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Instilling Doubt - IH Infestation.
Just shut up and sell or buy
emit...
Hope Their insightfull enough to incorporate MAIV eye wear type viewing... with the ear-buds.
The means to accomplish an IFE system are vast n should be easly doable when dealing with HDs, kiosks, wireless, broadband and our DRM ability.
However, the content providers will choose
Since PR mentioned loading prior to boarding implies kiosks or preordered/preinstalled - if USB.2 or wireless can't load a flick quick enough I see lockable slots for SD,MS, or even DP - loaded n handed to consumer. Howabout genra players carying same 10 movies for a sellect amount of time - you choose 'Action'.
A wireless device would lend to a closed loop system IMO... PC/kiosks/WLAN to device MOS abilities executing MPEG4 and/or DivX.
Whatever -
This should be Interesting.
emit...
IH - timf has crossed the line IMHO. eom
T-Mobile does Starbucks - eom
Toyota develops telematics network
Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) announced that it completed development of G-BOOK, a subscription information network designed to "orderly and efficiently link people, cars, and society anywhere, anytime." In September, G-BOOK opened its introduction site, and this month limited services for PCs, PDAs, and mobile phones were scheduled to begin. A new Toyota vehicle featuring an onboard G-BOOK terminal is scheduled for roll-out later this fall.
G-BOOK is based on the infrastructure of a Toyota membership-based information service and membership system primarily aimed at providing interactive information services via vehicle-mounted wireless communication terminals. It can also be used to link various G-BOOK-compatible functions (e.g., use of a cell phone to determine a vehicle's location, operating status, etc.) and, in the future, will also make it possible to control home appliances and home security systems from a vehicle.
The onboard vehicle terminal features a Data Communications Module (DCM) and a Secure Digital (SD) card to take advantage of the latest network services. Whereas conventional communication, navigation, and car-information services require cell-phone use for access, the DCM allows a direct, one-touch connection. The flat-fee service enables subscribers to enjoy high-speed communications without worrying about log-on time or transmission volume. And the DCM also automatically reconnects if the connection is interrupted while traveling through a tunnel, for instance. Navigational maps and the onboard terminal's basic software are stored in the SD card, which can be inserted into "E-TOWER" terminals at convenience stores and other locations to download local or new maps or to upgrade the onboard terminal's Microsoft Windows CE for Automotive software. Music and games can also be downloaded, and the SD card is compatible with commercially available audio players, digital cameras, and PDAs that use SD cards, making it possible to share music files, images, and games.
Text information is converted at the G-BOOK Center and delivered to onboard terminals so subscribers can listen to the information read in a natural-sounding synthesized voice. In addition to conventional direct user-terminal voice command functions, plans call for the employment of a G-BOOK Center-based central language recognition system called IVR (Intelligent Voice Recognition) for processing of multiple-word commands issued through a cell phone, for instance.
G-BOOK services will span safety and security, navigation, information, entertainment, communication, and e-commerce. Future plans call for the G-BOOK Center to detect the location of the vehicle and dispatch a tow truck or provide appropriate maintenance if a car experiences problems. A service will eventually be offered that will enable customers to access bank and securities accounts to check on balances and transaction details. The entertainment service will include the transmission of "karaoke" or other music, and the downloading of various types of games. A service will also be offered that will enable a group of drivers traveling together to display each other's current location on onboard navigation system maps.
To make it easier for more companies to become G-BOOK content/service providers, Toyota will provide the software specifications needed to develop compatible content. The company views G-BOOK as an important and standard automobile function, so it plans to increase the number of vehicles equipped with G-BOOK terminals and focus on service/content enhancements.
- Kevin Jost
http://www.sae.org/automag/electronics/10-2002/index.htm
My 2cents -
Some of the best profits I've ever made were off of company's I loaded up on when they were in difficult/trying times.
And those with patents.
Believe Haiyaku would echo this...
hint
emit...
Microsoft and Samsung Announce Low-Cost Pocket PC Concept Design
REDMOND, Wash. -- Nov. 11, 2002 -- Microsoft Corp. and Samsung Semiconductor Inc., a leader in system-on-a-chip technology, today announced the availability of a new Windows® Powered Pocket PC concept design that dramatically lowers costs and reduces product development time for mobile device OEMs and original device manufacturers (ODMs).
