FMC
FMC

FMC

Japan Telecom Forms Mobile Division

Japan Telecom and Vodafone K.K. just announced they have formed a new Mobile Business Division aligned with Vodafone K.K.’s Corporate Sales to jointly conduct business activities. The move stems from an organizational change made on 1 July 2006 to align with Vodafone K.K. Corporate Sales to strengthen mobile solutions and realize FMC. Previously Japan Teleco focused mainly on ICT solutions for business customers. However, in order to maximize business synergies with Vodafone K.K., which recently was recently aquired by SoftBank Group, the main functions of Vodafone K.K.’s Corporate Sales division have been aligned with Japan Telecom’s.

Fixed-Mobile Convergence Plan

Local media reports Vodafone KK and Japan Telecom may be looking to integrate their mobile and fixed line assets. Such a move would allow cell phones to work as landline handsets for use indoors. Fixed line rates are significantly lower than mobile charges and synchronicity between the two sectors could result in huge savings for individuals and businesses. It would also significantly accelerate Japan Telecom’s move into the wireless sector.

KDDI to Release 3G Router – FITELnet-F120 – Using CDMA 1X WIN Network

Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. will release a broadband router corresponding to high-speed data transmission service CDMA 1X WIN provided by the au cellular phone of KDDI “FITELnet-F120” at the end of January. “FITELnet-F120” is a product that can use the network of CDMA 1X WIN that enables the high-speed data transmission of 2.4Mbps or less as WAN service by following VPN function and backup function to get popular in the FITELnet-F series, and installing card “W01K” for CDMA 1X WIN in “FITELnet-F120”

DoCoMo Pulls the Plug on AOL

Chalk, cheese and lost opportunities: DoCoMo has ended its mystery-laden, Internet Bubble-popped tie up with AOL after deciding that it couldn’t make any money with them, and it’s flogging its entire barrow load of stock (its 42.3%) holding back to AOL at, SURPRIZE, a good deal less than the $100 million it was reported to have paid. So are minority shareholders Mitsui & Co. and the Nihon Keizai Shimbun Inc. In fact the Nikkei put it this way, we…”were exploring new services that would link personal computers and cellular phones over the Internet, but NTT DoCoMo has concluded that the venture is unlikely to become profitable.”

Toshiba Announces Methanol Fuel Cell for Portable Devices

The world leader in bringing fuel-celltechnology to portable products, today announced a prototype of highly compact,direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) that opens the way to the use of DMFCas an alternative power source to recharge batteries for personal devicesas small as cell phones, digital still cameras, PDAs and mobile TVs. The new DMFC issmall enough to fit in a carry-on bag or even in a jeans pocket as aportable power source.