Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd exhibited a module supporting WirelessHD, a wireless transmission standard using 60GHz millimeter waves, at CEATEC JAPAN 2008.
The module uses an elongated plastic substrate on which a WirelessHD baseband processing LSI developed by SiBEAM Inc is mounted. The company exhibited the module as a product in a development stage and did not announce its shipment schedule, etc. An RF IC module with an integrated antenna is located next to the SiBEAM chip. The module has 52 pieces of antenna devices arranged in a grid pattern on the package surface. The RF IC module seemed to have been made by a special ceramic processing technology, but it is not certain whether Murata manufactured it.
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29 Nov 2008
Internet Will Evolve Around Mobile Phones, Says DoCoMo VP
Kiyoyuki Tsujimura, senior executive vice president of NTT DoCoMo, delivered a keynote speech titled "Present and Future of Mobile Phones" at CEATEC JAPAN 2008.
In his speech, Tsujimura pointed out the "shift of Internet media to mobile phones" as one of the key concepts explaining future mobile phones. The current PC-based Internet will evolve utilizing the features of mobile phones, Tsujimura said. He also referred to the "shift to broadband," the "fusion of real and cyber" and "globalization" as three major driving forces for this evolution. In respect to the shift to broadband, he predicts that LTE will be introduced in most parts of the world in the future. He said that NTT DoCoMo plans to introduce LTE in fiscal 2010. The introduction of HSDPA and LTE will enable the downloading and streaming of movies. In addition, if upload speeds are enhanced, real-time communication, which PCs failed to achieve, will be possible, Tsujimura said. For example, a person who comes across a train accident can post a video shot by a mobile phone to the Internet so that people can view the video and obtain information about the accident. This is made possible by a camera and a display, which are usually equipped in mobile phones, he explained. The adoption of LTE also changes the load balance between the terminal and the server, Tsujimura said. Because the "pipe" that connects the terminal and the core network will be increased by ten times in diameter, delays will be minimized, allowing the server to take care of saving and calculation, which are currently carried out on the terminal. This enables the user of the terminal to concentrate on input/output operation of the display and may change the direction of the terminal's evolution, Tsujimura said. As introduced above, Tsujimura pointed out the "shift of Internet media to mobile phones" as one of the driving forces for the evolution of mobile phones. This enables users to switch between real life and the Internet through a mobile phone, allowing them to take the optimum action. For example, Tsujimura referred to the Osaifu-Keitai services. If the user utilizes the services, a railway ticket reservation can be changed as many times as he/she wants, which allows the user to take appropriate action responding to unexpected situations such as delay of a train by using a mobile phone. He also said those functions of mobile phones "are not specific to Japan and we are just moving ahead of the world. We think the global market is generally heading in the same direction." Furthermore, he introduced NTT DoCoMo's marketing business via mobile phones carried out in collaboration with McDonald's Holdings Co. In this business, part of customer attribute data and purchase information are obtained from the coupons downloaded to mobile phones to utilize the information for marketing, Tsujimura said.
In respect to globalization, he said the standardization of terminal platforms will be advanced, explaining the current situation in which the burden of software development for mobile phones has been increasing. The structure of software will be changed so that "global applications" common to telecommunications carriers and equipped with the "operation pack" of each carrier can be loaded into a common OS, he said. He explained that standardization will reduce terminal cost and promote Japanese manufacturers' entry into foreign markets, as well as overseas manufacturers' entry into DoCoMo's market.
