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editors

Casio Launches 3-Megapixel Camera Phone

Today, Casio announced the world’s first 3.2-megapixel camera phone, the A5406CA [image] for KDDI. Fully equipped with an automatic focus function, the 2048ױ536 QXGA image size compares in quality to what the company calls “traditional” digital cameras. Mobile snappers can choose from 9 Best Shot modes, including twilight, panoramic, fireworks, and the unlikely named “food” setting. The unit also boasts up to 60 minutes of video recording (clips are saved to the onboard 12-MB data folder). A WWJ English Web news scoop! Press Release in Japanese.

Toshiba Announces Latest Strategic Memory Roadmaps

Toshiba Corporation today announced its latest strategic roadmaps for the memory market, which reflect the company’s continued focus on the rapidly-growing file storage market, the mobile electronics memory market, and high-performance solutions for networking and digital consumer applications. This market segmentation enables Toshiba to respond rapidly to customer requirements and develop advanced memory solutions to meet their needs. Toshiba’s current line-up of memory products serving these three market segments includes NAND Flash, high-density NOR Flash, low-power SRAMs, Pseudo SRAMs (PSRAMs) and advanced Multi-Chip Packages (MCP) which integrate various memory technologies into a single package; and for the networking and extreme performance digital consumer market, Network Fast-Cycle RAMs (Network FCRAMs(TM)) and XDR(TM) DRAM.

DoCoMo: Flat-Rate Data to Boost ARPU?

After the May 7 release of NTT DoCoMo’s full-year FY 2003 financial results, Tokyo analysts, financial consultants, and investment gurus have been churning out a steady stream of opinion and forecasts. After reporting stunning net profits of Y650 bn (about US$5.71 bn), at least some analysts predict the company is on track to return to the Y1-trillion operating profit level in FY 2004, ending 31 March 2005 (have any outside Japan achieved similar?). Among the more interesting gems: 2G average revenue per user (ARPU) was Y7,470 (Y5,570 voice, Y1,900 data; data was 25% of total) in 4Q2004, while 3G ARPU was Y10,360 (Y6,960 voice, Y3,400; data was 33% of total) for the same period. Clearly, 3G rocks! But that’s not all — read on for the predictions on how new, flat-rate data pricing will affect profits in FY2004.

Digi B'casting for Cellies Starts Fall '05

Quasi-governmental Nippon Hoso Kyokai or NHK and five private-sector broadcasters are likely to finally start services of terrestrial digital broadcasting for cellular phones in fiscal 2005, the Nikkei published in an article today, thanks, among other factors, to folks settling on the H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) standard. What the Nikkei has forgotten to mention also was that NHK will also broadcast to MBCO as well.

DoCoMo Launching New 506i Models

DoCoMo announced today the release of D506i and F506i, two new handsets in the 2G i-mode compatible mova 506i series, that will be marketed beginning May 19, 2004. The D506i [.jpg image] features a voice-activated camera shutter and multifunctional side button to activate the camera for stills/video or the voice recorder, even while the handset is closed. The F506i [.jpg image] includes a 2.04 mega-pixels autofocus CCD camera with a sweep-type fingerprint sensor. You can also get a sneak peek at the new 506i series models in our video coverage from the recent launch event.

Kyocera's Opera Browser Cell Phone

DDI Pocket has introduced this new AH-K3001V handset by Kyocera, the “AirH” terminal has a 2.2 inch QVGA TFT screen that displays 260,000 colors, with a 1.1 mega-pixel camera onboard. All pretty much standard, but it also features an Opera browser which enables POP3 and SMTP e-mail functions, and even has a mini-B type USB terminal that will connect with your PC.