3G
3G

QUALCOMM Expands Product Portfolio With New WCDMA 3G Solutions

QUALCOMM Incorporated, pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, today announced the Mobile Station Modem(TM) (MSM(TM)) MSM6255(TM) chipset and system software to enable cost-effective WCDMA (UMTS) and GSM/GPRS/EDGE solutions. QUALCOMM has extended the success of the commercially available MSM6250(TM) chipset to deliver the MSM6255 chipset, a highly integrated multimedia solution for WCDMA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks worldwide.

Vodafone Japan Goes Flat-Rate

Vodafone Japan has finally announced the launch of a flat-rate price plan. Vodafone’s new “Packet Free” tariff will allow unlimited use for 3,900 yen; there is also a “Packet Economy” level for 2,000 yen. Both plans allow free messaging (including attachments) between other subscribers and offer global roaming video calling from selected European regions (works on six of the seven new 3G handsets). Top that off with Macromedia Flash, some compelling pre-installed game content, and a new “Vodafone BB” data download service and it would seem Vodafone are finally getting their 3G underway.

Mobile Phone Makers Rush To 3G

Foreseeing global demand for new WCDMA phones will be worth more than 30 million units next year, world leading mobile phone makers, including Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, and Siemens as well as domestic manufacturers began making a big push into the 3G handset market to take lion?s share. Mindbranch Asia Pacific, a market research firm, forecasts that the number of new subscribers to 3G wireless communication service will reach 38 million worldwide next year generating a new demand for more than 30 million units of handsets.

Habbo Hotel Coming to Japan Mobile

Habbo Hotel Coming to Japan MobileFrom the Tokyo Game Show, in which long-time Tokyo mobile entrepreneur Neeraj Jhanji, builder of the first (and probably only) IM i-mode client for AOL, provides WWJ subscribers with an exclusisve look at his Until Now Very Quiet Plans (indeed, a working demo) to create a mobile version of the globally überpopular Habbo Hotel community service… er… site… or whatever it is. OK — it’s a networking community for digierati burnt out on traditional RPG shooters. In any event, Habbo’s mobile potential is huge (we think) and Neeraj is likely one of the few who can make it happen.

Dilithium Networks' CTO to Speak at "3G in China" Global Summit 2004

Dilithium Networks, a leading provider of 3G video telephony solutions for the world’s mobile and broadband industries, announced today that Dr. Marwan Jabri, its founder and CTO, will speak at the “3G in China” Global Summit 2004. Dr. Jabri’s speech on “3G Video Telephony Services and Challenges” will take place between 12:00–12:30 on Wednesday 8th November at the Kempinski Hotel, Beijing, China.

Cell-Phone Soap Opera a Cool New Genre

Love comes to the really, really small screen in a mobile, only-in-Japan, soap opera made exclusively for KDDI 3G cellys. The live-action soap opera, Yokohama 80s, follows the predictable lives, loves, and losses of young, beach-loving Japanese boys and girls back when Madonna was still Like a Virgin. Eighties’ big hair, big shoulders, and big hits have been downsized to tiny, two-and-a-half-minute broadcast bites. The story is adapted from Shogakan Shukan’s weekly Big Comic Spirits-series “Tokyo Eighties” (published as a serial manga) but features all-new original characters and storylines by the same author. Can the mobile laundry soap commercials be far behind?