Handsets
Sendo
European mobile phone manufacturer, Sendo, launched its second product platform, the S200 dual-band GSM mobile phone. Aimed at the young-at-heart prepaid market, features of the small and light phone include a variety of colors, short message service (SMS) picture messaging, ring-tone sharing and games. The Sendo S200 will be available from several European and Asian carriers beginning in the second quarter of 2001. www.sendo.com
Motorola
Motorola introduced its second generation of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) handsets. The five phones were created for all consumer segments and all price tiers with new mobile m-commerce and gaming applications. The Tri-band Timeport 260 allows users to switch between data mode and voice calls. The Accompli 008 all-in-one phone has a large touch screen for easy use and handwriting recognition so users can communicate in several languages. The Motorola V66 is a small tri-band phone with GPRS technology; the Motorola V120 provides advanced text messaging features; and the Talkabout 192 is touted as user friendly with animated screen savers, icons and iTAP predictive texting. www.motorola.com
TTPCom
U.K. company TTPCom announced the NavTalk II GSM and global positioning system (GPS) phone in conjunction with Garmin International. The unit has dual-band 900 MHz operation, a built-in data modem with data rates of up to 14.4 kilobits per second (kbps), short message service (SMS) and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) browsing. The phone’s GPS features include locations shown on moving electronic maps down to detailed street level, one-time location transmission via SMS or continual updates through a dedicated data channel, and point of interest information with automatic routing. www.ttpcom.com
Benefon
Benefon announced the Benefon Exion handset for NMT 450i services. The product is the smallest NMT phone in the world, according to Benefon with a weight of 109 grams and a length of 100 millimeters. It has a high output power of 1.2 watts, thus offering a wide operating area and optimized network connection. The phone has a stylish Nordic design with satin metal. Benefon Exion is available in two choices of metal covers: classic silver and avant garde rutenium. Benefon Exion offers a range of Benefon accessories: a plug-in hands-free car kit, a hands-free car kit with voice recognition and external antenna. Connecting the phone with line interface (LIF) to the modem port of a PC turns a laptop into a mobile office. The hands-free car kits and the chargers for the Exion are the same as those for the Benefon Q GSM 900 MHz handset. www.benefon.com
Wireless Internet technology
Microsoft
Microsoft launched its new smart phone platform, Stinger, which powers color mobile phones with advanced mobile Internet and personal information management (PIM) functionality. Stinger is designed for one-handed operation and includes Outlook companion, Mobile Internet Explorer, an e-mail client, a unified inbox, synchronization and data rates at 9.6 kilobits per second for current networks. The company said users are never more than a few clicks from the information they want. www.microsoft.com
Comverse Technology
Comverse Technology launched its personalized Mobile Portal that combines a user interface with a wide breadth of built-in applications for an enhanced, personalized mobile experience. Built-in applications include instant messaging, personal information management and entertainment services. The patent-pending Mobile Portal is designed for use with any microbrowser in second-generation, 2.5-generation and third-generation networks, the company said. www.comverse.com
Openwave Systems
Openwave Systems announced a new product architecture for packet-based General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and third-generation (3G) wireless networks for communication service providers worldwide. According to the company, its next-generation browser will enable service providers to fully exploit the capabilities of new networks with the addition of xhtml, wml, hdml, and c-html browsing support, and therefore better service users. www.openwave.com
Fenestrae
Fenestrae announced Fenestrae Mobile Data Server 2.5, the latest version of the solution that connects mobile professionals to corporate data using any device, across any network, via any application. The addition of the “automatic detect of browser” feature on the device enables mobile professionals to switch devices. Fenestrae MDS performs with General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), i-mode, the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and GSM and can connect to Microsoft Exchange data, including e-mail, contacts, calendar and tasks, and Internet mail; information from any database; and information in the user’s system. www.fenestrae.com
Philips Semiconductors
Philips Semiconductors announced the commercial introduction of QUBiC4, a new addition to its line of silicon BiCMOS process technologies. By fabricating the highly integrated radio frequency (RF) integrated circuits (ICs) required in third-generation (3G) mobiles through an “all silicon” process, QUBiC4 will help to make 3G mobiles affordable enough to attract subscribers, the company said. And by reducing power consumption, the technology will give 3G handsets the reserve battery power necessary to execute interactive multimedia applications that 3G networks will deliver.
Philips Semiconductors also released the Optimized Philips UMTS Solution (OPUS). The company said OPUS will enable the next generation of terminals to be developed, even though 3G infrastructure is still evolving. OPUS allows customers to prototype and verifies their hardware and software before the IC design is finalized, thus reducing cost and time to market. It also offers flexibility for design and integration into 3G terminals, facilitates development of 3G chipsets, prototypes and the integration of new features and enables field testing on 3G handset chips. www.semiconductors.philips.com
SMS technology
Airflash
Airflash, a wireless location technology developer, unveiled an interactive short message service (SMS) location service that it claims is the first within the wireless industry. The firm said that, given the majority of GSM/personal communications services (PCS) cell phones can support SMS, compared with the less than 15 percent of users with Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) phones, the potential market for its SmartSMS location-based services is much greater than WAP. The company confirmed that SmartSMS would be tariffed as a two-way service that integrates AirFlash’s location-based applications with conventional SMS text messaging systems. This, the firm said, allows existing mobile users to query and access location-relevant information, such as yellow pages, driving and walking directions and mobile notes, from any SMS-capable cell phone or pager. ww.airflash.com
Materna
German company Materna offered The Anny Way mobile payment solution, which allows users to shop via their mobile phones by using their phone numbers and a personal identification number. The invoice is then added to the user’s phone bill. Materna plans to enhance the Anny Way payment solution with a service and software solution for the Mobile Information Server 2001, multimedia messaging service and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). www.materna.com
Airslide Systems
Airslide Systems introduced an Internet Protocol (IP)-based solution for short messaging service (SMS) traffic and SS7 signaling networks. Airslide’s Gateway off loads SMS traffic onto IP-based networks, enabling cellular operators to increase the breadth of their SMS and other intelligent network services more quickly. According to the company, using the new solution will save providers in switching infrastructure, transmission equipment, maintenance and other costs ass
ociated with system expansion. www.airslide.com
Bluetooth technology
TTPCom
TTPCom announ
ced a solution to implement the new Bluetooth version 1.1 specification that includes baseband and radio frequency (RF) interface Internet Protocol (IP), with demonstration applications for headsets and dialup networking. Alcatel and Anritsu, the first licensees for the solution, have announced products based on the technology. Alcatel demonstrated a device with an integrated Bluetooth on a single chip system, including an antenna. And Anritsu announced the MT8850A, an RF test instrument for Bluetooth products that uses the 1.1 implementation of test-mode signaling. www.ttpcom.com
Ericsson
Ericsson released the Bluetooth Local Infotainment Point (BLIP), its second Bluetooth product. The standalone local platform, which communicates through Bluetooth technology, enables users to access information through their mobile phones or other mobile devices. The product will be launched globally in 2001. In addition to the hardware, the company plans to develop content solutions. www.ericsson.com