In his speech, Tsujimura pointed out the "shift of Internet media to mobile phones" as one of the key concepts explaining future mobile phones. The current PC-based Internet will evolve utilizing the features of mobile phones, Tsujimura said. He also referred to the "shift to broadband," the "fusion of real and cyber" and "globalization" as three major driving forces for this evolution. In respect to the shift to broadband, he predicts that LTE will be introduced in most parts of the world in the future. He said that NTT DoCoMo plans to introduce LTE in fiscal 2010. The introduction of HSDPA and LTE will enable the downloading and streaming of movies. In addition, if upload speeds are enhanced, real-time communication, which PCs failed to achieve, will be possible, Tsujimura said. For example, a person who comes across a train accident can post a video shot by a mobile phone to the Internet so that people can view the video and obtain information about the accident. This is made possible by a camera and a display, which are usually equipped in mobile phones, he explained. The adoption of LTE also changes the load balance between the terminal and the server, Tsujimura said. Because the "pipe" that connects the terminal and the core network will be increased by ten times in diameter, delays will be minimized, allowing the server to take care of saving and calculation, which are currently carried out on the terminal. This enables the user of the terminal to concentrate on input/output operation of the display and may change the direction of the terminal's evolution, Tsujimura said. As introduced above, Tsujimura pointed out the "shift of Internet media to mobile phones" as one of the driving forces for the evolution of mobile phones. This enables users to switch between real life and the Internet through a mobile phone, allowing them to take the optimum action. For example, Tsujimura referred to the Osaifu-Keitai services. If the user utilizes the services, a railway ticket reservation can be changed as many times as he/she wants, which allows the user to take appropriate action responding to unexpected situations such as delay of a train by using a mobile phone. He also said those functions of mobile phones "are not specific to Japan and we are just moving ahead of the world. We think the global market is generally heading in the same direction." Furthermore, he introduced NTT DoCoMo's marketing business via mobile phones carried out in collaboration with McDonald's Holdings Co. In this business, part of customer attribute data and purchase information are obtained from the coupons downloaded to mobile phones to utilize the information for marketing, Tsujimura said.
In respect to globalization, he said the standardization of terminal platforms will be advanced, explaining the current situation in which the burden of software development for mobile phones has been increasing. The structure of software will be changed so that "global applications" common to telecommunications carriers and equipped with the "operation pack" of each carrier can be loaded into a common OS, he said. He explained that standardization will reduce terminal cost and promote Japanese manufacturers' entry into foreign markets, as well as overseas manufacturers' entry into DoCoMo's market.
DoCoMo Uses Handset to Show PC-stored Content on Remote TV
NTT DoCoMo Inc developed the "MH2H (mobile home to home)," a technology to enable its users to display the content stored in the PCs in their homes on the TVs in their friends' homes when they visited them. The company expects that the technology will be used to show pictures and movies taken by a camera to users' friends. It exhibited the technology for reference at CEATEC Japan 2008. With the MH2H, a mobile phone equipped with a wireless LAN function acts as a virtual media server in the network in a user's friend's home, and transmits the content stored in the user's home via the Internet. The technology is based on the "DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance)," a standard to share content in a home network. NTT DoCoMo is now providing the "Pocket U" service with which users can watch or listen to the content stored in their homes by using their mobile phones away from home. This time, the company developed the MH2H as the next-generation function of the Pocket U. "Thanks to the Pocket U service, we can now watch and listen to content whenever we want even if we do not have any content stored in our mobile phones," the company said. "However, displays of mobile phones are too small to be watched by multiple people at the same time. So, we decided to show the content on a large screen of a TV and make it possible to share the excitement."
Handsets become virtual DLNA servers
The MH2H enables a user's mobile phone with a wireless LAN function to act as a DLNA's "digital media server" in the network of his/her friend's house. As a storage place of content, the IP address of the user's PC in his/her home was sent to a "digital media player," which streams content (PlayStation 3 in the demonstration). At this point, the mobile phone orders, via a mobile phone network, the PC installed with software for the Pocket U service to accept an HTTP request from a device outside the user's home. Those techniques enabled the DLNA, which is usually used for home networks, to transfer content between homes. Any device can be used for the service without changing its specifications, as long as it has DMP capabilities.
In addition, with the MH2H, a mobile phone can periodically check if it is connected to the network in the user's friend's home. Therefore, the user's friend cannot watch the content without the presence of its owner, NTT DoCoMo said.
Handsets become virtual DLNA servers
The MH2H enables a user's mobile phone with a wireless LAN function to act as a DLNA's "digital media server" in the network of his/her friend's house. As a storage place of content, the IP address of the user's PC in his/her home was sent to a "digital media player," which streams content (PlayStation 3 in the demonstration). At this point, the mobile phone orders, via a mobile phone network, the PC installed with software for the Pocket U service to accept an HTTP request from a device outside the user's home. Those techniques enabled the DLNA, which is usually used for home networks, to transfer content between homes. Any device can be used for the service without changing its specifications, as long as it has DMP capabilities.
