The latest on Xohm: Usage Limits and a New Vendor
By Peggy Albright
Sprint Nextel's launch of the Xohm WiMAX service this week has come under unanticipated controversy for an "acceptable use" policy, written into its Xohm subscriber agreements, which gives the company the right to limit data usage.
According to the policy, Xohm may use "various tools and techniques designed to limit the bandwidth available for certain bandwidth intensive applications or protocols, such as file sharing," in order to ensure a high-quality experience for the overall subscriber base.
The policy quickly gained the attention of Free Press, an advocacy group that supports net neutrality rules for broadband providers, which asserted Xohm is contradicting its open-access promise. Sprint, in turn, has asserted it will not police its users or target specific applications or services. However, it said it reserves the right to make sure no one uses a disproportionate share of the network to disadvantage other customers.
How this matter plays out remains to be seen. However, just last week, T-Mobile USA had to reverse a policy written into its data plans that would have put a 1GB limit on its UMTS/HSDPA users. Earlier this year, Verizon Wireless came under fire from the New York Attorney General for terminating customers of its EV-DO unlimited plan for using more than 5GB per month.
But surely, the Xohm controversy has created a distraction from the buzz surrounding a long-awaited Xohm debut. Sprint launched the service on Monday in Baltimore, just in time for the WiMAX World show in Chicago this week where Xohm became big news, and the operator will kick off a media blitz next week to show off Xohm devices and sustain media attention.
While the service is receiving scrutiny of its geographic coverage, which is to be expected in this nascent business and with a gradual roll-out, its pricing is affordable, coming with an introductory price of $10 per day, $25 per month for home Internet services, and $30 per month for mobile use, and a special $50 price that will cover use by any two devices.
Separately, Sprint has made a vendor change in one of its forthcoming Xohm markets. Nokia Siemens Networks lost its initial contract to build the Xohm network in Dallas. Xohm has opted to use Samsung equipment, which it has on hand, rather than wait for the NSN product, which is not yet ready for commercialization.
Sprint is expected to launch Xohm next, in Chicago and Washington, D.C., by the end of the year. Its networks in Boston, Philadelphia and Dallas/Forth Worth are also under construction. [FierceBroadbandWireless]
Orange Subsidizes HSDPA-embedded Notebook From HP
By Peggy Albright
Will operators some day regret their emerging tendency to follow the cell phone model and give away notebook computers for free?
This week saw yet another notebook promotion from the UK operator, Orange, which gives customers a HP notebook that run on its HSDPA network as well as WiFi, at no cost if a wireless data service bundle is purchased. Several HP notebooks are available. The products are targeted to small and medium size businesses. The rate plan includes a data allowance of 5 GB per month and 500 WiFi minutes per month, which can be used at more than 10,000 hot spots in the UK.
The notebooks, which include the HP6735s, the 6730s and 6730b, are loaded with Microsoft Windows Vista Business software. Depending on the service bundle purchased, the laptop could come with embedded HSDPA or a USB modem. Service prices with a two-year contract range from (US)$64 to $82.
Several European operators, including Orange, have already begun selling subsidized laptops in certain markets and announcements along these lines are becoming more frequent. Last week, Vodafone said it will begin selling Dell's new HSDPA-equipped Inspirion Mini 9 notebook under an exclusive arrangement with Dell that is expected, though so far not announced, to provide subsidies for consumers.
The U.S. market has yet to exhibit a trend in this direction. It will be interesting to see if domestic operators adopt this practice too for certain wireless broadband-enabled products, especially since they often lament having created the U.S. mobile phone market to be dependent on these types of deals. [FierceBroadbandWireless]
T-Mobile Launches its First HSDPA Handset
By Peggy Albright
T-Mobile USA has begun selling its first HSDPA-capable device, a Sony Ericsson TM506 flip phone. The handset became available from T-Mobile on Friday.
T-Mobile, which activated its first UMTS/HSDPA network in May of this year, had yet to offer a phone for customers wanting the faster connectivity and applications and services HSDPA provides. The new UMTS/HSDPA handset sells for $79.99 with a two-year service agreement and a $50 mail-in rebate. The company says the device comes with a 2.0 megapixel camera, access to the My Album online photo storing and sharing service, as well as stereo Bluetooth and TeleNav maps.
T-Mobile's UMTS/HSDPA network, which launched first in New York City, now reaches to a handful of markets, including Dallas, Las Vegas, and Chicago. The company plans to have services deployed in 20 to 25 markets by the end of the year. It expects its HSDPA services to offer data speeds of 600 kbps to 1 Mbps. [FierceWireless]
Rumor: HSDPA iPhone Coming in June
The iPhone rumor mill is running at full throttle with the expectation that Apple will announce an HSDPA-enabled version in June. But given Apple's long history of delays, meeting this schedule -- albeit 12 months after the original U.S. launch of the iPhone, could be a risky punt.
