ASUS P305 3G Smartphone
ASIA Taiwan : ASUSTeK Computer previewed one of the most compact 3G smartphones in the world to date – the P305, at the 3GSM World Congress . As a Windows Mobile 5.0 powered 3G smartphone, the P305 offers powerful multimedia and productivity features that allow users to be more productive and truly experience a mobile lifestyle.
"The P305 has superior processing power that can be leveraged for 3G services and multimedia enjoyment. It is the first 3G phone that is both compact and offers mobile office capability as in PDAs, making it a terrific all-around business companion.", said Jonney Shih, CEO of ASUSTek Computer Inc.
"The launch of the ASUS P305 is timely considering the growing momentum for 3G in Europe and Asia. With an increasing number of 3G phones, users are able to leverage their devices to increase productivity and enjoy a superior multimedia experience," said Pieter Knook, senior vice president, Mobile and Embedded Devices Division and Communications Sector Business, Microsoft Corp. "We are happy to partner with device makers like ASUS to offer users a diverse range of devices to meet their specific mobility needs."
Video Telephony brings people closer
Essentially representing the ultimate 3G technology, video calls have become the signature requirement of any 3G mobile phone, but this is often met with poor processing power that limits streaming capabilities and handicaps the primary purpose. ASUS has overcome such hurtle, by possessing video telephony technology that is both ready and available now. The high-speed CPU in the P305 smartphone offers superior processing speed that outperforms any 3G mobile phones in the market with 384Kbps downlink/uplink transfer rate. This translates into fluid and smooth video call on the P305, letting users fully enjoy talking and seeing each other.
Higher productivity and better entertainment
Running on Windows Mobile 5.0 with Direct Push Technology, the P305 will provides instant updating of Microsoft Office Outlook Email, Calendar, Contacts and Tasks when synchronizing with Exchange Server 2003 to ensure users are always up to date while on the move. The P305 also provides an outstanding multimedia experience with Internet Explorer and an integrated multimedia suite (including Windows Media Player 10 Mobile) for users to enjoy music and video in a variety of audio formats, including MP3, AMR, AAC, WAV and WMA, as well as streaming MPEG-4 video.
Wireless support and expandability
With built-in compatibility for Bluetooth 1.2 and IrDA, the P305 to be used as a diminutive mobile storage device for any files types and multimedia content. The mini-SD expansion card slot also allows for additional memory for storing a wide range of content including music, games, photos and video.
With 3G capabilities along with the power and functionality of Windows Mobile 5.0 in a small and sleek form factor, the P305 offers endless hours of fun while serving as mobile business companion.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Fujitsu Siemens Confirms 3G PDA
Europe. : Mobile phone, notebook, navigation system, digital camera, VoIP headset, PDA, MP3 player, and don’t forget the right power adapter for each device. It’s quite a lot of gear for the business traveler to carry around – the term “unlimited mobility” is hardly one that would spring to mind.
Fortunately, Fujitsu Siemens Computers is bringing an end to all this. Europe’s leading IT company will unveil its Pocket LOOX T Series to the public at the 3GSM World Congress, which started today in Barcelona. Featuring Windows Mobile® Direct Push e-mail and UMTS mobile phone, this all-integrated handheld is a pocket-sized office that eliminates the need for multiple devices.
With Microsoft® Windows Mobile™ 5.0 software and UMTS functionality, Pocket LOOX T series users always have access to their e-mails, appointment calendar and other familiar Microsoft Office applications. And it’s user-friendly, with a standard QWERTY keyboard and brilliant TFT display. Incorporating these devices into the corporate network is straightforward, ensuring secure and reliable data transfer, while the integrated GPS makes sure you never get lost. The new high-end handhelds will arrive at shops in July for prices of approximately €700.
With annual growth rates of 70 percent in the handhelds market* in 2005 Fujitsu Siemens Computers has established itself as a key mobility player in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Fast, efficient digital communication is becoming ever more crucial, particularly in the rapidly growing market for convergence products. With decades of IT and mobility experience, Fujitsu Siemens Computers is extremely well positioned for success in this convergence market. The company recognizes that business users require all-integrated devices, which over time, will replace conventional handhelds and mobile phones.
“It is vital for the mobile workforce to have the information they need at hand anytime and anywhere, and to have the means to respond quickly when it matters,” explained Peter Esser, Executive Vice President Volume Products & Supply Operations at Fujitsu Siemens Computers. “Mobile professionals do not have time to sit around unproductively when there are mountains of e-mails and documents to work through. They do not want to waste time that could be better spent with customers. With the Pocket LOOX T Series, we are introducing a product designed to solve these problems. And the best thing is that all those extra devices and adaptors can be done away with, since everything is now combined into one compact, capable and highly portable package.”
Highlights
? Fully-equipped GSM/UMTS mobile phone
? E-mail push and messaging with Microsoft Exchange and Windows Mobile 5.0 software
? Integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN (Wi-Fi certified) with VoIP capability
? Bluetooth v2.0
? Integrated GPS
? Video telephony with VGA camera (Pocket LOOX T830)
? 2 megapixel auto-focus camera (Pocket LOOX T830)
? Ergonomic QWERTY keyboard and brilliant TFT display
? SD I/O / MMC slot for backup and additional applications such as an MP3 player or navigation system
? Powerful, exchangeable battery
? Pocket LOOX Software Suite (includes Connection Manager software from Fujitsu Siemens Computers for easy WLAN access)
Europe. : Mobile phone, notebook, navigation system, digital camera, VoIP headset, PDA, MP3 player, and don’t forget the right power adapter for each device. It’s quite a lot of gear for the business traveler to carry around – the term “unlimited mobility” is hardly one that would spring to mind.
Fortunately, Fujitsu Siemens Computers is bringing an end to all this. Europe’s leading IT company will unveil its Pocket LOOX T Series to the public at the 3GSM World Congress, which started today in Barcelona. Featuring Windows Mobile® Direct Push e-mail and UMTS mobile phone, this all-integrated handheld is a pocket-sized office that eliminates the need for multiple devices.
With Microsoft® Windows Mobile™ 5.0 software and UMTS functionality, Pocket LOOX T series users always have access to their e-mails, appointment calendar and other familiar Microsoft Office applications. And it’s user-friendly, with a standard QWERTY keyboard and brilliant TFT display. Incorporating these devices into the corporate network is straightforward, ensuring secure and reliable data transfer, while the integrated GPS makes sure you never get lost. The new high-end handhelds will arrive at shops in July for prices of approximately €700.
With annual growth rates of 70 percent in the handhelds market* in 2005 Fujitsu Siemens Computers has established itself as a key mobility player in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Fast, efficient digital communication is becoming ever more crucial, particularly in the rapidly growing market for convergence products. With decades of IT and mobility experience, Fujitsu Siemens Computers is extremely well positioned for success in this convergence market. The company recognizes that business users require all-integrated devices, which over time, will replace conventional handhelds and mobile phones.
“It is vital for the mobile workforce to have the information they need at hand anytime and anywhere, and to have the means to respond quickly when it matters,” explained Peter Esser, Executive Vice President Volume Products & Supply Operations at Fujitsu Siemens Computers. “Mobile professionals do not have time to sit around unproductively when there are mountains of e-mails and documents to work through. They do not want to waste time that could be better spent with customers. With the Pocket LOOX T Series, we are introducing a product designed to solve these problems. And the best thing is that all those extra devices and adaptors can be done away with, since everything is now combined into one compact, capable and highly portable package.”
Highlights
? Fully-equipped GSM/UMTS mobile phone
? E-mail push and messaging with Microsoft Exchange and Windows Mobile 5.0 software
? Integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN (Wi-Fi certified) with VoIP capability
? Bluetooth v2.0
? Integrated GPS
? Video telephony with VGA camera (Pocket LOOX T830)
? 2 megapixel auto-focus camera (Pocket LOOX T830)
? Ergonomic QWERTY keyboard and brilliant TFT display
? SD I/O / MMC slot for backup and additional applications such as an MP3 player or navigation system
? Powerful, exchangeable battery
? Pocket LOOX Software Suite (includes Connection Manager software from Fujitsu Siemens Computers for easy WLAN access)
Navicore Showcases New Interactive Services at 3GSM Which Enrich Mobile Phoned-based GPS Navigation
February 13, 2006 – At 3GSM in Barcelona this year, Navicore is showcasing how its new interactive services, such as real-time traffic information and safety camera downloads, significantly enrich the mobile phoned-based navigation consumer experience.
Navicore has rapidly become one of the top 3 suppliers worldwide of smartphone-based navigation systems by offering a complete GPS package, Navicore Personal, which enables consumers to turn their Symbian-based mobile phones into a fully-featured GPS navigation system.
Navicore supports all Symbian-based mobile phones – the leading OS for the next generation of handsets. Currently 11 Symbian licensees have product in development, of which 8 have handsets available today. This means some 60 different handsets available with plenty more forthcoming – so plenty of choice for the consumer today and in the future.
GPS on smartphones offers very clear benefits compared to dedicated GPS systems as most people carry a phone with them. With competitive car-based systems for example, once you’ve parked your car, that’s it, it’s useless.
As you always carry your phone, it can still be used as a local area map. No more being late for meetings, family arguments about directions and wandering around lost in unfamiliar cities.
While the essential navigation information such as maps are stored on the memory media of the mobile phone, the rich interactive services significantly improve basic navigation functionality. These services utilise the connectivity of the mobile phone, extend the use of a navigator outside the car and include the followingÓ
Location messaging
With Navicore Personal, consumers can send location messages to share destinations, map locations and addresses with their friends. Other Navicore Personal users receive the location messages shown directly on the map of their personal navigator. In addition, Navicore users can send a snapshot of the map as a location message to any mobile phone user via a multimedia message (MMS).
Beacon
The beacon is a feature for continuously sharing the user’s own location with other Navicore Personal users. A customer is able to set the beacon to automatically send his location at a chosen interval – based on time or physical movement - to selected recipients by means of a location message. It is a great way of keeping in touch and knowing where your friends, family or loved ones are at all times.
Safety camera subscription
Mobile phones offer an easy way to update continuously changing information
Search WirelessDevNet for Related Items
Search Google for Related Stories
February 13, 2006 – At 3GSM in Barcelona this year, Navicore is showcasing how its new interactive services, such as real-time traffic information and safety camera downloads, significantly enrich the mobile phoned-based navigation consumer experience.
Navicore has rapidly become one of the top 3 suppliers worldwide of smartphone-based navigation systems by offering a complete GPS package, Navicore Personal, which enables consumers to turn their Symbian-based mobile phones into a fully-featured GPS navigation system.
Navicore supports all Symbian-based mobile phones – the leading OS for the next generation of handsets. Currently 11 Symbian licensees have product in development, of which 8 have handsets available today. This means some 60 different handsets available with plenty more forthcoming – so plenty of choice for the consumer today and in the future.
GPS on smartphones offers very clear benefits compared to dedicated GPS systems as most people carry a phone with them. With competitive car-based systems for example, once you’ve parked your car, that’s it, it’s useless.
As you always carry your phone, it can still be used as a local area map. No more being late for meetings, family arguments about directions and wandering around lost in unfamiliar cities.
While the essential navigation information such as maps are stored on the memory media of the mobile phone, the rich interactive services significantly improve basic navigation functionality. These services utilise the connectivity of the mobile phone, extend the use of a navigator outside the car and include the followingÓ
Location messaging
With Navicore Personal, consumers can send location messages to share destinations, map locations and addresses with their friends. Other Navicore Personal users receive the location messages shown directly on the map of their personal navigator. In addition, Navicore users can send a snapshot of the map as a location message to any mobile phone user via a multimedia message (MMS).
Beacon
The beacon is a feature for continuously sharing the user’s own location with other Navicore Personal users. A customer is able to set the beacon to automatically send his location at a chosen interval – based on time or physical movement - to selected recipients by means of a location message. It is a great way of keeping in touch and knowing where your friends, family or loved ones are at all times.
Safety camera subscription
Mobile phones offer an easy way to update continuously changing information
Search WirelessDevNet for Related Items
Search Google for Related Stories
Limits proposed on access to vehicle data devices (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com)
DEIRDRE FERNANDES, The Virginian-Pilot
© February 13, 2006
RICHMOND — What does your car reveal about you?
Perhaps more than you’d like.
From automobile “black boxes” to Global Positioning System devices, the electronic information collected by cars can be nearly as telling as a fingerprint. The gadgets hoard evidence of driving habits, including lead feet, seat belt use and favorite haunts.
Auto makers might have originally installed the devices as safety features, but their usefulness now extends far beyond the driver.
Police can download the information to re-create wreck scenes. Insurance companies can mine the data to verify claims and change the premiums they charge. Attorneys can tap into the tracking data to build divorce cases against unfaithful spouses. Security companies, such as OnStar, use it to call for emergency help when their customers are in crashes.
P O L L
Should information gathered by automobile electronic systems be private?
Yes
No
Undecided
View results
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Virginia law, however, is hazy about who owns all that information, which raises privacy questions that can pit the car owner’s interests against those of the police and insurance and security companies.
“Right now it’s like unclaimed territory,” said Del. Joe T. May, R-Loudoun, a former engineer who is both awed and alarmed by GPS devices and event data recorders, the technical term for black boxes.
May has authored one of a handful of bills aimed at regulating the data. “We need to make sure that technology is our servant, not our master,” May said.
A House committee passed May’s bill, HB816, Friday. It would specify that the information belongs to a car’s owner, except when law enforcement officers are investigating a crime or mechanics are fixing the vehicle.
The bill would allow owners to sign a contract with an insurance or security company to release that information.
Some consumer advocates, defense lawyers and legislators think the bill still leaves the car owner vulnerable.
Sen. John C. Watkins, R-Powhatan, has introduced broader legislation that also would put the brakes on insurance companies charging higher premiums to customers who refuse to provide the data.
“I think it’s very important legislation to have in place because it protects people,” Watkins said.
The Senate Courts of Justice Committee will consider Watkins’ bill, SB90, today. Senators already have cleared SB89, another Watkins bill, which requires car manufacturers to notify buyers about the recording devices in the owners manual.
If the bills pass, Virginia will join six other states with laws on electronic car data.
Automobile event data recorders surfaced in the 1970s to collect crash information. Until about 15 years ago, automakers limited their use to trucks.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 15 percent of light vehicles on the road are equipped with the recorders, which are slightly bigger than a pack of cigarettes, but a vast majority of cars built since 2004 have black boxes.