In addition, with the MH2H, a mobile phone can periodically check if it is connected to the network in the user's friend's home. Therefore, the user's friend cannot watch the content without the presence of its owner, NTT DoCoMo said.
28 Nov 2008
Sony May Have Made the Best TV Ever
I'm talking about Sony's OLED TV. The XEL-1 is the first organic (based on carbon) light-emitting diode television. Sony calls it "the next big thing" in television technology. Sony means big in terms of quality, not size. OLED TVs are actually amazingly thin. Sony's breakthrough design boasts a 3 millimeter-thin panel and mind-boggling picture quality with amazing contrast, outstanding brightness, exceptional color reproduction and a rapid response time. The XEL-1 is tiny. It measures just under 12 by 10 by 5.5 inches overall and weighs a little more than 4 pounds. The small, super-thin screen measures just 11 inches diagonally in the standard 16-by-9 ration widescreen format. The display's native resolution is 960 by 540 pixels. The set is capable of handling progressive and interlaced video signals from 480 through 1080. Sony says that even though the screen measures 960 by 540 pixels, the OLED TV yields the same pixel density as a 40-inch (measured diagonally) 1080p LCDTV.
This little TV set crams all sorts of goodies inside the enclosure, like Auto SAP, Dolby Digital sound, virtual surround sound, a 3D comb filter, one analog and two HDMI inputs, a memory stick slot to view photos and the like, plus lots more. Sony includes a nice-sized, nifty remote control as well. All in all, it's a pretty neat package. Although super small on the outside, this OLED looks better than any TV I've ever seen in my home. Sony says it has a lot to do with the set's contrast capabilities. The breakthrough technology is capable of completely turning off pixels when reproducing black (unlike other video technologies), resulting in more outstanding dark-scene detail, and a contrast ratio of 1 million to 1 is light years ahead of the competition.
This little TV set crams all sorts of goodies inside the enclosure, like Auto SAP, Dolby Digital sound, virtual surround sound, a 3D comb filter, one analog and two HDMI inputs, a memory stick slot to view photos and the like, plus lots more. Sony includes a nice-sized, nifty remote control as well. All in all, it's a pretty neat package. Although super small on the outside, this OLED looks better than any TV I've ever seen in my home. Sony says it has a lot to do with the set's contrast capabilities. The breakthrough technology is capable of completely turning off pixels when reproducing black (unlike other video technologies), resulting in more outstanding dark-scene detail, and a contrast ratio of 1 million to 1 is light years ahead of the competition.
Renesas to Announce Full HD Video Processor for Mobile Phones
Renesas Technology Corp will announce an application processor that enables mobile phones to process 1920 x 1080 (1080p) resolution 30fps full HDTV video at ISSCC 2009, which will take place in San Francisco, California, from Feb 8 to 12, 2009 (session code 8.7). Renesas announced in May 2008 that it was developing a full HDTV video processor. The session is titled "A 342mW Mobile Application Processor with Full HDTV Multi-Standard Video Codec." The processor's CPU core has the maximum operating frequency of 500MHz. It supports MPEG-4AVC/H.264, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 video formats. The 6.4 x 6.5mm chip was manufactured using 65nm CMOS technology. Its power consumption is 342mW when it is processing full HDTV video in real time via 166MHz 64-bit DDR-SDRAM. Some overseas semiconductor manufacturers have already started sample shipments of their HDTV-compatible application processors. Broadcom Corp announced its HDTV-compatible processor in October 2007, while Nvidia Corp and Texas Instruments Inc announced theirs in February 2008. All these processors can encode and decode 1280 x 720 resolution 30fps HDTV video but are not compliant with full HD video.