However, what appears to be solid information is that the current iPhone baseband supplier Infineon will provide the HSDPA chipset -- a story reinforced by the German company also planning to ramp down production of the EDGE baseband solution used in the current generation of the iPhone in order to clear inventories ahead of the 3G model.
At a more curious level, UBS analyst Ben Reitzes speculated these new iPhones would be offered by new international operators. He also said that the business appeal of the iPhone will be improved with the release of a new software kit that will allow developers to write applications for the iPhone - much as they do for the networking site Facebook.
“We believe new features could help address issues that are limiting iPhone penetration in the enterprise," including compatibility with Microsoft's e-mail applications, Mr Reitzes said.
While it remains unclear what this might mean, Morgan Stanley offered the bizarre explanation that Steve Jobs' travel expenses could provide the answer. Apparently, Jobs spent $550,000 on air travel--nearly three times more than the average spent over the past year and a half. Morgan Stanley claims that this was the need for Jobs' integral involvement with operators in Asia and Europe vying to secure iPhone contracts.
"We'd point to a 34 per cent year-on-year increase in R&D and 170 per cent year-on-year increase in Steve Jobs' airplane expense in the December quarter as signs Apple is preparing for meaningful product launches," the analyst, Kathryn Huberty, wrote. Wow, that's an interesting hypothesis. [FierceBroadbandWireless/TimesOnline]
Nokia N96: Most Advanced Multimedia Computer at Hand
At the moment of Mobile World Congress 2008, Barcelona, event, Nokia unveiled the Nokia N96 which is called "multimedia computer" that truly optimized for video and TV. With a large 2.8" screen, 16 gigabytes of internal memory and support for high-quality videos in a wide range of formats, the dual-slide Nokia N96 represents an exciting new chapter in mobile media. The Nokia N96 multimedia computer is expected to begin shipping in the third quarter of 2008.
"In 2007, the Nokia N95 became an icon of convergence of Internet and mobility. With over 7 million units sold to date, the N95 has changed the way people use their mobile device. The Nokia N96 we introduced today builds on the success of N95, further enhancing the experience," says Jonas Geust, who oversees Nokia's Explore category.
"Through the power of the Internet, video and TV are becoming even more prevalent in people's lives. With its large, bright screen, and a range of high-speed connectivity options and the enhanced Nokia Video Center, the new Nokia N96 is a personal window to entertainment," he added
Though the phone it replaces is still a beast by any measure, the N96 pushes the envelope further by packing a solid 16GB of storage internally in addition to a microSD slot, something the N95 8GB lacks. The 5 megapixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss Tessar lens carries over, but there are now two LEDs doing flash and video light duty. The 2.8 inch QVGA display will come in handy for the integrated DVB-H mobile TV tuner, while a 3.5mm headphone jack, A2DP, and integrated stereo speakers should handle audio with aplomb.
Other features include WiFi, AGPS, and morphing lights on the smaller second slide that hook the user up with game controls when it's time to relax with a little N-Gage action.
Unfortunately, the first version of the N96 (and the only version announced thus far) supports HSDPA only on the 900 and 2100MHz bands, but we imagine the strength of the spec sheet should still be enough to sell a few of these stateside when it launches in the third quarter for €550 (about $797).
Accessing internet videos is quick and simple. The Nokia N96 supports common video formats including MPEG-4, Windows Media Video and Flash Video, making favorite videos easy to view. Transferring and accessing videos is even faster with the high-speed USB 2.0 connection and WLAN and HSDPA support. In select markets, the integrated DVB-H receiver offers live broadcast TV with an automatically updating program guide.
The massive memory can store up to 40 hours of video content. The storage capacity of the Nokia N96 can even be further expanded with an optional microSD card, such as the new Nokia 8GB microSDHC Card MU-43 which increases the available memory of the Nokia N96 to a total of 24 GB. For added convenience, the Nokia N96 features a 'kickstand' on the back cover that allows for hands-free viewing.
The Nokia Video Center offers one place to discover and access a variety of mobile content ranging from movie trailers and comedy to news from world-leading content brands such as YouTube, Reuters, and Sony Pictures. The catalogue of internet video feeds is continually expanded with more regional and country specific content.
For a superb music experience, the Nokia N96 features media keys, a 3.5 mm headphone connector and built-in 3D stereo speakers. The Nokia Maps application offers richer maps with urban details and satellite views and has upgrade options such as City Guides, turn-by-turn pedestrian mode and voice-guided car navigation.
The Nokia N96 boasts a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, flash and video light. It allows DVD-like quality video capture at 30 frames per second. Further, with the integrated A-GPS, consumers can now 'geotag' their pictures with location data and share them with their online communities.
