Kyocera announces entry into GSM

Kyocera Wireless Corp. today announced its entry into the GSM handset market with four new GSM handsets. The new phones will launch initially in Latin America, where a number of CDMA service providers recently switched to GSM networks. Combined with its extensive CDMA expertise, Kyocera’s addition of GSM to its technology portfolio also positions the company to address the rapidly growing WCDMA market. The announcement coincides with today’s finalization of Kyocera acquiring Sanyo’s mobile handset business, making Kyocera the world’s sixth largest manufacturer of wireless phones.

Read more

http://www.cellphonedigest.net/news/2008/04/kyocera_announces_entry_into_g.php 

 

Motorola’s CTIA Handset Lineup Spilled On YouTube?

A promotional video, purportedly made by Motorola, has appeared on YouTube that shows off a number of existing and unannounced mobile phones from Motorola. The mystery phones, which include a Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone and 5-megapixel Kodak-branded shooter, could be the cards Motorola plans to reveal in a few weeks at CTIA.

Read more at

http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/03/motorolas_ctia.html

Dollars drifting down the value chain and the fight continues

Handset OEMs seems anxious about increasing commoditization of products (all the phones at a particular price carry similar features.. am i wrong?), decreasing costs, competition from new corners (mind iPhone & Blackberry) and the most worrisome cause seems to be their one time interaction with the buyer. Handset developers want to acquire a larger share of customer’s wallet by having a continuous interaction with the handset buyer through handset’s lifecycle. Nokia’s OVI, Apple’s iTune and Samsung announcing its intention to enter into mobile content business at MWC 2008 underlines this development. Apple’s Steve Jobs showed  his sharp business acumen when he launched iTunes clearly emphasizing that it is an uphill task to survive in a business where your customer does not come back to you. He knew its not possible to run a profitable business continuously by just selling iPods, he wants them to come back to Apple even after buying iPod. NOKIAs and Samsungs are late to understand this fact.

These recent developments of handset OEMs getting into mobile content business  also starting another war between OEMs and Operators. Operators worldwide want increasing share of their revenues and profits from mobile content and OEMs entry into their turf is signalling conflict of interests. This conflict seems to turn real if we believe this report T-Mobile to Ditch Several Nokia Handsets – Report (http://www.cellular-news.com/story/29663.php).

It would be interesting to see how NOKIA reacts to such moves by operators and how many operators follows T-Mobile. One thing to be noted down is, ‘in developed mobile markets handsets are offered bundled with mobile plans unlike India’.

One thing is clear OEMs are not happy with just one time hardware purchase and operators just dont want to act as ordinary “PIPE”.

Rollable LCD screen for mobile handsets

Polymer Vision Ltd (www.polymervision.com) has developed a rollable electronic display. Please visit the above link to peep into the future of mobile & laptop displays. A nice video showcases this innovative technology.

Polymervision was founded in 2003 and has 26 employees.

The display can be rolled out to a greater size than the actual mobile device itself. It has lower power requirements than an LCD with backlight and is easy to use giving a paper-like viewing comfort.

Once the user has finished, the display can simply be rolled back into the device. For example, a 5 inch display can be fully rolled up within the thickness of a standard mobile phone

This innovative technology can give big boost to Mobile TV and other such applications requiring bigger screens.

Aricent Develops High-Definition Video/Audio Encoders and Decoders for Texas Instruments Latest Mobile Technology

Aricent, a full-service, full-spectrum communications software company, announced that it has developed high-definition video and audio encoders and decoders (codecs) for Texas Instruments’ OMAP3430 processor-based mobile phones. Aricent’s high-definition software enables a new class of applications for the mobile consumer. The consumer will be able to use their mobile phone as a HD quality player and download high resolution HD content (720p) on their phone for playback on an HDTV screen or use the mobile phone as a DVD-quality camcorder recording in high resolution (720p). By decoding 720p MPEG-4 Simple Profile video in real-time, Aricent has become one of the first companies to offer DVD-quality record and playback capabilities for a range of mobile devices such as mobile handsets, portable media players and automotive entertainment systems.Aricent’s multimedia codecs were designed specifically for TI’s OMAP3430 processor, the latest in a line of mobile platforms that combine PC- and consumer entertainment system-comparable performance with low power consumption. Aricent’s multimedia software on the OMAP3430 processor is designed for multiple mobile platforms like Linux, Symbian and Windows Mobile.

“The next generation of mobile phones will support multimedia features previously available only with high-end consumer electronics,” said Markus Tremmel, worldwide wireless ecosystem manager Texas Instruments. “Using the processing power of the OMAP3430 processor, for the first time companies like Aricent are delivering better-than DVD-quality record and playback capabilities for mobile handsets.”

