NTT Advanced Technology has announced a prototype Internet access system for mobile phone users. Hot Access utilizes a cellphone’s infrared communications capability and a fixed-rate broadband network service to enable users to access mobile Internet content without being charged a packet fee. (Have to wonder what DoCoMo thinks about competition from a sister company? — Ed.)
The Asia’s largest IT & Digital Trade Show WPC EXPO 2004 will be held from October 20, Wednesday, through 23, Saturday, at the Tokyo Big Site. The number of exhibitors at the WPC EXPO 10th anniversary will be a total of 323 companies in 1,518 booth units (as of October 5). The show will cover a wide range of digital devices including PCs and peripherals, and also digital home appliances: DVD/HDD recorders, flat-screen televisions, digital cameras, and music players. Furthermore, in the “Business Zone” Hall 1 & 2, forerunner companies from China, Korea and Taiwan will exhibit. Witness the business scene in the Asian countries that lead the world economy.
Join Wireless Watch Japan and HP Bazaar at MobileMonday Tokyo, a fantastic opportunity to network with Japan’s mobile community. Speakers include: Nina Nordlund, Market Development Leader, HP Bazaar, Steve Myers, CEO, Theta Music, Brian Hamilton, Sales Director, Gracenote, and Tim Smith, Director, Freeverse.
The fifth staging of CEATEC JAPAN is nearly upon us. Optimism has returned to the industrial world this year, boosted by strong demand for mobile network-related products and car electronics equipment. Digital home appliances have been especially popular. In the Japanese electronics industry, domestic production reached peak levels of 25.4 trillion yen in 1997 and 25.1 trillion yen in 2000. In 2004, the figure also looks certain to exceed the 20.0 trillion yen mark.
With today’s launch of the new 902/802/702-series of 3G cellys, No. 3 carrier Vodafone has upped the stakes significantly in a major (some would say desperate) bid to re-capture market share. The phones, from Sharp, Sony Ericcson, NEC, Motorola, and Nokia, are all (except 802N) dual-mode W-CDMA/tri-band GSM and represent the first major incursion of foreign-made models into Japan’s 3G battleground. English press release here.
Han Lian, chief executive officer of mobile game software maker BBMF Corp., said entering the Japanese market made him feel like an alien landing on a new world. BBMF, which stands for Big Blue Magic Fire, was founded in 2002 by Lian and a friend, Antony Yip. The Japan unit will be set up in the coming months and 10 titles are scheduled to be offered on KDDI and Vodafone handsets.