The Nokia N96 naturally supports the Ovi family of Nokia internet services, including maps, music, media sharing and more. /PR
General:
2G Network - GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network - HSDPA 850 / 2100
Data:
GPRS - Class 32, 107 / 64.2 kbps
HSCSD - Yes
EDGE - Class 32, 296 kbps; DTM Class 11, 177 kbps
3G - HSDPA 3.6 Mbps
WLAN - Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology
Bluetooth - Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared port - Yes
USB - Yes, v2.0 microUSB
Features:
OS - Symbian OS 9.3, S60 rel. 3.2
Messaging - SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
Browser - WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, RSS reader
Games - Downloadable
Colors - Black
Camera - 5 MP, 2592x1944 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, video(VGA 30fps), flash; secondary VGA videocall camera
- Built-in GPS receiver
- A-GPS function
- DVB-H TV broadcast receiver
- Dual slide design
- Java MIDP 2.0
- MP3/AAC/AAC+/eAAC+/WMA player
- 3.5 mm audio output jack
- TV out
- Stereo FM Radio with RDS
- Organizer
- Office document viewer
- T9
- Push to talk
- Voice dial/memo
- Built-in handsfree
Sony Ericsson C902 Cyber-shot – Nice and Easy
Sony Ericsson C902 is the new Cyber-shot squad member. The C902 designation does break a mold, as all previous Cyber-shot models belonged to the K-series. It's now C for Cyber-shot, nice and easy.
Sony Ericsson C902 has a surprisingly small 2" 262K-color TFT display of QVGA resolution. When the display is off, it does look like at least a 2.2 incher, but with the lights on the reason for this size is obvious - there are eight touch sensitive camera keys that backlight in blue around the display.
Ultra-compact, stylish and with a unique lens cover that slides open to reveal the 5.0 megapixel Face Detection and Auto Focus camera, the C902 Cyber-shot sports a camera performance beyond its sleek and slim looks. The phone’s lighting dramatically signals when you are in camera mode by switching from white to blue. The eight camera touch keys come to life and let you choose between camera modes, Photo Flash, Face Detection and Auto Focus, and more with just one touch without moving your finger from the shutter button.
With the C902 Cyber-shot you just need to slide open the active lens cover and shoot. The Face Detection and Auto Focus capability enables the camera to detect and focus on the face of your subject rather than the background, so that you can take sharp and high quality pictures of your friends.
Bringing the new C902 Cyber-shot you can be confident of getting the perfect shot. The phone incorporates the latest in lighting technology – Photo Flash – giving you better quality pictures even in low-light conditions. Also, a light solution has been added to the established BestPic™ feature – which lets you take nine photos in quick succession, choose the best and delete the rest. So now you can use BestPic™ wherever you are, perhaps even to capture the dance-floor action in a club!
You can create your own multi-media slideshow. Use x-Pict story™ to add music and transitions to your gallery of photos and automatically create your own multi-media slideshow to share with your friends. Lights, music, action!
The C902 Cyber-shot comes with a 160MB built-in memory – the equivalent of storage for up to 100 full resolution photos – plus the possibility to add even more memory with the Memory Stick Micro™ (M2) that can be bundled with the phone depending on the market.
The multimedia package includes Media player with the Mega Bass equalizer preset, TV out, FM radio with RDS, TrackID. A 3D Need for Speed game is on top of the regular stuff in the entertainment sector. Bluetooth with A2DP makes sure music can be enjoyed on a wireless stereo headset.
The C902 is a global phone with quad-band GSM /EDGE support. The European version of the phone will also feature HSDPA (3.6 Mbps) for fast data transfers. The versions for America (Sony Ericsson C902a) and China Mainland (Sony Ericsson C902c) lack HSDPA support.
Sony Ericsson C902 will be available from Q2 2008 in Swift Black and Luscious Red. /PR
Features:
Messaging - SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
Browser - WAP 2.0/HTML (NetFront), RSS reader
Games - Yes + downloadable
Colors - Swift Black, Luscious Red
Camera - 5 MP, 2592Ñ…1944 pixels, autofocus, image stabiliser, video, flash; secondary videocall camera
- 8 illuminated camera touch keys
- Java MIDP 2.0
- FM radio with RDS
- MP3/AAC/MPEG4 player
- TrackID music recognition
- Picture editor/blogging
- Organiser
- Built-in handsfree
- Voice memo/dial
General:
2G Network - GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network - HSDPA 2100 - C902i only
Data:
GPRS - Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
EDGE - Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G - HSDPA 3.6 Mbps
Bluetooth - Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
USB - Yes, v2.0
Readius Brings e-Reading Comfort to Mobile Phones Using Rollable Displays
Polymer Vision, the inventor of rollable displays and a spin out from Philips, today (February 22, 2008) introduced the Readius® product for commercial launch by mid 2008.
The exclusive device exploits the versatility of rollable displays to merge the ‘reading friendly’ strengths of e-readers with the ‘high mobility’ features of mobile phones.
Together with the Readius internet portal, designed for personalisation and content selection, the company offers a whole new mobile phone category.
“People are demanding greater choice and flexibility in having overall instant access to personal content and information” said Karl McGoldrick, CEO of Polymer Vision.
“They do not want to be concerned with small screens, not being able to read in sunlight, a dead battery or a device being too bulky to carry in their pocket. Readius solves these worries and is generations ahead of anything else out there today”.
