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Page 3 of 4
1. 3G
2. US Wireless companies in Japan
3. GPS
4. Mobile Commerce
5. New Applications, technologies and alliance
6. Market trends
7. Others
1. 3G
Fujitsu launches the world's smallest RF module for mobile WiMAX devices
www.fujitsu.com (English Release) 02/07/2008
Fujitsu Limited announced the world's smallest radio frequency (RF) module for mobile devices, which supports all of the RF circuitry necessary for Mobile WiMAX, the highly anticipated next-generation broadband wireless technology. The new RF module, MB86K71, co-developed with Fujitsu Laboratories, was designed using 90-nanometer CMOS process technology. Sample shipment is scheduled to start at the end of February 2008. This new RF module from Fujitsu, the world's smallest to feature all of the RF circuits necessary for Mobile WiMAX devices including RF-IC, antenna switches, a power amplifier, filters, and an oscillator circuit, measures just 15mm x 15mm (height: 1.5mm) in dimension. Thus, this RF module will enable significant reduction of the form-factor of Mobile WiMAX devices. The new RF module supports MIMO technology, thereby enabling high-speed and reliable wireless connections that are essential for Mobile WiMAX devices. Furthermore, Fujitsu also verified that this RF module can be connected to Fujitsu's previously released Mobile WiMAX baseband chip, MB86K21, enabling customers faster development and faster time to market of Mobile WiMAX devices through the use of both of these chips.
EMOBILE signs Japan’s first 3G mobile service roaming agreement with DoCoMo
www.emobile.jp (English Release) 12/17/2007
EMOBILE signed a 3G mobile service roaming agreement with DoCoMo and its 8 group companies. This is the first time for a new entrant into telecommunication industry to receive roaming service. This agreement enables EMOBILE to provide nationwide coverage immediately upon the voice launch scheduled in spring 2008. The Company is expected to commence the voice service launch with 65% population coverage and complete its own nationwide network by the roaming agreement termination date in October 2010. Roaming area and service details are to be announced once they are finalized.
OKI, ALPINE and Runcom disclosing the World's first WiMAX compatible navigation system
www.oki.com (English Release) 01/06/2008
Oki Electric and Alpine Electronics joined forces with Runcom Technologies and demonstrated the world's first car navigation system with streaming content based on Mobile WiMAX technology at International CES 2008. The companies worked closely for the past several months to develop a Mobile WiMAX in-vehicle navigation system with embedded broadband wireless communication capabilities to enable the system to upload information such as road maps, attractions, near-by events and additional location based services, to report car maintenance status and failures and many other broadband IP applications.
3.4 – 3.6 GHz spectrum for 4G mobile, Radio Regulatory Council recommended to MIC
www.soumu.go.jp (English Release) 01/16/2008
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) consulted the Radio Regulatory Council on the draft MIC notice to partially amend the Frequency Assignment Plan (MPT Notice No. 746 of 2000) in order to reallocate the frequency band that is currently used for fixed radio communications for broadcasting business (3,456 - 3,600 MHz band) and secure the frequencies for the fourth-generation mobile communication systems. It received a report from the Radio Regulatory Council, stating that it is appropriate to amend the plan as per the draft. MIC also invited public comment on the draft MIC notice during the period from December 3, 2007, to January 4, 2008, and received five comments. Based on both the report and comments received, MIC intends to partially amend the Frequency Assignment Plan in order to secure the frequencies for the mobile communication systems, particularly the fourth-generation mobile communication systems to be implemented in 2010 and onward.
2. US Wireless companies in Japan
Disney goes for MVNO in Japan
www.disneymobile.jp (Japanese Release) 01/22/2008
 On March 1, Walt Disney Japan launched a MVNO based mobile operator business, Disney Mobile, using the Softbank 3G network. The company has been providing mobile content for the last 7 years and has 350,000 registered users, most of whom are 20- to 30-year-old females. Mobile phones will be sold through the Softbank shop as well as nationwide electronics stores. The new stylish phones, developed jointly by Disney, Softbank and Sharp, are called DM001SH and are available in shiny silver, glitter gold, or sparking pink. The phone is also equipped with the latest technologies such as 1-seg TV, FeliCa and music player features. Additional services the user receives include an email account with @disney.ne.jp domain, a Disney-emotion-icon which is used when emailing other Disney users, and a Disney customized website with Yahoo! Keitai, ringtones/movies and games. Softbank’s mobile charge plans will apply to the Disney phones, including free calls amongst Softbank users between 1:00am to 9:00pm.
