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This Month's Top Stories:
1/26/2006
Geovector and Cybermap Japan deliver the world's first pointing based solution for mobile phones
www.geovector.com (English Release)
GeoVector Corporation and CyberMap Japan announced the immediate availability of Mapion Local Search for mobile phones in Japan. With Mapion Local Search, users can walk down the street anywhere in Japan and point at over 700,000 objects such as buildings, shops, restaurants, banks, historical sites and instantly retrieve information on what they are looking at or find what they are looking for just by pointing their phone. Just like one uses a mouse to click on an object on a computer screen and retrieve information. Mapion Local Search combines Mapion’s POI (Point of Interest) information on objects all over Japan (including map data) with GeoVector’s pointing based technology and spatial search engine to give Japanese users the world’s first personal local search.
*Also check Geovector’s success story at JETRO website:
http://www.jetro.org/content/292
2/2/2006
KDDI starts "EZ Safe Access Service"
www.kddi.com (Japanese Release)
KDDI and Okinawa Cellular will start offering “EZ Safe Access Service”, a service that prevents unauthorized access to certain sites such as adult and dating sites, from the beginning of April. KDDI explains, “We decided to offer this service to protect particularly minors because of the fact that using dating sites has been caused to an increase in crimes”. The content of au’s official menu will consist of “safe sites” which are pre-screened by KDDI to make sure that the content is not of an adult nature. If users decide to use the service, all webs browsing at PC sites will also be limited. If a user tries to access a restricted site, the page will be blocked and an alert message will be shown.
2/9/2006
NEC develops technology to generate power from fluorescent lights for "SmartLocator"
www.nec.co.jp (Japanese Release)
NEC has developed a technology to generate power from a fluorescent light while improving an apparatus called a "SmartLocator". The “SmartLocator” disseminates position information with lighting tag technology. The "SmartLocator" is an on-going research and development project that provides position information, which can be accessed indoors while the technique of utilizing by GPS and mobile telephone base stations are very common for outdoors. Since this technology was announced in March 2004, the apparatus of "lighting tag" has been improved as well that even where it and can be installed in a room with a ceiling height of about 10 meters. The location can be detected by its infrared rays up to a range of 1 to 3 meters radius at this time.
2/13/2006
DoCoMo, Renesas, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric and Sharp to jointly develop platform for W-CDMA handsets
www.nttdocomo.com (English Release)
DoCoMo, Renesas Technology, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric and Sharp announced that they would jointly develop a comprehensive mobile phone platform combining a single-chip LSI for dual mode handsets supporting HSDPA/W-CDMA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE, and core software such as operating systems. The new mobile phone platform will help accelerate the global adoption of W-CDMA services including FOMA and lower the costs of these handsets. The companies expect to have the platform developed around Q2/FY2007 (July-September). The next-generation mobile phone platform is built on the previously developed single-chip LSI technology of DoCoMo and Renesas since July 2004, which combines a baseband processor and the SH-Mobile application processor for dual-mode W-CDMA and GSM/GPRS phones. The jointly developed platform adds new functionality, such as support for HSPDA and EDGE technologies and full development support including OS, middleware and drivers. DoCoMo said, “The platform will be initially available for FOMA, and later for UMTS offered by Renesas. When the platform is widely spread and adopted, a further cost reduction of the handsets will be expected”.
2/13/2006
Toshiba releases newly developed VGA LCD controller
www.toshiba.co.jp (English Release)
Toshiba announced the introduction of the world's first MDDI-compliant LCD controller optimized for mobile phones equipped with high-resolution VGA LCD displays. Dubbed the MDDI LCD Bridge and designated TC358720XBG, the highly integrated, single-chip device is well suited for the new generation of advanced multimedia mobile phones with MDDI interfaces, including 3G mobile handsets. It has a high-speed serial digital packet host interface that supports throughputs of up to 400Mbps by using two low-voltage differential signal pairs. Toshiba will start sample shipments in April 2006. The company commits to customers building the next generation of high-resolution, dual-LCD-panel mobile phones with MDDI interface requirements. It supports two color LCD panels from a single controller, uses Toshiba's patented "magic square algorithm" technology to achieve a 16-million color display, and employs embedded DRAM to enable a low-power solution and mitigate the load on the baseband.
2/14/2006
Nokia and Sanyo to form a global CDMA mobile phones business
press.nokia.com (English Release)
Nokia and Sanyo announced a preliminary agreement with intent to form a new global company comprised of their respective CDMA mobile phones businesses - separated from the parent companies. The new entity will operate in the spirit of partnership and have major operations in San Diego as well as Osaka and Tottori in Japan. The relevant assets from both companies will be contributed or made available for the new entity. Final agreements are expected to be signed in the second quarter of 2006, with the new business expected to commence operations in the third quarter 2006, provided that the due diligence has been completed and all necessary regulatory approvals obtained. It is expected that the new company will benefit by combining both parties' CDMA businesses to achieve a leading position within the global CDMA mobile phones market. Nokia brings to this resulting entity the strength of its world-renowned brand, demand supply expertise, a solid entry-level and mid-range CDMA mobile phones product portfolio and well-established relations with over 60 CDMA carrier customers around the globe. Sanyo has a leadership position in mid-range and high-end CDMA handsets and maintains strong relationships with CDMA operators in Japan and North America.
