Rather than be held prisoner to any company’s proprietary software, cellular service providers (which distribute most phones) are beginning to ask specifically for Linux-based handsets, says Michael Sudol, general manager of the group at Motorola PCS that’s focused on Linux. So in January, Motorola released its second Linux-based phone for Asia.
SEVEN Networks, Inc. announced today that the company’s mobile email software is now shipping on BREW-based handsets in the Japanese market. SEVEN’s software provides secure, real-time access to Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange, IMAP4 and POP3 email, calendar, personal contacts, corporate directories, network drives and desktop documents. Japan’s second largest mobile operator, KDDI Corp., is the first to launch SEVEN-enabled email services on BREW-based handsets.
NTT DoCoMo has denied media reports here that it is pulling out its stake in Hutchinson 3G UK Holdings Ltd. after Hutchinson failed to roll out i-mode. In a statement today, DoCoMo said it “has made no decision about ending its investment in Hutchison 3G UK Holdings Limited,” but stopped short of fully denying local reports that it was pulling the plug on its July 2000-acquired 20% interest in Hutchison 3GUK for about 186 billion yen, the book value of which has withered to under 40 billion yen as the joint venture struggled to launch its 3G service.
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today it will field test a controller that enables home appliances to be operated with 3G FOMA® handsets. The controller enables operations such as programming the recording of a TV program and then viewing the playback on the phone, turning air conditioners and lights on an off, and viewing live video from the controller’s built-in camera. WWJ’s video program from CEATEC in Oct. ’03 features a demo. of the technology.
InnoMedia today unveiled the new generation of videophones with innovative features such as Wireless LAN, PSTN fallback and 3G interoperability. This MTA 5000 series of videophones feature a stylish look, designed by world-class industrial design house GE/Fitch. InnoMedia sets precedence in combining IP and PSTN services in a single device – MTA 5000 videophones enable both incumbent and competitive operators to offer innovative and competitive video telephony services, including wireless LAN and 3G compatibility.
KDDI is pleased to announce the launch of the DO CARD, a CDMA2000 1X EV-DO service compliant card device for wireless data communications at a 2GHz frequency band. The card will be available from March 31, 2004. The new card will supercede the DO-BOX, and come with an expanded service area, including Nagoya and Osaka, and a revised service fee structure enabling users to take greater advantage of the service.
Seiko Epson Corporation and SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. have announced that they would merge their liquid crystal businesses to form a new company. The new company will be known as SANYO EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION and is planned to begin operations in October 2004. Epson will hold 55% of the joint venture, and SANYO 45%. The new entity will aim to become a leading manufacturer of small and medium-sized LCDs for mobile phones, digital cameras, and for use in automobiles.
HI Corporation and NVIDIA Inc. have announced a new agreement for a worldwide alliance on advanced interactive 3D games for mobile phones. The companies will cooperate in the porting and marketing of the Mascot Capsule Engine Micro3D Edition on NVIDIA’s newly-announced GoForce architecture.
Research house and consumer survey firm INFO PLANT recently held a seminar on the main themes and directions of Japan’s wireless market in 2004. INFO PLANT’s C-News editor-in-chief Tomoki Sakaino began with some interesting comparisons between the Korea and Japan markets before offering unique insights into the prospects for FOMA and FeliCa this year; he also reviewed studies into attitudes about DoCoMo’s new 900i-series 3G handsets and TV broadcast content for mobile devices. Full Program Run-time 19:28
A good interview with James Nakagawa on Japan Today; Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases in Japan, but you don’t have to spend ages in a doctor’s waiting-room anymore to learn how to manage the affliction. Lifewatcher, a revolutionary service from Mobile Healthcare Inc, now provides a daily disease self-management system via your cell phone. He appeared on-camera with WWJ in Aug. 2003 see video interview here.
