Goin' Mobile Japan

• CRC Systems start regional WiMAX service
• MIC to conduct public hearing for its 3.9G policy
• 44 train stations in Tokyo metropolitan area to provide WiMAX service
• Softbank received LTE trial license

• McDonalds Japan starts innovative mobile coupon in Kansai area
• Fujitsu to provide embedded system for Google Android

• So-net and Koozyt start GPS based SNS service
• OKI Develops DSRC inter-vehicle communication attachment for mobile phones to help pedestrian safety

• Softbank launches a new FMC service “White Office” for corporate customers
• Docomo launches New FMC service in summer 2009
• Softbank launches ‘In-flight Mobile Phone Service’

• 2008 Mobile handset sales decrease to 40 million sets
• Registered users of Docomo iD credit payment service reaches 10 millions

• Renesas releases HD video middleware for SH-Mobile application processor
• Sony Develops Compact Sized, High Speed, High Accuracy Finger Vein Authentication Technology Dubbed "mofiria"
• Hitachi releases the world-first 3D display handset

• 4 companies conduct multi-media broadcasting experiment
• Experiment: Personalized content to be sent over weak-wave One-seg and visual light communications

• Industry association opposes MNOs that provide MVNO service
• Nifty will provided mobile WiMAX

1. 3G/4G

CRC Systems start regional WiMAX service
www.ctc-g.co.jp/corporate/press/2008/1216a.html (12/16/2009, Japanese Release)

CRC Systems, a subsidiary of Itochu Techno Solutions that has over 20 years of experience in satellite communications, will provide a turnkey service solution for carriers and CATV operators who want to establish WiMAX base stations and businesses. The service includes consultation work from planning to implementation, support in obtaining the applicable carrier licenses, designing/building of base stations, assistance in conducting field tests such as measuring signal strength and area tests, and operating the data centers. The company claims that its management service will ease the burden of entering the market, especially from the CATV operators. The company’s target is to generate 400 million yen in revenue within 3 years.

MIC to conduct public hearing for its 3.9G policy
www.soumu.go.jp/s-news/2009/090123_8.html (1/23/2009, Japanese Release)

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will conduct a public hearing for a new 3.9G policy. The policy plans to issue up to 4 licenses of the 1.5GHz and 1.7GHz spectrum with either 10MHz or 15MHz frequency bandwidth to four qualified carriers for 3.9G wireless communications. This license allows the licensee to utilize the 3G and 3.5G (as defined over 40Mbps) system at the beginning in order to shift to 3.9G (as defined over 100Mbps) in the future. The requirement is that 3.9G services should be extended to over 50% of the population in the service area in which the license was issued within 5 years from the date of approval. MIC also offers one license of 2GHz spectrum with 15MHz frequency bandwidth (2010-2025MHz) to utilize Mobile WiMAX, IEEE 802.20 625k-MC, Next Generation PHS, UMB-TDD, LTE-TDD, TD-CDMA or TD-SCDMA. The public hearing will end February 23.

44 train stations in Tokyo metropolitan area to provide WiMAX service
www.jreast.co.jp/press/2008/20090114.pdf (2/3/2009, Japanese Release)

East Japan Railway Co. started offering UQ Communications’ WiMAX service, UQ WiMAX, on February 26. They expect to provide service with a maximum downlink speed of 40Mbps and an uplink speed of 10Mbps. The service will be offered to users free of charge until the trial period ends in June. JR plans to set up 160 base stations at 44 train stations to offer wireless communication inside buildings and underground facilities.

Softbank received LTE trial license
www.softbankmobile.co.jp/ja/news/press/2009/20090217_01/ (2/17/2009, Japanese Release)

Softbank Mobile disclosed that they received a Long Term Evolution (LTE) trial license in February and will conduct an LTE field trial in Mito city from February 17 to December 31. Softbank is using three nearly developed commercial base stations and three mobile devices to evaluate signal transmission, interference, throughput, mobility, MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) performance and applications.

