According to this article, NEC has started shipping samples of their new CE131, not to be confused with the AP131, wonder chip for ¥4,000 each with mass production scheduled for October this year. The LSI has an interface for a 512 Mbit external memory, double the capacity used in the existing model, allowing the processing of 8 megapixel image data.
Zentek announced a strategic partnership with UDcast to provide the Japanese and Far East Asia markets with DVB-H enabled products. Zentek will act as the reseller and integrator for in these markets to bring the tools for Japanese manufacturers and Asian operators. In Japan, the equipment provided by UDcast and Zentek will enable manufacturers to develop and produce mobile phones, notebooks, chipsets, in-car TV receivers and other devices compatible with DVB-H technology.
The USPTO has awarded NEC a patent on their technology for smart file downloads. The technology has been designed for phones with built-in wifi radios – allowing them to connect to any wireless access point. The idea is to have the phone decide, on its own, whether to download a file over-the-air via cellular networks or through a wifi network wireless access point.
DoCoMo President Masao Nakamura announced at a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday that the company will offer a new family-plan package, from August 22, reducing monthly fees in a bid to retain dominant market share. The new Fami-wari MAX plan will enable each subscriber in a family to receive the discount rate of the longest-subscribing family member, or a maximum of 50% for subscribers who have been with DoCoMo for at least 11 years.
SoftBank Corp.’s President Masayoshi Son announced the companies vision going forward during the 27th regular meeting of shareholders held at Tokyo International Forum last week. Topics included an increased focus on contents, as previously signalled by the introduction of Yahoo! Streaming in May, and continued price war on voice services by adding a new total flat-rate calling package between family members to their already popular White Plan. According to their FYE 2006 results SoftBank added 10,000 new 3G base stations over the last fiscal year and plans to achieve a total 46,000 locations – almost on par with DoCoMo – installed by 1H FY2007.
Docomo and am/pm have begun equipping convenience stores with cellphone recycling bins, so that people can recycle their unwanted handsets. The recycling bins handle all makes and models and are designed to prevent theft. According to this announcement there are currently eight trial locations in place with plans to expand nationwide depending on consumer adoption.
