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3G Spending to Double in 2004

In 2004, global spending on 3G infrastructure equipment will rise to $8.8 billion, doubling the $4.4 billion spent in 2003, according to a report by market research firm iSuppli. The firm noted that as of June, 30 commercial WCDMA 3G networks and 12 commercial CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 3G networks were operating in Europe, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and South America. This will help boost overall global capital expenditures for wireless infrastructure to $29.9 billion in 2004, up 15.4 percent from $25.9 billion in 2003.

Inetcam: Live Video Streaming to BREW Mobiles

Inetcam, Inc., a live video streaming software developer, today announced its latest mobile viewing application called iMViewer developed for QUALCOMM’s BREW solution. The iMViewer software enables users to monitor virtually any network connected camera or video source live from their wireless handset. Built for the BREW solution, the application provides mobile users with a high-quality secure connection to their business or home while they are away. Through the use of Inetcam’s patent-pending technology, iMViewer ensures faster response times to real time security-related events such as vandalism and theft.

Prototype Organic TFT Color LCD

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and Hitachi have jointly developed an organic thin-film transistor (TFT) color LCD prototype which uses organic TFTs as a driving switch. The 1.4-inch prototype has a resolution of 80×80 pixels, each of which measures 318×106 microns. The TFT is 50 microns in width and 5 microns in length. AIST expects that the organic TFT technologies will pave the way for the development of next-generation displays at lower costs.

Taiwan 3G Hopes to Break Even

Asia Pacific Broadband Wireless Communications Inc., Taiwan’s first 3G mobile operator, said it hoped to get into the black early next year helped partly by better cost efficiency through internal resource integration, a company executive said yesterday. “With the help of resource integration and improving 3G coverage, we expect Asia Pacific to break even in the first quarter of next year,” chairman Wang Lin-tai said.

Index to Acquire 123 Multimedia

Index has announced that it has reached an agreement with 123 Multimedia of France to acquire 66.65% of 123MM’s outstanding shares. As Europe’s largest mobile content provider, 123MM provides various mobile Internet services based on i-mode, WAP, and Java, as well as mobile content using premium SSM, MMS, and SMS services. The French company’s content delivery network covers France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Morocco, the Netherlands, and Thailand.

Aplix and DoCoMo to Jointly Develop Doja/Java Prototype for FOMA

Aplix Corporation announced today a cooperative agreement with NTT DoCoMo, Inc. to jointly develop a DoJa/JavaTM platform prototype for FOMA(r) devices. DoJa/Java platform is the application execution environment for NTT DoCoMo’s i-appli(r). The two companies will develop a platform for FOMA based on Aplix’s JBlendTM platform technology. Through this joint development, the two companies will assess performance enhancements of the DoJa/Java platform and the possibility of reducing development costs by standardizing the i-appli execution environment.

Casio Develops the World's First Transparent Ceramic Lens

In conjunction with its parent company, Casio Computer Co., today announced that using its proprietary optical technology, it has developed the world’s first lens using transparent ceramics. This breakthrough will make it possible to create zoom lenses for cameras with greatly reduced profiles. Ever since CASIO’s EXILIM thin card-size digital camera went on sale, the entire digital camera market has undergone a huge change. Compact digital cameras offering mobility in a small package have become mainstream, while there has been a major push in technological development to find better methods of creating smaller, thinner cameras.

Ryozanpaku Launches i-mode Pachinko Service in Japan

Ryozanpaku International, Inc., announced today that it has successfully established itself as an authorized Docomo i-mode content provider in Japan. Japanese consumers can now access the latest news and information on the Pachinko industry directly from their mobile phones. In April 2004, Ryozanpaku entered into a service and revenue sharing agreement with MS Communications Co., Ltd. Under the agreement Ryozanpaku is an authorized Docomo i-mode content provider and is permitted to deliver its proprietary content over the Docomo i-mode network.

Macromedia's Flash Lite Shines

Fujitsu's New VoIP/PHS HandsetFlash has been an integral part of the fixed-line Web for years and with its launch on DoCoMo’s 505i-series 2G handsets in spring 2003 (and on FOMA 3G last fall), it has developed into a mobile Web standard in Japan as well; six major Japanese manufacturers are already producing Flash-enabled handsets. Flash has now rolled out on yet another batch of 3G phones, this time from KDDI. We caught up with Macromedia’s senior director of marketing for mobile, Anup Murarka, at KDDI’s launch event in Tokyo and had a fascinating discussion about the past, present, and future of Flash for wireless. Full Program (also available in Real Player and Quick-Time formats) Run-time 20:51

Toyota Offers Emergency Cell Phone

Toyota Motors announced today that it will sell a new Pipit Phone model, a unique PHS handset [.jpg image] it has developed with PHS carrier DDI Pocket and Kyocera, at its auto dealers as well as its mobile phone shops across Japan, beginning on September 4. The new model has a security alarm built into the back side of the handset, an emergency call function to send out an emergency alarm to up to three pre-registered numbers. The handset also supports free access to PiPit Web, a location information site operated by Toyota, as well as email.