NTTDocomo
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NTT turns RFID-equipped cellphones into keys
NTT Business Associe Co. Ltd. has developed a security system that will let people use DoCoMo's RFID-equipped cellphones as a key to get in their apartments. The system, dubbed MoCoCa (Mobile Communication and Control for Comfortable Area), will first be deployed in the Garden Nakano and Asociel Waseda apartments in Tokyo. Also, judging by the illustration, they've also developed some sort of pushy bilingual talking doorknob.[Thanks, deluxe]
DoCoMo launches SIMPURE 3G handsets
It's kind of not funny that even "basic" DoCoMo handsets like their new SIMPURE 3G FOMA devices are still way ahead of most devices you'd find in the States. But what's certainly worth a glance is the SIMPURE L (that being a neologism for SIMPLE and PURE), an LG phone on the most holy of Japanese wireless networks (though it's otherwise barely noteworthy with a 1.3 megapixel camera). NEC's SIMPURE N isn't a huge surprise itself or anything, but it's damn tiny at 92 x 44 x 19.2mm (3.6 x 1.7 x 0.7-inches), and is hot as all get out, as expected.
DoCoMo launches SO902i cameraphone
We're not sure if Sony Ericsson's own K800/K790 3.2 megapixel cameraphone might have something to do with the sudden move to get this out the door, but DoCoMo is finally getting a move on their FOMA SO902i from Sony Ericsson after announcing it in October of last year. The phone has dual cameras, the front one for video conferencing and the back one for snapping 3.2 megapixel pics. There's also a 1.8-inch QVGA screen and a Memory Stick Duo slot to round out the features. DoCoMo will be officially launching the phone March 10th.[Via I4U]
NTT, Renesas, others team up on universal phone platform
In a move that should eventually reduce handset manufacturing costs for member companies and result in more worldphones for consumers, a consortium composed of NTT DoCoMo, Renesas Technology Corp, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi, and Sharp have come together to develop a single mobile phone platform that combines common core hardware and software. The platform is composed of a single-chip LSI for dual-mode HSDPA/W-CDMA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE handsets (which combines a baseband processor with the SH-Mobile application processor) along with core software such as operating systems, middleware, and drivers. Phones using the new platform will first be available on DoCoMo's FOMA network, followed by a UMTS release on Renesas.
DoCoMo does 2.5 Gbps at 12.5 mph in 4G test
Speed freaks rejoice! NTT DoCoMo has set a new record in its latest test of 4G mobile throughput. Using no fewer than six MIMO antennas, the company was able to successfully transmit data at 2.5 Gbps while traveling at 12.5 miles per hour. In a similar test last May, DoCoMo was able to achieve just 1 Gbps. Of course, it'll be a while before you can try this at home, since 4G standards have yet to be finalized. But, hey, at least we've got HSDPA.
DoCoMo cancels Nokia NHM850iG launch
So we're totally sorry to have gotten the hopes up of all you Japanese consumers eagerly awaiting DoCoMo's FOMA-enabled Nokia NHM850iG that we brought you last week, but it looks like the promised February launch has been postponed indefinitely. As you no doubt recall, this 1.23 megapixel cameraphone sports Bluetooth and a 2.1-inch display, although it's probably not as sleek as spoiled DoCoMo customers would prefer. Why the indefinite launch delay? "DoCoMo is confirming the handset's quality and will launch the handset as soon as all the confirmations are completed," claims the carrier. Hmm, to us this sounds suspiciously like: "The initial response to this chunky, underwhelming phone has been so poor that we're quietly killing it under the guise of some vague quality confirmation program." Only time will tell, folks.
Panasonic shipping P901iTV
It was first announced a couple of months ago, but we thought DoCoMo's Panasonic P901iTV could be worth a second look, especially since if you happen to live in or be passing through Japan, you'll shortly be able to pick one up (well, Panny's gotten around to shipping them, anyway). If you haven't already seen it, the P901iTV is a swivel-flip running MontaVista Linux that can pick up digital terrestrial or analog broadcasts with its telescoping antenna, and features a 2.5-inch QVGA display, MiniSD slot, and a two megapixel camera.
Japanese companies to create new dual-mode 3G platform
The worldwide adoption of 3G networks has gone at, shall we say, a mind-numbingly slow pace (especially for those of us in the States), but in an effort to fix this problem, NTT DoCoMo, Renesas Technology, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric, and Sharp have announced that they will jointly develop a new dual-mode cellphone platform, which will support both HSDPA / W-CDMA and GSM / GPRS / EDGE in a single chip. The goal, of course, is to increase features while cutting power, cost, and space, but their new platform probably won't see the light of day until the summer of 2007. But the day it's finally released, it should make a bit of improvement in the lives of many a globe-trotting playboys and international businessmen extraordinaire.
Nokia's NM850iG FOMA phone lands on DoCoMo
Been a while since we heard of a higher end Nokia gracing Japan's shores, but DoCoMo's launching the Nokia Nokia NM850iG on their 3G FOMA network, with international WCDMA (UMTS)/ GPRS / GSM release pending. The ol' Nokia keyhole's rounded out with a 2.1-inch display, 1.23 megapixel camera, and Bluetooth (DoCoMo neglected to say which version), and should be available at your local mobiru-ya by the 24th of this month.[Via I4U]
NEC rolling out raft of models at 3GSM
While the ultra-thin N500iS we peeped earlier is likely to grab all the glory, it's not the only new phone NEC is rolling out at 3GSM. The company is planning to introduce a range of new models, including a prototype HSDPA 3G phone (pictured, above), a combination 3G/WiFi phone, and a phone that can pick up terrestrial TV broadcasts. While some of the phones are likely to be fairly impressive from a technical perspective, we can't help but feel sorry for whoever's stuck showing them off at the company's booth, because nobody's going to be looking at anything but the N500iS.
NEC 500is/N412i: thin GSM with EDGE
Here's the latest RAZR-killer -- at least for Japan and some European markets. It's NEC's 11.9 mm N500is, the company's follow up to its earlier skinny boy, the L1. It has EDGE, i-mode support, a 1.3 megapixel camera, 176x220 LCD, and a monochrome OLED secondary display.[Thanks, Corey]
Fujitsu, Motorola, and NEC's 3.6Mbps HSDPA prototypes for DoCoMo
First Samsung did it, now Fujitsu, Motorola, and NEC (respectively in that pic) have rolled out three new HSDPA prototype handsets capable of hitting 3.6Mbps -- currently the maximum achieved of the theoretical 14Mbps limit of HSDPA. The devices were co-developed with NTT DoCoMo who plan to begin rollout of their HSDPA services in Japan starting sometime between July and September. DoCoMo will be turnin' out their new line-up at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona starting 13 Feb so you can expect some more detail in a few. [Via I4U News]
Japanese to get HTC goodies thanks to NTT
As if the Japanese didn't have enough good swag already, they'll now be getting dual-model WCDMA and GSM/GPRS Windows Mobile 5.0 smartphones from HTC as well. The agreement with NTT DoCoMo means that Japan should start seeing these 3G FOMA phones starting in the second half of the year. No word yet on whether these models will be based on existing reference designs like the Apache, Wizard, and Universal, or whether HTC will whip up something new for a country that always demands to be ahead of the curve.
