Sony Computer Entertainment today announced that it will release the Play Station Portable in Japan on December 12. The next-generation handheld gaming device will be priced at 19,800 yen ($185). WWJ scooped the Web — and almost crashed our server — with our September video report here.
Korea’s Samsung Electronics has raised the bar on high-resolution camera phones so far that other handset makers are going to need a ladder to scramble over. The company’s new SCH-S250 handset boasts five (Count ’em: 5!) megapixels. To date, three megapixels has been the industry top — and available in only a very few Korean and Japanese handsets (which hit retail shelves just several short months ago).
Last week, Hiroyuki Ida, from Mobile Broadcasting Corp.’s marketing department, confirmed the satellite-to-mobile broadcaster’s subscriber targets. The company is Japan’s (and, as far as we know, the world’s) first to offer digital audio, video, and data services to dedicated consumer terminals via satellite. Commercial services started on October 20. We’ll have more coverage in the near future.
NTT DoCoMo announced that Japanese customers of its 3G FOMA-based WORLD CALL service will be able to exchange videophone calls with users of compatible 3G/W-CDMA services offered by Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) beginning 2 November 2004. SingTel is currently offering 3G services on a trial basis, so DoCoMo customers initially will be able to place videophone calls to SingTel users participating in the trial.
Dilithium Networks, a leading provider of wireless multimedia solutions, today announced that the largest mobile telecommunications operator in the world, China Mobile, has purchased the Dilithium Networks Analyzer (DNA) the industry-leading 3G protocol analysis and test tool. The DNA will be used for interoperability testing and standards compliance with equipment manufacturers.
Sharp Corporation has developed a large-capacity, high-transmission-speed contactless IC module for electronic passports (e-passports). The world’s first IC module based on the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) e-passport recommendations, this product has just been put into use by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for an e-passport pilot program that began this October.
