【さよならガラケー】携帯電話の3Gサービスが終了へ…北海道の利用者2万4000人 初めてスマホに乗り換える高齢者も…一世を風靡した“iモード”や“FOMA”も終了 懐かしい歴史を振り返る

NTT Docomo will be ending its 3G mobile phone service, affectionately known as "garakei," at the end of March. This will likely affect approximately 24,000 users in Hokkaido. Ms. Yoshiko Suzuki, 76, is buying her first smartphone. "I heard that (3G) mobile phones would no longer be available, so I rushed here because the lines would be congested," says Ms. Yoshiko Suzuki. How long have you been using it for? "About 20 years, I think," says Ms. Suzuki. Until now, Ms. Suzuki has been using a Galapagos mobile phone, also known as a "garakei." However, since NTT Docomo will be ending its 3G service at the end of March, her "garakei" will no longer be usable. "As of the end of January, there were approximately 24,000 subscribers across Hokkaido. The reason for the termination is that usage has been steadily declining. We decided to shut down the service in order to stabilize the new radio waves," said Yuji Segawa of NTT Docomo's Hokkaido branch. The first mobile phone was the "shoulder phone," which appeared in 1985. It was a type that was carried over the shoulder and weighed approximately 3 kg. A monthly basic fee was over 20,000 yen, and call charges were 100 yen per minute. Since then, mobile phones have become lighter, and in 1991 the "mova" series, which was said to be the world's smallest at the time, was released. Then, in 1999, "i-mode" was launched. "You can select and obtain only the information you want from the Internet and other sources. At NTT Docomo, we call this function i-mode, an acronym for the term" (narrator from a February 2000 broadcast). Connecting mobile phones to the Internet was a groundbreaking service at the time, allowing users to reserve flight and concert tickets, send and receive emails, play games, and more. Users could also view maps of the area around the Sapporo Snow Festival and introductions to the snow sculptures. "We'd be in trouble if it disappeared." "We'd die" (user at the time). In 2001, the 3G network "FOMA" was launched, and new features were introduced one after another. Even these things are now commonplace. "Have you ever forgotten your membership card when renting a video or CD? But with your cell phone, you're all set. Cell phones now double as identification. Register your membership number in advance and press the send button at the register to rent a video or CD." (Narration from a November 2002 broadcast) Furthermore, cell phones with camera functions have become commonplace since the 2000s. "Among the many cell phones available, the most popular are camera phones that combine a cell phone and a digital camera." (Narration from a July 2003 broadcast) It was around this time that the term "sha-me," or photo email, was coined. "I take a picture of my daughter and send it to my grandmother in the countryside. It's convenient because it's quick to send." "You can redo it, so you can take multiple pictures and send them to friends." "Many people probably use it as a camera. Plus, the cell phone feel is very modern." (All of these comments were from users at the time) These were groundbreaking services that took the world by storm. However, data communications have evolved into 4G and 5G. au will end its 3G service in 2022, and SoftBank in 2024. NTT Docomo will also end its service at the end of March. Suzuki is also switching from his familiar "feature phone" to his first smartphone. What memorable photos do you have? "Photos of flowers. I want to preserve the flowers that never bloomed," says Suzuki. He transfers the data from his "feature phone," filled with various memories, to his smartphone. He also purchases an accessory case, something unthinkable in the feature phone era. "Is this okay?" (Suzuki). "Yes, this is a compatible model," says the store clerk. "This will do," says Suzuki. All procedures are now complete. The data is checked to make sure it has been transferred. What are your favorite photos? "Look, the screen is big. I'm happy." (Suzuki) I tried taking a photo using a smartphone I'm still not used to. "It's amazing." (Suzuki) I asked Suzuki what he'd like to do with his smartphone in the future. "It has a lot of features. My friends use it to measure blood pressure, and they play mahjong. I'd like to be able to use it like that." (Suzuki) What will he do with his flip phone? "I'll keep it for a while. I'll keep it as a memory." (Suzuki) 3G networks, which sparked the rapid spread of mobile phones, will soon reach the end of their usefulness.