The new design incorporates a Samsung ARM9-based S3C2410 application processor and Microsoft's powerful Pocket PC software and a 3.5-inch QVGA grayscale or color display. The Samsung application processor utilizes NAND Flash memory and includes a host of peripherals. To enhance multimedia functionality, multimedia card, SD and SDIO expansion card capabilities are incorporated into the concept design. The design sets a new standard for ultrasmall handheld devices with its 4.1-by-2.8-inch size and only 2.9-ounce weight (grayscale version).
"The power of the Microsoft® Pocket PC software coupled with the performance and reliability of Samsung's application processor represents a paradigm shift in mobile device concept designs," said Dr. Yun Tae Lee, vice president of Samsung Electronics' Mobile Solution Project. "This ultralow-cost, maximized design gives consumer electronics OEMs and ODMs the ability to rapidly bring to market high-value, low-cost mobile computing solutions."
"Mobile device manufacturers can take advantage of fully optimized low-cost concept designs to bring their products to market quickly and at competitive price points," said Juha Christensen, corporate vice president for the Mobile Devices Division at Microsoft. "By collaborating with Samsung, we ensure a more rapid development process so that hardware manufacturers can include industry-leading multimedia and broader wireless functionality in computing devices such as Pocket PCs and smart phones."
By working with Microsoft on the concept design, Samsung has dramatically reduced the complexity of the solution and lowered costs to levels that will enable OEMs and ODMs to deliver substantially improved product offerings to the high-value, low-price segment of the PDA market. Microsoft's powerful Pocket PC software and Samsung's application processor give the reference design NAND Flash capability, highly efficient multimedia and gaming functionality, new peripherals, and broader wireless support.
I just purchased more - c/on .15. eom
FWIW WeDigMusic is Down
504 Gateway Timeout
This Web page could not be opened. There may be too many people accessing this page or the page may be unavailable. Please try again later.
Probably storm related -
emit...
Source: Computerwire.com
Sendo Spoils Microsoft's Smartphone Party, Defects to Nokia
By Tony Cripps
Handset startup Sendo Ltd has dumped Microsoft Corp's smart phone software for rival technology from Nokia Corp in what could be prove to be a turning point in the evolving market for next generation handsets.
A statement issued yesterday by the Birmingham, UK-based company read: "Sendo has terminated its Smartphone development program utilising Microsoft's Windows Powered Smartphone 2002 software. As a result, Sendo regrets to announce that it will not be shipping the Z100 Smartphone."
Instead, Sendo joins the growing band of licensees for Espoo, Finland-based Nokia's Series 60 smart phone platform, based on the mobile operating system developed by London, UK-based Symbian Ltd.
The full reasons for Sendo's decision remain unclear. However, CEO Hugh Brogan told news service Bloomberg that ditching Windows Smartphone for Series 60 will "enable [Sendo] to customize our products better, which is what operators want."
Although only a minnow in the handset world, the decision is more than simply symbolic. Sendo has been at the leading edge of handset development around Windows Smartphone since Microsoft first started talking up the platform in August 2000.
Indeed, the company had become one of the major development and testing grounds for Microsoft's untried software, then code-named Stinger. This was best evidenced by Microsoft's $12m investment in the company in mid-2001.
However, things have clearly not been going well for some time. Seemingly endless delays have blighted Sendo's Smartphone ambitions with the Z100, which was due to launch at the end of last year.
Sendo has also shown signs of willful disrespect for the giant, doggedly pursuing its intention to incorporate a high performance Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) virtual machine from Reading, UK-based Tao Group Ltd into the Z100. Speculation that Sendo had found it difficult to integrate Tao's intent platform - which incorporates J2ME - with Windows Smartphone remain unconfirmed.
Whatever, Sendo's decision will have been a difficult one as it will undoubtedly impact significantly on the company's short term finances. It had hoped to sell millions of the hotly anticipated device.
For Microsoft, however, the situation could not have arisen at a worse time. After initially playing catch up, the company finally appeared to be clawing back some of the smart phone initiative from Symbian.