What the devices record varies by automaker. Most track five seconds of information – including the car’s speed, throttle position, brake action, headlight and seat belt use – and are tied in to the air bag system .
That information is far less intrusive than health records or bank statements, and insurance companies should have access, said Rey Becker, vice president of commercial lines and claims with Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, an insurance trade group.
“An insurance adjuster goes to a scene of an accident and measures the skid marks or measures the dings in a car ; this isn’t any different,” Becker said. “It’s very routine, objective information. I am concerned that we’re in a zeal to protect privacy that may be going overboard.”
If a wrecked car is at the body shop, the investigating insurance agent will ask the mechanic for the electronic data, Becker said.
Some companies, including Progressive Insurance, are going further and have started voluntary programs that allow drivers to qualify for lower premiums if they give the companies routine access to the data.
As data recording devices become more common, however, so does the fear that they could be used to snitch on a driver in court, said Michael Gladstone, a defense lawyer with Troutman Sanders in Richmond.
“Why the subject has sparked interest nationwide is the attitude that I shouldn’t have my car busting on me,” Gladstone said. “It’s a privacy issue.”
According to a poll by AAA Mid-Atlantic, 67 percent of Virginians think the information should be private, except with the owner’s permission.
Striking the right balance between consumer protection and corporate concerns can be tricky. The insurance companies think Watkins’ bill is too restrictive. The automobile manufacturers think it is too broad and could sway people away from these devices.
“Eventually, we’re concerned that they won’t want these devices in the cars,” said J. Christopher Jankowski, a lobbyist for DaimlerChrysler. “We’re concerned that we’re going to be blamed for something that is beneficial.”
Reach Deirdre Fernandes at (804) 697-1580 or deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com.
DEIRDRE FERNANDES, The Virginian-Pilot
© February 13, 2006
RICHMOND — What does your car reveal about you?
Perhaps more than you’d like.
From automobile “black boxes” to Global Positioning System devices, the electronic information collected by cars can be nearly as telling as a fingerprint. The gadgets hoard evidence of driving habits, including lead feet, seat belt use and favorite haunts.
Auto makers might have originally installed the devices as safety features, but their usefulness now extends far beyond the driver.
Police can download the information to re-create wreck scenes. Insurance companies can mine the data to verify claims and change the premiums they charge. Attorneys can tap into the tracking data to build divorce cases against unfaithful spouses. Security companies, such as OnStar, use it to call for emergency help when their customers are in crashes.
P O L L
Should information gathered by automobile electronic systems be private?
Yes
No
Undecided
View results
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See the complete Pilot, exactly as in print
- View stories, photos and ads
- E-mail clippings
- Print copies
Log in or learn more
Email this Page
Print this Page
Get Email Newsletters
Virginia law, however, is hazy about who owns all that information, which raises privacy questions that can pit the car owner’s interests against those of the police and insurance and security companies.
“Right now it’s like unclaimed territory,” said Del. Joe T. May, R-Loudoun, a former engineer who is both awed and alarmed by GPS devices and event data recorders, the technical term for black boxes.
May has authored one of a handful of bills aimed at regulating the data. “We need to make sure that technology is our servant, not our master,” May said.
A House committee passed May’s bill, HB816, Friday. It would specify that the information belongs to a car’s owner, except when law enforcement officers are investigating a crime or mechanics are fixing the vehicle.
The bill would allow owners to sign a contract with an insurance or security company to release that information.
Some consumer advocates, defense lawyers and legislators think the bill still leaves the car owner vulnerable.
Sen. John C. Watkins, R-Powhatan, has introduced broader legislation that also would put the brakes on insurance companies charging higher premiums to customers who refuse to provide the data.
“I think it’s very important legislation to have in place because it protects people,” Watkins said.
The Senate Courts of Justice Committee will consider Watkins’ bill, SB90, today. Senators already have cleared SB89, another Watkins bill, which requires car manufacturers to notify buyers about the recording devices in the owners manual.
If the bills pass, Virginia will join six other states with laws on electronic car data.
Automobile event data recorders surfaced in the 1970s to collect crash information. Until about 15 years ago, automakers limited their use to trucks.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 15 percent of light vehicles on the road are equipped with the recorders, which are slightly bigger than a pack of cigarettes, but a vast majority of cars built since 2004 have black boxes.
What the devices record varies by automaker. Most track five seconds of information – including the car’s speed, throttle position, brake action, headlight and seat belt use – and are tied in to the air bag system .
That information is far less intrusive than health records or bank statements, and insurance companies should have access, said Rey Becker, vice president of commercial lines and claims with Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, an insurance trade group.
“An insurance adjuster goes to a scene of an accident and measures the skid marks or measures the dings in a car ; this isn’t any different,” Becker said. “It’s very routine, objective information. I am concerned that we’re in a zeal to protect privacy that may be going overboard.”
If a wrecked car is at the body shop, the investigating insurance agent will ask the mechanic for the electronic data, Becker said.
Some companies, including Progressive Insurance, are going further and have started voluntary programs that allow drivers to qualify for lower premiums if they give the companies routine access to the data.
As data recording devices become more common, however, so does the fear that they could be used to snitch on a driver in court, said Michael Gladstone, a defense lawyer with Troutman Sanders in Richmond.
“Why the subject has sparked interest nationwide is the attitude that I shouldn’t have my car busting on me,” Gladstone said. “It’s a privacy issue.”
According to a poll by AAA Mid-Atlantic, 67 percent of Virginians think the information should be private, except with the owner’s permission.
Striking the right balance between consumer protection and corporate concerns can be tricky. The insurance companies think Watkins’ bill is too restrictive. The automobile manufacturers think it is too broad and could sway people away from these devices.
“Eventually, we’re concerned that they won’t want these devices in the cars,” said J. Christopher Jankowski, a lobbyist for DaimlerChrysler. “We’re concerned that we’re going to be blamed for something that is beneficial.”
Reach Deirdre Fernandes at (804) 697-1580 or deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com.
u-blox and Conrad Proudly Present GPS Smart Antenna with SuperSense®
THALWIL, Switzerland -- u-blox AG, the number one Swiss provider of innovative GPS receiver technology, today announced the signing of a partnership with Conrad, the leading European mail-order electronics supplier. Conrad has developed a GPS smart antenna based on the u-blox SuperSense LEA-4H flagship module, which is now available at Conrad's retail and online stores. With its built-in USB interface, low power consumption, unrivaled sensitivity and 17 x 22 mm format, the LEA-4H was chosen for its fantastic navigation performance and low cost.
"We chose u-blox as our GPS technology supplier because of their best-in-class performance. They are known for their high quality products and as a reliable partner. I was particularly impressed with how easy it is to work with u-blox. They have a very straightforward approach," said Harald Greiner, Head of R&D, Conrad Technology Center.
Conrad offers its products and services by catalogue, through 29 retail stores in Europe and also on the Internet. The German Business catalogue 2006 contains 75,000 articles, covering just about everything that involves electronics. With 2.5 million visits per month, the Conrad homepage www.conrad.de is Germany’s most popular technical and electronics Internet address. The site won the prestigious European "Online Star" Internet user award for the third time in 2003 in the "Computers and Technology" category and the readers of the computer magazine "PC Praxis" awarded the web site for the best online-shop in 2005.
"Conrad Electronic is the major distributor for consumer electronics in Europe. Customer satisfaction is paramount to them - we are very honored to be Conrad Electronic’s GPS technology supplier for their USB GPS mice", explains Karsten Tietz, VP Sales EMEA at u-blox AG.
(A photograph can be downloaded from
http://www.u-blox.com/news/conrad.jpg)
About u-blox
u-blox is an international company headquartered in Switzerland, with sales organizations in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Founded in 1997, u-blox develops leading positioning technology and products based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) for the automotive and mobile communications markets. For more information, please visit www.u-blox.com.
About Conrad
With a widespread range of 75.000 products Conrad Electronic GmbH is Europe's leading mail order Company specializing in electronics. The main office of this family-run concern is located in Hirschau/Oberpfalz; furthermore there are 23 retail stores in Germany and subsidiary companies and affiliate companies located in the primary European countrie
THALWIL, Switzerland -- u-blox AG, the number one Swiss provider of innovative GPS receiver technology, today announced the signing of a partnership with Conrad, the leading European mail-order electronics supplier. Conrad has developed a GPS smart antenna based on the u-blox SuperSense LEA-4H flagship module, which is now available at Conrad's retail and online stores. With its built-in USB interface, low power consumption, unrivaled sensitivity and 17 x 22 mm format, the LEA-4H was chosen for its fantastic navigation performance and low cost.
"We chose u-blox as our GPS technology supplier because of their best-in-class performance. They are known for their high quality products and as a reliable partner. I was particularly impressed with how easy it is to work with u-blox. They have a very straightforward approach," said Harald Greiner, Head of R&D, Conrad Technology Center.
Conrad offers its products and services by catalogue, through 29 retail stores in Europe and also on the Internet. The German Business catalogue 2006 contains 75,000 articles, covering just about everything that involves electronics. With 2.5 million visits per month, the Conrad homepage www.conrad.de is Germany’s most popular technical and electronics Internet address. The site won the prestigious European "Online Star" Internet user award for the third time in 2003 in the "Computers and Technology" category and the readers of the computer magazine "PC Praxis" awarded the web site for the best online-shop in 2005.
"Conrad Electronic is the major distributor for consumer electronics in Europe. Customer satisfaction is paramount to them - we are very honored to be Conrad Electronic’s GPS technology supplier for their USB GPS mice", explains Karsten Tietz, VP Sales EMEA at u-blox AG.
(A photograph can be downloaded from
http://www.u-blox.com/news/conrad.jpg)
About u-blox
u-blox is an international company headquartered in Switzerland, with sales organizations in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Founded in 1997, u-blox develops leading positioning technology and products based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) for the automotive and mobile communications markets. For more information, please visit www.u-blox.com.
About Conrad
With a widespread range of 75.000 products Conrad Electronic GmbH is Europe's leading mail order Company specializing in electronics. The main office of this family-run concern is located in Hirschau/Oberpfalz; furthermore there are 23 retail stores in Germany and subsidiary companies and affiliate companies located in the primary European countrie
Andrew's Fully Interoperable, Standards Compliant Mobile Location Platform Is Enhanced With SUPL: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
WESTCHESTER, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 2006--Andrew Corporation, a global leader in communications systems and products, has enhanced its popular Geometrix® mobile location center (MLC) platform to support the broadest array of standards-compliant, fully-interoperable locating options in a single carrier-grade system.
In the most prominent addition, the Geometrix MLC now includes the secure user plane location (SUPL) standard, complementing its broad array of control plane location capabilities. This enables operators to quickly implement and offer a variety of location-based services (LBS) with minimum risk or changes to existing network infrastructure.
"The enhancements to Geometrix further extend Andrew's global leadership in offering advanced location technologies to support operators' ability to offer location-based services," said Terry Garner, group president, Andrew Network Solutions. "Andrew's Geometrix MLC is the highest performing, most flexible location platform available and it enables operators of any size to market new, high-value services now."
The enhanced Geometrix MLC solutions will be featured at Andrew's exhibit (Hall 1, Stand D08-D09) February 13-16 at 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona.
Geometrix's new SUPL capabilities address the desires of many industry participants that operators must offer both user plane and control plane mobile location options in order to provide the greatest flexibility for LBS applications. By integrating the SUPL standard onto the same basic hardware as Andrew's other MLC offerings, Andrew has uniquely combined control plane and user plane technologies, simplifying operation and maintenance through a single application interface.
Andrew's Geometrix MLC carrier-grade platforms support all handset-based and network-based wireless location methods, including assisted global positioning system (A-GPS) in both mobile-based and mobile-assisted versions, Matrix, cell identity (CID), enhanced cell identity (E-CID), and uplink time difference of arrival (U-TDOA) technologies. In addition, Andrew employs hybrid location methods that combine features from the individual locating technologies.
"As demand for location based services increases and changes, operators can have full confidence that their Geometrix MLC system will transition seamlessly as networks are upgraded or new capabilities are added," said Garner. "Geometrix MLC is the highly flexible, carrier-grade platform that will serve as the foundation for location-based service applications for years to come. Andrew has led the way in the standards bodies to ensure operators have access to solutions that not only are standards compliant, but also meet the dynamic requirements of LBS customers."
Andrew Geometrix, which identifies locations of mobile devices, is the world's most advanced mobile locating system and already is deployed in multiple markets with A-GPS handsets running advanced location applications. Operators and third-parties worldwide count on Geometrix MLCs to offer location-based services for:
Consumers, such as navigation, motorist assistance, child tracking, vehicle location, and shipment status
Enterprises, to enhance vehicle and service dispatch, follow fleet movement, and track valuable assets
Public safety, to help locate callers for emergency service centers.
Location-based services are a growing set of innovative value-added applications that are enabled or enhanced with location information. Geometrix MLC precisely meets the location-based service performance, deployment, and cost requirements of operators worldwide. With Geometrix MLC, operators can install a single location system and select the locating technologies that best meet their requirements for cost and location-based service performance.
"Working closely with the leading LBS application companies, and through years of end-to-end testing with operators, network equipment vendors, and handset manufacturers, Andrew provides the experience required to successfully launch value-added services in any given market," said Garner.
Andrew is the world's most trusted supplier of high-accuracy mobile location systems. Andrew's Geometrix location systems have been installed by more operators than any competing system. Since the first Geometrix systems entered service in 2001, cellular network operators covering hundreds of millions of people have installed Andrew mobile location systems to provide accurate location of mobile users for a wide range of advanced services.
About Andrew Corporation
Andrew Corporation (NASDAQ:ANDW - News) designs, manufactures, and delivers innovative and essential equipment and solutions for the global communications infrastructure market. The company serves operators and equipment manufacturers from facilities in 35 countries. Andrew (www.andrew.com), headquartered in Westchester, IL, is an S&P 500 company founded in 1937.
Geometrix is a registered trademark of Andrew Corporation.
Forward Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this news release are forward looking statements and we caution our stockholders and others that these statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ from expected results include fluctuations in commodity costs, the company's ability to integrate acquisitions and to realize the anticipated synergies and cost savings, the effects of competitive products and pricing, economic and political conditions that may impact customers' ability to fund purchases of our products and services, the company's ability to achieve the cost savings anticipated from cost reduction programs, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, the timing of cash payments and receipts, end use demands for wireless communication services, the loss of one or more significant customers, and other business factors. Investors should also review other risks and uncertainties discussed in company documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Andrew Corporation
Rick Aspan (News Media Contact), 708-236-6568
publicrelations@andrew.com
or
Scott Malchow (Investor Contact), 708-236-6507
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WESTCHESTER, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 2006--Andrew Corporation, a global leader in communications systems and products, has enhanced its popular Geometrix® mobile location center (MLC) platform to support the broadest array of standards-compliant, fully-interoperable locating options in a single carrier-grade system.