2. US Wireless companies

McDonalds Japan starts innovative mobile coupon in Kansai area
www.mcd-holdings.co.jp/news/2009/company/090106.html (1/6/2009, Japanese Release)
www.nttdocomo.co.jp/info/notice/kansai/page/090109_00.html (1/6/2009, Japanese Release)

McDonalds Japan developed a mobile contactless coupon-marketing program, called “Kazazu Coupon”, which has been in operation since May 2008. The program started in the Kansai area (Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Shiga and Wakayama prefectures) on January 16, 2009. Kazazu Coupon is a downloadable payment card that is compatible with iD and Edy, both of which are common mobile commerce methods used in Japan today. When the registered user makes a purchase at a McDonalds, the user waves his/her mobile phone near the RFID reader at the cash register to redeem the coupon. This method was first available at 450 stores in the Kansai area and will extend to 680 stores by the end of March 2009. McDonald was the first dine out restaurant to utilize this service and was done so in collaboration with DoCoMo.

Fujitsu to provide embedded system for Google Android
http://jp.fujitsu.com/group/fst/release/2009/0129.html (1/29/2009, Japanese Release)

Fujitsu Software Technologies introduced a new service called “Embedded Service for Android” that provides developers with a development environment for Google Android applications. The company claims that “Embedded Service” provides rich user-interface creation and easy access to content and services on the net. It also helps transform an existing system to the Android environment. Fujitsu is the first Japanese company to port such a development tool to Freescale Semiconductors’ i.MX processor on which Android works. The service includes training, engineering service for OS, platform, device drivers, migration, etc., and customizing with Fujitsu’s Inspirium middleware platform.

3. GPS

So-net and Koozyt start GPS based SNS service
www.so-net.ne.jp/corporation/release/2008/pdf/pr20081211_01.pdf (12/11/2008, Japanese Release)

Koozyt launched a new SNS service called “Loc8r” that allows the user to acquire his/her GPS location by one click, add comments and share their location with other registered users. The user may also attach pictures to their comments. The service has a feature called “Near Miss”, which displays the current location and comments of other nearby registered users in real time. Loc8r integrates with Twitter (micro-blogging service) so that users can share information with other Twitter users as well. The fee is currently free of charge during the trial period.

OKI Develops DSRC inter-vehicle communication attachment for mobile phones to help pedestrian safety
www.oki.com/en/press/2009/01/z08113e.html (1/8/2009, English Release)

Oki Electric announced the development of DSRC (Dedicated Short-range Communication) inter-vehicle communication attachment for mobile phones to enable pedestrian and vehicle communication. By connecting the Safety Mobile Phone Attachment to mobile phones, pedestrians can directly exchange location information with vehicles with inter-vehicle communication system. The attachment comes not only with a GPS receiver but also an acceleration sensor and a magnetic sensor that enables users to develop improved positioning performance such as supplement GPS positioning or inertial navigation. By using this product, a pedestrian will notify nearby vehicles of his or her location and obtain their location through the DSRC inter-vehicle communication function. In addition, the attachment and phone can alert the users beforehand when the positioning of the person and vehicle may lead to a traffic accident. The company claims this technology will contribute to Japan's "Inter communication system for pedestrians, roads and vehicles" under the "New IT Reform Strategy," which will start from the fiscal year ending March 2011, and will contribute to reducing accidents for vulnerable road users. OKI plans to develop effective applications supporting safety, such as effective ways to alert pedestrians to danger via their mobile phones, as well as methods of displaying pedestrians and vehicle intentions, etc., and it will expand interface and driver functionality and applications to connect with Japanese mobile phone carriers. In addition, the company plans to include UHF band inter-vehicle communication functionality, expand to IEEE802.11p capability and develop modules that can be incorporated in 3G mobile phones.

4. New Applications

Softbank launches a new FMC service “White Office” for corporate customers
www.softbankmobile.co.jp/en/news/press/2008/20081215_01/index.html (1/15/2009, English Release)

Softbank Mobile announced that ‘White Office’ would launch around the end of March 2009. White Office is an FMC (Fixed Mobile Convergence) service that enables corporate users to use Softbank handsets as an extension telephone, handle calls between mobile handsets as well as between mobile and fixed-line and extension-to-extension calls regardless of being inside or outside of the office. Key functions of conventional office phones are available on mobile handsets as well, such as calling extension number display, hold and call forwarding. These features create the sense of having an omni-office. Additionally, White Office can be activated by merely changing the setting of a private branch exchange (PBX) that is currently in use and can be implemented without spending huge amounts in capital expenditure. Softbank plans to offer introductory flat rates for extension calls to highlight the benefits and ease of use. By converging mobile and fixed-line telecommunications in a company, White Office strives to bring improvements in productivity and customer satisfaction by reducing the initial and recurring communication costs. The company claims that it continues to leverage its integrated capabilities to actively proceed with the convergence of mobile and fixed-line telecommunications and to offer leading-edge service of high added value. Details of White Office including service contents and prices will be announced upon finalization.