Ideal for travel companion
Designed around ease of use and mobility, Readius can last for 30 hours of continuous reading without battery charge. The 3G HSDPA tri-band phone allows worldwide calls and high speed instant updates from personally selected news sources, email and other services.
Standard POP3 and IMAP is supported for ISP e-mail and others such as Yahoo!Mail, Google Gmail and Microsoft Exchange. The Micro SD High Capacity storage ensures quick and easy access to e-books and valuable information. Readius also features audio capabilities, including MP3, for podcasts, audio books and music.
Internet portal delivers choice and flexibility
The Readius internet portal allows users to quickly and simply configure their Readius User Interface as well as select content and services to individual style and needs. With zero clicks, personal data and information is then ‘pushed’ whenever and wherever it is needed.
The portal presents content providers with a commercially attractive channel to offer their content and services to the high growth mobile consumer market. Polymer Vision is in discussion with numerous such providers to populate the portal and make a broad choice of content and services available to Readius owners.
Readius will be available for commercial launch mid 2008, creating an exceptional opportunity for mobile operators, retail outlets and content providers to win new customers, increase revenues and develop non-intrusive mobile advertising options. /PR
For more information please visit the Polymer Vision website: www.polymervision.com
Summary of key specifications
Weight: One third the average weight of e-readers (115g)
Display size: Twice the surface area of current largest phone display (5” diagonal, 16 greyscales)
Device size: Equal to an average mobile phone when closed (115 x 57 x 21mm)
Battery life: Up to six times longer than on mobile phones (30 hours continuous reading) (Reading)
Connectivity: Greatest coverage of any e-reader (Tri Band/3G HSDPA)
Supporting ActiveSync and USB mass storage (USB 2.0)
Communication with accessories and other devices (Bluetooth 2.0)
Processor: Powerful processing engine (ARM11 400MHz)
Storage: Flexible, today commercially available up to 8GB (High Capacity Micro SD)
User Interface: Just 8 buttons (SimpleTouch Buttons)
The Fashionable 3G HSDPA Handset - LG KS20
The fashionable LG KS20 is a HSDPA-enabled device meaning that it supports both HSDPA and HSUPA for achieving great speeds in downloading as well as uploading. LG has also thought of areas where 3G is not usable adding EDGE and GPRS to the network connectivity capabilities.
The new KS20 obviously takes after the prominent KE850 Prada, losing the haute couture ring to its name but adding some Pocket PC depth to the picture.
The LG KS20 is a sleek lightweight phone of compact (in Pocket PC terms) dimensions and a large 2.8" QVGA TFT display. The handset has the mere Call and End keys and a joystick on the front - a direct reference to the Prada looks.
The KS20 sports a touchscreen 2.8" TFT display with a QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) resolution. The somewhat surprising news here is the presence of the Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional OS in the device, having in mind that its "smart" predecessor KS10 was based on Symbian 9.1 S60 UI.
The LG KS20’s camera sports 2 megapixel resolution, autofocus, flash and video recording abilities - not bad for a stylish PocketPC. There is also a secondary camera used for video calls. Other multimedia features of the sleek handset are video and mp3 players as well as FM radio and TV out. The 90MB user memory is expandable through the microSD card slot.
Wireless connectivity is also taken care of by including Bluetooth v2.0 and Wi-Fi in the compact device. LG KS20 measures 99.5 x 58 x 12.9 mm and weighs only 99 grams, which is a great achievement for all the functionality included. /PR
Key features
- Custom LG implementation of the UI
- 2.8" 65K color touchscreen TFT display of QVGA resolution
- GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
- EDGE
- 3G HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps
- 400 MHz Qualcomm MSM7200 processor
- 128MB RAM and 256MB ROM, microSD expansion slot
- WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
- Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
- Surprisingly good 2 megapixel autofocus camera with
- LED flash
- Stereo FM radio with RDS
- USB to 3.5mm jack adapter
- Sturdy build, quality casing and compact dimensions
- Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional
- SMS, EMS, MMS, Email
- Call records 40 dialed, 40 received, 40 missed calls
- WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (IE mobile 7.6)
- 2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels, autofocus, video, flash; secondary VGA videocall camera
- Java MIDP 2.0
- MP3/MPEG4/WMV/AAC/DivX player
- Document editor (MS Office)
- Organiser
- Voice memo
- Built-in handsfree
Connectivity
- 2G Network - GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
- 3G Network - HSDPA 2100
Qualcomm Reveals LTE Chip Plans
Qualcomm announced plans to ship its first multi-mode Long Term Evolution (LTE) chipsets in the second quarter of 2009, expanding both its device and base-station chipset roadmaps to include LTE and three multi-mode mobile data modem chipsets to enable UMTS and CDMA2000 operators to upgrade to LTE and have backward compatibility to their existing 3G networks.
Qualcomm said the chipsets will support both FDD and TDD duplex modes and will support peak data rates of up to 50 Mbps on the downlink and 25 Mbps on the uplink.