3. GPS
KDDI and Navitime participate in experimental navigation to guide wheelchairs and strollers
corporate.navitime.co.jp (Japanese Release) 02/28/2008
Toyota-shi in Aichi prefecture will conduct experimental navigation tests for pedestrians including those who use wheelchairs and baby strollers. The experiment will use “EZ Navi-walk”, developed by KDDI and Navitime, an application that allows navigation by relaying information such as street width and surface level differences so that those who use wheelchairs or strollers will be guided safely. For example, if a user selects the wheelchair mode, the navigator will choose routs without steps and escalators. Additionally, voice guidance will be also featured. This test will be conducted from February 28 to March 8 using au W4x series and DoCoMo 90xi series.
4. Mobile Commerce
New FOMA based vending machines offered by DoCoMo and Coca Cola
www.nttdocomo.co.jp (Japanese Release) 02/18/2008
www.cocacola.co.jp (Japanese Release) 02/18/2008
DoCoMo and Coca Cola developed a new vending machine to manage fulfillment more efficiently by using the FOMA network. Until now, a truck driver checked the inventory records with an infrared scanner at the vending machine and then went back to the truck to pick up the necessary amount of soda. But with this new system, the inventory records will be transmitted beforehand to the FOMA based handheld device so the truck driver can deliver the soda in only one trip. The companies plan to deploy 10,000 systems within 2008. Coca Cola also announced that they will deploy 70,000 Edy (electronic money system) based vending machines, built in collaboration with Bitwallet, from April to December in 2008 and 30,000 Suica (electronic money system) based vending machines in collaboration with JR (Japan Railroad) East during 2009.
DNP develops “Stamp Rally” event system using Osaifu Keitai
www.dnp.co.jp (Japanese Release) 03/03/2008
Dai Nippon Printing (“DNP”) began marketing an event management system using FeliCa based handhelds. The system combines DNP’s membership management system, called POINT TACTiX, and FeliCa Networks’ platform called Pitmotto. The system manages electronic tickets and allows event coordinators to distribute electronic coupons and millage/points for Osaifu Keitai (mobile wallet device). Using this new system, event operators can manage website registration, in/out controls, seminar seating, electronic coupons, stamp rallies, and lotteries using the handheld device and the reader/writer. This system will be used for registration and stamp rally at the IC Card World 2008 in Tokyo starting from March 4.
Realize Mobile Communications develops reader/writer for all NFC devices
www.realize-mobile.com (Japanese Release) 03/04/2008
Realize Mobile Communications adopted NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, jointly developed by Sony and NXP Semiconductor (Netherland), and developed its new reader/writer which is compatible with various NFC devices including Mobile FeliCa, Card FeliCa, MIFARE and IC tag. The company has previously had PC based POS (Point of Sale) system compatible with FeliCa which is also improved with this universal NFC reader/writer. The company claims that having adopted MIFARE, internationally becoming de fact standard, its system will have potential globally and plans to develop more applications accordingly.
5. New Applications, technologies and alliance
Nifty and IMJ Mobile introduce CGM services
www.nifty.co.jp (Japanese Release) 02/13/2008
Nifty and IMJ Mobile developed a new Consumer Generated Media (“CGM”) service called Tkcy, which gives users the ability to easily create individual promotional or commercial clips for mobile phones. Users who want to create B2C clips first select from the 10 FLASH based templates and then enter text and certain information that can be retrieved from his/her profile. The system then generates the promotional or commercial clip automatically. The system works with DoCoMo i-mode, au EZweb and Softbank Yahoo! Keitai which are compliant with Flash 1.1 or later versions. Those companies plan to release additional mobile based services using this technology in the future.
