Year: <span>2006</span>
Year: 2006

Year: 2006

Willcom taps Sonus Solutions for VoIP

Sonus Networks, Inc., a leading supplier of service provider Voice over IP (VoIP) infrastructure solutions, announced today that WILLCOM, Inc., a major Japanese provider of wireless data and voice services and the largest operator employing Personal Handyphone System (PHS) technology in Japan, has selected Sonus Networks as the foundation for its new nationwide long-distance network to support WILLCOM’s PHS system. This agreement marks the development of Japan’s largest VoIP network for PHS subscribers. WILLCOM will utilize key components of the Sonus solution including the GSX9000 Open Services Switch, the PSX(TM) Call Routing Server, and the Sonus Insight(TM) Management System, which includes the Element Management System (EMS).

Nokia and Kyocera Resolve Dispute

Kyocera Corporation, along with its subsidiary, Kyocera Wireless Corp., and Nokia Corporation, along with its subsidiary Nokia Inc., today announced that they have entered into a patent license agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Kyocera is licensed under Nokia’s essential patents, and some additional patents, relating to CDMA, PHS and PDC standards. Kyocera will pay royalties to Nokia for all Kyocera CDMA mobile phone and module products. Reciprocally, Nokia is licensed under all of Kyocera’s essential patents, and some additional patents, relating to all standards and covering all Nokia mobile phone, module and infrastructure products.

Naked News for Japan Mobile

Naked News, which features anchors and reporters who disrobe during newscasts, launched its risque take on current affairs in Japan Tuesday. Beneath a banner proclaiming Naked News as “The program with nothing to hide,” Sunrise Corp. CEO Takuya Uchikawa described the service as “a unique concept for the Japanese market.” Sunrise, which specialises in sales of goods and services via the Internet, and Naked News owner eGalaxy Multimedia have set a target of 10,000 mobile subscribers in the first year.

Vodafone KK December Subscriber Count

Vodafone have just released their December net adds: 63,700, showing a strong 3G gain of 236,800 and a to-be-expected 2G loss of 173,100. This indicates the carrier gained at least some new 3G customers from other carriers if we assume all Vodafone 2G customers who upgraded to 3G stayed with the carrier. Vodafone KK subscribers are now, overall, trending up, if still slowly.

KDDI Posts December Sales

KDDI have just posted their December net adds: 348,300, based on an increase of 398,300 in CDMA 1X users and a loss of 50,000 cdmaOne (2G) customers. This compares to DoCoMo’s presumed increase of 1,422,700 based on their public November FOMA count of 18,588,300 and their statement last week that they surpassed 20 million on 29 December. No word yet from Vodafone nor from the TCA website. Link to full details after log-in.

Anime Network Launches on Sprint

Anime Network has announced a deal with Sprint to provide its mobile video content to Sprint Power Vision subscribers. The Anime Channel will be available first to Sprint Power Vision subscribers on select multimedia handsets on Sprint TV’s Channel 66. Sprint subscribers can access clips from up to five premium titles at a price point of an additional $4.95 per month plus standard data charges. Anime programming – delivered to Sprint through Zoovision – will include a wide range of genres such as Horror, Sci-Fi, Action, Comedy and Drama.