Fujitsu announced the launch of the world’s smallest radio frequency module for mobile devices, which supports all of the RF circuitry necessary for Mobile WiMAX, the highly anticipated next-generation broadband wireless technology. The new RF module, MB86K71, co-developed with Fujitsu Laboratories Limited, was designed using 90-nanometer CMOS process technology. Sample shipment is scheduled to start at the end of February 2008.
NEC Corporation has concluded a full-turnkey supply contract with the Greek fixed telephone carrier, Tellas S.A.,, to deliver approximately 120 PASOLINK NEO hops (240 systems), as well as provide installation and after-sales services. This contract represents the first order of PASOLINK for NEC in Greece.
IT Media is reporting that IPMobile applied to the Tokyo District Court for voluntary bankruptcy today. The article states that their wireless business license was returned to the Telecommunications Ministry at the same time and indicates the company debt is about 900 million yen with 110 creditors.
Kyocera announced the successful field-testing of handsets used in a WirelessWallet consumer trial by Cellular South. Equipped with Near Field Communications (NFC) technology, the handsets were used by consumers to make wireless payments and purchases in the nation’s first multi-city trial by a wireless service provider. According to Cellular South, WirelessWallet will become available to consumers in early 2008.
Advanced M-Pay, the mobile payment arm of AIS, is penetrating the online community and making inroads into the high-margin international direct dialing services in an effort to turn a profit in 2008 for the first time ever. The 70:30 joint venture firm between the Thai cellular market leader Advanced Info Service and Japan’s NTT DoCoMo (as noted Here) expects the strategic shift to improve its performance by 30% next year in terms of transaction volume and value, revenue and profit.
Mobile Content Networks (MCN) has announced the establishment of MCN Japan K.K., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MCN Inc. Concurrent with the formation of MCN Japan K.K. MCN has moved its global operating headquarters to Tokyo to accelerate response to growing demand for MCN’s whitelabel Mobile Search Management platform in Japan, Southeast Asia, China, and India.
Emblaze Mobile announced an agreement with Sharp and ACCESS to develop what it calls a design to set new standards for the next generation of mobile devices. Acording to this press release the device is a ‘result of over five years of design by Emblaze Mobile in cooperation with some of the best Israeli high-tech companies and it utilizes some of the most advanced technologies in the mobile computing arena’. The mystery unit is slated for debut sometime next year.
Visto has announced a new effort with IBM that will leverage Lotus Notes Traveler and help enable delivery of Visto’s Mobile for IBM Lotus Domino to millions of IBM Lotus Notes users. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will collaborate on the enablement and marketing of a connector for Visto Mobile for Lotus Domino, providing customers with access to email, calendar appointments, contacts and other data pushed directly to their mobile phones.
Fresh off the wires from JCN; KDDI, Intel, JR, Kyocera, Daiwa, and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi have agreed to a new form joint venture, named Wireless Broadband Planning K.K. (WBPK), in order to bid on the 2.5GHz frequency band for Mobile Broadband Wireless Access System. Subsequent to obtaining a license, it will develop and operate a wireless network based on mobile WiMAX technology.
SonyEricsson appointed Hideki Komiyama its new top executive as Miles Flint has decided to step down from the post. Flint, who became president in 2004 and guided the venture to profitability, will remain executive adviser to Komiyama until the end of the year. Komiyama, currently chairman of Sony Electronics, will move into the new job on Nov. 1.
