Asia Pacific Market
Asia Pacific Market

Asia Pacific Market

Yamaha Expands Ringtone Melody Distribution Service Throughout China

Yamaha Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of musical instruments and a leader in digital audio, announced today that it will expand its “Ringtone@YAMAHA” ringing melody distribution service in China giving customers using CDMA mobile phones of China United Telecommunications Corporation (China Unicom) a vast choice of different melodies for their handset ringers. The service to distribute harmonic 16- and 40-tone ringing melodies nationwide will begin on July 1, 2003, permitting China Unicom CDMA mobile phone subscribers.

Hutchison 3G HK Teams Up with NEC and Siemens to Build 3G Network

Leveraging on the success of NEC Corporation and Siemens Information and Communication Mobile (Siemens mobile) in building Hutchison’s 3G networks in the UK and Italy, Hutchison 3G HK Limited (Hutchison 3G HK) has awarded a contract to NEC and Siemens mobile for the supply of the radio network of its third generation (3G) WCDMA-based network. Hutchison 3G HK targets to launch its 3 service in August 2003.

Sharp in Agreement to Supply Mobile Phones to China

Sharp Corporation has signed an agreement with Datang Telecom Technology Co., Ltd., a major Chinese manufacturer of communications equipment, to supply camera-equipped GSM mobile phones to the Chinese market. Sharp has been manufacturing and selling audio-visual products, home appliances, office equipment and electronic components in China, but this is the company’s first entry into the Chinese mobile phone market.

i-mode Becomes (Sadly) a Global Brand

A little-noticed PR release came out of North Hollywood on July 29 announcing that Walt Disney Internet Group and KG Telecom had agreed to distribute Disney mobile wireless content to KG Telecom wireless subscribers. KG Telecom will be the first operator to launch Disney content on thei-mode platform in the Chinese market, and the agreement allows KGTelecom’s customers in Taiwan to subscribe to downloadable content, such as screen savers and ring tones, based on Disney’s lineup of popular characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck (WWJ’s favorite — Ed.), Goofy, and Snow White.