Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News goes all in for “Throwback Thursdays,” tapping into our archives to resuscitate the top headlines from the past. Fire up the time machine, put on the sepia-tinted shades, set the date for #TBT and enjoy the memories!
Nokia launches a mobile TV phone …
BARCELONA, Spain-Nokia Corp. showed off a range of new technology at its Mobility Conference, including a phone that can receive DVB-H mobile TV broadcasts. The phone is the first announced device that can receive DVB-H content, although vendors in South Korea already launched commercial services and devices using the rival DMB mobile TV standard. “We expect the market for convergence devices to double to 100 million units in 2006,” said Nokia Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jorma Ollila. “Convergence is opening up a world of opportunities for our customers and partners, and Nokia is committed to developing the tools, solutions and products to make the promise of the digital industry a reality.” … Read more
Because people are totally going to watch mobile TV
FREMONT, Calif.-The FLO Forum, a four-month-old association formed to advance mobile TV technology, said nine new companies have joined its ranks.The new members are South Korea’s EBS, KT Freetel, MSYS and Samsung Electronics; U.S.-based Ktech Telecom and Newport Media; Rohde & Schwarz from Germany; and Streamezzo and Teamcast of France. The companies join current members Amoi, BBEF, Harris Corp., Huawei, Korea Telecom, Kyocera, LG Electronics, LG Telecom, MediaFLO USA Inc., Pantech & Curitel, Qualcomm Inc., Roundbox, Sanyo Electric Co., Sharp Corp. and ZTE. The news lends further push to Qualcomm’s mobile TV technology, MediaFLO. The company has plans to build a nationwide mobile TV network running on the proprietary technology … Read more
Wi-Fi makes Merriam Webster
AUSTIN, Texas-It’s official, Wi-Fi is here to stay. The word Wi-Fi has been added to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition for 2005. “You know you’ve truly made it when you’re in Webster’s dictionary,” said Frank Hanzlik, managing director of the Wi-Fi Alliance. “Wi-Fi is not only a way of life for thousands and thousands, but also is now a bona fide part of the English language.” Webster’s defines “Wi-Fi” as follows: “Wi-Fi (certification mark)-used to certify the interoperability of wireless computer networking devices.” “We couldn’t have hoped for a better way to highlight the importance of interoperability, and this also reinforces our message that ‘it’s not Wi-Fi unless it’s Wi-Fi certified,’” Hanzlik said. “Webster’s is a highly respected source for word definitions, so appearing in the dictionary lends real credibility to everything the Wi-Fi Alliance has been working toward.” According to Webster’s, Wi-Fi is one of nearly 100 new words that have been added to the dictionary. A few other new entries include brain freeze, chick flick and metadata. … Read more
Dissecting demographics of the “wireless Web”
SAN FRANCISCO-Audience demographics vary drastically among U.S. mobile sports Web sites, according to a study from research firm Telephia. Figures from the company’s monthly report indicate wireless users who visited CNN-Sports Illustrated on their handsets were twice as likely to be black as visitors to all sports sites. Those who visited CBS Sportsline’s site were 2.4 times more likely to be Hispanic, and Yahoo’s sports audience drew largely from both minorities. ESPN, which was the most visited site in the study, drew heavily from every tracked demographic group-Asians, Caucasians, and Hispanics-except for blacks. Telephia credits brand recognition and sports content coverage with building strong demographic followings … Read more
BlackBerry on the Edge
ATLANTA-Cingular Wireless L.L.C. announced it plans to be the first carrier in the world to sell Research In Motion Ltd.’s new EDGE-capable BlackBerry. The company’s new BlackBerry 8700c features wireless access to corporate e-mail and will sell for $300 with a service agreement. Cingular said it has an exclusive agreement with RIM to sell the device. Cingular has previously announced similar exclusivity deals with other devices makers, including Motorola Inc. for its iTunes-capable Rokr and Razr devices. RIM’s new BlackBerry features several interesting elements. First, the device is the first from the company to run on Intel Corp.’s chips … Read more
3GPP gives its blessing to TDS-CDMA
HONG KONG-ZTE Corp. announced that its TD-SCDMA standard has been approved by the Third Generation Partnership Project as one of the 3G mobile communications standards. ZTE said its TR 34.943 standard was drafted with Datang Mobile and China’s Research Institute of Telecommunications Transmission, a subsidiary of China’s Ministry of Information Industry. The company said its TR 34.943 standard will significantly speed up the TD-SCDMA conformance testing progress and improve TD-SCDMA implementation, thereby accelerating international acceptance of the standard … Read more
Ford installs “mobile offices” in pickups for $3K
LAS VEGAS-Ford Motor Co. will offer a dealer-installed “mobile office” with a wireless-enabled PC, printer and GPS system in its F-250 trucks next year, the automaker said Tuesday. Ford is teaming with Microsoft Corp. and Stargate Mobile on the package, which will cost about $3,000 and feature a PC with a touch screen and voice recognition technology, Microsoft software and an optional credit card scanner. The companies hope to target contractors and other workers who do business on the road … Read more
Remember the Rokr
ATLANTA-Two months after it began selling the phone, Cingular Wireless L.L.C. has cut the price of Motorola Inc.’s iTunes-capable Rokr by $100. The carrier is now selling the device for $150 with a service agreement, down from an unsubsidized price of $250. Motorola’s Rokr-the world’s first phone to work directly with Apple Computer Corp.’s iTunes digital music service-has generated a massive amount of interest within the wireless industry. The phone has come to represent the potential melding of the digital music and mobile-phone businesses. Cingular signed an agreement with Motorola to be the exclusive vendor of the Rokr in the United States for at least three months. Motorola and Cingular unveiled the gadget in September with much fanfare and a massive advertising push, but reaction to the device has been mixed … Read more
Check out the RCR Wireless News’ Archives for more stories from the past.
