i-mode

Although WML is the most common PCS device language, it is not the only one. In Japan, there are several million subscribers that use a PCS device with content delivered using i-mode technology. This technology incorporates a formatting language called cHTML, which is a compact version of HTML. As such, it is a quick study for most Web developers.

i-mode was developed in Japan by a corporation known as DoCoMo, which translates to "everywhere." Because of a marketing shift and a planned separation from the rest of the wireless providers, DoCoMo now has a vast market share of the Japanese wireless user pool, but its market share is minimal in the U.S. However, i-mode is not a business market wireless provider, but instead targets the consumer market. Thus, many of i-mode's uses are not popular with American and other international businesses. In addition, i-mode is a subscriber-based provider, which means a company must register its site with DoCoMo if it wants users to have easy access to its sites. Although this might seem usual to technical Web users, the average user relies on traditional links, and connects to Web sites from other Web sites. However, for now DoCoMo is the leading contender in the Japanese wireless market.

As mentioned, i-mode uses cHTML as the presentation language for PCS devices. This condensed format does not include many of the extraneous features and additions HTML has collected over the years . With cHTML, a designer can create simple Web pages using tables, images, adjustable fonts, links, and other formatting tags that comprise the foundation of HTML.