (NTT) as a subsidiary to take over the mobile cellular operations.<ref>{{cite web |title=NTT DoCoMo |url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/48149/ntt-docomo |website=pcmag.com |accessdate=15 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Jain |first1=Vipul |title=Recent Trends in Intelligent Computing, Communication and Devices |url=https://books.google.com.ar/books?id=vUuzDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1063&lpg=PA1063&dq=August+14,+1991+%22DOCOMO%22&source=bl&ots=QY_R6wQt54&sig=ACfU3U23aehqGfjuSOVoQEEZ5esKOZAwyw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjx4ouXjZ_lAhUZILkGHW8YC08Q6AEwCnoECAoQAg#v=onepage&q=August%2014%2C%201991%20%22DOCOMO%22&f=false}}</ref><ref name="crunchbase.com">{{cite web |title=NTT DoCoMo |url=https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/ntt-docomo#section-overview |website=crunchbase.com |accessdate=15 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="The Six Immutable">{{cite book |last1=Sugai |first1=Philip |last2=Koeder |first2=Marco |last3=Ciferri |first3=Ludovico |title=The Six Immutable Laws of Mobile Business |url=https://books.google.com.ar/books?id=p631MJdn4XAC&pg=PA25&dq=%22ntt%22+%22docomo%22+%22in+1985..1992%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjxz-aniYjmAhVsJrkGHULwD_YQ6AEIPzAD#v=onepage&q=%22ntt%22%20%22docomo%22%20%22in%201985..1992%22&f=false}}</ref> This unit would soon adopt the nickname DoCoMo, which stands for "Do Communications Over the Mobile Network".<ref name"dfgghj">{{cite book |last1=Vesa |first1=Jarkko |title=Mobile Services in the Networked Economy |url=https://books.google.com.ar/books?id=S93M_UK4iegC&pg=PA124&dq=%22ntt%22+%22docomo%22+%22in+1985..1992%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjxz-aniYjmAhVsJrkGHULwD_YQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=%22ntt%22%20%22docomo%22%20%22in%201985..1992%22&f=false}}</ref> Operations commence at the Osaka Regional Marketing Branch.<ref name="docomo-sys.co.jp"/>

| 1991 || || Cellular network || Userbase || There are about 5.75 million pager subscribers in Japan, of which NTT has some 3.5 million.<ref name="Communication"/>

| 1992 || || || Administration || NTT MCN relocates head office to {{w|Ikebukuro}} from Koji-Machi, Chiyoda-Ku.<ref name="docomo-sys.co.jp"/>

| 1992 || || || Personnel || NTT MCN number of employees reaches 300.<ref name="docomo-sys.co.jp"/>

| 1992 || July 1 || || Reorganization || NTT MCN becomes an independent company and begins operations assuming control of mobile communications business of the reorganizing [[w:Nippon Telegraph and Telephone|Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation]] (NTT).<ref name="Communication"/><ref name="History">{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/corporate/about/outline/history/ |website=nttdocomo.co.jp |accessdate=11 September 2019}}</ref> This event is considered to be the birth of NTT DoCoMo, after the cellular communications services of NTT are carved out from the former telecom monopolist's other lines of business.<ref name="i-mode Wireless">{{cite web |title=NTT DoCoMo: i-mode Wireless Internet Services |url=https://www.bus.umich.edu/kresgepublic/journals/gartner/research/96500/96594/96594.html |website=bus.umich.edu |accessdate=16 October 2019}}</ref>

| 1992 || || Cellular network || Milestone (servicelaunch) || NTT MCN launches the first [[w:Advanced Mobile Phone System|analog cellular phone service]].<ref name="The Six Immutable"/>