Qualcomm also announced that Hutchison 3G, Telecom Italia, Telefonica and Telstra have all agreed to trial the chip maker's HSPA+ chipsets later this year. The operators will use Qualcomm's MDM8200 chipset, which includes 64-QAM HSDPA for 21Mbps downlink data rates and 2x2 downlink MIMO for 28 Mbps downlink data rates. The expectation is that the high speed technology will be available as early as 2009. [FierceBroadbandWireless]
LG’s Sprint Xohm WiMAX Smart Phone
Could this be the first smart phone for Sprint's Xohm WiMAX system? This sleek, Windows Mobile device -- about the size and shape of LG's Prada fashion phone -- could very easily run both Sprint's WiMAX and CDMA EVDO systems in tandem.
The Windows Mobile 6 smart phone is based on a Qualcomm MSM7200 chipset (which typically has a 400 Mhz processor) and has 128 MB RAM. It's running Windows Mobile 6 Professional, with a 320x240 touch screen. The LG rep promised "seamless handoff" between CDMA or GSM and WiMAX. Needless to say, this isn't on any Sprint roadmap that's been made public.
Sprint’s Barry West told investors at a Clearwire demonstration today that the company’s Xohm network, based on 802.16e-2005 (Mobile WiMAX), is averaging 3-5 Mbps performance in the downlink and 1-2 Mbps in the uplink. He further reiterated that the company expects to offer commercial services of Xohm in three initial US markets — Baltimore, Washington DC, and Chicago — during the second quarter of 2008.
While the current brand new high-technology smartphone from LG Mobile, the LG-KS20 is now available in major European countries. The latest High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) smartphone, the LG-KS20 launched on November 2007. The phone’s full touchscreen gives it unparalleled usability and a top download speed of HSDPA 3.6 Mbps enables to an enriched internet experience.
Pursuing high technology along with LG ‘Viewty’ Phone (LG-KU990), LG-KS20 is expected to be the first product strategically launched from the line of the next generation High Technology Category products.
Compatible with highly advanced HSDPA networks, LG-KS20 allows users to enjoy the full benefits of 3.6Mbps high speed mobile internet, including downloading of music, video clips and Windows Live content, as well as push e-mail. HSDPA technologies receive data at 3.6Mbps, which is the speed of over 7 times faster than the widely-used WCDMA phones.
The phone is also equipped with a host of other advanced features such as WiFi connectivity, natural handwriting recognition, 128MB internal memory, Micro SD external memory and Bluetooth 2.0, and is powered by the Windows Mobile 6.
Sprint to Carry a New Haptics Phone: Samsung SPH-M800
Samsung is launching a touchscreen handset called the SGH-F490 at International Consumer Electronic Show (CES) Las Vegas, January 7-10, 2008 that features a 3.2" touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera, tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900), UMTS 2100, HSDPA 3.6, 130Mb of storage, Bluetooth 2.0, haptics feedback and a microSD expansion slot.
With a 3.2 touchscreen display (with that pseudo-haptic feedback setup), 5 megapixel camera, 130MB on board storage, and 3.5mm headphone jack, the Samsung SGH-F490 is no slouch in the performance department.
The handset will cost about $700. Rumor has it that Sprint is set to bring the handset to the U.S. market after the phone undergoes a few tweaks. According to leaked photos, the Sprint version will be called the Samsung SPH-M800, and it will run on CDMA/EV-DO with a 2-megapixel camera in lieu of the F490's 5-megapixel shooter.
Despite having a similar external aesthetic to the Samsung F490, the Samsung M800 won’t be rocking that 5 megapixel camera - instead, it’ll be snapping pics with a lower-end 2 megapixel jobby. Touchscreen goodness (likely on the same 3.2-inch display we saw in the Samsung SGH-F490) is in the cards, as is an EVDO radio, Bluetooth A2DP, Sprint Navigator GPS Location, and microSD card expansion, so we aren’t too disappointed with the Samsung M800.
CES Round-up: MotoE8 & Z10, Nokia N95, Samsung Armani & Serenata dan Sony Ericsson Z555
Motorola, Nokia, SonyEricsson, Samsung and Neonode are among the handset vendors that have already launched phones at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 7-10, 2007.
Motorola has so far released a new ROKR device, Moto E8, which makes use of Motorola's ModeShift touch technology. From talk to music in one touch, ROKR E8 features cutting-edge, easy-to-use controls that allow a smooth transition from phone to MP3 player to imaging device.
"ROKR E8 is a no compromises device -- it's both an MP3 player that makes great phone calls and a mobile phone with tremendous audio capabilities. With our unique ModeShift technology, we're dispelling the myth that mobile phones with music features are inferior to stand-alone audio devices," stated Stu Reed, president, Motorola Mobile Devices. "Rounding out our ROKR portfolio, our new music accessories provide consumers with a number of ways to enjoy their music."
Motorola also debuted a phone aimed at the novice filmmaker, Moto Z10. The "kick slider" allows users to capture video, edit clips, create transitions between scenes as well as add title slides and a soundtrack. MOTO Z10 is a complete, pocket-sized, mobile filmstudio packed with next-generation 3G technology into a unique ergonomic kickslider design.
