New Tech & Services
New Tech & Services

New Tech & Services

Satellite Phones for the Masses

According to this article on the Yomiuri, plans to launch a satellite to create an emergency cell phone relay station in space were announced by the Japanese Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry last week. The stationary orbital satellite with an antenna more than twice the size of any existing satellite antenna, would be used to secure mobile phone connections when ground base relay stations have been knocked out in an earthquake or other natural disasters. The ministry hopes to have the system running by the end of fiscal 2015.

Movie QR Codes Coming Soon

According to this article on IT Media, Hakuhodo DY Group i-Business Center and IT DeSign have developed a new “Movie QR code,” which incorporates moving video into the design. To personalize the appearance of usual static 2D QR codes, IT DeSign recently developed Design QR which inputs images of logos, characters or photos into the code. Movie QR code takes this concept a step further by incorporating moving images into the design, thus optimizing it for use on video screens, where it promises to be even more effective in attracting the attention of potential scanners.

KDDeye Camera Phone Image Wall

Here’s a super slick offering for AU camera-phone otaku’s. KDDI has launched this new Flash-based image wall [.jpg] in somewhat stealth mode as we just happened to stumble across it by accident recently. Simply put, members can upload their photos, or short video clips, from their handset or desktop PC. They also provide an easy cut & paste java script for those who hope to see their content appear in the rotating loop and so bloggers help spread the word. As part of the companies popular Duo-Blog service it’s yet another great example of youth targeted community based products which clearly is having a positive impact on their monthly new subscriber additions. Nice one!

Sharp Announces New Mobile AQUOS

Sharp announced they have developed a new LCD, based on ASV (Advanced Super View) technology found in the companies AQUOS line of TVs, for mobile handsets which features the industry’s highest (as of April 17) contrast ratio of 2,000:1 with a wide viewing angle of 176 degrees and a high-speed response time of 8 ms. According to the statement, by September 2007 the company will start shipping samples of this new 2.2-inch at 240 x 320 (QVGA) screen, targeted for 1Seg digital-tv enabled cell phones in Japan. Sharp started this trend with their 902SH model for Vodafone Japan in 2004 and their popular 905SH cycloid style design launched here in June last year, just in time for the World Cup. They have since followed-up with the so-called “2nd model” 911SH.

New 1Seg Digital TV Tuner Chip

MaxLinear has announced sampling availability of their new MxL7001 IC for mobile TV at 1/10th the packaged area of their MxL5000-family which set the previous record for size. The tuner supports both ISDB-T 1-segment and 3-segment applications and will be available in production quantities early summer 2007. According to the press release, several OEMs are in the latter stages of developing MxL7001 based products to be launched this summer.

RADVISION Solution Adopted by DoCoMo

RADVISION has announced that its ProLab 3G-324M Test Solution was purchased by NTT DoCoMo. ProLab 3G-324M supports connectivity verification and analysis for 3G handset video applications. The feature set includes a simulation of 3G-324M signaling and media, the monitoring of H.223, H.245 and media. In addition, the ProLab 3G-324M Test Solution supports IMTC and GCF test case scenarios.