Aricent is a member of TI’s OMAP Developer Network, a group of leading software developers porting advanced applications to TI’s high performance, power-efficient OMAP processors. Handset manufacturers adopting OMAP devices enjoy the rapid deployment of compelling wireless applications – including streaming audio and video, multimedia messaging, gaming, security, speech recognition, location based services and mobile commerce – across all leading operating systems. Systems level integration services are also provided worldwide by independent OMAP Technology Centers. The OMAP platform has been selected by leading manufacturers, such as Nokia, Palm, NEC, Fujitsu, LG Electronics, Hewlett-Packard, HTC and many more, for their 2.5 and 3G wireless devices.

Nokia showcasing phone made of recycled phone

Nokia has released a short video showing a new concept from their design team exploring how recycled materials could be used to make mobiles in the future.

The idea behind the “remade” concept was to see if it was possible to create a device made from nothing new. It has been designed using recycled materials that avoid the need for natural resources, reduce landfill, and allow for more energy efficient production.

It is made out of metals from upcycled aluminum cans, plastics from drink bottles form the chassis, and its rubber key mats are provided by old car tyres. Inside the phone are new more environmentally friendly technologies such as printed electronics, and the graphics used on the display save energy without compromising on style.

Remade is a concept that explores potential new ideas for the future, and is part of Nokia’s ongoing work looking at how it can help people make more sustainable choices. It is designed to help inspire and stimulate discussion on how mobile devices might be made in the future.

Sooon there would be ‘mobile trash’ collectors !!!

Top 5 trends at Mobile World Congress

1. GPS Navigation is soon going to be an assumed feature in a few years. Trendsetters – HTC P3470 and Samsung G810

2. Linux love affair invigorated further- Couple of chipmakers showcased Android based handset prototypes. Few benefits of using Android are reduction in time-to-develop new handsets and easy maintenance.

3. Windows Mobile finds favor – With SEMC on board, now 4 out of top 5 handset manfucatures have adopted Windows Mobile. Let us see when NOKIA gives a reason to smile to Bill Gates.

4.  Fasten your seat belts – HSDPA & HSUPA technologies have started to appear on increasing number of phones. To a layman it means higher speeds.

5. Cool features – such as face detection, touch phones, handwriting recognition, image stablization, and better pictures in the dark

I am jumping in my chair thinking about future mobile phones and what will happen to Laptops the way computing features are getting embedded into mobile phones. A few futuristic scenarios I imagine are -

1. A mobile phone a node in the internet – each and every mobile phone in the future would have an IP address.

2. Mobile phones would start replacing Laptops

3. Keypad & screen less mobile phones – can u imagine voice driven phones (e.g. you just say call Amit and it does initiate a call….voila..) . Imagine more …no screens…may be ur screen getting projected on your spectacles.

SEMC announcing Windows Mobile based Xperia X1

After the widespread rumours, SEMC has officially announced a new Windows Mobile based smartphone series Xperia.

Some of the features are -

1. Has Apple iPhone like animated & orientation-aware icon-based interface

2. Xperia X1 has support for HSUPA supporting higher download speeds

3. Will have a high resolution 3 inch 800X480 pixel screen

4. Handwriting recognition (are you guys waiting for this feature).

5. 3.2 MP camers

6. Slide out QWERTY keypad

7. Bluetooth with A2DP

8.WiFi

9.’aGPS’ more advanced than plain GPS

10. And of course Microsoft Office and Media player

The phone is scheduled to be relased in 2nd half of 2008.

R u guys waiting for it????

No takers for Hello Moto’s handset business

Among the top 5 mobile producers, after LG & Sony Ericsson now the no. 2 player SAMSUNG has also shown a cold shoulder to Hello Moto’s handset business.

SAMSUNG says, ” too many overlapping areas and it will not supplement our portfolio and we are already no 2 player”

At the same time Motorola denies talks of sale of handset business.

Defensive move from NOKIA?

At Mobile World Congress wireless fair in Barcelona, NOKIA announced to integrate ‘Google Search’ on its handsets. Google search would at first be added to selected phones and markets and later to some mass-market models in more than 100 countries, the companies (NOKIA & Google) said.  A few NOKIA handsets already support Google owned another application ‘YouTube’.

In my opinion NOKIA is on defense now in the light of development such as - 1. Android commercial launch in mid 2008 2. Google launching a rival to NOKIA’s S60 platform later this year. 3. Google’s Android turning into a reality at Mobile World Congress where Android based handset prototypes were launched.

NOKIA will accept Android or not remains to be seen, however, this announcement clearly suggests that NOKIA is on a backfoot now.