Japan's World On-Demand IPTV launches new media player
Tokyo based New Media Group KK, owner and operator of the World On-Demand IPTV platform, on Thursday launched a new media player designed for both TV and PCs to deliver VOD, SVOD, linear channels and live events to end users. Long supporting both TV viewing with its own set-top box and PC viewing via a single user account. Now via its new player based on the Microsoft Silverlight platform, World On-Demand permits Mac OS X users to enjoy full-screen viewing of their favorite television while also taking advantage of a range of other new features that the new Silverlight player boasts such as a graphically enhanced user interface, easy channel and video on-demand selection, all under the umbrella of built-in and faster stream loading and security. “We asked World On-Demand users what they really want in their online video experience, and the new Silverlight player is the first step in implementing that feedback,” said Sergio Miyama, lead developer at World On-Demand. The World On-Demand Silverlight player presents viewers with a single interface to search, browse and view all video on their accounts, from major television networks such as Fox and TV5, to specialized video on-demand from content providers in North America, Europe and Asia. As with television, the interface is simple enough to be driven by fast clicking, consistent from program to program, and displays video in a full screen TV-like experience.
Key features include: Channels – browse for content by channel visually (i.e., FOX News, Australia Network, E! Entertainment). Video selection – select new videos in your personal media space without leaving full screen mode. Interact – a new feature due to arrive soon, the ability to chat and interact with other World On-Demand users currently watching the same TV as you from all around the world. To encourage ever more people to join the World On-Demand and experience the new features, from Dec 1 until the end of the year, all Mac users are eligible for a free month of content. Referral rewards shall also have double value when existing subscribers refer their friends and relatives.
For more information, visit www.worldondemand.net.
Key features include: Channels – browse for content by channel visually (i.e., FOX News, Australia Network, E! Entertainment). Video selection – select new videos in your personal media space without leaving full screen mode. Interact – a new feature due to arrive soon, the ability to chat and interact with other World On-Demand users currently watching the same TV as you from all around the world. To encourage ever more people to join the World On-Demand and experience the new features, from Dec 1 until the end of the year, all Mac users are eligible for a free month of content. Referral rewards shall also have double value when existing subscribers refer their friends and relatives.
For more information, visit www.worldondemand.net.
Nokia to pull out of Japanese market
Nokia, the world’s leading mobile phone maker, said on Thursday it would stop selling and marketing its mobile devices in Japan because its market share there remained below expectations. “In the current global economic climate, we have concluded that the continuation of our investment in Japan-specific product variants is no longer sustainable,” Timo Ihamuotila, executive vice president at Nokia, said in a statement. However, sales of the Vertu luxury mobile phones, a brand owned by Nokia, will continue in Japan, the Finnish company said. Its global research and development as well as sourcing operations in Japan will also continue.
“In Japan we have had a low market share, below our own targets also. We have been investing in the market for a long time, but we are still in that situation,” Thomas Joensson, communications executive vice president, said. He added the company continued to believe its exclusive Vertu brand would succeed in the Japanese niche market segment despite the global financial turmoil. Vertu makes expensive handsets that are often embellished with titanium, gold, jewels and crystal. In October, Nokia said it estimated its global market share in July-September was 38%. The Finnish firm has done very well in emerging markets such as China and India, but has failed to attract technology savvy Japanese consumers. Handsets designed by foreign manufacturers have traditionally been unpopular among Japan’s notoriously finicky consumers. The country’s top mobile operator NTT DoCoMo and number three Softbank Mobile sell Nokia handsets, but the Finnish giant’s market share is limited. Many consumers are accustomed to Japanese-made mobile telephones, which are also widely used as electronic wallets, train tickets, and even to watch television. Japan’s mobile phone market has developed differently than those in other countries, with mobile operators, rather than handset makers, developing software and services. The Yomiuri newspaper reported last week that Nokia planned to launch its own mobile phone service in Japan in February initially for Vertu handsets.
Kyodo News said Nokia was considering starting a mobile phone service as a virtual network operator, using communication lines owned by NTT Docomo. Nokia will boost its sales network in Japan and present its own price plans for the mobile telephone services, the report said.