The announcement means that Orange SA's SPV handset - introduced to a major fanfare in October - manufactured by Taiwan's High Tech Computer Corp (HTC), will be the only Windows Smartphone device on the market when it arrives on the France-based mobile operator's networks from next week.
This is certain to be a blow to Microsoft's ambitions for the technology, drastically cutting the availability of Smartphone-powered devices to a single operator, albeit one with operations in a number of countries.
Sendo had been set to launch the Z100 this month with a number of partners, including Spain's Telefonica Moviles, "two out of three" of Italy's operators, SFR in France and T-Mobile in the UK.
Microsoft's lack of operators using Windows Smartphone now looks likely to persist for the time being. The only other Windows Smartphone licensees, Samsung and Compal Electronics Inc, have failed to give launch dates for their own Microsoft-powered devices. Orange also has a twelve month exclusivity deal with HTC for the SPV design preventing other operators from benefiting from the R&D investment.
Meanwhile, Symbian powered-devices are starting to proliferate, with Nokia Corp reporting strong interest in its Series 60-powered 7650. The company said on Monday that it expects to have shipped two million of the devices by the end of the year and has reported very high satisfaction rates from users.
With Nokia's Communicator 92xx series now established, several new Series 60 devices on the way and multiple new models from other Symbian licensees due over the next twelve months, Symbian may have regained the upper hand.
Sendo joins Nokia, Samsung Electronic Co Ltd, Siemens AG and Matsushita Communication Industrial Co Ltd (Panasonic) as a licensee of Series 60. Symbian as a whole can also boast licensing agreements with Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB and Motorola Inc
A Sendo spokesperson said the company now intends to re-architect the Z100 for Series 60 maintaining the same Texas Instruments Inc OMAP chipset and other basic components. But surprisingly, Microsoft and Sendo could continue to work together. "They [Microsoft] have no intention of pulling out of Sendo [at this time]," said the spokesperson.
Sendo is hoping to persuade its existing software partners to join it in supporting Nokia's increasingly popular platform. That may include recently-signed Sendo partner Insignia Technologies Inc, whose Insignia Mobile Foundation (IMF) - the leading J2ME platform for the majority of handheld device platforms - does not currently support Symbian OS.
With samples of the Z100 already in the hands of reviewers and operators, the device is sure to become a highly sought after item among collectors of mobile phone memorabilia. Sendo could not say when the new Series 60 variant will launch as significant re-engineering needs to be done.
Another one there with it all, like emerging!
falling by the wayside like bombs, leaves and
the tech bear.
We're falling back on nice designs...
IFEs niche =
JC s/helping. To bad if he goes - imo they
were ashamed of only 2 contract n a odysey
reference OEM Asianed... shite guy's you had
the makings of a positive outlook, so i guess
now portal,actel n ti... right, or do you even
know whats coming next.
We are there for an Artist, to draw upon -
Don't let it keep us Down. Happy Holiday's
emit...
What happened to the Odyssey 300 preloaded content?
emit...
djralstin ~ I agree...
And I'm not turning my back on this...
http://www.edigital-store.com/mp3-players.html
http://hardware.mp3.com/hardware/ #1
http://www.everythingusb.com/hardware/index/e.Digital_Odyssey_1000.htm
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20021010/ten2_03.jpg
http://www.dataplay.com/jsp_files/en/howitworks/dp-daytona.jsp?brand=dataplay
And all its possibilities
emit...
Gates To Unveil The Tablet
By John Foley
Bill Gates will be in New York this week to present a new look for Windows-based computers that's been a long time coming-tablet-size PCs. Nearly two years after first describing the concept, Microsoft plans to announce Nov. 7 that its Windows XP Tablet PC edition is available from more than a dozen manufacturers, including Acer, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba, and ViewSonic. Software vendors such as Adobe, Autodesk, Corel, Groove Networks, and SAP will demonstrate applications developed for the devices that use digital pens or keyboards for data entry. Tablets will likely cost about the same as high-end notebooks.
http://informationweek.com/
Update: Nokia Develops Portable Game Player
Mark Hachman
On Monday, phone maker Nokia announced plans to develop the N-Gage, a portable device that combines the functions of a phone with a portable game player.