"With MOTO Z10, we are turning movie making and spontaneous creativity into social activities. Now, anyone can capture and share life's moments from almost anywhere in the world and make their unique perspective a part of popular culture," said Stu Reed, president, Motorola Mobile Devices.
In addition to creating videos, MOTO Z10 features great media playback capabilities. With a crystal-clear 2.2" QVGA screen that displays video at 30 frames per second in millions of colors, consumers can watch their own films or downloaded content. The external storage slot will support an external memory card with up to 32GB of capacity, when available.
Nokia has unveiled a 8GB version of its N95 that runs on HSDPA for the U.S. market. The phone also features a 2.8 inch QVGA screen with support for up to 16 million colors, eight gigabytes of built-in memory, A-GPS positioning for improved location access and enhanced battery life.
Combining speed, technology and content -- the new Nokia N95 8GB bridges the gap between traditional fixed entertainment centers and portable wireless devices with its stunning 2.8 inch QVGA screen with support for up to 16 million colors, eight gigabytes of built-in memory, A-GPS positioning for improved location access and enhanced battery life.
Based on powerful Symbian S60 3rd Edition software, consumers can personalize their Nokia N95 8GB by choosing from a wide selection of advanced mobile applications, including games, navigation, entertainment, productivity and creativity.
The Nokia N95 8GB comes out of the box ready to create, connect, consume and interact with some of the Internet's most popular services including Yahoo! Search, Amazon's MobiPocket Reader or Flickr. The device also features widget support which enables users to customize the online content they can receive quickly on their Nokia N95 8GB.
Samsung is showing off a number of luxury phones at CES this week, too. First up: The Giorgio Armani-Samsung phone, which the handset maker characterizes as the "size of a credit card" and a mere 10.5 mm thick. The Giorgio Armani-Samsung phone meets the needs of those who aspire to own technologically advanced device with which to communicate, as well as complete their lifestyle.
Samsung and Bang & Olufsen's Serenata is also on display in Vegas. It features a context-sensitive touch screen and a large aluminum wheel for navigation. Serenata is a luxury phone created between the home theatre designer Bang & Olufsen and Samsung.
Finally, Samsung is showing off its B'Phone (B for Beyonce), an update to the Upstage available exclusively through Sprint. To complement the style and glamour of the Grammy-winning artist Beyonce, the B'Phone is coated in rich burgundy and gold colors and comes complete with a preloaded special Beyonce-styled start-up screen.
Swedish handset maker Neonode is making its Neonode N2 handset available to the U.S. market at CES this week. The phone utilizes the exclusive neno user interface and zForce optical touch screen technology. Neonode executives suspect that some of the gestures that Apple built into the iPhone were lifted from their N1 device.
At CES, Sony Ericsson launched the Z555, a diamond-shaped handset that uses a gesture control application running off of the phone's camera. The phone lets users ignore a call or an alarm just by waving their hand.
A fashion flip phone that you shake in a way that could remind one of a Polaroid picture. The big draw here is Gesture Control, which lets to flip back and forth between call and mute and you can even sweep your hand over the phone to turn off the alarm.
As Sony says, it’s magic!It comes in Diamond Black and Dusted Rose — Dusted went to high school with Matt and is now in porn — and has an outer display that disappears into the front design.
“The Z555 is designed to reflect your look and attract attention,” said Sven Totte, Head of Style Marketing at Sony Ericsson. “We’ve created it for people who are looking for a beautifully designed phone that reflects their personal style and does not compromise on features or performance.” [FierceWireless]
Prediction: WiMAX Becomes Real; Hype Dies
Since 1995, Gartner has used the term "Hype Cycle" to describe the over-enthusiasm and following disappointment that typically occurs with new technologies. It lists five phases of a hype cycle that begins with a technology breakthrough, followed by over-inflated expectations and then a period of disillusionment, when the grand pronouncements are gone and little a word is said about the technology.
Yet, behind the scenes, businesses continue to experiment to understand the practical applications of the technology. And finally, the hype cycle is over as the benefits of the technology become widely accepted.
WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) sits between the over-inflated phase and the disillusionment phase now that Sprint Nextel and Clearwire ended their venture designed to expand the footprint of WiMAX in the U.S. It's unclear just how aggressive new Sprint CEO Dan Hesse will be with the business while Clearwire is courting partners to help it build out the network.
WiMAX is making some good progress on the device and interoperability front, but will have to compete with the stronghold of EV-DO and HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) networks, which are far more mature with better coverage, despite the fact they won't be as fast as WiMAX. The increasing availability of low-cost HSDPA and EV-DO dongles aimed at laptop users (Ericsson for one is pushing HSDPA for the masses hard in developing countries) will continue to intensify.