Acrodea’s OpenKODE offers free Windows and MAC desktop versions to developers
www.acrodea.co.jp (English Release) 02/11/2008
Acrodea announced the availability of its OpenKODE 1.0 implementations for immediate use and licensing. OpenKODE is that Khronos Group defines a lightweight operating system and hardware abstraction layer that enables full source code portability of demanding multimedia applications between different mobile platforms and operating systems. The company believes the importance of the mobile application developer community in making the OpenKODE Specification a true success and that to reach out and help developers adopt OpenKODE as a platform of choice, it announces the immediate availability of its OpenKODE 1.0 implementations for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X desktop environments. Also, a Linux version will be released in the near future. The company also claims that by providing free implementations for these desktop environments, developers can start OpenKODE based application development and be ready to bring their applications to mobile platforms on an accelerated schedule. The OpenKODE 1.0 implementations for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X can be downloaded for free at http://www.acrodea.co.jp/en/openkode.
SaaS based recommendation site “Recognize” released
www.hottolink.co.jp (Japanese Release) 02/19/2008
Hottolink released its new service site called Recognize and Recognize Mobile, both of which analyzes users’ search patterns and history to recommend suitable merchandise and services. This new service is offered on a so-called SaaS (Software as a Service) basis. The initial cost of the service is 200,000 yen and the monthly charge is 100,000 yen for up to 2 million requests. The company believes that this system will help online marketing and sales conversions.
Intel, Quixun, Dreamboat and Faith team up for the next generation content distribution solution
www.faith-inc.com (English Release) 02/21/2008
Intel Japan, Quixun, Dreamboat and Faith agreed to jointly develop a new content distribution solution that enables users to obtain digital contents on terminals of their choice such as a mobile phone, PC, digital home appliance and mobile device. Currently, many of the distribution methods of digital content are platform specific so users are forced purchase digital content via various user-interfaces and systems. With this new content distribution solution, a user will purchase viewing rights information for particular digital content via a FeliCa based mobile phone. The authentication information will then be transferred to a PC and terrestrial digital TV via the close-range communication of the FeliCa chip, an infrared communication, or other technologies. Finally, the user will be able to view the content on any device. This solution will enable users to obtain videos distributed via the Internet in a method that is as simple as watching TV. At the same time, it will provide rights holders of content a secure channel to realize pay-distribution services.
KDDI releases large-scale games, Full Game!, on its KCP+ mobile phones
www.kddi.com (Japanese Release) 02/25/2008
KDDI announced Full Game! products on its KCP+ (KDD Common Platform Plus) based mobile phone. Full Game! is developed with the Qualcomm MSM7500 chipset and BREW 4.0, which improves graphics and renders full 3D polygons in order to play fast-moving games. Moreover, the application memory size, which was previously limited to 1.5MB, has been upgraded to 10MB on the new platform, thus allowing the application and data to be incorporated together and for optimal playing conditions. The company claims that Full Game! will be as dynamic as home game consoles.
New mobile service development for MDU residences
www.acrodea.co.jp (English Release) 02/27/2008
Acrodea launched its new system that links an MDU’s (multiple dwelling units) residential intercom to a mobile phone. The company intends to distribute licenses and systems of the intercom bridge system employing mobile handsets to MDU development companies. The video fed from the intercom entrance unit of an MDU can be viewed on the mobile phone, and voice communication via the mobile phone is also available in real time. The intercom bridge system for mobile phones connects via on-premises LAN for user mobile handsets located on the premises, and via mobile network when the user is away. Moreover, voice communication to a concierge may be enabled from each apartment of the MDU. The company intends to continue the development of bridge systems to mobile handsets including linking services to home electronic devices that can offer superior convenience to consumers.