In the most prominent addition, the Geometrix MLC now includes the secure user plane location (SUPL) standard, complementing its broad array of control plane location capabilities. This enables operators to quickly implement and offer a variety of location-based services (LBS) with minimum risk or changes to existing network infrastructure.
"The enhancements to Geometrix further extend Andrew's global leadership in offering advanced location technologies to support operators' ability to offer location-based services," said Terry Garner, group president, Andrew Network Solutions. "Andrew's Geometrix MLC is the highest performing, most flexible location platform available and it enables operators of any size to market new, high-value services now."
The enhanced Geometrix MLC solutions will be featured at Andrew's exhibit (Hall 1, Stand D08-D09) February 13-16 at 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona.
Geometrix's new SUPL capabilities address the desires of many industry participants that operators must offer both user plane and control plane mobile location options in order to provide the greatest flexibility for LBS applications. By integrating the SUPL standard onto the same basic hardware as Andrew's other MLC offerings, Andrew has uniquely combined control plane and user plane technologies, simplifying operation and maintenance through a single application interface.
Andrew's Geometrix MLC carrier-grade platforms support all handset-based and network-based wireless location methods, including assisted global positioning system (A-GPS) in both mobile-based and mobile-assisted versions, Matrix, cell identity (CID), enhanced cell identity (E-CID), and uplink time difference of arrival (U-TDOA) technologies. In addition, Andrew employs hybrid location methods that combine features from the individual locating technologies.
"As demand for location based services increases and changes, operators can have full confidence that their Geometrix MLC system will transition seamlessly as networks are upgraded or new capabilities are added," said Garner. "Geometrix MLC is the highly flexible, carrier-grade platform that will serve as the foundation for location-based service applications for years to come. Andrew has led the way in the standards bodies to ensure operators have access to solutions that not only are standards compliant, but also meet the dynamic requirements of LBS customers."
Andrew Geometrix, which identifies locations of mobile devices, is the world's most advanced mobile locating system and already is deployed in multiple markets with A-GPS handsets running advanced location applications. Operators and third-parties worldwide count on Geometrix MLCs to offer location-based services for:
Consumers, such as navigation, motorist assistance, child tracking, vehicle location, and shipment status
Enterprises, to enhance vehicle and service dispatch, follow fleet movement, and track valuable assets
Public safety, to help locate callers for emergency service centers.
Location-based services are a growing set of innovative value-added applications that are enabled or enhanced with location information. Geometrix MLC precisely meets the location-based service performance, deployment, and cost requirements of operators worldwide. With Geometrix MLC, operators can install a single location system and select the locating technologies that best meet their requirements for cost and location-based service performance.
"Working closely with the leading LBS application companies, and through years of end-to-end testing with operators, network equipment vendors, and handset manufacturers, Andrew provides the experience required to successfully launch value-added services in any given market," said Garner.
Andrew is the world's most trusted supplier of high-accuracy mobile location systems. Andrew's Geometrix location systems have been installed by more operators than any competing system. Since the first Geometrix systems entered service in 2001, cellular network operators covering hundreds of millions of people have installed Andrew mobile location systems to provide accurate location of mobile users for a wide range of advanced services.
About Andrew Corporation
Andrew Corporation (NASDAQ:ANDW - News) designs, manufactures, and delivers innovative and essential equipment and solutions for the global communications infrastructure market. The company serves operators and equipment manufacturers from facilities in 35 countries. Andrew (www.andrew.com), headquartered in Westchester, IL, is an S&P 500 company founded in 1937.
Geometrix is a registered trademark of Andrew Corporation.
Forward Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this news release are forward looking statements and we caution our stockholders and others that these statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ from expected results include fluctuations in commodity costs, the company's ability to integrate acquisitions and to realize the anticipated synergies and cost savings, the effects of competitive products and pricing, economic and political conditions that may impact customers' ability to fund purchases of our products and services, the company's ability to achieve the cost savings anticipated from cost reduction programs, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, the timing of cash payments and receipts, end use demands for wireless communication services, the loss of one or more significant customers, and other business factors. Investors should also review other risks and uncertainties discussed in company documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Andrew Corporation
Rick Aspan (News Media Contact), 708-236-6568
publicrelations@andrew.com
or
Scott Malchow (Investor Contact), 708-236-6507
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autodesk Launches European Mobile Services Developer Program
Autodesk Inc., (Nasdaq: ADSK), today announced its Autodesk European Location Services Developer Program. This location-based services (LBS) program provides European developers with the resources and support needed to rapidly bring LBS applications and services to market. The LBS market is estimated to reach $200 million EUR by 2007, according to Frost and Sullivan, and wireless carriers around the world are location-enabling their networks to facilitate worldwide demand for LBS services such as social networking, gaming, personal navigation and directions.
Modeled on its successful U.S. program, this new program helps developers create LBS services using Autodesk's open standards platform to market their applications worldwide. Autodesk works with the most successful wireless carries in the world; including three of the five tier-one wireless providers in the United States.
Additionally, the program offers a solid geo-services and location privacy management platform architecture, a standards-based application programming interface (API) for the Web and handsets, as well as technical documentation and support. Autodesk plans to foster location-based developer discussions, blogs, events and discussion groups for the community on an ongoing basis. The European program was created with developers' needs in mind by utilizing feedback from Autodesk's Developer Council, a selected group of LBS developers devoted to guiding and informing Autodesk about the tools needed to bring commercially successful applications to market.
TikGames, an LBS gaming company, is an early member of the developer program. The company is a semifinalist in the EU Navteq Challenge, a contest for companies paving the way for solutions that enhance a mobile lifestyle. "We joined the Autodesk program, after conducting competitive research and determining that their coverage, physical maps and associated data were stronger and visually superior to those of other companies," said Alex Tikhman, Founder of TikGames. "Their platform is amazing to work with; our ability to access their maps and cutting-edge technology empowers us to quickly develop sophisticated, new games . Their program helped us gain marketing exposure for GeoUniverse, our wireless game facilitating a real world treasure hunt, to market."
Specific Aspects of the Developer Program Include:
* Free Connectivity to Hosted LocationLogic LBS Platform: In order to
minimize the risk, cost and speed at which applications are built,
Autodesk's LBS platform enables the creation of services for commercial
deployment, which easily integrate with, and link to, many of the
world's most successful network carriers.
* Application Programming Interfaces (APIs): Standards-based APIs make it
easy for developers to rapidly build and customize services for
deployment without the up-front and ongoing costs of maintaining a
separate server -side LBS infrastructure.
* Software Development Kit (SDK): This kit provides developers with the
building blocks, sample code and documentation needed for the
development process.
* Dedicated Support Services: Developers can take advantage of technical
and business oriented support and aid to bring their services to market.
* A Network of Carrier Relationships: Autodesk provides marketing and
technical support to introduce selected developers to tier-one carriers
and their broad base of network subscribers. Autodesk acts as the
trusted advisor for new applications.
* Suite of Geospatial Services: Includes routing and directions, device
location determination, content management, mobile user and object
tracking, mapping, visualization and navigation, and custom weather
features, etc.
Autodesk Inc., (Nasdaq: ADSK), today announced its Autodesk European Location Services Developer Program. This location-based services (LBS) program provides European developers with the resources and support needed to rapidly bring LBS applications and services to market. The LBS market is estimated to reach $200 million EUR by 2007, according to Frost and Sullivan, and wireless carriers around the world are location-enabling their networks to facilitate worldwide demand for LBS services such as social networking, gaming, personal navigation and directions.
Modeled on its successful U.S. program, this new program helps developers create LBS services using Autodesk's open standards platform to market their applications worldwide. Autodesk works with the most successful wireless carries in the world; including three of the five tier-one wireless providers in the United States.
Additionally, the program offers a solid geo-services and location privacy management platform architecture, a standards-based application programming interface (API) for the Web and handsets, as well as technical documentation and support. Autodesk plans to foster location-based developer discussions, blogs, events and discussion groups for the community on an ongoing basis. The European program was created with developers' needs in mind by utilizing feedback from Autodesk's Developer Council, a selected group of LBS developers devoted to guiding and informing Autodesk about the tools needed to bring commercially successful applications to market.
TikGames, an LBS gaming company, is an early member of the developer program. The company is a semifinalist in the EU Navteq Challenge, a contest for companies paving the way for solutions that enhance a mobile lifestyle. "We joined the Autodesk program, after conducting competitive research and determining that their coverage, physical maps and associated data were stronger and visually superior to those of other companies," said Alex Tikhman, Founder of TikGames. "Their platform is amazing to work with; our ability to access their maps and cutting-edge technology empowers us to quickly develop sophisticated, new games . Their program helped us gain marketing exposure for GeoUniverse, our wireless game facilitating a real world treasure hunt, to market."
Specific Aspects of the Developer Program Include:
* Free Connectivity to Hosted LocationLogic LBS Platform: In order to
minimize the risk, cost and speed at which applications are built,
Autodesk's LBS platform enables the creation of services for commercial
deployment, which easily integrate with, and link to, many of the
world's most successful network carriers.
* Application Programming Interfaces (APIs): Standards-based APIs make it
easy for developers to rapidly build and customize services for
deployment without the up-front and ongoing costs of maintaining a
separate server -side LBS infrastructure.
* Software Development Kit (SDK): This kit provides developers with the
building blocks, sample code and documentation needed for the
development process.
* Dedicated Support Services: Developers can take advantage of technical
and business oriented support and aid to bring their services to market.
* A Network of Carrier Relationships: Autodesk provides marketing and
technical support to introduce selected developers to tier-one carriers
and their broad base of network subscribers. Autodesk acts as the
trusted advisor for new applications.
* Suite of Geospatial Services: Includes routing and directions, device
location determination, content management, mobile user and object
tracking, mapping, visualization and navigation, and custom weather
features, etc.
Zoran Introduces APPROACH 5, Industry's Most Cost-Effective SOC for Mobile Phone Market at 3GSM 2006
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zoran Corporation
announced its next generation family of APPROACH mobile multimedia processors
incorporates Zoran's leading edge Digital Camera Image Signal Processing (ISP)
capabilities along with other leading multimedia features into the industry's
most cost-effective SOC for the mobile phone market. Zoran is demonstrating
its first APPROACH 5 system-based platforms at 3GSM 2006.
With the integration of Zoran's COACH ISP, the APPROACH 5 processors allow
handset makers to deliver camera phones with image quality that rivals digital
still cameras and also offers real time video capture. The APPROACH 5 solution
allows mobile phones to support image sensors as large as 5MP. These phones
will also be able to offer 30 frames per second (fps) full VGA resolution
digital video MPEG4 capture and playback. Additional multimedia features
include decoding of mobile DTV and other H.264 low bit rate video streaming,
3D gaming hardware acceleration, TV out, and digital mobile TV support. The
APPROACH 5 family also integrates a Global Positioning System (GPS) baseband,
enabling location-based services in handsets.
"We are proud to announce the APPROACH 5 family of processors that
integrate our popular image signal processing technology. With the addition of
this proven technology from our digital camera group, we are enabling our
handset customers to quickly deliver new multimedia mobile phones that capture
much higher quality digital still photos and video clips. TV steaming support
also promises to become popular with consumers," said Coby Sella, vice
president and general manager at Zoran's Mobile division.
"The multimedia mobile phone market segment is expected to increase
dramatically from 88 million units in 2005 to about 269 million units in 2008,
representing 30 percent of the total worldwide mobile phone shipments in 2008
"said Mario Morales, semiconductor industry analyst at IDC. "This growth will
be driven by cost-effective multimedia processors for handsets that enable
innovative imaging and multimedia features for consumers."
Current mobile phones generally offer poor picture taking quality. The
image capture capability of the new APPROACH 5 processors offers the five
megapixel quality photographers find in Japanese branded 5 mega pixel digital
cameras.
The APPROACH 5 solutions include reference designs and the entire software
applications suite needed for enabling all the popular features of multimedia
phones for global markets. To ease migration for handset makers, all APPROACH
5 family products share the same 10x10 mm package configuration.
In addition, mobile phone battery life is improved with the smart system
power saving design and the use of advanced 90nm process technology. Mobile
SDRAM is embedded within the 10x10 mm package, eliminating the need for an
additional on board component.
APPROACH 5 processors will be presented at Zoran's suite at 3GSM 2006,
February 13-16, located in Hall 4, Level 5, number 5.06, Fira la Barcelona,
Spain.
About Zoran Corporation
Zoran Corporation, based in Sunnyvale, California, is a leading provider
of digital solutions in the growing digital entertainment and digital imaging
markets. With two decades of expertise developing and delivering digital
signal processing technologies, Zoran has pioneered high-performance digital
audio and video, imaging applications and Connect and Share technologies for
the digital home. Zoran's proficiency in integration delivers major benefits
for OEM customers, including greater capabilities within each product
generation, reduced system costs, and shorter time to market. Zoran-based DVD,
digital camera, DTV, multimedia mobile phone, and multifunction printer
products have received recognition for excellence and are now in hundreds of
millions of homes and offices worldwide. With headquarters in the U.S. and
operations in Canada, China, England, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Korea,
and Taiwan, Zoran may be contacted on the World Wide Web at http://www.zoran.com or
at 408-523-6500.
NOTE: Zoran, the Zoran logo, and APPROACH are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Zoran Corporation and its subsidiaries in the United States or
other countries. All other names and brands may be claimed as property of
others.
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zoran Corporation
announced its next generation family of APPROACH mobile multimedia processors
incorporates Zoran's leading edge Digital Camera Image Signal Processing (ISP)
capabilities along with other leading multimedia features into the industry's
most cost-effective SOC for the mobile phone market. Zoran is demonstrating
its first APPROACH 5 system-based platforms at 3GSM 2006.
With the integration of Zoran's COACH ISP, the APPROACH 5 processors allow
handset makers to deliver camera phones with image quality that rivals digital
still cameras and also offers real time video capture. The APPROACH 5 solution
allows mobile phones to support image sensors as large as 5MP. These phones
will also be able to offer 30 frames per second (fps) full VGA resolution
digital video MPEG4 capture and playback. Additional multimedia features
include decoding of mobile DTV and other H.264 low bit rate video streaming,
3D gaming hardware acceleration, TV out, and digital mobile TV support. The
APPROACH 5 family also integrates a Global Positioning System (GPS) baseband,
enabling location-based services in handsets.