I suspect WiMAX will end up the same way W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access) did. Lots of hype, lots of quiet and then wide acceptance. 2008 will be the quiet phase. [FierceBroadbandWireless]
Nokia Unleashes Nokia E90 Communicator – The Second Wave of Nokia E-Series Business Devices
Nokia has introduced the second wave of the Nokia E-Series portfolio with a trio of feature-packed, design-rich devices - the all-inclusive Nokia E90 Communicator. Indonesia is said to be the first country in Asia to launch Nokia E90 Communicator scheduled on June 2007.
The Nokia E90 Communicator features a combination of advanced technologies that will enhance the way people experience work in a mobile world, by allowing faster and better quality access to important information for greater collaboration and productivity. Nokia E90 support the most popular email and business voice and other productivity and leisure time solutions, operate across different continents using the quadband GSM and 3G network frequencies, provide fast broadband data connectivity with 3G WCDMA and WLAN.
In addition, Nokia E90 Communicator is now High Speed Download Packet Access (HSDPA) enabled and can reach data transfer speeds comparable to those traditionally achieved only in the office. The speed, processing power, and superb screens of the devices coupled with the flexibility of the S60 software open up opportunities for completely new mobile experiences in and out of the office.
"The tipping point for widespread adoption of business mobility is upon us, and it will take new levels of performance, greater functionality and interoperability, and broad access to mobility solutions beyond the executive suite for customers and operators to realize the benefits of anytime, anywhere productivity and collaboration," said Antti Vasara, senior vice president, Mobile Devices Unit, Enterprise Solutions, Nokia.
"We're making it easy for business professionals to get mobilized. Feedback from our customers shows that we are changing the way business is conducted in a mobile world. Building on the success of our first generation of Nokia E-Series (E90, E65, E61i), we are responding to the growing requirements of business customers with a new generation devices that will exceed their expectations and deliver an uncompromised experience," Vasara continued."
Further, the new Nokia E-Series devices, combined with the Nokia Intellisync Mobile Suite 8.0 platform, also announced today, significantly enhance the potential for businesses to achieve new levels of productivity and competitive advantage. These Nokia solutions also provide operators and carriers opportunities to grow their businesses with competitive new solutions for their business customers, which comprise one-third of operators' revenues today.
By offering Nokia E-Series devices that can handle current and future services such as hosted email, security, device management and other productivity applications, operators and carriers can gain competitive advantage and increased customer loyalty.
Nokia E90 Communicator - the legend evolves into an all-inclusive Nokia E-Series business device.
The Nokia E90 Communicator sets the standard for an uncompromised "mobile office" experience. The latest technologies at the core of the device bring business necessities and personal amenities to the hands of people independent of time and place. Fast and inexpensive connections over WLAN and HSDPA-enhanced 3G accelerate the mobile use of data- and transmission-rich applications. The interface to business and leisure applications and the Internet, the stunning Nokia S60 browser, with 16 million colors, is capable of displaying the full width of a web page at once.
The Nokia E90 Communicator is now based on the S60 platform, making a wealth of additional mobile applications available for its users. The Nokia E90 Communicator also has an integrated GPS and Nokia Maps application to provide help in finding routes and locating services. For increased personal convenience, the Nokia E90 Communicator is equipped with an FM radio, a music player, a video player and two cameras -- a 3.2Mpix auto focus camera with flash and a second camera for videoconferencing.
Flybook V33i HSDPA: Andalkan Komunikasi Data
Hadirnya teknologi komunikasi bergerak maju sekelas 3,5G, tak hanya dapat dijumpai pada perangkat komunikasi saja. Notebook, yang notabene lahir sebagai perangkat produktivitas pun mulai mengusungnya. Flybook V33i HSDPA adalah salah satunya.
Notebook ini terbilang royal dalam memberikan pilihan teknologi komunikasi data. Mulai dari Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), teknologi 3G (UMTS), EDGE, GPRS, dan tak terkecuali teknologi 3G yang dioptimalkan untuk data, atau dikenal dengan HSDPA. Dengan akses data kecepatan tinggi 1,8 Mbps yang ditawarkan HSDPA, praktis notebook ini dapat mengunduh file-file kapasitas besar, seperti video atau foto dimana saja dan kapan saja selama jaringan HSDPA tersedia.
Notebook ini tak hanya mengedepankan kapabilitas komunikasi data saja. Flybook V33i HSDPA juga mengusung fitur-fitur yang menunjang pekerjaan pengguna. Antara lain prosesor Intel Pentium M ULV 733 1,1 GHz yang cukup mumpuni namun hemat tenaga, pilihan memori sampai 1GB, ATI Radeon Xpress 200M dengan dedicated memori 128MB untuk dukungan grafisnya, serta layar format widescreen ukuran 8,9 inci, yang juga berfungsi sebagai layar sentuh. Artinya, Flybook V33i HSDPA ini juga bisa pengguna operasikan layaknya PC tablet.
Dimensi notebook yang ultra-portable dengan ukuran 235x155x31mm dan beratnya tak lebih dari 1,23 kg membuatnya nyaman untuk ditenteng kemana saja. /aa
Motorola Launched Motorizr Z8 - "Media Monster"
Motorola CEO, Ed Zander, announced that the company has already released a few handsets, including one that plays video at 30 frames per second. Zander also explained the business opportunity for selling movies stored on mini 2GB SD cards that can be played on video-enabled handsets.
