Sony Computer Entertainment today announced that it will release the Play Station Portable in Japan on December 12. The next-generation handheld gaming device will be priced at 19,800 yen ($185). WWJ scooped the Web — and almost crashed our server — with our September video report here.
Last week, Hiroyuki Ida, from Mobile Broadcasting Corp.’s marketing department, confirmed the satellite-to-mobile broadcaster’s subscriber targets. The company is Japan’s (and, as far as we know, the world’s) first to offer digital audio, video, and data services to dedicated consumer terminals via satellite. Commercial services started on October 20. We’ll have more coverage in the near future.
Dilithium Networks, a leading provider of wireless multimedia solutions, today announced that the largest mobile telecommunications operator in the world, China Mobile, has purchased the Dilithium Networks Analyzer (DNA) the industry-leading 3G protocol analysis and test tool. The DNA will be used for interoperability testing and standards compliance with equipment manufacturers.
Sharp Corporation has developed a large-capacity, high-transmission-speed contactless IC module for electronic passports (e-passports). The world’s first IC module based on the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) e-passport recommendations, this product has just been put into use by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for an e-passport pilot program that began this October.
NTT DoCoMo and Nissan Motor are flying in tandem through a new tie-up between i-mode and the carmaker’s Carwings navigation system. The new service, Okutto-Keitai, allows drivers to receive destination-based i-mode digital maps and restaurant data via their NTT DoCoMo mobile handset. Drivers can also request information from Carwings’ live operator or by selecting information manually through the navigation system. Digital maps are provided by Zenrin; restaurant information through Gourmet Navigator, Inc.
Given the GPS technology on many wireless handsets these days plus the rich variety of navigation content sites, the main offering navigation systems have going for them is bigger screens. DoCoMo competitor KDDI would have you just lose the navigation console completely and rely on their increasingly micro-comprehensive 3G “Navi” systems. Nevertheless, automotive electronic devices continue to show strong growth here. A recent survey of auto parts makers by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) estimates sales of auto electronic devices — including car navigation systems — will hit 2.79 trillion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2005.
Macromedia and NTT DoCoMo, Inc. just announced that members of the DoCoMo-led global alliance of i-mode® licensing companies will be offered Macromedia Flash Lite. “NTT DoCoMo demonstrated their vision and leadership by adopting Flash Lite more than a year ago,” said Juha Christensen, president of mobile and devices for Macromedia. “Based on their success with the technology, they’ve chosen to expand its use throughout their partner community. As a result, Flash Lite will reach a greater audience much more quickly than could have been done without their support.”