"We are proud to announce the APPROACH 5 family of processors that
integrate our popular image signal processing technology. With the addition of
this proven technology from our digital camera group, we are enabling our
handset customers to quickly deliver new multimedia mobile phones that capture
much higher quality digital still photos and video clips. TV steaming support
also promises to become popular with consumers," said Coby Sella, vice
president and general manager at Zoran's Mobile division.
"The multimedia mobile phone market segment is expected to increase
dramatically from 88 million units in 2005 to about 269 million units in 2008,
representing 30 percent of the total worldwide mobile phone shipments in 2008
"said Mario Morales, semiconductor industry analyst at IDC. "This growth will
be driven by cost-effective multimedia processors for handsets that enable
innovative imaging and multimedia features for consumers."
Current mobile phones generally offer poor picture taking quality. The
image capture capability of the new APPROACH 5 processors offers the five
megapixel quality photographers find in Japanese branded 5 mega pixel digital
cameras.
The APPROACH 5 solutions include reference designs and the entire software
applications suite needed for enabling all the popular features of multimedia
phones for global markets. To ease migration for handset makers, all APPROACH
5 family products share the same 10x10 mm package configuration.
In addition, mobile phone battery life is improved with the smart system
power saving design and the use of advanced 90nm process technology. Mobile
SDRAM is embedded within the 10x10 mm package, eliminating the need for an
additional on board component.
APPROACH 5 processors will be presented at Zoran's suite at 3GSM 2006,
February 13-16, located in Hall 4, Level 5, number 5.06, Fira la Barcelona,
Spain.
About Zoran Corporation
Zoran Corporation, based in Sunnyvale, California, is a leading provider
of digital solutions in the growing digital entertainment and digital imaging
markets. With two decades of expertise developing and delivering digital
signal processing technologies, Zoran has pioneered high-performance digital
audio and video, imaging applications and Connect and Share technologies for
the digital home. Zoran's proficiency in integration delivers major benefits
for OEM customers, including greater capabilities within each product
generation, reduced system costs, and shorter time to market. Zoran-based DVD,
digital camera, DTV, multimedia mobile phone, and multifunction printer
products have received recognition for excellence and are now in hundreds of
millions of homes and offices worldwide. With headquarters in the U.S. and
operations in Canada, China, England, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Korea,
and Taiwan, Zoran may be contacted on the World Wide Web at http://www.zoran.com or
at 408-523-6500.
NOTE: Zoran, the Zoran logo, and APPROACH are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Zoran Corporation and its subsidiaries in the United States or
other countries. All other names and brands may be claimed as property of
others.
Ericsson offers Ericsson Mobile Device Antivirus Solution for Operators and Interlink Global Corp. Signs Agreement to Offer VoIP Products and Services
Ericsson offers Ericsson Mobile Device Antivirus Solution for Operators and Interlink Global Corp. Signs Agreement to Offer VoIP Products and Services
City of Industry, CA --(www.FinancialNewsUSA.com)-- 02/13/2006 - Communication industry news provided by Financial News USA (OTC: FNWU) Ericsson (Nasdaq:ERICY) is offering the industry's first mobile antivirus solution specifically designed for operator environments. Ericsson Mobile Device Antivirus is now available as part of Ericsson's Mobile Data Solutions portfolio, which offers enterprises secure mobile access to business-critical data applications. Nokia (NYSE: NOK) recently underlined its effort in making location based services available to a broad consumer base with the announcement of the Nokia GPS Module LD-3W, which is compatible with a wide selection of Nokia's Bluetooth enabled handsets.
Interlink Global Corp. (OTC:ILKG) recently announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Call Center Association headquartered in Bogota, Columbia to offer the full range of Interlink's services to the Call Center Association's membership group, as well as to users outside of the group. This reseller agreement will bring to Interlink an established customer base in a region that the Company has targeted, while insuring quality of service to this desirable customer category. QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and other advanced wireless technologies, reported that yesterday the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals denied an emergency motion by Broadcom seeking to delay the operation of a permanent injunction obtained by QUALCOMM on February 6.
About Financial News USA
Financial News USA is a Next Generation Financial Communications firm focused on the distribution of market moving news. Financial News USA has developed leading edge e-publishing tools including programming proprietary RSS feeds and enabling open source press release publishing across its network. Financial News USA has been aggressively expanding its news distribution network by targeting direct feeds to financial news and data providers such as FinancialContent, Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO), among others. Financial News USA offers a free news feed available online (www.financialnewsusa.com) to websites and financial services looking for content and for individual investors looking to stay informed on the financial markets. Financial News USA and its affiliates charge each client cash for news distribution and may take an equity position in the companies mentioned herein, please visit the disclaimer at www.financialnewsusa.com
Contact Information:
Financial News USA
Tel: (626) 961-8041
Email: info@financialnewsusa.com
Ericsson offers Ericsson Mobile Device Antivirus Solution for Operators and Interlink Global Corp. Signs Agreement to Offer VoIP Products and Services
City of Industry, CA --(www.FinancialNewsUSA.com)-- 02/13/2006 - Communication industry news provided by Financial News USA (OTC: FNWU) Ericsson (Nasdaq:ERICY) is offering the industry's first mobile antivirus solution specifically designed for operator environments. Ericsson Mobile Device Antivirus is now available as part of Ericsson's Mobile Data Solutions portfolio, which offers enterprises secure mobile access to business-critical data applications. Nokia (NYSE: NOK) recently underlined its effort in making location based services available to a broad consumer base with the announcement of the Nokia GPS Module LD-3W, which is compatible with a wide selection of Nokia's Bluetooth enabled handsets.
Interlink Global Corp. (OTC:ILKG) recently announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Call Center Association headquartered in Bogota, Columbia to offer the full range of Interlink's services to the Call Center Association's membership group, as well as to users outside of the group. This reseller agreement will bring to Interlink an established customer base in a region that the Company has targeted, while insuring quality of service to this desirable customer category. QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and other advanced wireless technologies, reported that yesterday the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals denied an emergency motion by Broadcom seeking to delay the operation of a permanent injunction obtained by QUALCOMM on February 6.
About Financial News USA
Financial News USA is a Next Generation Financial Communications firm focused on the distribution of market moving news. Financial News USA has developed leading edge e-publishing tools including programming proprietary RSS feeds and enabling open source press release publishing across its network. Financial News USA has been aggressively expanding its news distribution network by targeting direct feeds to financial news and data providers such as FinancialContent, Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO), among others. Financial News USA offers a free news feed available online (www.financialnewsusa.com) to websites and financial services looking for content and for individual investors looking to stay informed on the financial markets. Financial News USA and its affiliates charge each client cash for news distribution and may take an equity position in the companies mentioned herein, please visit the disclaimer at www.financialnewsusa.com
Contact Information:
Financial News USA
Tel: (626) 961-8041
Email: info@financialnewsusa.com
eRide Embarks on Galileo Ship With New Munich Development Center
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2006--eRide Inc., a fabless semiconductor company that develops and markets high-sensitivity autonomous and assisted Global Positioning System (GPS) based devices and software for Location Based Services, announced today the expansion of it Global Development Team with the opening of a European Development Center in Munich, Germany. The center will tap into the Munich-based Galileo cluster industries and will be key to the development of the newer generation of eRide chipsets and software code name Opus 3, combining GPS and Galileo technologies. The office will also host an aiding server; demonstrating eRide's end to end positioning solutions and providing local service to European mobile phone operators.
"Germany in general and Munich specifically, with the advent of Galileo and the presence of many respectable automotive makers, has enormous market potential and strategic value," said Jens Bodenkamp, Managing Director, eRide Europe. Bodenkamp will lead the development team which will focus on the development of the Opus 3 GPS -- Galileo dual mode receiver. His team will also provide local applications support to European customers and promote eRide's capabilities to mobile phone operators.
"We see the combination of GPS and Galileo as a major market opportunity to provide consumers with an enhanced location based services experience: better accuracy, better availability, better services. The passion for Galileo comes out of Europe and we will be servicing this directly from the top Galileo location in Europe," adds Arthur Woo, president and CEO of eRide. eRide will demonstrate its high-sensitivity in-door GPS performance and aiding server technology to key customers at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona in February 2006.
eRide is a fabless semiconductor company that develops and markets high sensitivity GPS and assisted GPS (A-GPS) solutions for location based services. eRide combines its GPS system expertise with RF and digital semiconductor to offer semiconductor IP, chipsets, software, aiding servers and a GPS global reference networks. eRide's technology has been adopted by a broad base of leading customers including semiconductor companies, high volume mobile consumer devices manufacturers and cellular network operators. Founded in 1999, eRide is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and has offices in North America, Asia and Europe. For further information please contact infoeurope@eRide.com or visit our website at www.eRide.com.
Offices addresses:
USA: eRide Headquarters, 3450 California Street, San Francisco, California, USA Tel: 415-359-9500
Germany: eRide Europe GmbH, Ismaninger Strasse 17 - 19, D-81675, Muenchen, Germany Tel: +49 (89) 4130-0651
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2006--eRide Inc., a fabless semiconductor company that develops and markets high-sensitivity autonomous and assisted Global Positioning System (GPS) based devices and software for Location Based Services, announced today the expansion of it Global Development Team with the opening of a European Development Center in Munich, Germany. The center will tap into the Munich-based Galileo cluster industries and will be key to the development of the newer generation of eRide chipsets and software code name Opus 3, combining GPS and Galileo technologies. The office will also host an aiding server; demonstrating eRide's end to end positioning solutions and providing local service to European mobile phone operators.
"Germany in general and Munich specifically, with the advent of Galileo and the presence of many respectable automotive makers, has enormous market potential and strategic value," said Jens Bodenkamp, Managing Director, eRide Europe. Bodenkamp will lead the development team which will focus on the development of the Opus 3 GPS -- Galileo dual mode receiver. His team will also provide local applications support to European customers and promote eRide's capabilities to mobile phone operators.
"We see the combination of GPS and Galileo as a major market opportunity to provide consumers with an enhanced location based services experience: better accuracy, better availability, better services. The passion for Galileo comes out of Europe and we will be servicing this directly from the top Galileo location in Europe," adds Arthur Woo, president and CEO of eRide. eRide will demonstrate its high-sensitivity in-door GPS performance and aiding server technology to key customers at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona in February 2006.
eRide is a fabless semiconductor company that develops and markets high sensitivity GPS and assisted GPS (A-GPS) solutions for location based services. eRide combines its GPS system expertise with RF and digital semiconductor to offer semiconductor IP, chipsets, software, aiding servers and a GPS global reference networks. eRide's technology has been adopted by a broad base of leading customers including semiconductor companies, high volume mobile consumer devices manufacturers and cellular network operators. Founded in 1999, eRide is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and has offices in North America, Asia and Europe. For further information please contact infoeurope@eRide.com or visit our website at www.eRide.com.
Offices addresses:
USA: eRide Headquarters, 3450 California Street, San Francisco, California, USA Tel: 415-359-9500
Germany: eRide Europe GmbH, Ismaninger Strasse 17 - 19, D-81675, Muenchen, Germany Tel: +49 (89) 4130-0651
Can a blogger take a week off?
7 days at Swansea on the East Coast of Tasmania, waking up to this view each day
Daily Postings --- were on slo mo -
but I did get NewsGator feeds happening on my Sony-Eric S700i thru GPRS courtesy of Opera Mini -- a great little java app -- no thanks to telstra ( my carrier) --
MobileAccess and PanGo Team to Add Location-Aware Capability to Enterprise Wireless Networks: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
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Press Release Source: PanGo Networks
MobileAccess and PanGo Team to Add Location-Aware Capability to Enterprise Wireless Networks
Tuesday February 14, 10:00 am ET
Relationship Will Speed Wi-Fi-Based Asset Tracking Adoption in Healthcare and Other Enterprise Markets
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2006--MobileAccess Networks, an enterprise wireless innovator, and PanGo Networks, the leading location management platform and applications provider, today announced they are teaming to provide reliable, scalable and cost effective location-enabled solutions delivered over a unified enterprise-scale wireless infrastructure. These fast-growing companies are now jointly addressing the hot enterprise market for comprehensive wireless solutions that increase asset visibility and reduce operational costs.
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With PanGo Network's 802.11-based active RFID location management solution distributed over the MobileAccess Universal Wireless Network, companies can reliably extend location-based services on a facility-wide basis. This capability enables operations executives at hospitals and other large enterprises to leverage their wireless infrastructure investment to quickly locate critical equipment and improve staff efficiency. It also provides the peace of mind that comes from buying from trusted technology providers.
"Hospitals and healthcare organizations are among the most demanding buyers of innovative technology, requiring that solutions deliver tangible value from the start," said Mike McGuinness, president and CEO of PanGo. "This partnership with MobileAccess expands our customers' ability to realize immediate returns from the infrastructure investments that are critical for the deployment of rapidly emerging applications like real-time Wi-Fi-based asset tracking."
PanGo's innovative location management solution has been certified for operation over a MobileAccess Universal Wireless Network deployment. Moving forward, the companies will continue to collaborate on next-generation location-based wireless offerings for additional markets.
"Wireless applications and technologies have rapidly become critical in today's enterprise environments. More than ever, organizations are striving to bolster the business case for a wireless infrastructure that connects the people and applications that drive business," said Cathy Zatloukal, president and CEO of MobileAccess. "Applications like Pango's Wi-Fi-based location management solution that seamlessly interoperate with the MobileAccess Universal Wireless Network can deliver an immediate, revenue-generating return on an organization's investment."
Both MobileAccess and PanGo have been building momentum fueled by increased demand for enterprise wireless network solutions. MobileAccess recently announced double-digit growth in their overall business with accelerating traction in healthcare, marked by recent installations at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Clarian North Medical Center, and Denver Health. In addition to their alliance with MobileAccess, PanGo has entered into several new partnerships with leading third-party healthcare and business solution providers including Eclipsys, Emergin and Four Rivers Software Systems. Denver Health and El Camino Hospital are among new users of PanGo's Wi-Fi-based location management platform and asset tracking application.
MobileAccess and PanGo are exhibiting at the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) annual conference and exhibition, being held in San Diego, California February 12-16. For more information, please visit MobileAccess in booth 7737 and PanGo in booth 4050.