2/14/2006
Domestic mobile phone shipments reported
www.jeita.or.jp (Japanese Release)
The Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) announced the domestic mobile phone shipments tracked record in December 2005. Shipments, including PHS, were at 105.7% of last year’s levels. The number of mobile phone and PHS shipments in December was 4,762,000 sets, representing a 110.8% increase when compared with the same month last year. The number of mobile phone shipments was only 4,559,000 sets (106.8% compared with the same month of last year). Among those, 3,843,000 3G terminals were shipped (151.9% compared with the same month of last year) while 716,000 2G terminals were shipped (41.1% compared with the same month of last year). JEITA said that the major reasons for these increases were derived from “Osaifu Keitai” (mobile based monetary feature) and “One Seg” (territorial digital television broadcasting to mobile phones). Throughout the year, 46,313,000 PHS phones were shipped (105.7% from last year) while 44,855,000 mobile phones were shipped (103.8% from last year).
2/17/2006
RealNetworks and DoCoMo sign MOU to develop mobile video streaming software
www.nttdocomo.com (English Release)
DoCoMo and RealNetworks announced that they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on February 15 as a first step to jointly deploying RealNetworks' Mobile Streaming Server software to facilitate new video streaming capabilities that DoCoMo will add to its existing V-Live service. The enhanced V-Live service would create an open environment to enable content providers (CPs) to use their own multi-format, cross-platform Helix Mobile servers, to stream video content over the Internet to FOMA handsets. Both DoCoMo and Real expect that by introducing new, convenient streaming capabilities, they will encourage CPs to offer video streaming services for mobile subscribers, leading to a virtuous circle of increasing supply and demand. The MOU relates to the creation of a relationship under which Real would provide DoCoMo's content providers with Mobile Streaming Servers for the enhanced V-Live service. The parties have agreed to work together to complete a definitive agreement detailing their collaboration. DoCoMo and Real expect to support the expansion of the mobile video streaming market in Japan through their relationship.
2/20/2006
Cybozu and Yumemi announce tie-up
www.yumemi.co.jp (Japanese Release)
Cybozu and Yumemi announced that they have concluded their operation and capital tie-up in order to enter the mobile phone carrier market based on MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) system. Under this new business structure, Cyboze will resell mobile circuits from wholesale purchase. Since both companies had already cooperated in the business of the development of "Cybozu Garun 2 Mobile Phone", a business and a capital tie-up was the logical next step in order to strengthen the business relationship for the future. Cybozu obtained 14% of Yumemi’s capital in the deal.
2/20/2006
MiniSD card with Deco Mail templates
www.nihon-e.co.jp (Japanese Release)
Nihon Enterprise and Hagiwara Sys-Com will start selling the miniSD card. The miniSD card will be available on February 28. It has a capacity of 128MB and comes pre-loaded with “Deco Mail” characters and templates. It is on an open prices basis, but is expected to sell at price similar to that of equivalent miniSD’s. Three different GIF animations of the "Pesogin" character, the same character from the “Deco Mail” which Nihon Enterprise offers for i-mode users, come with the miniSD card at this time. Moreover, the user can scan a QR code and access an exclusive site to download six Deco Mail templates of Pesogin free of charge.
2/23/2006
DoCoMo achieves world's first 2.5Gbps packet transmission in 4G field experiment
www.nttdocomo.com (English Release)
DoCoMo announced that it achieved a 2.5Gbps packet transmission rate in the downlink while moving at 20km/h. The fourth-generation (4G) radio access field experiment took place in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture on December 14. DoCoMo achieved a maximum 1Gbps speed in a similar field experiment on May 9. This time, by increasing the number of MIMO transmission antennas from four to six and by using 64-QAM, data volume per transmission was increased from four bits to six bits. As a result, DoCoMo achieved a maximum speed of 2.5Gbps, which is faster than the International Telecommunication Union Radio Communication Sector (ITU-R)'s proposed standard.
2/24/2006
The market for music distribution services expanded in 2005
www.riaj.or.jp (Japanese Release)
The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) revealed the 4th quarter of 2005 (October 1 to December 31) sales report of paid music distribution services. During the 4th quarter of 2005, the market for music downloading through personal computers and mobile music download service such as ring tones and ring songs greatly expanded. As for music downloads via personal computers recorded 870,450,000 yen (199% of last year period) with 4,960,000 times (211% of last year period). Moreover, as for the musical piece service for mobile phones recoded 9,569,240,000 yen (105% of last year period) with 77,400,000 times (107% of last year period). Through the year 2005, the total download business was recorded at 34,283,010,000 yen (94.3% of last year) with 267,900,000 times (96.4% of last year).
2/27/2006
MIC will inquire the council on wireless broadband service
www.soumu.go.jp (Japanese Release)
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (MIC) announced that they would inquire with the information communication council to find out what kind of technical conditions are necessary to realize the wireless broadband service using a 2.5GHz band. The idea will be obtained in November. The Ministry asked for the examination by the information communication council so that the broadband mobile radio access system in a 2.5GHz band can be utilized with 3G and 3.5G networks. The target communication system will obtain uplink speeds of about 10 Mbps, and downlink speeds ranging from 20Mbps to 30Mbps. The council will study specifically WiMAX (mobile WiMAX included), the next generation PHS that Willcom advocates, and iBurst that Kyocera offers.
3/7/2006
Zentek and Soma tie-up for WiMAX
www.zentek.co.jp (Japanese Release)
Zentek Technology Japan and Soma Networks (San Francisco based) announced their strategic cooperation to enter into the Japanese market with WiMAX as it’s core technology of next-generation wireless broadband. They have already established a joint corporation, Soma Asia, in Singapore to promote its marketing in Southeast Asia, India, Oceania, the Middle East, the Africa area, etc. They aim to develop new technologies and products that combine Soma’s the broadband wireless technology and Zentek’s digital broadcasting and image technology.
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