“In Japan we have had a low market share, below our own targets also. We have been investing in the market for a long time, but we are still in that situation,” Thomas Joensson, communications executive vice president, said. He added the company continued to believe its exclusive Vertu brand would succeed in the Japanese niche market segment despite the global financial turmoil. Vertu makes expensive handsets that are often embellished with titanium, gold, jewels and crystal. In October, Nokia said it estimated its global market share in July-September was 38%. The Finnish firm has done very well in emerging markets such as China and India, but has failed to attract technology savvy Japanese consumers. Handsets designed by foreign manufacturers have traditionally been unpopular among Japan’s notoriously finicky consumers. The country’s top mobile operator NTT DoCoMo and number three Softbank Mobile sell Nokia handsets, but the Finnish giant’s market share is limited. Many consumers are accustomed to Japanese-made mobile telephones, which are also widely used as electronic wallets, train tickets, and even to watch television. Japan’s mobile phone market has developed differently than those in other countries, with mobile operators, rather than handset makers, developing software and services. The Yomiuri newspaper reported last week that Nokia planned to launch its own mobile phone service in Japan in February initially for Vertu handsets.
Kyodo News said Nokia was considering starting a mobile phone service as a virtual network operator, using communication lines owned by NTT Docomo. Nokia will boost its sales network in Japan and present its own price plans for the mobile telephone services, the report said.
Sharp to make solar cells in Italy with Enel
Sharp Corp plans to establish jointly with Italy’s leading power utility Enel SpA a solar cell production venture in Italy and begin operating it in 2010, sources close to the matter said Thursday.The deal will help the Osaka-based electronics maker, the world’s No. 2 solar cell producer, significantly expand its output and secure its position in the business where competition is intensifying amid global warming, they said.
Hario Corp introduces world's first glass cone speaker set
Hario Corp on Thursday unveiled a cone speaker set “Harion” which is made of heat-resistant glass. The world’s first heat-resistant glass speaker costs 16 million yen, according to the company.
The speaker set consists of sub woofer, two middle ranges and two acrylic tweeters. Hario executive Tatsuo Murakami said if there are more than 10 orders, it would be possible to produce the speaker set for consumers for about 10 million yen.
The company has so far made glass violins, cellos and Japanese koto instruments.
The speaker set consists of sub woofer, two middle ranges and two acrylic tweeters. Hario executive Tatsuo Murakami said if there are more than 10 orders, it would be possible to produce the speaker set for consumers for about 10 million yen.
The company has so far made glass violins, cellos and Japanese koto instruments.
Tokuyama to build polysilicon plant in Malaysia
Tokuyama Corp said Thursday it plans to invest $500 million (50 billion yen) to build a polysilicon plant in Malaysia’s Sarawak state. The investment is the biggest that Malaysia has received so far this year from a Japanese company. The Sarawak factory will be Tokuyama’s second polysilicon plant, and its first overseas.‘‘The construction of a second manufacturing hub for polycrystalline silicon is urgent as demand for solar cells is increasing,’’ Tokuyama President Shigeaki Nakahara said at a press conference in the Malaysian capital. Polysilicon is used to produce solar cells and semiconductors. Tokuyama, the world’s second largest polysilicon maker, expects its new plant to produce 3,000 tons of the material annually by 2012.
Nintendo Wii sales top 7 million in Japan
Sales of Nintendo’s Wii have topped seven million in Japan since its launch nearly two years ago, as the family-friendly game console continues to grow in popularity, a survey showed Wednesday. Nintendo had sold 7,024,239 units as of Nov 23 since the launch on Dec 2, 2006, according to magazine publisher Enterbrain. That compared with rival Sony’s sales of 2,469,448 PlayStation 3s in Japan as of November 16 since the launch in November 2006, and Microsoft’s sales of 793,105 Xbox 360s since December 2005. Sony and Microsoft have lagged behind Nintendo as their consoles focused mainly on hardcore gamers rather than casual players.
Nintendo has worked on broadening the Wii’s appeal with a controller that can be used, among other things, to simulate the swinging of a tennis racket, and with games such as Wii Fit for the health-conscious. The company is also working on launching the upcoming Wii Music, which simulates playing in a band. Nintendo has also sold a total of 24,127,175 Nintendo handheld DS consoles in Japan since they were first launched about three years ago, Enterbrain said.
