Sign of the Times
Sign of the Times

Sign of the Times

Toyota Offers Emergency Cell Phone

Toyota Motors announced today that it will sell a new Pipit Phone model, a unique PHS handset [.jpg image] it has developed with PHS carrier DDI Pocket and Kyocera, at its auto dealers as well as its mobile phone shops across Japan, beginning on September 4. The new model has a security alarm built into the back side of the handset, an emergency call function to send out an emergency alarm to up to three pre-registered numbers. The handset also supports free access to PiPit Web, a location information site operated by Toyota, as well as email.

Japan Considering LAN Tax

Japan’s telecommunications ministry reportedly plans to introduce a new tax for spectrum used by home information appliances and high-bandwidth wireless local area networks. The proposed fee would be collected when users purchase LAN products, according to a media report. We’re waiting for the ‘crats to propose a tax on garage door openers next.

NEC Battles Exploding Batteries

After fake batteries have caused some Nokia mobile phones to explode, IDG reports today that NEC Electronics Corp. said that it has tweaked its — get ready for this — CipherUnicorn-S encryption technology which verifies battery authenticity in cellies, digital cameras, and other gadgets.

Before Pocket Rockets Were Tiny

One of the world’s telecom R&D powerhouses, NTT DoCoMo, has released a fascinating report reviewing the advances in cell phone technologies that enable today’s tiny, portable pocket rockets to surf the Web, transmit multimedia mail, and play sophisticated games. In 1985, the first Japanese mobile phone that could be used away from a car battery supply was called the “Shoulder Phone” and weighed in at about 3 kilograms.

Microsoft Opening Code for Mobile

Microsoft will take its first step toward a true open source-like OS when it releases Windows CE 5.0 to the public July 9. However, it will not end the licensing program for the mobile OS, there will still be a $3 license fee for every device using Windows CE code. Microsoft has been expanding the scope of its Shared Source Initiative (SSI) for the past few years in response to criticism that it was too closed when it came to allowing third-party developers to create applications based on the Windows OS.

LG Exporting Tri-Band Phone to US

LG Electronics announced Thursday that it will provide its handsets to the largest GSM operator of the US, Cingular. According to LG Electronics, it will export Tri-band GPRS camera phone (L1200) that can provide roaming service between the US and Europe and super-small-sized dual band GPRS color phone (C1300).