Look out, Nintendo--Nokia wants a piece of the action.
On Monday, phone maker Nokia announced plans to develop the N-Gage, a portable device that combines the functions of a phone with a portable game player.
Few details of the device were available, including price. The n-Gage should be introduced early next year; the Reuters news service incorrectly reported that the N-Gage should be in the market by February. Instead, the phone will be officially announced in February 2003, and shipped later in the first quarter, according to Nokia representative at the company's U.S. offices.
Although Nintendo Ltd. dominates the handheld gaming market, the Nokia spokesman said the company didn't plan to challenge the company directly. "It's a little different idea here, with the idea being that we're not as much a dedicated game platform as much as the idea of connected gaming."
For example, a Nokia user might challenge his friend at the bus depot via a Bluetooth connection, or engae in online play via the phone's GSM network. The phone will support music playback of some sort, the spokesman said.
While Nokia said the N-Gage will be supported by major content providers, Sega Entertainment said it would develop games for the platform, and touted the collaboration as a partnership. Other content providers are expected to join; Nokia likely will not develop its own games for the device.
"It is our pleasure to join hands with Nokia for their innovative project," said Tetsu Kayama, chief operating officer of Sega Corporation. "We promote a multiplatform strategy to supply content to all type of hardware globally and we believe that Nokia and us will create the new-genre of mobile games."
According to this collaboration, Sega will develop games for the Nokia N-Gage mobile game deck, that will run on the Nokia Series 60 platform and the Symbian OS. The branded outbox games will be available separately on memory cards.
Aside from Nintendo, hardware makers have had a difficult time establishing a lasting market for portable game players. Sega itself floated a handheld color video game console in 1991, the Game Gear. Although Sega fielded roughly 140 titles for the platform--which ran on a 3.58 MHz, 8-bit Z80 embedded processor-- the Game Gear was forced to compete with the NEC Turbo Express, the Atari Lynx, and the Nintendo Game Boy.
"Games are an exciting way to communicate and connect with a larger community of like minded people," said Anssi Vanjoki, executive vice president of Nokia Mobile Phones. "Rich mobile games, combined with connected near distance multiplayer gaming over Bluetooth and wide area gaming using cellular networks, opens the door for totally new gaming concepts. Mobility will add a whole new dimension to innovative and creative games concepts and will provide opportunities for the games and telecom industry alike."
Over time, the Nokia spokesman explained, the company has added entertainment functions to a device which has been primarily designed for communication. "Instead of squeezing a game onto a phone, we wanted to squeeze a phone into a game (player) and see how that goes," the spokesman said.
By: wireless2004
05 Nov 2002, 12:18 PM EST Msg. 1070352 of 1070380
(This msg. is a reply to 1070298 by MISHA.)
Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten 01/08/03 Press Day Press Conference
CES 2003 SHOW
Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten, 2:00-3:00pm, Room S228 CES Press Day Press Conferences January 8, 2003
http://www.cesweb.org/for_press_analysts/press_events/default.asp
Edig relationship with Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten
Business Initiatives in Progress
http://www.edig.com/news/releases/pr092502.html
The Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten initiative continues on course, as does our advancement into telematics. We completed our portion of the industrial design for Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten, and expect them to begin taking delivery of finished goods and offering the product through retail outlets this year. Under the terms of our contract, e.Digital is developing and building an initial quantity of 4,000 automotive digital music players. Total value of this first order is just under $1 million.
Available November 18, the New Dell AximTM X5 Handheld Offers Outstanding Features and Sophisticated Styling...Designed to Fit in Your Pocket...Priced to Fit Your Pocketbook
http://www.dell.com/us/en/gen/topics/segtopic_axim.htm
AVN9902 HD
Could the AVN stand for 'Advanced Voice Nav'
emit...
Tinroad - All the green buttons have been made unreadable - IMO
First link -
well u know what i mean , not jap
emit...
MOS 3 was to incorporate GPS, The HDD implies us... no signs of dongle for 802.11 - no obvious 'Record' button plenty Dolby n DVD. Two HDDs n Navsystem seems per the logistisc imgs.