Nintendo has worked on broadening the Wii’s appeal with a controller that can be used, among other things, to simulate the swinging of a tennis racket, and with games such as Wii Fit for the health-conscious. The company is also working on launching the upcoming Wii Music, which simulates playing in a band. Nintendo has also sold a total of 24,127,175 Nintendo handheld DS consoles in Japan since they were first launched about three years ago, Enterbrain said.
27 Nov 2008
Christmas has arrived in London
Up early this morning and in central London to meet with client. The 'Giant Snowmen' in Carnaby Street gave me a warm welcome to Christmas as I exited the underground!
Boyhood dream realised - I got to see Liverpool FC play in Champions League last night!
Big thanks to Mazda for inviting me to Anfield Stadium last night to watch the 'Mighty Reds' defeat Marseilles 1-0 in the Champions League. It was my first visit to Anfield and a wonderful occasion; watching Steven Gerrard score the winning goal was a dream come true!. Mazda are involved in this event via Ford who are a sponsor, and I heard that due to Ford selling their major stake in Mazda this was one of the last opportunities to enjoy Mazda's hospitality. Thank you so much Matt !
26 Nov 2008
Sanyo announces latest electronic navigation system
Sanyo's today announced the launch of two new devicdes, the NV-SD750FT Gorilla and NV-SB510DT Mini-Gorilla. The former has a 4-gigabyte solid-state drive and 7-inch LCD touch-screen. It also has a dual TV tuner, including both terrestrial and 1Seg, and can play MP3 and WMA audio files and display JPEG images. The onboard memory can be supplemented with SD memory cards. The NV-SB510DT sports the same specifications but has a 5.2-inch screen. Its dimensions are 139×86×24 mm and it weighs 275 grams, compared with 190×109×37.5 mm and 680 grams for its bigger sibling. The NV-SD750FT comes out Nov. 20, while the NV-SB510DT hits the market Dec. 10. Retail prices are not set.
Softbank launch iPhone 1Seg TV accessory
Apples iPhone has come up short in Japan for various reasons, including its lack of the TV function available on the newest generation of mobile phones.
Softbank is tackling this shortfall with a new gadget that works with an iPhone and allows it not only to pick up 1Seg TV broadcasts but also pull double duty as a battery booster. The unit includes a TV tuner and aerial and it retransmits the signal via Wi-Fi to the iPhone, eliminating the need for a physical connection, unless you need the battery booster. Users will need an extra software application, but that will be available free of charge when the device goes on the market in mid-December. The new Softbank gadget measures 50×85×16 mm and tips the scales at about 80 grams. It delivers enough power for up to three hours of viewing on each charge. The device can be recharged in four hours via a computer USB port or in two hours when connected to an AC outlet. It is expected to cost around ¥10,000.
Softbank is tackling this shortfall with a new gadget that works with an iPhone and allows it not only to pick up 1Seg TV broadcasts but also pull double duty as a battery booster. The unit includes a TV tuner and aerial and it retransmits the signal via Wi-Fi to the iPhone, eliminating the need for a physical connection, unless you need the battery booster. Users will need an extra software application, but that will be available free of charge when the device goes on the market in mid-December. The new Softbank gadget measures 50×85×16 mm and tips the scales at about 80 grams. It delivers enough power for up to three hours of viewing on each charge. The device can be recharged in four hours via a computer USB port or in two hours when connected to an AC outlet. It is expected to cost around ¥10,000.
Panasonic views sub market price for Sanyo
Panasonic Corperation is considering offering a below-market price of about ¥120 per share in Sanyo Electric Co. as it goes ahead with its plan to turn its smaller rival into a subsidiary through a tender offer, sources said Tuesday. That offer is much lower than the ¥156 Sanyo stock fetched Tuesday on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the ¥250 per share Goldman Sachs Group Inc., one of Sanyo's three major creditor institutions, is believed to be holding out for. Whereas companies conducting tender offers usually buy shares in their investment targets at a premium to market value, Panasonic's possible offer reflects its fear of a considerable fall in Sanyo's stock price, the sources say.