About PanGo Networks
PanGo is the leading provider of a location-aware platform and applications designed for enterprise scale deployment. Its integrated, Wi-Fi-based location management solution allows organizations to transform standards-based wireless networks into a platform for intelligent applications that improve important business processes. With its flagship PanOS Platform® and asset tracking applications, PanGo offers the industry's first complete solution for real-time asset visibility and context-aware information delivery. Specializing in a range of markets including healthcare, manufacturing, retail and government, PanGo delivers reliable and accurate information about the location of connected devices, people and assets. For more information, visit www.pangonetworks.com.
About MobileAccess Networks
MobileAccess Networks (www.mobileaccess.com) is an enterprise wireless innovator that provides a universal platform for connecting the people and applications that drive business. The company's intelligent infrastructure is the cornerstone for the rapidly evolving wireless workplace. With unmatched technology and expertise, MobileAccess takes the risk out of going wireless. The MobileAccess Universal Wireless Network, which has been deployed in more than 1000 hospitals, enterprises, public venues and other large-scale facilities, delivers business-quality performance, scalability, security and reliability. It also enables customers to leverage their wireless devices (cell phones, BlackBerry devices, PDAs, laptops, 2-way radios) and applications wherever necessary to conduct their business more efficiently and cost effectively.
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Press Release Source: PanGo Networks
MobileAccess and PanGo Team to Add Location-Aware Capability to Enterprise Wireless Networks
Tuesday February 14, 10:00 am ET
Relationship Will Speed Wi-Fi-Based Asset Tracking Adoption in Healthcare and Other Enterprise Markets
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2006--MobileAccess Networks, an enterprise wireless innovator, and PanGo Networks, the leading location management platform and applications provider, today announced they are teaming to provide reliable, scalable and cost effective location-enabled solutions delivered over a unified enterprise-scale wireless infrastructure. These fast-growing companies are now jointly addressing the hot enterprise market for comprehensive wireless solutions that increase asset visibility and reduce operational costs.
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With PanGo Network's 802.11-based active RFID location management solution distributed over the MobileAccess Universal Wireless Network, companies can reliably extend location-based services on a facility-wide basis. This capability enables operations executives at hospitals and other large enterprises to leverage their wireless infrastructure investment to quickly locate critical equipment and improve staff efficiency. It also provides the peace of mind that comes from buying from trusted technology providers.
"Hospitals and healthcare organizations are among the most demanding buyers of innovative technology, requiring that solutions deliver tangible value from the start," said Mike McGuinness, president and CEO of PanGo. "This partnership with MobileAccess expands our customers' ability to realize immediate returns from the infrastructure investments that are critical for the deployment of rapidly emerging applications like real-time Wi-Fi-based asset tracking."
PanGo's innovative location management solution has been certified for operation over a MobileAccess Universal Wireless Network deployment. Moving forward, the companies will continue to collaborate on next-generation location-based wireless offerings for additional markets.
"Wireless applications and technologies have rapidly become critical in today's enterprise environments. More than ever, organizations are striving to bolster the business case for a wireless infrastructure that connects the people and applications that drive business," said Cathy Zatloukal, president and CEO of MobileAccess. "Applications like Pango's Wi-Fi-based location management solution that seamlessly interoperate with the MobileAccess Universal Wireless Network can deliver an immediate, revenue-generating return on an organization's investment."
Both MobileAccess and PanGo have been building momentum fueled by increased demand for enterprise wireless network solutions. MobileAccess recently announced double-digit growth in their overall business with accelerating traction in healthcare, marked by recent installations at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Clarian North Medical Center, and Denver Health. In addition to their alliance with MobileAccess, PanGo has entered into several new partnerships with leading third-party healthcare and business solution providers including Eclipsys, Emergin and Four Rivers Software Systems. Denver Health and El Camino Hospital are among new users of PanGo's Wi-Fi-based location management platform and asset tracking application.
MobileAccess and PanGo are exhibiting at the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) annual conference and exhibition, being held in San Diego, California February 12-16. For more information, please visit MobileAccess in booth 7737 and PanGo in booth 4050.
About PanGo Networks
PanGo is the leading provider of a location-aware platform and applications designed for enterprise scale deployment. Its integrated, Wi-Fi-based location management solution allows organizations to transform standards-based wireless networks into a platform for intelligent applications that improve important business processes. With its flagship PanOS Platform® and asset tracking applications, PanGo offers the industry's first complete solution for real-time asset visibility and context-aware information delivery. Specializing in a range of markets including healthcare, manufacturing, retail and government, PanGo delivers reliable and accurate information about the location of connected devices, people and assets. For more information, visit www.pangonetworks.com.
About MobileAccess Networks
MobileAccess Networks (www.mobileaccess.com) is an enterprise wireless innovator that provides a universal platform for connecting the people and applications that drive business. The company's intelligent infrastructure is the cornerstone for the rapidly evolving wireless workplace. With unmatched technology and expertise, MobileAccess takes the risk out of going wireless. The MobileAccess Universal Wireless Network, which has been deployed in more than 1000 hospitals, enterprises, public venues and other large-scale facilities, delivers business-quality performance, scalability, security and reliability. It also enables customers to leverage their wireless devices (cell phones, BlackBerry devices, PDAs, laptops, 2-way radios) and applications wherever necessary to conduct their business more efficiently and cost effectively.
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World's first E-GPS GSM handset delivers fast, high accuracy location-based services
World's first E-GPS GSM handset delivers fast, high accuracy location-based services
Release date: 14 Feb 2006
Simcom, SiGe Semiconductor, and CPS collaborate on breakthrough multimedia handset that optimizes performance, cost and battery life
3GSM World Congress Barcelona, Spain February 14, 2006 ... CPS, SiGe Semiconductor and Shanghai Simcom ('Simcom'), a wholly owned subsidiary of SIM Technology Group Limited (SEHK:2000), today announced the world's first Enhanced GPS (E-GPS) multimedia handset solution for GSM.
The S788 handset solution, designed by Simcom, is a lightweight, palm-sized device delivering advanced multimedia features including high accuracy location based services (LBS), while optimizing performance, cost and battery life.
The S788 multimedia handset solution offers an MP3/MPEG4 player, touchscreen, and two megapixel camera in a slim, lightweight case. The handset's E-GPS location capability is enabled by SiGe Semiconductor's SE8088L Global Positioning System receiver and software, and CPS' Enhanced-GPS software.
The combination of SiGe's and CPS' technologies provides unparalleled performance, including accurate location fixes with a sub-four second time to first fix, in even the most challenging environments. As a result, consumers can enjoy new location services in indoor and dense urban areas, where satellite-based positioning systems tend to fail.
'We evaluated location technologies, and found E-GPS to be the best option for fast, accurate location fixes in all environments,' said Gong Zhenjun, Senior Vice President and General Manger of Simcom.
'This new development builds upon our relationship with CPS and our existing Matrix-enabled products which are meeting end user requirements for the delivery of fast, accurate location fixes in the most challenging indoor and outdoor environments.'
E-GPS solves key design challenges
GPS has failed to gain traction in the 1.5 billion customer-strong GSM market because it faces two key challenges: first, both GSM and W-CDMA are unsynchronised network technologies. This means performance of GPS-enabled devices is compromised, resulting in slow time-to-fix and limited coverage area. Second, where GPS does fail to deliver a location, the end user experiences a lengthy delay and eventual fallback to a low accuracy technology - such as Cell-ID - which may have an error of up to several kilometers.
'Our starting point with E-GPS was the end-user experience,' said Chris Wade, Chief Executive Officer, CPS.
'We know from what operators tell us that A-GPS performance does not meet today's customers' expectation of mobile data services. As one major operator told us recently - 70 percent of all location-based services are initiated indoors. That means GPS will simply not meet end user requirements.'
E-GPS delivers the required quality of end-user experience through a powerful combination of satellite-based and terrestrial location measurements from the GSM network.
Using precise knowledge of the base station timings inherent in Matrix technology, E-GPS delivers time synchronization aiding to SiGe's SE8088L receiver integrated in the mobile, enabling 10x faster GPS time to fix and the ability to receive much lower power signals.
'We are pleased with how Simcom's new S788 handset solution illustrates the benefits of our receiver and CPS Matrix technologies,' said Stuart Strickland, product line director, SiGe Semiconductor.
'The handset solution demonstrates the integration, performance and efficiency of our GPS radio, and provides all of the features that will enable Simcom to take advantage of the growing market opportunity.'
The S788 which will be readied for launch later this year, has improved battery performance, as E-GPS requires only 1 percent of the effort of traditional GPS devices, which use up valuable power searching for satellite signals.
About SIM Technology Group
SIM Technology Group and its subsidiaries designs and develops solutions for mobile handsets, GSM/GPRS/EDGE wireless communications modules and application systems, LCD modules for mobile handsets and other portable electronic devices. For more information, visit www.sim.com.
About CPS
CPS (Cambridge Positioning Systems Limited) delivers cost competitive high accuracy mobile location technology to the billion-strong customer GSM and emerging 3G/W-CDMA markets. CPS's products are based on its software-only Matrix technology - which delivers sub-100m accuracy, sub-3 second location fixes and all environment coverage. The product portfolio extends to Matrix 3G and E-GPS - a powerful combination of Matrix and GPS technology. With network deployments of Matrix underway, CPS is working with the world's leading mobile technology companies - including Nokia, HP, LogicaCMG and Andrew - to enable a new generation of high accuracy location based services and devices for enterprise and consumer markets. Headquartered in Cambridge (UK), CPS is funded by venture capital and strategic corporate investors. CPS's value is underpinned by 20 key worldwide technology patents - one of the largest and most comprehensive IPR portfolios of high accuracy location technology in the world. For more information about CPS, please visit: www.cpslocates.com.
About SiGe Semiconductor, Inc.
SiGe Semiconductor, Inc. is a leading global supplier of RF front-end solutions for next-generation wireless systems. Drawing on the unique advantages of silicon germanium technology, the company designs and delivers integrated circuits and chip-scale modules with unparalleled performance and power efficiency. Components from SiGe Semiconductor, Inc. can be found in Bluetooth®-enabled portable devices, GPS and telematics systems, IEEE 802.11a/b/g WLANs, WiMAX broadband access equipment, 2G, 2.5G and 3G cellular handsets, and cordless telephones. For more information, please visit www.sige.com.
*******
Press contacts:
Colin Ashcroft, CPS colin.ashcroft@cpslocates.com +44(0)7769 740296 +44(0)1223 326984
Bev Hemish, SiGe Semiconductor bhemish@sige.com Tel: +1 613 820-9244
Darren Huang, Marketing Executive, Shanghai
World's first E-GPS GSM handset delivers fast, high accuracy location-based services
Release date: 14 Feb 2006
Simcom, SiGe Semiconductor, and CPS collaborate on breakthrough multimedia handset that optimizes performance, cost and battery life
3GSM World Congress Barcelona, Spain February 14, 2006 ... CPS, SiGe Semiconductor and Shanghai Simcom ('Simcom'), a wholly owned subsidiary of SIM Technology Group Limited (SEHK:2000), today announced the world's first Enhanced GPS (E-GPS) multimedia handset solution for GSM.
The S788 handset solution, designed by Simcom, is a lightweight, palm-sized device delivering advanced multimedia features including high accuracy location based services (LBS), while optimizing performance, cost and battery life.
The S788 multimedia handset solution offers an MP3/MPEG4 player, touchscreen, and two megapixel camera in a slim, lightweight case. The handset's E-GPS location capability is enabled by SiGe Semiconductor's SE8088L Global Positioning System receiver and software, and CPS' Enhanced-GPS software.
The combination of SiGe's and CPS' technologies provides unparalleled performance, including accurate location fixes with a sub-four second time to first fix, in even the most challenging environments. As a result, consumers can enjoy new location services in indoor and dense urban areas, where satellite-based positioning systems tend to fail.
'We evaluated location technologies, and found E-GPS to be the best option for fast, accurate location fixes in all environments,' said Gong Zhenjun, Senior Vice President and General Manger of Simcom.
'This new development builds upon our relationship with CPS and our existing Matrix-enabled products which are meeting end user requirements for the delivery of fast, accurate location fixes in the most challenging indoor and outdoor environments.'
E-GPS solves key design challenges
GPS has failed to gain traction in the 1.5 billion customer-strong GSM market because it faces two key challenges: first, both GSM and W-CDMA are unsynchronised network technologies. This means performance of GPS-enabled devices is compromised, resulting in slow time-to-fix and limited coverage area. Second, where GPS does fail to deliver a location, the end user experiences a lengthy delay and eventual fallback to a low accuracy technology - such as Cell-ID - which may have an error of up to several kilometers.
'Our starting point with E-GPS was the end-user experience,' said Chris Wade, Chief Executive Officer, CPS.
'We know from what operators tell us that A-GPS performance does not meet today's customers' expectation of mobile data services. As one major operator told us recently - 70 percent of all location-based services are initiated indoors. That means GPS will simply not meet end user requirements.'
E-GPS delivers the required quality of end-user experience through a powerful combination of satellite-based and terrestrial location measurements from the GSM network.
Using precise knowledge of the base station timings inherent in Matrix technology, E-GPS delivers time synchronization aiding to SiGe's SE8088L receiver integrated in the mobile, enabling 10x faster GPS time to fix and the ability to receive much lower power signals.
'We are pleased with how Simcom's new S788 handset solution illustrates the benefits of our receiver and CPS Matrix technologies,' said Stuart Strickland, product line director, SiGe Semiconductor.
'The handset solution demonstrates the integration, performance and efficiency of our GPS radio, and provides all of the features that will enable Simcom to take advantage of the growing market opportunity.'
The S788 which will be readied for launch later this year, has improved battery performance, as E-GPS requires only 1 percent of the effort of traditional GPS devices, which use up valuable power searching for satellite signals.
About SIM Technology Group
SIM Technology Group and its subsidiaries designs and develops solutions for mobile handsets, GSM/GPRS/EDGE wireless communications modules and application systems, LCD modules for mobile handsets and other portable electronic devices. For more information, visit www.sim.com.
About CPS
CPS (Cambridge Positioning Systems Limited) delivers cost competitive high accuracy mobile location technology to the billion-strong customer GSM and emerging 3G/W-CDMA markets. CPS's products are based on its software-only Matrix technology - which delivers sub-100m accuracy, sub-3 second location fixes and all environment coverage. The product portfolio extends to Matrix 3G and E-GPS - a powerful combination of Matrix and GPS technology. With network deployments of Matrix underway, CPS is working with the world's leading mobile technology companies - including Nokia, HP, LogicaCMG and Andrew - to enable a new generation of high accuracy location based services and devices for enterprise and consumer markets. Headquartered in Cambridge (UK), CPS is funded by venture capital and strategic corporate investors. CPS's value is underpinned by 20 key worldwide technology patents - one of the largest and most comprehensive IPR portfolios of high accuracy location technology in the world. For more information about CPS, please visit: www.cpslocates.com.
