Year: <span>2007</span>
Year: 2007

Year: 2007

KDDI Continues Net Subscriber Advantage

The CDMA Development Group has congratulated KDDI for signing up more new users than their rivals since Japan’s mobile number portability (MNP) rules took effect on October 24, 2006. While more than one million subscribers changed their service provider between October 24, 2006 and January 31, 2007, KDDI has witnessed a net increase of 600,000 3G subscribers. The other Japanese operators have seen a net reduction. Also, when considering all new subscriptions within the three months ending in January 2007, KDDI garnered 67 percent of the total number of net subscriptions.

Hitachi Unveils World's Smallest RFID

According to AP, Hitachi recently unveiled RFID chips that are just 0.002 inches by 0.002 inches and look like bits of powder. They’re thin enough to be embedded in a piece of paper, company spokesman Masayuki Takeuchi said Thursday. Shown to the public for the first time earlier this month, the new chip is an improvement on its predecessor from Hitachi — the Mu-chip, which at 0.4 millimeters by 0.4 millimeters, looks about the size of the period at the end of this sentence.

Aurora Lights up Japanese Mobiles

“Live!Aurora” is beaming the sights of the aurora borealis from Alaska straight to mobile phones in Japan. Due to the time zone difference, Japanese consumers can enjoy the sites of the aurora between lunchtime and evening. As well as being able to watch streaming video of northern lights, the site also offers video on demand and still images for download. Offered as a subscription service costing 315 yen per month ($2.60).

Buy a Burger with your Phone

McDonald’s Japan and NTT DoCoMo announced today that they have agreed to jointly promote e-marketing based on DoCoMo Osaifu-Keitai e-wallet services. The undertaking will include the establishment of a joint venture company to plan and manage e-marketing promotions to McDonald’s newly planned membership club, and the introduction of DoCoMo’s iD platform for mobile-phone credit cards and ToruCa information-capture service at McDonald’s stores.

Ketai Spring Fashion Parade

Celebrating the fast approaching arrival of spring in Japan we have noticed a significant increase in cellphone fashion action lately.. even Wired magazine is getting into the game! Samantha Thavasa has barbie-doll pink N903i designer handset due out in March and Omote Sando Hills held a glitzy fashion show over the weekend to feature Sony Ericcson’s new 703i-series model (yes that would be the smell-phone) complete with a custom TinkerBell design by Disney. JiJi Press video after the jump.

EZ News Flash Hits 1 Million Users

KDDI has announced the number of users for their EZ news flash service exceeded one million people
on Saturday, February 17 this year. EZ news flash launched on Thursday, September 21, 2006 as an
information delivery service, weather news for example with BCMCS to deliver instant and updating multicast information to the standby screen of subscribers mobile phone. The service charges a small information fee while data charge is free.