Do see MP3... IMHO if this isn't e.Digital the nextgen will blow us away. HOPEFULLY SOON
emit...
Fed expected to cut interest rates
Posted: Sunday, November 3, 3:25pm EST
The Federal Reserve is likely to move four-decades-low interest rates even lower this week in the face of rising worry that the struggling economy is headed for rougher times.
A series of recent economic reports has offered indications that the country's sputtering recovery is once again threatening to stall, and that leads many private economists to predict a rate cut when Fed policy-makers meet Wednesday.
"The jury is now in, and the verdict is rate cut,'' said Sherry Cooper, an economist at BMO Financial Group.
Most economists believe the only question mark is whether the Fed will cut its target for the federal funds rate, the interest that banks charge each other, by one-quarter or one-half of a percentage point.
OT- Kiosks
click on vendingmachine matches minimart
http://www.csmonitor.com/cgi-bin/aol
lol
emit...
God Bless you/yours JV- eom
lil more info -
Source: ExtremeTech
T-Mobile Signs Wi-Fi Deals With Airlines
Carmen Nobel
T-Mobile will set up wireless hot spots in airports across the country.
T-Mobile USA Inc. on Wednesday announced deals with three airlines to set up wireless hot spots for business travelers in airports across the country.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines all are partnering with T-Mobile to set up wireless LAN access points in each airline's frequent flier clubs and lounges, said officials at the Bellevue, Wash., company.
T-Mobile, a subsidiary of German telecom giant Deutsche Telecom AG, plans to add public WLANs to 100 airport clubs and lounges within the next year, officials said. T-Mobile already operates WLAN services in 40 airports.
T-Mobile also operates WLANs in hundreds of Starbucks coffee shops and plans to start offering the service in Borders bookstores in early 2003.
The networks' access points support the 802.11b or "Wi-Fi" protocol, which enables data transfers of up to 11M bps for customers whose laptops or handheld devices are equipped to support the technology.
Vivindi has us ranked #1 pick and a Treo on front page. Think they like the price/storage ratio.
http://www.mp3.com/
http://hardware.mp3.com/hardware/
emit...
By: flashmem $$$$$
30 Oct 2002, 02:22 PM EST Msg. 1067646 of 1067673
(REUTERS) T-Mobile partners with airlines in Internet deal
T-Mobile partners with airlines in Internet deal
BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct 30 (Reuters) - T-Mobile USA Inc., the
6th-largest U.S. wireless telephone company, on Wednesday said
it has hooked up with the three biggest U.S. airlines to offer
high-speed, wireless Internet access in their clubs and lounges
across the country.
In a bid to reach busy business travelers, T-Mobile, a unit
of Deutsche Telekom AG , said customers of AMR
Corp.'s American Airlines, UAL Corp.'s United
Airlines and Delta Air Lines Inc. will soon be able to
access the Internet, their e-mail and other applications at
speeds 40 to 50 times faster than standard dial-up connections.
The company said it will be adding the service, called
HotSpot, to about 100 of the airlines' clubs and lounges over
the next year. The service will be accessible via laptops or
personal digital assistants equipped with a wireless access
card.
T-Mobile is offering several price plans for HotSpot. An
unlimited national plan costs $49.99 a month and an unlimited
local plan costs $29.99 a month. Customers can also pay $20 for
120 nationwide minutes or $50 for 300 minutes. In addition,
one-time customers can pay $2.99 for the first 15 minutes and
25 cents a minute thereafter.
It said coverage may be extended to airline gates as it
gets airport approval.
T-Mobile has been aggressive in signing up service deals
based on the technology called Wi-Fi, which lets users
wirelessly tap into a physical high-speed Internet connection.
The company already has 1,800 HotSpot locations in
Starbucks coffee shops and some U.S. airports. It
plans to offer the service in 2,000 locations by the end of the
year.
It also plans to install HotSpots in 400 Borders
bookstores next year.
((--Yukari Iwatani, Chicago Equities News at 312 408 8787,
chicago.equities.newsroom@reuters.com))
REUTERS
*** end of story ***
- - - - -
View Replies »
'Consumers will lose some freedom to make copies, but will gain much richer online choices. '
Amen... lets make it so
emit...