About SiGe Semiconductor, Inc.
SiGe Semiconductor, Inc. is a leading global supplier of RF front-end solutions for next-generation wireless systems. Drawing on the unique advantages of silicon germanium technology, the company designs and delivers integrated circuits and chip-scale modules with unparalleled performance and power efficiency. Components from SiGe Semiconductor, Inc. can be found in Bluetooth®-enabled portable devices, GPS and telematics systems, IEEE 802.11a/b/g WLANs, WiMAX broadband access equipment, 2G, 2.5G and 3G cellular handsets, and cordless telephones. For more information, please visit www.sige.com.
*******
Press contacts:
Colin Ashcroft, CPS colin.ashcroft@cpslocates.com +44(0)7769 740296 +44(0)1223 326984
Bev Hemish, SiGe Semiconductor bhemish@sige.com Tel: +1 613 820-9244
Darren Huang, Marketing Executive, Shanghai
Nokia launches new GPS module
Nokia announced Friday new Nokia GPS Module LD-3W, which is compatible with a wide selection of Nokia’s Bluetooth enabled handsets. By cooperating with several partners, Nokia provides comfortable and affordable navigation solutions that are now available for many of Nokia’s mid-range handsets.
“Location based services, such as navigation and point-of-interest search for hotels and restaurants are becoming increasingly popular with consumers,” says Aage Snorgaard, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia.
“With the introduction of the Nokia GPS Module LD-3W and through our collaborations with navigation industry players such as Wayfinder and Telmap, we offer a compelling range of location based services to the tens of millions of consumers who have one of our highly popular mid-range models, such as the Nokia 6230i or the Nokia 6280.”
The most popular location based services for consumers have been integrated car solutions. Earlier, Nokia introduced navigation to its S60 devices. Now Nokia makes location based services accessible at a lower price point.
With a handset connected to the Nokia Wireless GPS Module LD-3W, consumers see their position with up to five meters accuracy, and the easiest route to their destination on a digital map provided by Wayfinder or Telmap. Once installed with the automatic settings configuration tool, users hold an extensive selection of digital maps right in their hand. The Nokia GPS module is expected to start shipping in the 1st quarter of 2006 and retail for approximately 110 EUR excluding taxes and subsidies.
Both the Nokia GPS Module LD-3W module and suite of navigation services will be demonstrated at the partner stands of Wayfinder and Telmap at the 3GSM 2006 Congress taking place in Barcelona from February 13-16.
Related News
Nokia announced Friday new Nokia GPS Module LD-3W, which is compatible with a wide selection of Nokia’s Bluetooth enabled handsets. By cooperating with several partners, Nokia provides comfortable and affordable navigation solutions that are now available for many of Nokia’s mid-range handsets.
“Location based services, such as navigation and point-of-interest search for hotels and restaurants are becoming increasingly popular with consumers,” says Aage Snorgaard, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia.
“With the introduction of the Nokia GPS Module LD-3W and through our collaborations with navigation industry players such as Wayfinder and Telmap, we offer a compelling range of location based services to the tens of millions of consumers who have one of our highly popular mid-range models, such as the Nokia 6230i or the Nokia 6280.”
The most popular location based services for consumers have been integrated car solutions. Earlier, Nokia introduced navigation to its S60 devices. Now Nokia makes location based services accessible at a lower price point.
With a handset connected to the Nokia Wireless GPS Module LD-3W, consumers see their position with up to five meters accuracy, and the easiest route to their destination on a digital map provided by Wayfinder or Telmap. Once installed with the automatic settings configuration tool, users hold an extensive selection of digital maps right in their hand. The Nokia GPS module is expected to start shipping in the 1st quarter of 2006 and retail for approximately 110 EUR excluding taxes and subsidies.
Both the Nokia GPS Module LD-3W module and suite of navigation services will be demonstrated at the partner stands of Wayfinder and Telmap at the 3GSM 2006 Congress taking place in Barcelona from February 13-16.
Related News
Seven pushes group mail
14 Feb 2006 at 17:09
Seven Workgroup Edition provides up to 25 users access to email, calendar, attachments and contacts on a wide range of mobile devices.
Installation of the software typically takes less than 15 minutes and involves a simple download to a single computer connected to a corporate network—no IT expertise is required.
The program was designed with the highest enterprise-class security: all the data associated with Seven’s push-email client is secured by end-to-end 128-bit AES encryption.
The software enables mobile access to email that originates in Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Domino, POP3-and IMAP-4 compliant email servers and allows users to access more than one email account (e.g. personal and work email accounts) through the same software at no additional charge.
Related News
Visto scores another victory with Turkcell
14 Feb 2006 at 17:09
Seven Workgroup Edition provides up to 25 users access to email, calendar, attachments and contacts on a wide range of mobile devices.
Installation of the software typically takes less than 15 minutes and involves a simple download to a single computer connected to a corporate network—no IT expertise is required.
The program was designed with the highest enterprise-class security: all the data associated with Seven’s push-email client is secured by end-to-end 128-bit AES encryption.
The software enables mobile access to email that originates in Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Domino, POP3-and IMAP-4 compliant email servers and allows users to access more than one email account (e.g. personal and work email accounts) through the same software at no additional charge.
Related News
Visto scores another victory with Turkcell
Nokia and CSL demonstrate HSDPA-EDGE service continuity
Hong Kong mobile operator CSL and Nokia have demonstrated the industry’s first seamless service continuity between HSDPA and EDGE networks. In practice, this means seamless hand-overs from HSDPA to EDGE and back without service interruptions.
With the Nokia HSDPA and EDGE solutions, CSL can offer its customers data services such as fast Internet access, rapid email and high-quality video streaming. The demonstration took place as part of HSDPA testing in CSL’s live network using Nokia’s HSDPA solution.
The service continuity between the HSDPA and EDGE networks was demonstrated with large file downloads with commercially available HSDPA/EDGE devices. During the test download speeds of 1.6 Mbps were steadily achieved in HSDPA.
After moving away from the HSDPA coverage area the service was seamlessly handed over to EDGE and continued at 200 kbps download speed. The same performance was also achieved when the download started in EDGE and upgraded to HSDPA as soon as the HSDPA coverage was available again. In addition to offering high-quality services to consumers using a multiradio network, this smooth system change allows CSL very flexible HSDPA roll-out possibilities.
Nokia’s high-performing, cost-optimized HSDPA is a simple software upgrade to Nokia WCDMA networks, offering average data speeds of 1-2 Mbps in the first phase. Later HSDPA supports up to 14.4 Mbps according to the industry standard. Nokia is a leader in the multiradio market, with over 20 HSDPA contracts globally, 53 EDGE network references and supplying to over half of the commercial WCDMA/EDGE operators.
Related News
Wataniya Telecom opens HSDPA network in Kuwait
WCDMA/EDGE devices number 31
HSDPA to serve millions of notebooks
Nokia completes 3.2 Mbps HSDPA call
Ericsson’s HSDPA solution live in 15 countries
SK Telecom selects LGE, Nortel UMTS/HSDPA
Ericsson to supply HSDPA to Partner
Nokia takes Czechs to 3,5G
T-Mobile builds speedier 3G
Hong Kong mobile operator CSL and Nokia have demonstrated the industry’s first seamless service continuity between HSDPA and EDGE networks. In practice, this means seamless hand-overs from HSDPA to EDGE and back without service interruptions.
With the Nokia HSDPA and EDGE solutions, CSL can offer its customers data services such as fast Internet access, rapid email and high-quality video streaming. The demonstration took place as part of HSDPA testing in CSL’s live network using Nokia’s HSDPA solution.
The service continuity between the HSDPA and EDGE networks was demonstrated with large file downloads with commercially available HSDPA/EDGE devices. During the test download speeds of 1.6 Mbps were steadily achieved in HSDPA.
After moving away from the HSDPA coverage area the service was seamlessly handed over to EDGE and continued at 200 kbps download speed. The same performance was also achieved when the download started in EDGE and upgraded to HSDPA as soon as the HSDPA coverage was available again. In addition to offering high-quality services to consumers using a multiradio network, this smooth system change allows CSL very flexible HSDPA roll-out possibilities.
Nokia’s high-performing, cost-optimized HSDPA is a simple software upgrade to Nokia WCDMA networks, offering average data speeds of 1-2 Mbps in the first phase. Later HSDPA supports up to 14.4 Mbps according to the industry standard. Nokia is a leader in the multiradio market, with over 20 HSDPA contracts globally, 53 EDGE network references and supplying to over half of the commercial WCDMA/EDGE operators.
Related News
Wataniya Telecom opens HSDPA network in Kuwait
WCDMA/EDGE devices number 31
HSDPA to serve millions of notebooks
Nokia completes 3.2 Mbps HSDPA call
Ericsson’s HSDPA solution live in 15 countries
SK Telecom selects LGE, Nortel UMTS/HSDPA
Ericsson to supply HSDPA to Partner
Nokia takes Czechs to 3,5G
T-Mobile builds speedier 3G
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Open Gardens: Learning from Plazes � location based services
Recently, I started a presentation about location based services by the phrase ‘Location location location ?’
The question mark was not typo!
Where are the mass market location based services?
Inspite of its promise, location based services have yet to fully reveal their true potential.
Location is the chief differentiator for mobility based applications. In user terms, a location based application would deliver any content ‘filtered by location’ – for example, a dynamic map that mirrors a user’s location or a ‘find my nearest’ application where every fast food outlet in a one kilometer radius can be listed.
By definition, a Mobile service accessed from a device such as a mobile phone, is ‘location based’ because the location of a mobile device is always known to the subscriber’s mobile operator. However, merely the fact that your mobile operator knows the location of your device is not enough.
To truly enable mass market location based applications we need
a) The location to be available to trusted third parties
b) The cost of the location ‘ping’(i.e. request) to be feasible
c) Points of interest to be ‘mapped’
d) Privacy issues to be resolved
The conventional ‘top down’ approach does not seem to be working. In other words – the current situation, where the mobile operator knows the location and is the gate keeper to that information has not worked(and in my view will never work). That’s because – there are too many legal, privacy, cost issues involved.
It also needs the major parties (with conflicting interests) to work closely together else the market fragments. By this, I mean to be truly viable, we need an ‘umbrella entity’ which takes feeds from multiple location sources(operators) and then has the capacity to manage that feed.
An alternative is an organic approach
In my previous blog, Mobile web 2.0 – A service blueprint - I mentioned that locations could be ‘tagged’. Exploring this further, I found a site called Plazes – which seems to be doing this. Plazes also has addressed some key issues which would be used in future mobile web 2.0 services(and for location in general)
Firstly, what is it?
Plazes is ‘Location + context’. From their site
Plazes is a grassroots approach to location-aware interaction, using the local network you are connected to as location reference. Plazes allows you to share you location with the people you know and to discover people and plazes around you. It's the navigation system for your social life and it's absolutely free.
How it works
It seems to map a unique key created from the user’s network (based on the user’s router information) to a ‘Plaze’ that the user annotates. (I managed to annotate the futuretext office . I also saw Joi Ito online twice – which is an endorsement for the site in my book! )
The user names the Plaze, they can add pictures and comments. Others who are physically present at the Plaze can add information subsequently. On every Plaze, there is a box called ‘Discoverer’. The person who ‘discovers’ the Plaze manages this box and it can be linked to their web site or blog. Other information on that page can be edited by others
By the way, Plazes mixed with Google maps makes a neat mashup – check it out!
All this is fine .. But I was more interested in the social, web 2.0, mobility aspects. This is a pioneering service and the lessons learnt here could well be the norm (Italics are from the Plazes web site)
So,
a) Privacy – You can use a pseudonym
b) Tracking - You can optionally allow plazes to ‘track’ you using ‘Trazes’. This is set off by default. By default we don't record your traces. The moment you leave a plaze that information is gone. You past whereabouts cannot be compromised, since we don't have them. Nevertheless we do provide a function called Trazes, where you can record your past wherebouts and publishing them to other users, if you explicitely wish to do so.
c) Visibility: You can choose to remain invisible from your friends(so no one knows your current location). You can use Plazes without the launcher, meaning you are visible, but your location is unknown. All features, obviously except the location aware searches, will still be available to you.
d) Centralised editorial staff: There is no centralised editorial staff
e) Mandatory information about the Plaze is kept to a minimum
f) Not spyware – Plazes makes great efforts to tell us that.
g) Data quality and control: Anyone physically present at a location can incrementally complement or alter the information for this plaze. Therefore the quality of data will increase with the number of users and frequency of usage. The most frequented Plazes will therefore have the best quality of information, because it is being reviewed most often.
h) Censorship: We do not censor pictures and comments. The description page for a plaze is basically a wiki. We believe in free speech and we strongly believe in you, the user. If someone is altering the information in a stupid or malicious way, we are sure someone else will correct it.
i) Compliance with geographic legal issues: There is one exception to that rule: The laws of some countries require us to delete unlawful pictures or writing, if explicitely pointed out to us. We will obey these laws, because we don't like being in jail.
j) Obsolete and historic Plazes: The following passage is well worth a read because it encounters a problem not yet endemic .. but critical in future as we all map virtual elements to a physical world – the whole question of ‘virtual archeology’
Another issue in matters of data quality is obsolete Plazes. The unique identifier for a Plaze is the network, or to be more precise the router's mac address. In other words, if you buy a new router for your Plaze or move the same router to a different Plaze, the information is either lost or incorrect. Let's say you move into a new apartment and take your router with you. Easy you say, next time you log onto Plazes you just change you address information. Right, but what about those pictures of your old house, the comments for that party you threw last year, etc? Even worse, stay in your apartment and buy a new router. All your precious information will be gone, the history of your Plaze will be unwritten, forever lost.
This whole subject is a tough one. At first we thought the solution was going to be that you can just assign a plaze a new router. But this would either open all doors for a new sport called "Plaze-jacking" or an actual human would have to decide for every Plaze if the transition is legit. Not an option. So we came up with something called a "Historic Plaze". A historic Plaze is an inactive Plaze at the same location. There is two ways for a Plaze to become historic: The discoverer can mark it historic, for instance if he moves out of his flat. This way, if the router pops up the next time it is being assigned a new Plaze.
If a Plaze is inactive for more than half a year and there is another Plaze with a similar description at the same location.
