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Toshiba's 3.2 Megapixel Image Sensor

Toshiba has announced the latest addition to its line-up of Dynastron complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors for integration in mobile handsets. The new ET8E99-AS [ .jpg image ] brings 3.2-megapixel capability to cellular phones and other camera-enabled mobile devices in a small package, offering, according to the company, low-power consumption and high-level performance. Samples of the new sensor are available immediately and mass production will start within the calendar year. The ET8E99-AS will be exhibited at CEATEC JAPAN 2005, from October 4 at Makuhari Messe.

Japan's Mobile Digital Terrestrial TV to Launch April 2006

Japan's Mobile Digital Terrestrial TV LaunchWe have signal. Mobile digital terrestrial TV broadcasting hits the wireless airwaves in Japan April 1st, 2006. Japanese telecom carriers and commercial broadcasters will be ready to start simulcasts of hybrid terrestrial digital programming and data feeds to cellular phones in just a few months. “Our handsets will be ready to comply with that date and we are targeting March/April 2006 release of mobile digital terrestrial TV phones,” NTT DoCoMo spokesperson Tomoko Tsuda told WWJ.

No April Fools prank, the start up date was announced by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Vodafone also confirmed to WWJ they should make the April deadline. “We are gearing up production to have handsets ready in time for the start of this new digital TV service,” says Vodafone spokesperson Matthew Nicholson. Details on when other broadcasters will start mobile programming and what contents they plan to spin to mobile should be available soon.

DoCoMo Announces Japan's First Digital Broadcast Cellphone

DoCoMo Announces Japan's First Digital Broadcast CellphoneDoCoMo has developed their first mobile handset to receive terrestrial digital broadcasting and analog TV in one 3G Foma package. The P901iTV handset, by Panasonic, targets the start of mobile digital broadcasting in April, 2006 and will make its public debut at the upcoming CEATEC Japan 2005 trade show October 4 to 8 at Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba. (WWJ will be on-hand to get photos and video!)

The twist-style handset comes with a 2.5-inch, wide-view main LCD screen plus a sub-display, antenna-embedded earphone for enhanced TV reception, and 2.2-megapixel camera. The handset can only handle around 2.5 hours of continuous digital TV viewing; 1.5 hours of analog — ruling out Lord of the Rings style 3-hour viewing marathons. DoCoMo’s Osaifu-Keitai mobile wallet is part of the package as well, enabling the phone to be used as electronic money.

Vodafone and KDDI have had demonstration models of terrestrial digital TV receiver/handsets for some time. Last may their latest versions were up and running at the NHK Science and Technical Research Laboratories open house. Vodafone displayed the 801SH Sharp CDMA Qualcomm handset with a hybrid split-screen displaying TV images on the upper half with the bottom reserved for scrolling data feeds. KDDI showed off a similar au prototype handset by Sanyo. Check-out our video report from that event here.

Vodafone Enables Pre-Paid via ATM

Vodafone Japan has announced that starting 17 October 2005 it will offer a new service for its Prepaid Service which will allow customers to recharge their prepaid mobile phones at bank ATMs or via internet banking. Using the electronic payment system, dubbed ‘Pay-easy’, customers will now be able to recharge their prepaid mobile phones at financial institution ATMs by using their bank cards or cash, and also via internet or mobile banking. This new service will be available to most existing Vodafone Prepaid Service customers and will be Japan’s first that allows clients to recharge their prepaid mobile phones at ATMs of financial institutions.

Fixed-Mobile Convergence Plan

Local media reports Vodafone KK and Japan Telecom may be looking to integrate their mobile and fixed line assets. Such a move would allow cell phones to work as landline handsets for use indoors. Fixed line rates are significantly lower than mobile charges and synchronicity between the two sectors could result in huge savings for individuals and businesses. It would also significantly accelerate Japan Telecom’s move into the wireless sector.

KDDI Develops Prototype Fuel-Cell Mobile Phones with Toshiba, Hitachi, Ltd

JCN; KDDI, with partners Toshiba Corporation and Hitachi, Ltd., is pleased to announce that prototype mobile phones powered with fuel cells will be exhibited in the KDDI booth at CEATEC JAPAN (Makuhari Messe), to take place from October 4. KDDI had been in co-development with Toshiba and Hitachi since July, 2004 on next-generation fuel cells for use in mobile devices such as cell-phones. The fuel-cell mobile phone co-developed by Toshiba and KDDI is based on the au handset A5509T. The system used is a hybrid type, with power supplied by a compact fuel cell and fuel tank at the back of the handset, plus an internal lithium ion battery. It uses high-concentration methanol to achieve a battery capacity 2.5 times the conventional value with a single refill. This feature enables the handset to be used for a long time.

KDDI Expands Licensing With Narus

Narus, Inc. announced that Japanese carrier KDDI has expanded its licensing agreement to include its new PC Site Viewer application. Narus and KDDI, along with their integration partner NEC, have been working together for more than five years building one of the most progressive 3G networks in Japan. Narus is the mediation platform for KDDI’s EVDO and IXRT networks. With the expansion of Narus’ mediation solution to KDDI’s PC Site Viewer, a browser that enables mobile handsets to access regular PC Web pages, the Narus mediation solution for all of KDDI’s network, will provide detailed customer usage information for all IP services.

Mobile Intelligence Japan: Seats Available

If you’re in Tokyo next week, plan to join the Mobile Intelligence Japan (MIJ) mission for one or more (or all!) sessions with some of the coolest companies making mobile in Japan happen. Agenda sessions include: carriers, content providers, application developers, technology vendors, m-commerce developers and more! MIJ is analyzed and interpreted by your guide and host Daniel Scuka, Chief Editor at Wireless Watch Japan, and the experts at Mobikyo KK, Japan’s leading source of mobile intelligence (and WWJ’s publisher). For complete details on the MIJ agenda contact us here.

O2 Launching i-mode Today

The Guardian has posted a short article saying that “Mobile phone company O2 will today announce the long-awaited launch of its Internet service, i-mode, with content partners including the BBC, BSkyB and online bank Egg.” Of course, WWJ has been covering this story since the first rumor in mid-November 2004 and the official announcement from the companies involved later that same month.

Update: It’s Official as of 19:30 JST

Panasonic, Sanyo Set for TV Phones

The Nikkei is reporting that Japan-based handset makers Panasonic Mobile Communications, a division of Matsushita Electric, and Sanyo are set to commercialize cell phones capable of recieving terrestrial broadcast signals in response to the planned launch of services by NHK and private-sector TV stations by Q1 2006. Shipments of these new models are expected to begin between year-end and next spring.