CNBC this morning reported on a WSJ article on Broadband and it's 'coming of age'. someone way want to find n post it.
emit...
MP3.com - Top 10 Product Picks... Treo 10 #1
Bottom line? With twice as much disk capacity as the iPod at just over half the price, the Treo 10 is an unbeatable value for PC owners. Even with its heavy-duty design and occasional clunkiness, it should keep you happily listening to your CD collection wherever you go, for many years to come.
http://hardware.mp3.com/hardware/
emit...
Danl, but what if the means justifies the ends.
Can we imagine the innovations strickened and contemplated.
R&D secrecy = key to success
IMHO
emit...
ucan dig name-that-tune, b cool service... lol
''So far the name-that-tune service is simply that. There is no way to directly obtain the song in question, which company executives acknowledge is a drawback.''
A 3g device based on PV/TI/Palm should - maybe Odyssey/e.DivX
emit...
- Buy It Now -
Takes on new meaning
http://www.dataplay.com/jsp_files/index.jsp
emit...
e.DIGITAL, APS PARTNER TO DEVELOP AND MARKET PORTABLE, CUSTOMIZABLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM FOR MAJOR AIRLINE
New In-Flight Entertainment Device To Provide Passengers Personalized Selection of Movies, Music
:)
ie., another venue
Source: Computing
Broadband Britain success story: Benson Group
Construction company wants ADSL to link building sites Building firm Benson Group is planning to use broadband to link up to 100 construction sites across the country.The company is negotiating with Via Net.Works, its existing telecoms supplier, for a framework contract to simplify the provision short-term high-bandwidth connectivity for the duration of its building contracts.So far only about two per cent of Benson Group's sites are using broadband, but there are significant advantages, says Benson Group IT manager Daniel Piggott.'We are trying to push broadband not only so our staff have access to our internal systems, but to link up with other parts of the project team such as suppliers and architects.'The construction industry is all about working as a team and the direction it is moving is towards collaboration with people logging onto a central server. 'It's too early to say how we will be hit in terms of broadband availability, but we will find out over next 12 months,' said Piggott.The trial sites already using ADSL rather than ISDN have seen telephone bills reduced by 50 per cent. The extra capacity has allowed architects drawings to be sent direct to the site and has enabled staff to email photographs back to the office.Benson Group would also like to connect up employees' homes.'As a construction business nearly all out people are remote users because they are out on projects and often they only come into the office meet with clients. 'More homeworkers would mean staff could operate from anywhere,' said Piggott.Since 1999 the company has replaced the leased lines linking its six regional offices with asymmetric digital subscriber lines (ADSL) and seen significant cost savings. Copyright © 2001 VNU Business Publications Limited [All rights reserved]
OT -
Source: vnunet.com
Domino effect creates smallest chip
IBM claims molecular computing breakthrough IBM has announced the latest development in the battle to create the smallest chip. Scientists at the company's Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California have built and operated a computer circuit in which individual molecules of carbon monoxide move like toppling dominoes across a flat copper surface.According to online publication Science Magazine, each circuit is so small that it would be possible to fit 190 billion of them on a standard pencil-top eraser. Big Blue has been working on molecular computing in a bid to find an alternative to silicon-based semiconductors.The company claimed that the new 'molecule cascade' technique could be used to make logic elements 260,000 times smaller.However, IBM said that it was still years from translating the nanotechnology and quantum computing work into products for mobile phones and personal computers.The new circuits are also smaller than those made from carbon nanotubes, which are extremely strong because of the nature of the carbon bond, and which IBM considers to be a possible alternative to silicon.IBM explained that the chips were built by creating a pattern of carbon monoxide molecules on a copper surface. One molecule was moved to start a one-directional cascade, similar to the way in which dominoes interact. The circuits do not reset themselves.Copyright © 2001 VNU Business Publications Limited [All rights reserved]
Source: vnunet.com
Windows open on a mobile world
