Year: <span>2005</span>
Year: 2005

Year: 2005

Sharp Launches WX-T91 in Taiwan

Sharp and Fareastone have launched a version of Vodafone’s 903SH [.jpg] 3G phone in Taiwan. Designed to run on GSM/GPRS and W-CDMA 3G networks, the WX-T91 [.jpg] features the same 3.2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, USB and infrared features, as well as a MiniSD card slot (supporting up to 1GB), an MP3/AAC music player and a bar-code scanner. It also supports Video/TV-Out enabling users to view their pictures and play games on their TV screens. The unit comes in three colors: black, red and white at an estimated retail price of almost $800 — approx. triple the street price in Japan.

Kyocera and Lockdown Networks Announce Strategic Relationship

Kyocera Communication Systems and Lockdown Networks, Inc., today announced that they have formed a Strategic Relationship through which KCCS will bring Lockdown’s market-leading Lockdown Enforcer product line to Japan. “Enforcer is by far the best fit with the needs of real-world customers that must ensure their networks are protected from attacks by worms, viruses, spyware, unauthorized access, and other endpoint-based threats to their network,” said Yoshihito Kurose, Director and Senior General Manager of KCCS’s IP Service Group. “Lockdown NAC was the logical choice, because it works with customers’ existing switch and wireless access point infrastructure, supports all IP-devices anywhere in the network, operates continuously rather than just at time of admission, and takes decision-making input from a wide variety of sources.”

Gartner Sees $$$ in RFID

RFID technology’s time may finally be coming if implementers can learn to look beyond its current characterization as a product ID-code system, according to a new Gartner report. Findings from “Market Share and Forecast: Radio Frequency Identification, Worldwide, 2004-2010”. According to the report, worldwide RFID spending for 2005 is likely to reach $504 million, a 39 percent increase from the previous year. Accelerating adoption will lead to new license revenue of $751 million by the end of 2006, with worldwide spending topping $3 billion by 2010.

Japan Puts Its Money on e-Cash

Electronic money emerged four years ago as a convenient tool for fast-paced train commuters. The Japan Research Institute, an economic research group, estimates that at least 15 million people here are now using e-cash, a figure projected to reach 40 million — about one in every three Japanese — by 2008. The number of e-cash transactions reached 15.8 million per month in 2005, more than double last year’s figure, according to Japan’s two largest electronic money providers. E-cash is being accepted at convenience stores, department stores, cafes, restaurants, newsstands and electronics retailers — enabling users to go shopping carrying nothing but their cell phones. At some supermarkets, up to 40 percent of all purchases are made with electronic money.

Video Call Charges Reduced by 50%

Vodafone K.K. just announced that it will revise its Priority Support discount service for people with disabilities by reducing video call charges by 50% effective from the February 2006. Priority Support is a discount service available to customers who have been issued a Certificate for Persons with Physical Disabilities, a Certificate for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, or a Certificate for Persons with Mental Disabilities, to make Vodafone K.K.’s services more accessible by reducing basic*2, call*3 and mail*4 sending/receiving charges by 50%. With this revision, video call charges will also be applicable so Priority Support customers can make video calls for half the normal communication charge.

3G Network Limitations Define Mobile TV

3G Network Limitations Define Mobile TVIt’s rare for WWJ editors, a jaded bunch, to get too excited about new service announcements, but on 6 December, we jumped on this fresh Vodafone press release that seemed to herald the emergence of the rather cool, made-in-Japan ‘Vodafone Live! BB’ (BB= broadband) music- and video-download service into the Group’s European markets. Vodafone live! BB uses the ‘i-Pod model’ to get large media files onto mobile phones, avoiding network traffic fees and should be, we have always thought, a no-brainer for export to Vodafone Opcos outside Japan. Don’t mobilers everywhere want to save on packet/data fees and get audio and DVD-quality video onto their handsets?