Historic Plazes are linked to the active Plaze's description page so you can dig down into the Plaze's history. It's virtual archeology.
k) Taking social networking to the next level – in their words The Plazes you are frequenting are actually a much better filtering system and common denominator than explicit connections like "he is my friend".
Plazes takes it to the next level regarding location-awareness and implicitness. The Plazes you are frequenting are actually a much better filtering system and common denominator than explicit connections like "he is my friend". By being virtually present at certain Plazes like a record label or a certain restaurant and having conversations via comments at that Plaze, the system is much closer to how we actually interact in the real world. By being able to annotate real world locations virtually, Plazes augments, enhances and encourages real-world communication rather than simulating it.
In a nutshell, well worth visiting and trying – for no other reason than – it’s the way to go as I have been saying with mobile web 2.0. Plazes seems to have thought about many of the issues that I have been talking about. Besides, its fun!(By the way, I have no commercial affiliation with Plazes or the company creating it). I just think that an organic approach may be feasible – and the alternative (top down/operator led approach) will not see light of day!
Technorati tags
mobile
wireless
web 2.0
mobile web 2.0
mobile web 20
location based services
LBS
Recently, I started a presentation about location based services by the phrase ‘Location location location ?’
The question mark was not typo!
Where are the mass market location based services?
Inspite of its promise, location based services have yet to fully reveal their true potential.
Location is the chief differentiator for mobility based applications. In user terms, a location based application would deliver any content ‘filtered by location’ – for example, a dynamic map that mirrors a user’s location or a ‘find my nearest’ application where every fast food outlet in a one kilometer radius can be listed.
By definition, a Mobile service accessed from a device such as a mobile phone, is ‘location based’ because the location of a mobile device is always known to the subscriber’s mobile operator. However, merely the fact that your mobile operator knows the location of your device is not enough.
To truly enable mass market location based applications we need
a) The location to be available to trusted third parties
b) The cost of the location ‘ping’(i.e. request) to be feasible
c) Points of interest to be ‘mapped’
d) Privacy issues to be resolved
The conventional ‘top down’ approach does not seem to be working. In other words – the current situation, where the mobile operator knows the location and is the gate keeper to that information has not worked(and in my view will never work). That’s because – there are too many legal, privacy, cost issues involved.
It also needs the major parties (with conflicting interests) to work closely together else the market fragments. By this, I mean to be truly viable, we need an ‘umbrella entity’ which takes feeds from multiple location sources(operators) and then has the capacity to manage that feed.
An alternative is an organic approach
In my previous blog, Mobile web 2.0 – A service blueprint - I mentioned that locations could be ‘tagged’. Exploring this further, I found a site called Plazes – which seems to be doing this. Plazes also has addressed some key issues which would be used in future mobile web 2.0 services(and for location in general)
Firstly, what is it?
Plazes is ‘Location + context’. From their site
Plazes is a grassroots approach to location-aware interaction, using the local network you are connected to as location reference. Plazes allows you to share you location with the people you know and to discover people and plazes around you. It's the navigation system for your social life and it's absolutely free.
How it works
It seems to map a unique key created from the user’s network (based on the user’s router information) to a ‘Plaze’ that the user annotates. (I managed to annotate the futuretext office . I also saw Joi Ito online twice – which is an endorsement for the site in my book! )
The user names the Plaze, they can add pictures and comments. Others who are physically present at the Plaze can add information subsequently. On every Plaze, there is a box called ‘Discoverer’. The person who ‘discovers’ the Plaze manages this box and it can be linked to their web site or blog. Other information on that page can be edited by others
By the way, Plazes mixed with Google maps makes a neat mashup – check it out!
All this is fine .. But I was more interested in the social, web 2.0, mobility aspects. This is a pioneering service and the lessons learnt here could well be the norm (Italics are from the Plazes web site)
So,
a) Privacy – You can use a pseudonym
b) Tracking - You can optionally allow plazes to ‘track’ you using ‘Trazes’. This is set off by default. By default we don't record your traces. The moment you leave a plaze that information is gone. You past whereabouts cannot be compromised, since we don't have them. Nevertheless we do provide a function called Trazes, where you can record your past wherebouts and publishing them to other users, if you explicitely wish to do so.
c) Visibility: You can choose to remain invisible from your friends(so no one knows your current location). You can use Plazes without the launcher, meaning you are visible, but your location is unknown. All features, obviously except the location aware searches, will still be available to you.
d) Centralised editorial staff: There is no centralised editorial staff
e) Mandatory information about the Plaze is kept to a minimum
f) Not spyware – Plazes makes great efforts to tell us that.
g) Data quality and control: Anyone physically present at a location can incrementally complement or alter the information for this plaze. Therefore the quality of data will increase with the number of users and frequency of usage. The most frequented Plazes will therefore have the best quality of information, because it is being reviewed most often.
h) Censorship: We do not censor pictures and comments. The description page for a plaze is basically a wiki. We believe in free speech and we strongly believe in you, the user. If someone is altering the information in a stupid or malicious way, we are sure someone else will correct it.
i) Compliance with geographic legal issues: There is one exception to that rule: The laws of some countries require us to delete unlawful pictures or writing, if explicitely pointed out to us. We will obey these laws, because we don't like being in jail.
j) Obsolete and historic Plazes: The following passage is well worth a read because it encounters a problem not yet endemic .. but critical in future as we all map virtual elements to a physical world – the whole question of ‘virtual archeology’
Another issue in matters of data quality is obsolete Plazes. The unique identifier for a Plaze is the network, or to be more precise the router's mac address. In other words, if you buy a new router for your Plaze or move the same router to a different Plaze, the information is either lost or incorrect. Let's say you move into a new apartment and take your router with you. Easy you say, next time you log onto Plazes you just change you address information. Right, but what about those pictures of your old house, the comments for that party you threw last year, etc? Even worse, stay in your apartment and buy a new router. All your precious information will be gone, the history of your Plaze will be unwritten, forever lost.
This whole subject is a tough one. At first we thought the solution was going to be that you can just assign a plaze a new router. But this would either open all doors for a new sport called "Plaze-jacking" or an actual human would have to decide for every Plaze if the transition is legit. Not an option. So we came up with something called a "Historic Plaze". A historic Plaze is an inactive Plaze at the same location. There is two ways for a Plaze to become historic: The discoverer can mark it historic, for instance if he moves out of his flat. This way, if the router pops up the next time it is being assigned a new Plaze.
If a Plaze is inactive for more than half a year and there is another Plaze with a similar description at the same location.
Historic Plazes are linked to the active Plaze's description page so you can dig down into the Plaze's history. It's virtual archeology.
k) Taking social networking to the next level – in their words The Plazes you are frequenting are actually a much better filtering system and common denominator than explicit connections like "he is my friend".
Plazes takes it to the next level regarding location-awareness and implicitness. The Plazes you are frequenting are actually a much better filtering system and common denominator than explicit connections like "he is my friend". By being virtually present at certain Plazes like a record label or a certain restaurant and having conversations via comments at that Plaze, the system is much closer to how we actually interact in the real world. By being able to annotate real world locations virtually, Plazes augments, enhances and encourages real-world communication rather than simulating it.
In a nutshell, well worth visiting and trying – for no other reason than – it’s the way to go as I have been saying with mobile web 2.0. Plazes seems to have thought about many of the issues that I have been talking about. Besides, its fun!(By the way, I have no commercial affiliation with Plazes or the company creating it). I just think that an organic approach may be feasible – and the alternative (top down/operator led approach) will not see light of day!
Technorati tags
mobile
wireless
web 2.0
mobile web 2.0
mobile web 20
location based services
LBS
3GSM � Opera: Empowering Operators By Empowering Users at MobHappy
Anybody that’s followed my writing for a while knows both my belief that widgets will have a significant impact on the mobile industry as well as my interest in content platforms like Flash Lite that offer content providers and operators relatively easy ways to deploy rich content that can be easily updated. It’s little surprise then that I came away awfully impressed by the Opera Platform — and I think it’s probably a better overall solution than the similar Flash Lite.
Opera’s starting from a place of strength with its excellent mobile browsers. I can say without hesitation that Opera Mini is the best Java application I’ve ever used, and the “full” Opera Mobile on smartphones is no slouch either. Opera Platform uses that smartphone browser as a base on which to run widgets built with standard Web technologies — and even AJAX. It’s an excellent solution for mobile, both because services and applications can update in real time, and can easily be built. More than that though, they slot right into the mobile browsing experience because of their speed as well as their ability to deliver tightly focused information, the kinds of things in which people are interested when surfing on a phone.
What’s interesting about Opera’s approach is that they play both sides. They make solutions like Opera Mini freely available to consumers, but also work with content providers and operators to build branded versions. Where things get kind of funny is that in some ways, a downloaded browser like Opera is a carrier’s worst nightmare, letting users surf the “real” Internet — where they can get much of the information for which carriers charge for free. The thing is, though, that it’s operators that stand to benefit from this. Not just because of the data traffic it can generate, but because they have the most to gain from an improved mobile data user experience. And while they’re often afraid of open systems and standards, the idea that pretty much anybody can create an Opera widget (whether they can get it deployed is another matter) can give them the biggest benefit.
This is total long-tail thinking: a smart operator will install Opera Platform on as many devices as it can, then build a system through which people can easily sell their widgets to users. It’s impossible for carriers, or even their content partners to cater to everyone’s tastes; but creating an ecosystem where they can rely on outside content from providers as well as individuals — and taking a cut along the way — offers them the best chance. Users can easily personalize the content they receive on their devices, adding a new level of personalization beyond ringtones or colored faceplates. A great implementation would be integrated with a billing system, offering payouts to professional developers, while also offering user-created content and paying its developers perhaps through some sort of credit system, like 3 has done with its viral videos.
There was a mild uproar some time ago about Java portals, which were applications that content providers created so users could access their content without going through a carrier portal. The best response here isn’t to shut them down or block them, it’s to create a better system that leads to more satisfied users and allows content providers to make money too. Happier users will use more services more often, and spend more money — and certainly be less likely to churn.
Anybody that’s followed my writing for a while knows both my belief that widgets will have a significant impact on the mobile industry as well as my interest in content platforms like Flash Lite that offer content providers and operators relatively easy ways to deploy rich content that can be easily updated. It’s little surprise then that I came away awfully impressed by the Opera Platform — and I think it’s probably a better overall solution than the similar Flash Lite.
Opera’s starting from a place of strength with its excellent mobile browsers. I can say without hesitation that Opera Mini is the best Java application I’ve ever used, and the “full” Opera Mobile on smartphones is no slouch either. Opera Platform uses that smartphone browser as a base on which to run widgets built with standard Web technologies — and even AJAX. It’s an excellent solution for mobile, both because services and applications can update in real time, and can easily be built. More than that though, they slot right into the mobile browsing experience because of their speed as well as their ability to deliver tightly focused information, the kinds of things in which people are interested when surfing on a phone.
What’s interesting about Opera’s approach is that they play both sides. They make solutions like Opera Mini freely available to consumers, but also work with content providers and operators to build branded versions. Where things get kind of funny is that in some ways, a downloaded browser like Opera is a carrier’s worst nightmare, letting users surf the “real” Internet — where they can get much of the information for which carriers charge for free. The thing is, though, that it’s operators that stand to benefit from this. Not just because of the data traffic it can generate, but because they have the most to gain from an improved mobile data user experience. And while they’re often afraid of open systems and standards, the idea that pretty much anybody can create an Opera widget (whether they can get it deployed is another matter) can give them the biggest benefit.
This is total long-tail thinking: a smart operator will install Opera Platform on as many devices as it can, then build a system through which people can easily sell their widgets to users. It’s impossible for carriers, or even their content partners to cater to everyone’s tastes; but creating an ecosystem where they can rely on outside content from providers as well as individuals — and taking a cut along the way — offers them the best chance. Users can easily personalize the content they receive on their devices, adding a new level of personalization beyond ringtones or colored faceplates. A great implementation would be integrated with a billing system, offering payouts to professional developers, while also offering user-created content and paying its developers perhaps through some sort of credit system, like 3 has done with its viral videos.
There was a mild uproar some time ago about Java portals, which were applications that content providers created so users could access their content without going through a carrier portal. The best response here isn’t to shut them down or block them, it’s to create a better system that leads to more satisfied users and allows content providers to make money too. Happier users will use more services more often, and spend more money — and certainly be less likely to churn.
Vodafone To Integrate Google Search to Vodafone live! Service
Vodafone is collaborating with Google to develop innovative mobile search services for its customers.
Vodafone will integrate Google's search capability into its consumer service, Vodafone live!. The new service will offer simultaneous search both on Vodafone live! and the wider Web.
Vodafone's integration of Google search will take the mobile internet to a new level. Vodafone live! is a mobile service that makes data services easily accessible to mobile customers. Whether checking the weather, looking for a restaurant or getting the most up-to-date news, consumers want search services that meet their everyday needs.
Vodafone is collaborating with Google to develop innovative mobile search services for its customers.
Vodafone will integrate Google's search capability into its consumer service, Vodafone live!. The new service will offer simultaneous search both on Vodafone live! and the wider Web.
Vodafone's integration of Google search will take the mobile internet to a new level. Vodafone live! is a mobile service that makes data services easily accessible to mobile customers. Whether checking the weather, looking for a restaurant or getting the most up-to-date news, consumers want search services that meet their everyday needs.
Opera Brings AJAX to Mobile Application
Opera Software and Freedom Media have announced a mobile widget application based on Opera Software's mobile AJAX authoring environment, Opera Platform. Named “Freedom”, the application offers a collection of mobile pay-per-view services designed to increase the usability of mobile Web based services by offering a suite of widgets such as news, real-time stock prices and maps, all through a rich user interface.
“Freedom is a great demonstration of how the Opera Platform mobile AJAX authoring environment can help operators, handset manufacturers or content providers create compelling user-oriented premium services that are not hindered by the limitations of WAP and GSM/GPRS data transfer speeds,” says Timo Bruns, EVP Mobile, Opera Software. “AJAX has become very popular on the Mac/PC platform, and it makes even more sense in the mobile space as it enables the creation of Web based services that are so fast they seem like local applications.”
Opera Platform allows developers to create platform independent applications based on well known Web technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Together with XMLHttpRequest, the combination of these technologies is popularly referred to as AJAX. AJAX is a Web development technique that is increasingly used to develop new Internet services such as Google Maps and Amazon A9 Search. Opera Platform enables these types of rich Web applications to be developed and used on mobile phones. In addition, Developers can easily adapt existing content and Web applications to run on mobile phones using Opera Platform.