Zander said, "We are going to show a device next week (15/4)...It is a media monster." It's worth noting that the Motorizr Z8, which the company unveiled at 3GSM earlier in the year, plays video at 30 frames per second.
While the company plans on launching the device in Europe, where 3G networks are already in place, the SD loaded movies would work well in the U.S. as well. Zander said Motorola, a global leader in wireless communications, is currently working with another company to deliver movies on SD cards. Zander previously mentioned the upcoming mobile device debut when he was speaking at the company's shareholder meeting earlier in the week.
Of course, nothing he said isn't possible already. If you can compress a typical standard definition movie into the 4.7GB provided by a single-layer DVD, you can squeeze a lower resolution version onto a 2GB SD card. Equipping a handset with a decent LCD isn't exactly a breakthrough either.
Motorizr Z8 features Motorola’s first ever “kick slider,” a graceful mechanism that achieves a “fit-to-face” profile by gliding open in a curve to match the contour of your face.
With high-speed connectivity via HSDPA, and a multimedia feature set that includes a brilliant 16 million colour 35x50mm QVGA full screen display, Motorizr Z8 boasts video playback speeds of up to 30 frames per second. In addition to its 90MB of internal memory, the device also supports expandable memory up to 4GB using MicroSD, enough space for full length movies, hours of music or tons of pictures.
“Motorizr Z8 is yet another example of how Motorola is redefining the mobile experience for consumers,” said Ron Garriques, president of Motorola Mobile Devices. “By introducing, for the first time ever, true high-definition mobile multimedia, and once more reinventing the form factor, we are delivering on our ‘no compromises’ approach to leading this industry by uniting cool design and cool experiences.”
The handset also features Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology as well as a built-in music player and a 2MP digital camera with dedicated side camera key, while the onboard video and audio system records in mpeg 4 and 3gp (for MMS) completing the handset’s imaging package.
Ponsel HSDPA Tertipis
Akses Internet kecepatan tinggi atau broadband kini sudah bisa dinikmati dalam genggaman berkat hadirnya teknologi High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA). Dan, Samsung adalah salah satu produsen ponsel yang giat merilis ponsel-ponsel berkapabilitas HSDPA, diantaranya the Ultra Edition 13.8 (SGH-Z720) yang baru meluncur di pasar Eropa, Desember lalu. 
Dengan HSDPA, ponsel ini sanggup menarik data berkecepatan 1,8 Mbps, atau enam kali lebih cepat ketimbang teknologi 3G UMTS. Kapabilitas sedahsyat ini tersembunyi di balik desain ponsel geser berprofil tipis. Tebalnya hanya 13,8mm dan berat 80 gram, menjadikan Z720 ponsel HSDPA tertipis dan teringan.
Meski demikian, kapabilitasnya sebagai perangkat komunikasi cukup menjanjikan. Konektifitasnya lengkap, selain HSDPA juga ada GSM/GPRS (900/1800/1900MHz), EDGE, dan UMTS. Untuk mendukung video telephony, tersedia kamera kedua (VGA), selain kamera 3 megapixel. Menikmati video streaming atau browsing Internet pun bertambah nyaman dengan ketersediaan layar QVGA 2.1-inci.
Asyiknya, Z720 juga menjadi ponsel pertama Samsung yang mengusung aplikasi Google mobile search dan Gmail (Google Mail), yang memungkinkan para konsumen mencari informasi, dan mengatur e-mail sekalipun tengah dalam perjalanan. /aa
Mobile Video Revenues is Forecasted to Triple in 2007
A new report issued by market research firm Infonetics Research says operator revenue from mobile video services jumped 317 percent to almost $200 million worldwide in 2006, with revenues expected to triple in 2007. According to Infonetics, global mobile video subscriber totals increased more than 300 percent between 2005 and 2006, and should exceed 46 million users by 2010.
The Asia Pacific consumer market will lead with 57 percent of the world total in 2006, followed by the Europe/Middle East/Africa market at 31 percent and North America at 10 percent--Infonetics cites the low costs of SK Telecom and NTT DoCoMo's respective mobile video services as the driving force behind the Asia Pacific market's prowess.
"We will continue to see healthy growth in the mobile video services market as mobile operators expand the bandwidth of their existing 3G networks through HSDPA and MBMS, roll out dedicated broadcast networks, and deploy new mobile video service delivery platforms," said Infonetics directing analyst for broadband and IPTV Jeff Heynen in a prepared statement.
"Competition among service providers will keep subscription prices lower in the long term, but that revenue will be supplemented by incremental service revenue from on-demand viewing. We expect to see a spike in mobile video service revenue in 2008 due to the Summer Olympics in Beijing which, similar to last year's World Cup, is a deadline for many operators to get their mobile video services up and running," added Heynen. [FierceMobileContent]
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