By Burt Lum

While the idea of text messaging and SMS — short message service — is nothing new, leave it to Japan to create innovative ways to push the technology. Even before Upoc (www.upoc.com —written about in Byte Marks last week), Imahima had launched its community mobile messaging system to thousands of NTT Docomo I-mode users.

In English, Imahima means "Are you free now?" Thousands of young Japanese roaming the streets of Tokyo are asking that very question and signing up at www.imahima.com. Watching the rapid maneuvering of keys on the tiny I-mode handset is a sight to behold.

As a member of Imahima, you can be a part of a community or create your own community. Either way, group mentality, so pervasive in Japan, has contributed to the rapid adoption of the Imahima service. Whether users are talking on the phone, checking e-mail or chatting incessantly with buddies, the mobile device is gaining mind share. This device even tells its user if a buddy is nearby or in a certain mood!

With Imahima, there is no such thing as being lonely anymore.

It's also about the user experience. On a recent visit to Hawai'i, one of Imahima's board members, Ray Tsuchiyama, gave me a glimpse of the future of Imahima. In partnership with a company in Britain, the next generation of wireless mobile avatars will emerge.

On the Web at www.habbohotel.com, Habbo creates 3D, character-based chat environments for broadband users. The Habbo app runs over a Shockwave plug-in from within the browser and does not need any special software. Simple in concept, it's a very complex, interactive, always moving, always changing visual environment. It is available through your Web browser, but will migrate to the wireless device.

Habbo is also a branding and advertising medium to reach the youth audience, Tsuchiyama said. It offers users a higher degree of self-expression while focusing on the communication experience. Says Ray, "Actually, I see it as Sim City plus Chat, plus community — on steroids!" ;-)

Burt Lum is one click away at burt@brouhaha.net.