Three of Japan’s major electronics manufacturers have agreed on a standard interface specification for a type of memory in 3G mobile phones that will allow the companies to use a common component design to help phones function better. The companies will begin production of memory parts based on the specification in March 2005, according to a statement.
China Telecom will adopt a cautious approach to the introduction of its 3G mobile network once it has received its license, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. Industry watchers had previously speculated that China Telecom were planning to spend RMB90 billion (US$10 billion) on the construction of a nationwide 3G network, using WCDMA technology.
Nokia plans to locate its second global 3G equipment manufacturing site in China. By choosing China, Nokia will become the latest in a stream of major mobile telecoms gear makers – including Germany’s Siemens and Canada’s Nortel Networks – to build a 3G manufacturing facility in the country. Nokia already has a 3G research and development centre in Suzhou, the centre employs more than 100 engineers, and is “expanding” its headcount.
Panasonic announced the release of it’s SDK MediaArtist, an MPEG-4 related AV software encoder for the 3GPP/3GPP2 and SD-Video standards, will go on sale Sept. 1st. Designed to operate with the SD memory card in target devices such as a cellphones, car navi systems, television, and camera models which are increasingly being adopted. Configured for the 3G phones of Japan’s wireless carriers and using the 3GPP standard, the original MPEG-4 object model has been significantly extended. Press Release in Japanese.
Vindigo Studios, one of the best-known publishers of consumer applications for mobile devices, today announced it has been acquired by For-Side.com Co. Ltd., a leading worldwide mobile content provider based in Japan. The Vindigo Studios acquisition was completed earlier this month for $36.5 million. Through the all cash agreement, Vindigo Studios will continue to operate as an independent entity led by existing management and will continue to market itself under the Vindigo Studios brand.
Openwave Systems Inc., the leading provider of open software products and services for the communications industry, today announced a collaborative agreement with SAGEM, a major international player in telecommunications manufacturing, to deliver the SG321i, one of the first i-mode-compliant phones to be produced by a European manufacturer, to Bouygues Telecom, a French mobile operator acknowledged for its policy of innovation. The phone will use the Openwave Mail Client for i-mode and Openwave Mobile Browser V.7 (V7 Browser), the flagship application from Openwave Phone Suite Version 7.