| 1993 || || || Service || Japan moves to digital mobile services as NTT MCN launches a new service based on Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) technology.<ref name="dfgghj">{{cite book |last1=Vesa |first1=Jarkko |title=Mobile Services in the Networked Economy |publisher= |url=https://books.google.com.ar/books?id=S93M_UK4iegC&pg=PA124&lpg=PA124&dq=%221993%22+%22Japan%22+%22digital+mobile+services+%22+%22service+based+on+Personal+Digital+Cellular+(PDC)%22&source=bl&ots=A_gOX7Toa7&sig=ACfU3U1nC7zL5sJNqglnbb5toFQeeAZymA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiW9KrooYjmAhU9HrkGHY7lAqwQ6AEwAHoECAIQAQ#v=onepage&q=%221993%22%20%22Japan%22%20%22digital%20mobile%20services%20%22%20%22service%20based%20on%20Personal%20Digital%20Cellular%20(PDC)%22&f=false}}</ref>

| 1993 || March || Cellular network || Service launch || NTT MCN Launches mova 2G (800 MHz), its first digital cellular phone service.<ref name="History"/><ref name="The Six Immutable"/>

| 1993 || July || || Administration || NTT MCN is reorganized into nine regional companies within {{w|Japan}}.<ref name="i-mode Wireless"/>

| 1993 || || || Administration || NTT MCN establishes its Main Sales Division.<ref name="docomo-sys.co.jp"/>

| 1993 || || || Userbase || Nearly 70 percent of new NTT pager subscribers are individuals instead of companies.<ref name="Communication"/>

| 1994 || || || Background || The mobile phone market is opened to competition.<ref name="dfgghj"/>

| 1994 || April || Cellular network || Service launch || NTT MCN launches CITYPHONE 1.5 GHz digital cellular phone service in urban areas.<ref name="History"/>

| 1996 || || || Administration || NTT MCN relocates the head office to {{w|Nishigotanda}} from {{w|Ikebukuro}}.<ref name="docomo-sys.co.jp"/>

| 1996 || Mid-year || || Personnel || NTT MCN employs about 500 engineers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Funk |first1=Jeffrey L. |title=Global Competition Between and Within Standards: The Case of Mobile Phones |url=https://books.google.com.ar/books?id=K-eFDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA185&dq=%22ntt%22+%22docomo%22+%22in+1985..1992%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjxz-aniYjmAhVsJrkGHULwD_YQ6AEINzAC#v=onepage&q=%22ntt%22%20%22docomo%22%20%22in%201985..1992%22&f=false}}</ref>

| 1996 || || Device || Market growth || The adoption rate for mobiles in Japan reaches 25%.<ref name="Personal Media"/>

| 1997 || || || Financial || NTT MCN increases capital investment to 652.6 million JPY.<ref name="docomo-sys.co.jp"/>

| 1997 || March || Cellular network || Service launch || NTT MCN launches DoPa packet-data communications service, the first data communications service in Japan.<ref name="History"/><ref name="The Six Immutable"/>

| 1998 || || || Administration || NTT MCN establishes its urban information systems division.<ref name="docomo-sys.co.jp"/>

| 1998 || October 12 || || Financial || NTT MCN goes public on the {{w|Nikkei 225}} average.<ref>{{cite web |title=NTT Mobile Communications Network |url=https://money.howstuffworks.com/10-biggest-ipos8.htm |website=money.howstuffworks.com |accessdate=15 October 2019}}</ref> The company is registered under the ticker TYO:9437.<ref name="crunchbase.com"/> NTT sells 30% of DoCoMo to the public.<ref name="dfgghj"/>

| 1998 || October 22 || || Financial || NTT MCN is listed on the {{w|Tokyo Stock Exchange}}.<ref name="i-mode Wireless"/>

| 1998 || December || || Acquisition || NTT MCN assumes control of Personal Handyphone System (PHS) business from NTT Personal Group.<ref name="History"/><ref name="i-mode Wireless"/>

| 1998–1999 || || || Milestone (product) || NTT MCN morking team designer {{w|Shigetaka Kurita}} invents the {{w|Emoji}}, a pictographic language being adopted around the world. The first set of 176 12×12 pixel emoji is created as part of {{w|i-mode}}'s messaging features to help facilitate electronic communication, and also to serve as a distinguishing feature from other services.<ref>{{cite web|last=Blagdon|first=Jeff|title=How emoji conquered the world|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/3/4/3966140/how-emoji-conquered-the-world|work=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|accessdate=6 November 2013|date=12 September 2019}}</ref>

