Like WAP, i-mode is a way of providing information to mobile devices. i-mode is however slightly different from WAP in that it uses cHTML as a markup language, and uses more traditional internet protocols to deliver it. Or rather, less of the new wireless protocols. The content is served using HTTP to a so called i-mode center which in a way works like the WAP gateway. One major difference is that this i-mode center is under the control of the developers of i-mode, NTT DoCoMo. In WAP, gateways are and can be owned by virtually anyone with an internet connection. The i-mode center performs protocol conversions which enable the content to be delivered to the phone.

Although there’s nothing preventing i-mode’s “single” gateway structure from handling a large number of users, it creates a sort of monopoly that the US and European markets will most likely not agree to. It is also very likely that this structure will be changed as i-mode, like WAP, evolves.

Thanks to Peter Roxburgh for the insight.