Year: <span>2010</span>
Year: 2010

Sharp Rolls Kin with Microsoft

With two low-cost devices hitting the U.S. soon – and predictable APPL fanboy bashing – Sharp has delivered it’s first major built-to-order product, of any likely scale, for major global markets. The formally code-named Pink, now Kin-series, units tout touch screens with decent mega-pixel cameras and on-board storage targeting the youth market for casual mobile web surfing markets and SNS activities. While we had to snicker at the final quote on their PR Note: This product is not designed for the Japanese market, however, it’s a fools game to ‘short’ a clear desire – in the land of WalMart – to get a better than average deal.. 😎

Boingo Adds 1,600 Hotspots in Japan

Boingo Wireless is adding more than 1,600 additional locations in Japan through a roaming partnership with NTT Communications. This brings Boingo’s total footprint to well over 6,500 hotspots in Japan. Boingo customers can get online at NTT Communications Wi-Fi locations immediately; select Boingo Platform Service Partners that wholesale Boingo’s global WiFi access products, and their customers, will gain access in the future.

Naver Parent buys Livedoor Portal

NHN Corp.’s Japanese unit said Monday that it has bought portal service provider Livedoor Co. from Japan’s LDH Corp. for Y6.3 billion ($67.6 million), which will help the Korean company strengthen its presence in the Japanese portal segment. NHN, the owner of Naver, South Korea’s biggest Internet search engine by revenue, said in a regulatory filing that it will pay for the purchase some time before May 15.

Sharp Unveils Mobile 3D displays

Japanese electronics giant Sharp unveiled Friday an LCD touchscreen that shows 3D images without requiring special glasses, as the race to market such products intensifies. Although Sharp has not given specific plans, there is speculation that it will equip video game giant Nintendo’s upcoming DS console due out next spring, which will feature games in 3D. Both companies have commercial ties.