“goo lab” site automatically superimposes video taken mobile phones
help.goo.ne.jp (Japanese Release) 02/28/2008
goo, operated by NTT Resonant, is currently testing a new mobile video sharing service at the “goo lab” experimental site. The new service gives users an automated superimpose feature for video clips taken on mobile phones. The user selects a template with beginning and ending decorative frames in addition to a video that was taken on the phone. The user then emails the video clip to the “goo lab” site where it will be superimposed with the email title and text content and inserted in the chosen template. An automated digest video feature, including zooming and fading emphasis, is also available and the system can automatically trim only important or core parts of the video by analyzing voice emotions (ie. shouting, crying, etc.) using a technology developed by NTT Cyber Solution Laboratory.
6. Market trends
Softbank gained significant revenue and profit increases for the nine-month period ending December 31, 2007
www.softbank.co.jp (English Release) 02/07/2008
Softbank Group has put efforts into 3G network enhancement, 3G handset lineup enrichment, mobile content enhancement, and enhancement of sales structure & branding, and it achieved increasing subscriber numbers, expanding market share, and further establishing the Softbank brand. Softbank Mobile has achieved the highest monthly net additions in subscribers in the industry for eight consecutive months since May 2007. Under the Mobile Number Portability system, which was introduced in October 2006, the number of people switching from other mobile phone carriers to Softbank Mobile has exceeded the number switching from Softbank Mobile to other carriers for nine consecutive months since April 2007. In the nine-month period ended December 31, 2007, net sales reached ¥2,058,765 million, an increase of 13.0% year-on-year. In addition, ¥260,188 million in operating income, ¥231,998 million in ordinary income, and ¥93,196 million in net income were recorded, each surpassing the results for the corresponding nine-month period in the previous fiscal year. This increase was primarily due to greater sales of handsets accompanying the steady increase of mobile phone subscribers, and the reflection of nine months of results from the Mobile Communications segment from this period. The Mobile Communications segment recorded net sales of ¥1,220,591 million, an increase of 20.3% year-on-year.
7. Others
New microphone speaking inside ear released from NS-ELEX
www.sanyo.co.jp (Japanese Release) 12/18/2007
NS-ELEX developed a new hands-free speaking device that uses an earphone/microphone LSI and a noise cancellation LSI developed by Sanyo. The technology is based on the internal air vibration inside the ear that is produced when humans speak. In addition, this device has noise cancellation technology, which can recognize sounds/voices at a noise level of 90dB, and full duplex communication feature so that incoming and outgoing voice can be transmitting simultaneously. The user can choose either wired (NEH-A20) or Bluetooth wireless (NEH-B30) devices. The device uses lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and lasts more than 8 hours.
Public comment for the utilization of Femtocell base stations
pr.soumu.go.jp (English Release) 02/06/2008
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) developed a draft Handling Policy for the Utilization of Femtocell Base Stations, ultra-small base station facilities, in relation to the Radio Law, the Telecommunications Business Law and Relevant Ordinances. In recent years, simple femotcell base stations, which enable users to have Ethernet access and broadband access easily, have been developed to solve the issue of mobile phone dead zones, particularly indoors, in places such as high-rise buildings, homes and underground malls. Although operations of femtocell base stations are easy and do not necessarily require specialized knowledge, the current Radio Law allows only licensees to operate such stations. Unlicensed persons cannot operate femtocell base stations installed in high-rise buildings, homes, underground malls and other locations that are not easily accessible for licensees. With an aim to overcome this issue and to eliminate mobile phone dead zones in such locations, a draft law to partially amend the Radio Law, which allows building managers and users to operate femtocell base stations, was submitted to the 169th Diet session. MIC invited public comment on the draft handling policy between February 2 and March 10.
Mitsubishi Electric to terminate mobile handset business in Japan
global.misubishielelectronic.com (English Release) 03/03/2008
Mitsubishi Electric decided to no longer continue its mobile handset business in Japan in order to strategically shift resources to the communication-related business and other businesses. Mitsubishi plans to strengthen its communication infrastructure business, which involves next generation network (NGN) related equipments and base transceiver stations for mobile phones, as well as closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) and other total security, vehicle multi-media, factory automation, train information management systems businesses and others.
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