Orange cracks open mobile market with Windows-powered smartphone Orange has launched the first credible Windows-powered smartphone and fired the first shot in what could become a bloody techno-tussle.Although its SPV phone is only considered 2.5G technology, Orange believes it will pave the way to acceptance of true 3G capabilities.UK buyers will be able to buy the handset within a couple of weeks. At the same time the SPV handset - developed for Orange by Taiwanese firm HTC - will have competition from models by Samsung and Sendo, also due for launch, which both support the Microsoft-based platform.However, competitors will have to come up with aggressive pricing plans and applications packages if they are to beat Orange at its own game. They could find this tough as both the Samsung and Sendo model are slightly more expensive than the SPV, which Orange will sell for £179 plus 12-month contract. Orange will also be targeting the mainstream consumer and business markets in one shot, and has exclusive rights for 12 months to sell the HTC handset, which is bundled with an attachable camera, USB cradle and a Secure Digital/MultiMedia Card expansion slot, allowing for storage cards of up to 256MB to be added.To tempt users to sign up for GPRS, Orange is offering to provide the service at a catch-all price of an extra £6 per month on top of its normal pricing plans.Richard Brennan, executive vice president of OrangeWorld and Brands, called it "an all you can eat" service. But, admitted the company, customers can only download 10MB of data per month. Users will be fine if they just browse, but if they log on to graphics or data-heavy websites, or receive email or messages with large attachments, they could be in for a nasty shock. Once that initial monthly 10MB is used up, charges rocket to around £4 per 500KB.The Microsoft software supports services such as photo messaging (MMS), email, calendar, contacts, instant messaging, text messaging, web browsing and audio and video playback. The phone will also act like a low-level Pocket PC personal digital assistant. Copyright © 2001 VNU Business Publications Limited [All rights reserved]
Source: vnunet.com
Mobiles join the mile high club
New technology will allow in-flight calls A US mobile phone company has worked out a way for airline passengers to use mobile phones without scrambling in-flight systems. mobile calls are currently banned by aviation authorities to avoid disruption to the plane's electronics and cockpit communications.Phone companies are also concerned that in-flight calls could clog towers and antennae trying to process the signals. But a new system developed by AirCell could reduce mobile phones' power and limit the number of handsets in use at any one time. The Colorado-based company plans to charge a fee of up to £1 a minute for using the service, about a third of the cost of airline pay-phones currently available on many flights.An AirCell spokesman told USAToday that his company hoped to have the technology ready by the end of 2004.Several airlines have expressed an interest in the scheme. A spokeswoman for United Airlines confirmed that it is working on enabling customers to use their own mobiles.Copyright © 2001 VNU Business Publications Limited [All rights reserved]
Source: PC Advisor
Agere and Ericsson push Wi-Fi
Wendy Brewer and Joris Evers Mobile phone maker gt;Ericsson , yesterday announced their plan to create Wi-Fi solutions, which could mean users will no longer have to connect to designated hotspots or even stick to one service provider. The companies are working on Wi-Fi solutions that connect to service providers' network hubs to enable user authentication and billing, meaning users can roam between networks. "Together with Ericsson, we will clear the last hurdle to enabling widespread deployment of Wi-Fi networks in public spaces," said Ron Torten, vice president of Agere's networking and entertainment division."Whether you're stuck in an airport or preparing a customer presentation in a hotel or cafe, easy access to your information is only a couple of keystrokes away," added Torten.The WLAN product package for Mobile operators, due out in the second quarter of next year, will work with existing infrastructure and billing systems. Agere will develop software and manufacture the silicon, Ericsson will handle the integration with current Mobile networks and wireless network expert Proxim will supply the access points.The offering is to be based on the 802.11b standard, also known as Wi-Fi, for WLANs operating in the 2.4GHz spectrum with a bandwidth of 11Mbps (megabits per second). Payment will be handled using SIM (subscriber identification module), chips about the size of a postage stamp used today in GSM (global system for mobile communications) phones to authenticate the user on a mobile network.The solution will use combined SIM and Wi-Fi technology, allowing laptop users to access their company's network from anywhere — even on the train.Industry analyst Cahners In-Stat estimates the total number of mobile PCs shipped with wireless LAN capabilities will increase form today's 18 percent to 76 percent by 2006.