Seems we were not on the VIP invitation list, at least NikkeiBP made it, to attend this recent Tokyo Fashion Show event featuring the latest styles targeted at Ginza shoppers here for fall 2006. However, the Sony Ericsson W43S was front and center with the all girl hip-hop group YA-KYIM on the catwalk singing their signature theme for the handsets new TV ad campaign.
MediaSeek has released a new mobile phone OCR-based application called “Camera Dictionary” (Kamera Jiten), which translates English words into Japanese characters by simply scanning the mobile phone’s camera over the word. The characters of a scanned word are then matched to a dictionary database in real-time ensuring that dictionary lookup is both fast and accurate. The application will be distributed via content provider Enfour Inc. on their EZweb menu site “General English Dictionary” (Sougoeigojiten). Also included is a client server facility where the user can access more detailed information such as explanations, examples, and even pronounciation sound files from the main online dictionary.
KDDI has issued a follow-up to their spring announcement regarding the dual-mode CDMA 1x and corporate WLAN network service offering. The corporate mobile business solution service, or so-called “Office Freedom” campaign, will now also use NEC’s Univerge SV7000 for SIP access point hardware, with the E02SA BREW handset from Sanyo. DoCoMo have also been working in this area over the last few years to provide major corporate clients, such as Toyota and JAL, the in-house VoIP ability using NEC’s 900iL handset.
The hottest topic roiling Tokyo’s hot street this month is MNP – mobile number portability.
Details on pricing, dates and procedures that Japan’s carriers will follow to implement the regulator-mandated programme have been posted on WWJ in several items on this topic, including here, here and here.. Analysts, pundits and assorted commentators have all more or less concluded that the net winner will be KDDI/au, while the net loser will be DoCoMo (the jury is still out on Vodafone/SoftBank Mobile). At least some are attributing this pending negative migration to mere probability – as the carrier with the largest customer base, they argue, DoCoMo naturally stand to lose the biggest number of churners – all things being equal. But this analysis is weak and WWJ thinks..
KDDI has published its Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended March 31, 2006. In the president’s message to shareholders, President Tadashi Onodera is pleased to report that KDDI’s goals continue to expand while the company cultivates new business domains based on the watchwords “Strategy and Speed,” while KDDI, as the “Ubiquitous Solution Company,” continues to ‘Take It to the Next Level.’ Specific actions towards an enhanced structure with a view to propelling future business expansion include: the merger with the three TU-KA firms and the merger with Powdercom Inc. based on a comprehensive alliance in telecommunications services with Tokyo Electric Power Co. and an agreement on the provision of integrated FTTH services.
Vodafone Japan K.K. announced Thursday it would charge its customers 2,100 yen to cancel their contracts when transferring their phone numbers to different service providers. With Vodafone’s announcement, all three major cell phone firms have set their cancellation fees at 2,100 yen. Starting Friday, Softbank will accept applications for number transfers from the other two firms at Vodafone shops, by phone or on its Web site. The mobile number portability system will officially begin on 24 October.
