KDDI Develops Mobile Terminal Linking Communications
KDDI has been actively developing technologies and services that fuse communications and broadcasting. As a part of these activities, the KDDI subsidiary KDDI R&D Laboratories, in conjunction with NHK Science & Technical Research Laboratories has developed a prototype mobile terminal that supports linked communications and broadcasting services in an environment similar to actual usage conditions. The services combine mobile phone services and data broadcasting for mobile terminals that support digital terrestrial broadcasting.
A feature of digital terrestrial broadcasting is that the signal can be received by amobile terminal while the user is walking around or traveling in a car. By combining thisservice with the Internet function of a mobile phone, it may be possible to create new,even more appealing linked communications and broadcasting services.
In order to test this service in an environment closely resembling actual usageconditions, the mobile terminal developed jointly with NHK Labs was made in a small,lightweight package about the size of a PDA that can be carried around. It includesfunctions that allow digital terrestrial broadcasting content and communications contentto be displayed simultaneously on the terminal screen, and functions that enable Internetconnections from the broadcasting content. Additionally, the server providingcommunications services were developed by KDDI Labs.
Use of this mobile terminal and server enables testing of various offerings, such ascommunications services linked to broadcast programs, and services providing complementaryinformation about programs via the communications signal. Any number of potential newservices can be actively tested.
KDDI will cooperate with NHK Labs on upcoming field tests, and plans to conduct tests fora number of different services. It also plans to clarify technical issues and solutionsahead of the technology’s practical implementation.
The terminal will be displayed at NHK Science & Technical Research Laboratories’exhibition for the general public held from May 22 to May 25,2003.