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

Year: 2005

Java-Based Video Applet to Deliver Local Broadcast Content to Mobile Phones

Weathernews, the world’s most experienced and trusted provider of mobile weather content with over 1.5 million paying mobile subscribers, today announced its newest offering, the first and only mobile Java application to incorporate MPEG 4 video technology bringing the weathercasts of local broadcast stations to subscribers’ cell phones. Called the Weathernews Network, the new mobile multimedia technology allows subscribers to watch personalized video feeds of local weather news and conditions from their trusted, local broadcasters right from their cell phone (WeatherNews USA is owned by WeatherNews Japan — Ed.).

Phones Require Smarter Solutions for Security

NTT DoCoMo Press Center; When businessman Hideki Suzuki lost his beloved mobile phone, a 3G FOMA smart phone equipped for electronic wallet and other e-commerce applications, he was naturally concerned. If someone were to use his phone maliciously to make purchases, transfer funds or view confidential data, or if the problem somehow impacted his business contacts, it could have been a disaster. But Suzuki did not panic. He simply went to a pay phone booth, dialed his number and let the phone ring a preset number of times. Then Suzuki smiled, because he had just locked his phone’s buttons and smart card features — remotely, automatically and immediately.

Mapping the Mobile Consumer Mind

Marketing initiatives targeting the mobile consumer must integrate communications and content in order to have the greatest impact, according to a study published this week by researchers at the International University of Japan. Based on the results of 30 in-depth interviews of mobile users in Japan and Indonesia, this research effort developed clearly defined “mental maps” which explain the ebb and flow of consumer perceptions of the mobile Internet. In fact, results show very few culturally specific differences between Japanese and Indonesian respondents, suggesting instead that international differences in usage of advanced mobile data are due to infrastructure differences and the overall structure of a country or region’s mobile value chain.

WAMO: Mobile Music Downloads Adding Video Content

WAMO: Mobile Music Downloads Adding Video ContentWarner Music Japan and KDDI Corp. have announced an agreement which will allow access to what is billed as the world’s first mobile music bundle: a package of audio, video, graphic and text content in a single, downloadable file. The service is available on au’s CDMA 1X WIN network and launched on 1 December with Sean Paul’s Za Trinity album. The partners’ press announcement [in Japanese] indicates a steady flow of new material in the pipeline for 2006. The music bundles are available on Warner Mobile – also known as ‘WAMO’ – which aims to allow club members to gain earlier-than-anywhere-else access to the label’s releases, artist interviews and live event schedules.

The downloadable ‘WAMO Packs’ include a variety of mobile music products such as videotones, mastertones and Flash screensavers and menus as part of a single download with the intention of letting customers customize their cell phone with their favorite artist. WAMO Packs also contain bonus material, such as video commentary from the artists, detailed information about the artists and their music, photos, cover art and links to web sites for additional information online.

This evolution in mobile music will come as no big surprise to those who attended the Mobile Monday Tokyo event at KDDI’s Designing Studio in June!

Mobile Cohesion and ubit Co-operate to Develop Mobile Content for Communities

Mobile Cohesion, the company that has pioneered the concept of partner, profit and performance focused relationship management solutions for the mobile industry, has announced a collaboration venture with leading content management company ubit from Japan. ubit has been focusing on the mobile internet since 1999 and its MS2 system is now serving more than 300 mobile sites worldwide, including Orange Group and Nikkei Business Press.

Omron Targets Global RFID Market

Omron Corporation, a $5.5 billion Japanese manufacturer of automation and sensing products, will invest $20 million worldwide over 2005 and 2006 as a first step in seizing a larger share of the U.S. and global RFID market. The company’s aggressive entry into the U.S. marketplace focuses on its RFID label inlay and reader products. Omron president and chief executive officer Hisao Sakuta, who has appointed himself as project leader, said “RFID is an important, global initiative which requires a large investment. I believe RFID could be a major growth engine for the company.”