Honda begins leasing high end fuel cell car
Honda Motor Co said it began leasing its new fuel cell sedan, the FCX Clarity, in Japan on Tuesday, targeting for the moment government agencies and a limited number of private firms. The Environment Ministry became the first to take a lease on Honda’s newest eco-friendly vehicle, which emits no carbon dioxide.The FCX Clarity can travel a distance of about 620 kilometers on a single charge of hydrogen, up 30 percent compared with the previous fuel cell model FCX, the carmaker claims. The monthly leasing fee is 800,000 yen.
Tomy announces release of digital camera with built in printer
The Xiao digital camera, capable of printing out photos in 45 seconds, will make its debut this Friday. The Tomy Co product also prints photos sent from other digital cameras and cell phones via infrared. It uses printing paper that adds color when heated instead of ink, the company said. Photo stickers can be made with the printing paper by peeling off the back side. The camera will cost 34,800 yen, while 20 sheets of printing paper will be available for 880 yen. The camera has a 5-megapixel sensor, 2.48-inch monitor as well as a SDHC/SD memory card slot. English and Japanese menus are available.
25 Nov 2008
Japan outstrips other industrial nations in mobile technology
Japan far outstrips other Group of Seven industrial economies in terms of mobile technology with a massive 83% of cellphone users in the country already having a third-generation connection, according to a survey report released Thursday.The finding was shown in the third report on the international communication market by the Office of Communications or Ofcom, the independent regulator of Britain’s communications industries.
Nokia to launch mobile phone service in Japan next spring
Finnish cell phone maker Nokia plans to start mobile phone service in Japan, probably next spring, with an eye to expanding the market share of its own handsets, sources close to the matter said over the weekend. It would be the first time a cellphone handset maker made inroads into telecommunication services in Japan, the sources said. The move is likely to intensify competition among other domestic cell phone carriers such as NTT Docomo Inc, observers say. According to the sources, Nokia is contemplating starting the mobile phone service in a form called mobile virtual network operator, under which the Finnish manufacturer will use communication lines owned by NTT Docomo.The world’s largest cellphone maker will sell high-end handset models in Japan, targeting wealthy consumers, to strengthen its brand image, the sources said.
24 Nov 2008
Standardised NFC functions to go into all mobile handsets next year
The GSMA has called for full NFC (near field communication) functionality - including the standardised single Wire Protocol interface - to be built into commercially available mobile handsets from mid-2009. The GSMA made the announcement this week from Macau where its board is meeting at Asia Mobile Congress, and claims the move should ensure that consumers can reap the benefits of mobile payment services as soon as possible.
Ultra Wide Band Technology (UWB)
San Diego's Staccato Communications, which makes chips to get rid of the tangle of cables connecting electronics gear, has merged with rival Artimi and raised $20 million in new venture capital.
The merger brings together two companies working on wireless ultra-wideband, a technology for linking devices such as computers, cameras, TVs and set top boxes without using cables.
Both companies were founded in 2002. Neither has delivered a product yet, although both expect to do so soon. The combined company will retain the Staccato name and have headquarters in San Diego.
The merger brings together two companies working on wireless ultra-wideband, a technology for linking devices such as computers, cameras, TVs and set top boxes without using cables.
Both companies were founded in 2002. Neither has delivered a product yet, although both expect to do so soon. The combined company will retain the Staccato name and have headquarters in San Diego.
Japanese companies investing overseas - Itochu spends US $700m
Itochu, one of the largest and most successful of Japan's trading companies, has just announced an investment of US$700m to buy a 20% stake of China's biggest food processing company Ting Hsin. Amongs other things, Ting Hsin controls that country's biggest instant noodles maker, Tingyi Holding.
23 Nov 2008
Panasonic to acquire Sanyo
Panasonic (Matsushita) announced it will purchase the entire stock of Sanyo Corporation, the troubled electronics company. Sanyo has been struggling to return to profitability since the 2002 earthquake destroyed it's chip making plant in Japan
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