Docomo launches New FMC service in summer 2009
www.nttdocomo.co.jp/info/news_release/page/081224_00.html (12/24/2008, Japanese Release)

Docomo will start a new service that allows customers to use FOMA handsets as an extension telephone of their corporate office this summer. Within the FOMA service area throughout Japan, users can use their mobile handset as their office extension so that an employee can place a call from the office with an extension number, instead of an ordinary mobile phone number, to reach a co-worker who is outside the office or traveling in Japan. This service, which can be activated with or without Private Brach Exchange (PBX) located in the office, connects directly to Docomo’s network infrastructure. Service costs will be announced upon the public release.

Softbank launches ‘In-flight Mobile Phone Service’
www.softbankmobile.co.jp/en/news/press/2009/20090225_01/index.html (2/25/2009, English Release)

Softbank Mobile announced the launch of an ‘In-flight Mobile Phone Service’ that enables customers to use their Softbank handsets while flying in an airplane. The program started on March 18 and Softbank is the first mobile operator in Japan to provide this service. This service enables Softbank customers to make and receive voice calls, SMS and conduct other functions under the same mobile phone number that the customer is currently using in Japan, even in an airplane of an overseas airline. This functionality became available through a roaming agreement with AeroMobile AS, a mobile operator in the UK that provides in-flight mobile phone service. To start, Softbank will launch the service in some airplanes of Emirates Airline and Malaysia Airlines who support the AeroMobile AS service. Service will be also available in other airlines when the preparation is complete. The company will further strive to improve In- flight Mobile Phone Service including the signing of agreements with other mobile operators who provide a similar service.

5. Market

2008 Mobile handset sales decrease to 40 million sets
www.jeita.or.jp/japanese/stat/cellular/2008/comm/12.htm (2/29/2009, Japanese Release)

According to a survey conducted by the Japan Electronic and information Technology Association (JEITA), the total sales of mobile handset was 42 million units; 81.3% compared to last years sales and the first time in four years in which overall sales decreased. In 2008, unit sales decreased in six consecutive months from July to December. However, sales units of One-seg enabled handsets, as a high-end phone, remained at the same level (101.7%) as the prior year and reached to 86.3% of all shipments. The Association speculated that the decline was due to, “the back lash of the record-marked sales in 2008 and recent recession drag the pace down”.

Registered users of Docomo iD credit payment service reaches 10 millions
www.nttdocomo.co.jp/info/news_release/page/090107_01.html (1/7/2009, Japanese Release)

Docomo’s iD is a common mobile credit payment system that allows users to shop or withdraw cash by simply waving a mobile handset over an iD reader system. iD credit payment service started in December 2005 and reached 1 million users by October 2006, 5 million by November 2007, and as of now there are more than 10 million users. Among current iD users, 60% use Docomo’s credit card service “Osaifu Ketai” and the remaining customers use other credit cards offered by 68 credit card companies. Docomo emphasized that the rapid expansion and use of iD has accelerated due to increased participation by credit card companies and retail outlets.

6. Hardware

Renesas releases HD video middleware for SH-Mobile application processor
www.renesas.com/fmwk.jsp? cnt=press_release20081224.htm&fp=/company_info/news_and_events/press_releases (12/24/2009, English Release)

Renesas Technology announced the HD Video Middleware, which will facilitate the development of applications for the SH-Mobile application processor supporting recording and playback of video in the 1280 x 720-pixel High Definition (HD) resolution. The new middleware will be available from April in Japan. Renesas is developing the SH-Mobile application processor for mobile phones with an on-chip hardware accelerator supporting Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution video complying with the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) video compression standard. HD Video Middleware is designed for use with these SH-Mobile products, enabling recording and playback of video up to HD resolution in the MP4 format, which is widely used for video files on existing mobile phones, with the H.264 standard. HD Video Middleware also supports MPEG-2 TS (Transport Stream), a multiplexed HD video format that is rapidly gaining adoption in the digital home electronics field. This will simplify the process of turning video captured with the camera of a mobile phone into HD video files that can be displayed on digital home electronics products. HD Video Middleware was developed in collaboration with Systems Development Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd.

