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Wireless HD Coming in 2008

A collection of the biggest powers in consumer electronics, including LG, Matsushita (Panasonic), Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, and SiBEAM announced today that they are teaming together to ratify a standard for wireless high-def signal transmission. United as a technology group going under the name WirelessHD, the companies aim to have a finalized specification in spring 2007. The WirelessHD (WiHD) standard will allow for uncompressed, digital transmission of HD video and audio signals, essentially making it equivalent, in theory, to wireless HDMI.

Amp'd Mobile Content Coming to Japan

Amp’d Mobile, announced it will deliver much of its mobile entertainment content to Japan via a new portal service designed exclusively for Tokyo-based KDDI/au. The service is expected to launch in March of 2007. Services will include Amp’d Music, Videos, Games, Sports, and Lifestyle content. The company has stated it will also open a satellite studio office in Japan that will contribute locally-produced materials to enhance their service.

DoCoMo Announces Specs for Any OS

NTT DoCoMo has announced new terminal specifications, developed jointly with Intel Corporation, that will enable mobile phones to be customized with additional desired operating system or application. The specifications provide an open domain, which is separate from the phone’s default domain containing the preinstalled operating system and applications. A controller enables switching between the domains. The open domain will enable a company, for example, to install an original browser and scheduler, and set an internal security policy for the terminal while individuals will be able to install their own personalized game software.

Japan's FTC Investigates SoftBank

Japan’s antitrust watchdog has questioned new mobile phone operator Softbank Corp. about its sales tactics, a Softbank spokesman said on Tuesday. Officials from the Fair Trade Commission met with Softbank’s wireless unit on Monday to ask for an explanation of new discounts and sales tactics, the spokesman said, declining to elaborate further. The Sankei Shimbun reported the FTC was examining whether recent sales campaigns launched by Softbank are misleading to consumers.

Shockwave to Distribute Japanese Flash Games

CELL Co. Ltd, the leading developer of mobile content in Japan, announced today that it has signed a distribution deal with Shockwave.com to bring CELL’s most popular mobile games to the US market. Shockwave.com will distribute CELL’s games through its live Shockwave Minis offering available to Verizon Wireless customers on select Get It Now-enabled phones. This is the first time CELL games will be available to US customers.

Sierra Wireless Teams with Tomen Electronics

Sierra Wireless and Tomen Electronics Corp. today announced they have signed an agreement that designates Tomen as the primary distributor for all Sierra Wireless products in Japan, marking the formal entry of Sierra Wireless into the Japanese 3G wireless market. Under the terms of the agreement, Tomen will offer sales, integration support, and field application engineering support for all Sierra Wireless products in Japan, including both the AirCard and embedded module product lines.

Softbank Resumes Mobile Transfer Service

AFP has just reported that Softbank, Japan’s newest mobile telephone operator, have resumed accepting MNP applications after a technical glitch over the weekend that prompted strong criticism from rivals. The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry ordered Softbank Mobile to study the cause of the problem which occurred after the firm’s system was overwhelmed by the massive number of customers trying to change their operator. Details after the jump.

New Flexibility of Cell Phones

The much-awaited portable-number service for cell phones has started in Japan, enabling users to change carriers without having to change phone numbers. This is a new convenience for customers, but for the cell-phone carriers – NTT DoCoMo Inc., KDDI Corp. and Softbank Mobile Corp. – it heralds the start of a new war. The ease with which users can change carriers is expected to cause fierce competition. It is hoped that the competition will lead to lower fees, better services and more user options.