Handsets/ devices
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi released three new handsets. The Eclipse is a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) phone with a color display. The dual-band phone offers 256 colors and up to 86 kilobits-per-second data speeds. It has several features for business users. The phone allows users to exchange business cards or synchronize dates in organizers. In addition to short message service (SMS) messages, users can send faxes or make calls using voice dialing. Sirius is a Wireless Application Protocol/GPRS phone with an IrDA interface for mobile business. Sirius incorporates a personal organizer to help efficiently manage schedules and contacts. It has voice memo and voice-activated dialing features. In addition, it features a currency converter. Finally, Mondo is a GSM/GPRS phone-enabled Pocket PC. Microsoft’s Pocket PC software on the unit offers pocket versions of Windows software. Mondo also features multiparty calls for up to six people, SMS and hands-free capabilities. The unit allows users to send and receive e-mails and video mails, browse the Internet and listen to MP3 audio files. The products are marketed under the Trium brand name in Europe. www.trium.net
Samsung
Samsung announced several new handsets and devices. The company announced a color video on demand (VOD) handset for 1X mobile networks. The handset also supports audio on demand. It can reproduce clear motion picture images in 200,000 different color shades and send and receive text data wirelessly at up to 144 kilobits per second (kbps). It comes with a built-in MPEG4 motion picture decoder and stereo player. The color TFT-LCD screen can display 12 lines of text at once. A separate memory is available to download motion picture clips for playback. The handset can be linked to a PC to download icons, images and games in color. Samsung also released an ultra-thin handset that is less than 1 centimeter thick called the SPH-N2000. It can display four gray scale tones and eight lines and provides wireless Internet functionality with the Micro Explorer (ME) browser. It can store up to 1,000 phone numbers. In addition, Samsung released its first TDMA handset, the STH-N275. It is 17 millimeters and weighs 93 grams. The phone has a five-line LCD, as well as voice memo, games and other functions. www.samsungelectronics.com
MediaSolv
MediaSolv said it designed a low-cost personal digital assistant that will enable real-time access and management of e-mail, calendar, contacts and other personal information. The PDA will cost as little as US$25. The product will incorporate the company’s Bluetooth-enabled Etherchip technology, which is a complete system on chip with embedded ARM processor, memory, control circuitry, system software and Bluetooth radio. The applications on board provides personal information management (PIM) functionality. The product also includes sKey technology, a predictive text scheme tailored for the Internet PIM environment. The unit is capable of accepting remote firmware updates while providing a channel for device controls, maintenance and related tasks. www.mediasolv.com
Mobile Internet
Changing Worlds
The Irish company released software that allows mobile users to personalize Internet-based content offerings. The ClixSmart Navigator software adapts mobile portals to the evolving preferences of individual users to provide personalized information based on their online behavior patterns. The software reduces the “click-distance” to relevant data for users. www.changingworlds.com
Oplayo
Oplayo announced a Java-based streaming video technology that enables video transfer to all Java-enabled terminals on different wireless networks. The patented MVQ technology enables efficient video compression and light decompression at the receiving end, making it suitable for wireless environments. The distributed video content is compressed into an extremely light packet. The end user’s computer or mobile device automatically decompresses and shows the packet with the accompanying small Java applet. www.oplayo.com
Comverse
Comverse released picture messaging, an application that runs on the Java platform for mobile devices to enable true multimedia on second-generation (2G) networks. The application allows mobile subscribers to create, send and forward full-color visual messages from a mobile device. Picture messages are stored in Comverse’s multimedia messaging platform and then set to a list of addresses defined by the subscriber. The Java technology displays the pictures in high resolution on Java 2 platform, Micro Edition technology-enabled handsets. www.comverse.com
MobileQ
The company released MobileQ MyScape, a multilingual products that enables wireless Web users to customize the content they access on their wireless devices. The product allows wireless service providers to customize content for their customers and allows subscribers to customize content they access. MyScape supports any language character set, the company said. The product can be used to launch specialized corporate applications that are seamlessly integrated with consumer services, the company said. www.mobileq.com
Alice Systems
Alice launched its second General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) client software that enables mobile Internet over GPRS, Alice Connect. The product will stimulate end users to take advantage of GPRS as a means to download e-mails, surf the Web and access intranets, the company said. Alice Connect is targeted toward all GPRS users and is focusing on user friendliness and usefulness for mobile data users with laptops and personal digital assistants. The software can be preconfigured by the operator, reducing the complexity of the mobile Internet for subscribers. www.alicesystems.com
Network equipment
Lucent
Lucent introduced the SpringTide 7000 wireless Internet Protocol (IP) services switch that will enable wireless carriers, including third-generation operators, to offer premium-pay data services, such as virtual private networks, enhanced security, messaging, mobile commerce and location-based services, to their enterprise customers, the vendor said. The technology will allow carriers to take advantage of IP networks, while still preserving their investments in circuit-based infrastructure. The system manages the sessions between the radio network and the wireline IP network, so mobile users experience “always-on” connections, the company said. Virtual routing and tunnel switching technology provide increased security and reliability. www.lucent.com
Spotwave Wireless
The Canadian company said it developed technology that will allow cellular service providers to solve common coverage problems by offering clear service in buildings and vehicles. The product will automatically and continually ensure reliable cell-phone coverage when placed in problem coverage areas. The company said its first products will ship in the fourth quarter of 2001. www.spotwave.com
Siemens
Siemens developed MoneyBeamer for mobile-phone operators to allow users to recharge their prepaid mobile accounts via the Internet. The product allows subscribers to credit their mobile phones via the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), short message service (SMS) or with a PC via the Internet. Payment can be made via credit card, bank account or telephone banking from a postpaid mobile. Third parties can also transfer credit via the mobile network or Internet to a user’s mobile-phone account. Czech mobile operator Cesky Mobil is using the product, Siemens said. www.siemens.de/mobile
Chip technology
Intel
Intel announced an experimental computer chip based on a new process technology that combines the core components of today’s cellular phones and handheld computers. The company said the technology could enable a new era of wireless Internet products with extensive battery life an
d greater processing power. The new chips feature logic, flash memory and analog communications circuits on a
single piece of silicon using a single manufacturing process. Chips produced on the process may be up to five times more powerful than those used in current cell phones, capable of operating at speeds of up to 1 GHz and providing up to a month of battery life. www.intel.com
Applications
OpenGrid
OpenGrid introduced FastBook, a service that allows hotels to offer guests reservations, cancellations and loyalty programs using any wireless Internet device. FastBook includes wireless Web hosting, simplified data entry for loyalty programs, transaction capabilities and administering and reporting of all transactions. www.opengrid.com
Pocket-IT and Unwired Factory
Norway’s Pocket-IT and Danish company Unwired Factory announced a new concept in mobile entertainment. The competition is a treasure hunt game that can be played on short message service (SMS) and the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). Players that subscribe to the game pay a small fee to obtain clues leading to the actual location where the treasure is hidden. The clues are provided via the Web, WAP, e-mail and media spots. The winner is the first player to “dig” at the right location. The competition is being sponsored by Ericsson, Compaq and other companies. The competition will be deployed in Norway through Telenor Mobile to demonstrate the possibilities of combining cellular technology with different distribution channels. www.pocket-it.com and www.unwiredfactory.com