Sony Develops Compact Sized, High Speed, High Accuracy Finger Vein Authentication Technology Dubbed "mofiria"
www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200902/09- 016E/index.html (2/2/2009, English Release)

Sony developed a finger vein authentication technology called "mofiria". The technology offers quick response and high accuracy and comes in a compact size for mounting on mobile devices such as a personal computer or mobile phone. The vein pattern is extracted from the captured finger vein image, and data from the pattern is compressed into the size of one-tenth to store in memory, which makes it possible for the data to be stored on a mobile device. The vein pattern is quickly and accurately extracted from the captured finger vein image without a fixed finger position, as the position of a placed finger is automatically and simultaneously corrected. As a result, the authentication accuracy is less than 0.1% for the FRR (False Rejection Rate), less than 0.0001% for the FAR (False Acceptance Rate), and processing time for identification takes only about 0.015 sec using a personal computer CPU and about 0.25 sec when using a mobile phone CPU. The company plans to promote the "mofiria" technology for use in mobile devices, gateway security systems and solution services, and it will aim for commercializing this technology within the 2009 fiscal year.

Hitachi releases the world-first 3D display handset
www.hitachi.co.jp/New/cnews/month/2009/01/0129.html (1/29/2009, Japanese Release)
www.kddi.com/corporate/news_release/2009/0129/ (1/29/2009, Japanese Release)

Hitachi started shipping its new mobile phone “Wooo-Ketai H001” which comes equipped with a 3.1 inch full-wide VGA with IPS LCD. The display adopts the theory of binocular disparity (the difference in image location of an object seen by the left and right eyes) to display 3D images. The user can view 3D images and video content, including One-seg TV programs and LISMO Video, without wearing special 3D glasses. Users can also switch between 2D and 3D viewing modes. The cover of the handset opens horizontally and vertically and can be angled according to the users viewing preference.

7. Experiments

4 companies conduct multi-media broadcasting experiment
www.biglobe.co.jp/press/2008/1225-1.html (12/25/2008, Japanese Release)

FM Tokyo, Japan FM Network (JFNC), NEC BIGLOBE and Mitsui & Co announced that they will collaborate to develop a broadcasting system of multi-media service for mobile handsets as well as develop new business models, such as using cross-media approaches. The system will be utilized in VHF-LOW frequency, which is currently used by analog television but will be abandoned in July 2011. The experiment of multi-media broadcasting is an ongoing project of FM Tokyo in Fukuoka, which is designated as a ubiquitous computing area by the governmental project.

Experiment: Personalized content to be sent over weak-wave One-seg and visual light communications
http://pr.fujitsu.com/jp/news/2009/01/8.html (1/8/2009, Japanese Release)

Fujitsu and G-Search jointly conducted an experimental trial using weak-radio-wave One-seg and visual light communication at Roppongi Hills Café in Tokyo. The project lasted until January 18 and was done in conjunction with a governmental project called “Joho Daikokai Project (Information Voyager Project)” by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). At the café, a conductor monitors characteristics of visitors at each table and cross-references the data with other real-time information such as time, weather, etc. stored in Fujitsu’s “Interstage Shunsaku Data Manager”. Then, personalized content will be sent via Fujitsu’s Spot Casting (near field One-seg transmission system) to One-seg equipped mobile phone.

8. MVNO

Industry association opposes MNOs that provide MVNO service
www.telesa.or.jp/committee/mvno/20090204_mno.html (2/4/2009, Japanese Release)

The MVNO committee of Telecom Service Association claimed that Mobile Network Operators (MNO) should not provide service as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). This statement is a response to the activity of some MNOs that procured network infrastructure from a different MNO to start MVNO based services. The committee said that in order to promote fair competition and diversification of business practices, as well as making the best use of licensed frequencies, an MNO should not carry out business as an MVNO.

Nifty will provided mobile WiMAX
www.nifty.co.jp/cs/08shimo/detail/090202003458/1.htm (2/4/2009, Japanese Release)

Nifty announced that it would start its WiMAX data communication service on February 26 under an MVNO agreement with UQ Communications. The service is available to Nifty members free of charge during experimental period and the official service will launch this summer. They expected to achieve a maximum downlink speed of 40Mbps and uplink speeds of 10 Mbps.