Carriers
Carriers

Carriers

Vodafone live! BB Launched

Vodafone live! BB LaunchedVodafone Japan is back in Japan’s 3G data race with today’s launch of Vodafone live! BB, a fixed-line PC Web site [only in Japanese so far] that allows users to search and download content for use on mobile terminals. Vodafone live! BB will operate with Vodafone’s new 3G handsets and serve as a a sort of Mother-of-all-Mobile-Portals solution for getting biggie-sized files (think audio, music and video) onto phones. Anyone can download the content files to a PC or laptop, copy them onto miniSD memory cards, and transfer them to a phone, but only Vodafone customers with a spanking new 3G celly can receive a digital key (distributed over the air) to unlock the files for playback.

Vodafone Ships New 3G Phones

Vodafone K.K. have just announced they will commence sales of their new 3G handset lineup, the Vodafone 902/802/702-series, starting with Nokia’a V702NK [.jpg image] 8 December in the Kanto-Koshin region, 10 December in the Tokai and Kansai regions, and other areas following thereafter. New Vodafone live! 3G services like video call roaming, large-size mail, and streaming will also be offered from 8 December to coincide with the sales launch.

China Mobile Raises 3G Forecast

China Mobile Ltd., the world’s biggest carrier by subscribers, said on Tuesday it could spend up to 110 billion yuan ($13.29 billion) to build a nationwide 3G mobile network. The company is expected to start building its network shortly after receiving a 3G licence from the government. Market watchers expect that to happen around the middle of next year. In August, the company said the cost of a 3G network could be about 60 billion yuan in the first two to three years, calling the figure a “preliminary rough estimate”.

Alcatel Selected By China Netcom to Deploy 3G Trial Network in Beijing

Alcatel today announced that it has been selected by China Netcom Group, one of China’s incumbent operators, to deploy a 3G field trial network in Beijing. This agreement strengthens Alcatel’s position in 3G in China, having already successfully deployed a similar 3G trial network with China Telecom earlier in the year. This contract was won through Alcatel Shanghai Bell, Alcatel’s flagship Chinese company. Alcatel will provide China Netcom with Alcatel’s end-to-end field-proven Evolium(TM) UMTS solution based on the successful 3G products from Evolium SAS, Alcatel’s joint venture with Fujitsu. This solution includes the state- of-the-art UMTS Multi-standard Base Stations (Node B), a Radio Network Controller (RNC) and the core network elements.

Business mopera Access Simple Launches in Japan

Today SEVEN announced it is powering NTT DoCoMo’s Business mopera Access Simple — a mobile groupware service that enables secure remote access to email, calendar, contacts, and documents via i-mode phones. Available today from NTT DoCoMo’s direct business sales force and NTT DoCoMo’s retail stores throughout Japan, Business mopera Access Simple is a tier-one i-mode service and is a core “i-mode for Business Solutions” offering. NEC and SEVEN partnered to develop Business mopera Access Simple; it is based on SEVEN’s “behind-the-firewall” Server Edition software.