Year: <span>2004</span>
Year: 2004

WiMAX High-Speed Hype, for Now

At virtually every turn, Intel Corp. executives are heaping praise on an emerging long-range wireless technology known as WiMAX, which can blanket entire cities with high-speed Internet access. Market research firm iSuppli on Monday described a largely lackluster outlook for WiMAX, which it said is surrounded by hype and will likely fail to catch on beyond niche applications. Established broadband access providers see no reason to adopt yet another technology for delivering data at high speeds, the company said.

Mobile Financial Services Alliance

Japan’s NTT DoCoMo and Korea’s SK Telecom, South Korea’s biggest mobile-phone operator, agreed to cooperate in providing financial services because of the business growth potential, said Chai Young Hoon, a spokesman for SK Telecom, confirming an earlier Electronic Times report. Preliminary meetings are scheduled for this month and November, he said.

Asia's Largest IT & Digital Trade Show – WPC EXPO 2004

The Asia’s largest IT & Digital Trade Show WPC EXPO 2004 will be held from October 20, Wednesday, through 23, Saturday, at the Tokyo Big Site. The number of exhibitors at the WPC EXPO 10th anniversary will be a total of 323 companies in 1,518 booth units (as of October 5). The show will cover a wide range of digital devices including PCs and peripherals, and also digital home appliances: DVD/HDD recorders, flat-screen televisions, digital cameras, and music players. Furthermore, in the “Business Zone” Hall 1 & 2, forerunner companies from China, Korea and Taiwan will exhibit. Witness the business scene in the Asian countries that lead the world economy.

ACCESS Announces Mobile Professional Version of NetFront Internet Browser

ACCESS, a global provider of mobile content delivery and Internet access technologies, today announced the availability of NetFront v3.2 for the Nokia 6670 smartphone and other Series 60 smartphones. NetFront v3.2 for Nokia Series 60, the latest version of the world’s most widely deployed and actively used embedded browser, provides an optimum browser solution for Series 60 mobile professionals. NetFront v3.2 for Nokia Series 60 will be available as a preinstalled application on the MMC (MultiMedia Card) included with the new Nokia 6670 phone and will also be available from Nokia Software Market (www.softwaremarket.nokia.com) and Handango (www.handango.com) later this month.

Dilithium Networks Introduces New 3G Mobile Test Tool

Dilithium Networks, a leading provider of wireless multimedia solutions, announced the introduction of DNA Mobile, a new member of Dilithium Networks Analyzer (DNA) family. The new DNA Mobile offers increased flexibility and mobility making it easier for network operators to gather key performance indicators of network statistics related to video telephony across the 3G networks.

NTT DoCoMo Launches Bytemobile Optimization Solution in its Core Network

Bytemobile, the company dedicated to delivering pure, optimizedaccess to network operators, service providers and enterprises, today announced that NTT DoCoMo has deployed Bytemobile’s optimization solution in its core network to enable faster end- user access and more cost efficient delivery of applications such as web browsing and email. “The sheer volume of their data subscribers underscores the fact that NTT DoCoMo leads the world market with data services that offer a great end-user experience,” said Steve Livingston, executive vice president for Bytemobile. “We’re pleased that our optimization solution was selected for their network.” Bytemobile’s optimization solutions have been broadly deployed at more than 30 operators around the globe; the DoCoMo installation represents the first large commercial deployment in Japan.

Nissan, DoCoMo Offer i-mode for CARWINGS

Nissan Motor and NTT DoCoMo today announced that they would offer a new service that enables drivers to receive i-mode content on their mobile phones using their Nissan’s CARWINGS navigation system. This is the first time an automaker has connected its telematics services to DoCoMo’s i-mode. The new service, called Okutto-Keitai, allows drivers to receive i-mode digital maps and restaurant information corresponding to the area in which their car is located or destined. The service was made available for the first time on Nissan’s Tiida compact hatchback which went on sale on September 30.

FOMA 3G Fuel-Cell Announced

DoCoMo, Inc. announced today the joint development of a prototype [.jpg image] micro fuel cell for 3G FOMA handsets. The prototype, manufactured by Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd., is expected to greatly extend FOMA handset usage time once it goes into commercial production. The prototype has the same basic specifications of other FOMA handset rechargers and will be compatible with all FOMA handsets. Further development of the prototype is expected to be completed by the end of fiscal 2005.

KDDI, Sanyo Win 3G CDMA Awards

The 3G CDMA award winners were announced in Miami last night and several Japanese companies are coming home with some shiny hardware. KDDI for International Leadership; winning top share of net subscriber increase in the Japanese market and its leadership in 3G in Japan, as well as for its launch of 1xEV-DO services, branded as WIN. Sanyo Electric won the Subscriber Technology Innovation award for their innovative Infobar handset design.