| 1999 || February || Cellular network || Milestone (servicelaunch) || NTT MCN introduces its 2.5G {{w|i-mode}}, the first such service with national coverage.<ref name="The Six Immutable"/> {{w|i-mode}} is the world's first mobile internet service available through the handset itself. Before this, there no terminal other than personal computers for accessing the internet.<ref name="Hidenori Tomita">{{cite book |title=The Post-Mobile Society: From the Smart/Mobile to Second Offline |edition=Hidenori Tomita |url=https://books.google.com.ar/books?id=snn7CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28&dq=docomo+launches+dmenu&source=bl&ots=mj4I-8pl6E&sig=ACfU3U1jIyYGnNoaHGnXTb_xxa9lHQ7ELA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi5hL_M76fnAhXnHbkGHQpaB2gQ6AEwCHoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=docomo%20launches%20dmenu&f=false}}</ref>

| 1999 || August 8 || Cellular network || Userbase || {{w|i-mode}} grows to 1 million subscribers.<ref name="The Six Immutable"/>

| 1999 || December || Cellular network || Userbase || {{w|i-mode}} grows to 3 million subscribers.<ref name="The Six Immutable"/>

| 2000 || August 6 || Cellular network || Userbase || Subscriptions for {{w|i-mode}} in Japan reaches 10 million.<ref name="sds"/>

| 2000 || September || || Facility || The {{w|NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building}} opens. One of the tallest buildings in {{w|Tokyo}}, it houses base station equipment and switching equipment.<ref>{{cite web |title=NTT DoCoMo Yoyogi Building |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/104939/ntt-docomo-yoyogi-building-tokyo-japan |website=emporis.com |accessdate=18 November 2019}}</ref>

| 2000 || November 22 || Cellular network || Userbase || Subscriptions for {{w|i-mode}} in Japan reaches 10 million.<ref name="sds"/><ref name="The Six Immutable"/>

| 2000 || Late year || Cellular network || Userbase || There are 50 million Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) subscribers in Japan.<ref name="The Six Immutable"/>

| 2000 || || || {{w|License}} || The {{w|Japanese government}} awards {{w|3G}} licenses to {{w|NTT Docomo}}, {{w|KDDI}} and {{w|J-Phone}} at no charge. This allows NTT Docomo to free up its cash stock for overseas investment.<ref name="i-mode Wireless"/>

| 2001 || || || Recognition || {{w|NTT Docomo}} acquires ISO14001 accreditation<ref name="docomo-sys.co.jp"/>, the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system.<ref>{{cite web |title=WHAT IS ISO 14001:2015 – ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS? |url=https://asq.org/quality-resources/iso-14001 |website=asq.org |accessdate=16 October 2019}}</ref>

| 2001 || March 4 || Cellular network || Userbase || Subscriptions for {{w|i-mode}} in Japan reaches 20 million.<ref name="sds"/>

| 2001 || May || Cellular network || Userbase || i-mode grows to 23 million subscribers.<ref name="The Six Immutable"/>

| 2001 || || || Administration || {{w|NTT Docomo}} relocates the head office to {{w|Akasaka}} from {{w|Nishigotanda}}.<ref name="docomo-sys.co.jp"/>

| 2001 || || || Financial || {{w|NTT Docomo}} investment ratio increases to 100%.<ref name="docomo-sys.co.jp"/>

| 2001 || October || Cellular network || Milestone (servicelaunch) || {{w|NTT Docomo}} becomes the first cellular operator in the world to offer commercial {{w|3G}} services (based on {{w|WCDMA}}) called {{w|Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access}} (FOMA). The service becomes first available in the {{w|Greater Tokyo Area}}, {{w|Yokohama}} and {{w|Kawasaki}}.<ref name="History"/><ref name="i-mode Wireless"/>