Opera Software and Freedom Media have announced a mobile widget application based on Opera Software's mobile AJAX authoring environment, Opera Platform. Named “Freedom”, the application offers a collection of mobile pay-per-view services designed to increase the usability of mobile Web based services by offering a suite of widgets such as news, real-time stock prices and maps, all through a rich user interface.
“Freedom is a great demonstration of how the Opera Platform mobile AJAX authoring environment can help operators, handset manufacturers or content providers create compelling user-oriented premium services that are not hindered by the limitations of WAP and GSM/GPRS data transfer speeds,” says Timo Bruns, EVP Mobile, Opera Software. “AJAX has become very popular on the Mac/PC platform, and it makes even more sense in the mobile space as it enables the creation of Web based services that are so fast they seem like local applications.”
Opera Platform allows developers to create platform independent applications based on well known Web technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Together with XMLHttpRequest, the combination of these technologies is popularly referred to as AJAX. AJAX is a Web development technique that is increasingly used to develop new Internet services such as Google Maps and Amazon A9 Search. Opera Platform enables these types of rich Web applications to be developed and used on mobile phones. In addition, Developers can easily adapt existing content and Web applications to run on mobile phones using Opera Platform.
Place-tagging
Remember when mobile phones were simply for talking to people? Here’s yet another fashionable use for them to add to video camera, music player, satellite navigator and tea-maker. Cellphones are now a tool for pinning virtual messages to physical places, messages that any passing stranger can retrieve once their phone comes in contact with the location-based "tag". It’s all part of a trend to map out the geographical world with digital information held on the internet, building what the techies call "the geospatial web". Geospatial what? Guys, we can’t use jargon like that in The Times Magazine. Can’t we just call it "place-tagging"?
Let’s say you want to recommend a local pâtisserie to tourists, or just let friends know you’re in the neighbourhood. Simply "tag" the location with a code designed to deliver a message by phone. Some techniques use the Global Positioning System to make phones respond to a place, others rely on visitors sending texts or e-mails to addresses scribbled on to pavements. So far, only a few thousand people have been leaving virtual calling cards, but the trend offers so much scope for social networking – not to mention advertising – that we predict you’ll soon be hearing much more about it.
Up to now, creativity not commerce has been driving the trend. Take the yellow arrows that you may have seen stuck on to lampposts and street benches from Bangor to Dungeness. Part of a "global public art project" co-ordinated at yellowarrow.net, the stickers let anyone with a phone share their thoughts about a place with passers-by. Each arrow comes with a unique code, which the person placing the sticker sends by text to a central phone number along with their personal observations. Any subsequent visitor merely sends a text containing the code to receive by return the original note with which the place was tagged. In London, arrows currently recommend "a quiet garden" in a Camden pub and "the best Lebanese takeaway" in town. Just don’t ask whether placing stickers in the street without permission is entirely within the law.
Another project, Grafedia (www.grafedia.net), suggests hand-chalked e-mail addresses as an alternative. Spot a blue underlined phrase on an object in the street, and, with a late-generation phone, e-mail the phrase with the suffix "@grafedia.net". By return, you’ll receive a message in the form of text, video or sound file, depending on how the tagger chose to personalise the location. "Every surface becomes potentially a web page," the New York-based team behind Grafedia explains, "and the entire physical world can be joined with the internet."
This is just the start. If you want a collaborative, up-to-date travel guide, point your cameraphone to the barcode-like tags starting to appear on landmark buildings. These are "Semapedia" tags (semapedia.org), which link the place to its entry in the Wikipedia online dictionary. To leave messages hovering in mid-air for strangers or friends to pick up, a program called Socialight (socialight.com) will tie that data to your phone’s physical co-ordinates and make it available to others when their phones move into proximity. Siemens, meanwhile, is developing a service it calls "digital graffiti" that will let advertisers join your friends in sending you location-aware text messages. That’s the trouble with living in the real world. You know that sooner or later it will become just another quirky byway of the internet.
david.rowan@thetimes.co.uk
Remember when mobile phones were simply for talking to people? Here’s yet another fashionable use for them to add to video camera, music player, satellite navigator and tea-maker. Cellphones are now a tool for pinning virtual messages to physical places, messages that any passing stranger can retrieve once their phone comes in contact with the location-based "tag". It’s all part of a trend to map out the geographical world with digital information held on the internet, building what the techies call "the geospatial web". Geospatial what? Guys, we can’t use jargon like that in The Times Magazine. Can’t we just call it "place-tagging"?
Let’s say you want to recommend a local pâtisserie to tourists, or just let friends know you’re in the neighbourhood. Simply "tag" the location with a code designed to deliver a message by phone. Some techniques use the Global Positioning System to make phones respond to a place, others rely on visitors sending texts or e-mails to addresses scribbled on to pavements. So far, only a few thousand people have been leaving virtual calling cards, but the trend offers so much scope for social networking – not to mention advertising – that we predict you’ll soon be hearing much more about it.
Up to now, creativity not commerce has been driving the trend. Take the yellow arrows that you may have seen stuck on to lampposts and street benches from Bangor to Dungeness. Part of a "global public art project" co-ordinated at yellowarrow.net, the stickers let anyone with a phone share their thoughts about a place with passers-by. Each arrow comes with a unique code, which the person placing the sticker sends by text to a central phone number along with their personal observations. Any subsequent visitor merely sends a text containing the code to receive by return the original note with which the place was tagged. In London, arrows currently recommend "a quiet garden" in a Camden pub and "the best Lebanese takeaway" in town. Just don’t ask whether placing stickers in the street without permission is entirely within the law.
Another project, Grafedia (www.grafedia.net), suggests hand-chalked e-mail addresses as an alternative. Spot a blue underlined phrase on an object in the street, and, with a late-generation phone, e-mail the phrase with the suffix "@grafedia.net". By return, you’ll receive a message in the form of text, video or sound file, depending on how the tagger chose to personalise the location. "Every surface becomes potentially a web page," the New York-based team behind Grafedia explains, "and the entire physical world can be joined with the internet."
This is just the start. If you want a collaborative, up-to-date travel guide, point your cameraphone to the barcode-like tags starting to appear on landmark buildings. These are "Semapedia" tags (semapedia.org), which link the place to its entry in the Wikipedia online dictionary. To leave messages hovering in mid-air for strangers or friends to pick up, a program called Socialight (socialight.com) will tie that data to your phone’s physical co-ordinates and make it available to others when their phones move into proximity. Siemens, meanwhile, is developing a service it calls "digital graffiti" that will let advertisers join your friends in sending you location-aware text messages. That’s the trouble with living in the real world. You know that sooner or later it will become just another quirky byway of the internet.
david.rowan@thetimes.co.uk
Spatially Adjusted with James Fee � Blog Archive � New Features on BatchGeocoder.com: "New Features on BatchGeocoder.com
Phillip Holmstrand has been working hard on BatchGeocoder.com and has now added the ability to save the map out as a webpage to share with others and to generate a KML file of your geocoded locations to share with Google Earth. Now anyone can create their own map service with just an Excel file and use BatchGeocoder.com to host it.
Very impressive work Phillip!
Tags: geocode, yahoomaps, kml, googleearth
Posted by James Fee on Monday, January 30th, 2006 at 10:45 am.
2 Responses to �New Features on BatchGeocoder.com�
Cheers James, thanks for the support!
Tonight I made a few more tweaks and added the ability for all map features to show the associated address. Also there were some problems with the �Save Map� functionality that is now fixed.
I am continually tweaking things so if you encounter a bug, just let me know and I will get it fixed ASAP.
Cheers all,
-Phillip
Left by Phillip on January 30th, 2006that�s great stuff Phillip, please keep us all apprised of any new tweaks/changes.
cheers
brian "
Phillip Holmstrand has been working hard on BatchGeocoder.com and has now added the ability to save the map out as a webpage to share with others and to generate a KML file of your geocoded locations to share with Google Earth. Now anyone can create their own map service with just an Excel file and use BatchGeocoder.com to host it.
Very impressive work Phillip!
Tags: geocode, yahoomaps, kml, googleearth
Posted by James Fee on Monday, January 30th, 2006 at 10:45 am.
2 Responses to �New Features on BatchGeocoder.com�
Cheers James, thanks for the support!
Tonight I made a few more tweaks and added the ability for all map features to show the associated address. Also there were some problems with the �Save Map� functionality that is now fixed.
I am continually tweaking things so if you encounter a bug, just let me know and I will get it fixed ASAP.
Cheers all,
-Phillip
Left by Phillip on January 30th, 2006that�s great stuff Phillip, please keep us all apprised of any new tweaks/changes.
cheers
brian "
World Wind - World Wind Wiki
World Wind, an open source 3D interactive world viewer, was created by NASA's Learning Technologies (http://learn.arc.nasa.gov) project, and released in mid-2004. It is now developed by NASA staff and open source community developers.
Table of contents [showhide]
1 About
2 Features
2.1 Worlds
2.2 Imagery
2.3 Terrain Data
2.4 Tools
3 See Also
[edit]About
SRTM + LandSat 7: Mt. St. Helens, WashingtonAt its simplest you can think of World Wind as a desk globe, however World Wind is not a simple desk globe.
World Wind allows any user to zoom from outer space into any place on Earth. World Wind leverages satellite imagery and elevation data to allow users to experience Earth terrain in visually rich 3D, just as if they were really there. Virtually visit anyplace in the world. Look across the Andes, into the Grand Canyon, over the Alps or along the African Sahara.
Unlike your desk globe World Wind can display thousands of placenames all over the world, from Country capitals to villages in sparsely populated regions. You can see country borders, and in some cases intracountry borders such as US states.
World Wind can also be expanded to include additional imagery and data.. There have already been a number of add-ons created, from Norway's Prehistoric Hillforts to additional planets.
[edit]Features
World Wind offers the following built-in features:
[edit]Worlds
Earth — The planet we live on.
Moon — Usually the brightest object in the night sky.
[edit]Imagery
Blue Marble — World Wind has a full copy of the Blue Marble, a spectacular true-color image of the entire Earth. Put together from data of a variety of satellites such as MODIS and Terra, the Blue Marble can be seen in all its glory at 1 km per pixel resolution.
LandSat 7 — LandSat 7 is a collection of images from 1999-2003 at an impressive 15 m per pixel resolution. LandSat 7's resolution makes it possible to see your own city, neighborhood, or landmarks in your vicinity. Seeing the whole globe like this puts the world in context with scientifically accurate data. You can view LandSat imagery in visible colors or in False Color bands.
USGS — United States Geological Survey data. USGS provides Topography maps, 1-Meter detail images of most of the United States and Urban Area images of most of the major cities down to detail of .25 Meters.
[edit]Terrain Data
SRTM — Combining LandSat 7 imagery with Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Data, World Wind can display a dramatic view of the Earth at eye level. Users will literally be able to fly across the world in any direction.
[edit]Tools
Rapid Fire MODIS — For getting near real time images from orbiting satellites with resolution down to 250 m. You can filter the MODIS data by date and by event. Data is then downloaded and displays an icon in World Wind showing what event it is and where it happened. You can zoom in to view the event.
WMS Browser — Web Mapping Server allows you to connect to any WMS server such as the included SVS.
SVS (Scientific Visualization Studio) — Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has produced a set of visually intense animations that demonstrate a variety of subjects such as hurricane dynamics and seasonal changes across the globe. World Wind can take these animations and play them directly on the world. Anyone can immediately grasp where the event is taking place as World Wind rotates automatically into view.
[edit]See Also
Frequently Asked Questions
Walkthrough Tutorial
Users' Guide
World Wind, an open source 3D interactive world viewer, was created by NASA's Learning Technologies (http://learn.arc.nasa.gov) project, and released in mid-2004. It is now developed by NASA staff and open source community developers.
Table of contents [showhide]
1 About
2 Features
2.1 Worlds
2.2 Imagery
2.3 Terrain Data
2.4 Tools
3 See Also
[edit]About
SRTM + LandSat 7: Mt. St. Helens, WashingtonAt its simplest you can think of World Wind as a desk globe, however World Wind is not a simple desk globe.
World Wind allows any user to zoom from outer space into any place on Earth. World Wind leverages satellite imagery and elevation data to allow users to experience Earth terrain in visually rich 3D, just as if they were really there. Virtually visit anyplace in the world. Look across the Andes, into the Grand Canyon, over the Alps or along the African Sahara.
Unlike your desk globe World Wind can display thousands of placenames all over the world, from Country capitals to villages in sparsely populated regions. You can see country borders, and in some cases intracountry borders such as US states.
World Wind can also be expanded to include additional imagery and data.. There have already been a number of add-ons created, from Norway's Prehistoric Hillforts to additional planets.
[edit]Features
World Wind offers the following built-in features:
[edit]Worlds
Earth — The planet we live on.
Moon — Usually the brightest object in the night sky.
[edit]Imagery
Blue Marble — World Wind has a full copy of the Blue Marble, a spectacular true-color image of the entire Earth. Put together from data of a variety of satellites such as MODIS and Terra, the Blue Marble can be seen in all its glory at 1 km per pixel resolution.
LandSat 7 — LandSat 7 is a collection of images from 1999-2003 at an impressive 15 m per pixel resolution. LandSat 7's resolution makes it possible to see your own city, neighborhood, or landmarks in your vicinity. Seeing the whole globe like this puts the world in context with scientifically accurate data. You can view LandSat imagery in visible colors or in False Color bands.
USGS — United States Geological Survey data. USGS provides Topography maps, 1-Meter detail images of most of the United States and Urban Area images of most of the major cities down to detail of .25 Meters.
[edit]Terrain Data
SRTM — Combining LandSat 7 imagery with Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Data, World Wind can display a dramatic view of the Earth at eye level. Users will literally be able to fly across the world in any direction.
[edit]Tools
Rapid Fire MODIS — For getting near real time images from orbiting satellites with resolution down to 250 m. You can filter the MODIS data by date and by event. Data is then downloaded and displays an icon in World Wind showing what event it is and where it happened. You can zoom in to view the event.
WMS Browser — Web Mapping Server allows you to connect to any WMS server such as the included SVS.
SVS (Scientific Visualization Studio) — Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has produced a set of visually intense animations that demonstrate a variety of subjects such as hurricane dynamics and seasonal changes across the globe. World Wind can take these animations and play them directly on the world. Anyone can immediately grasp where the event is taking place as World Wind rotates automatically into view.
[edit]See Also
Frequently Asked Questions
Walkthrough Tutorial
Users' Guide
Google Click To Call Sightings: "Another instance of the green phone icon appearing for some AdWords listings in Google search results has been reported online.
Threadwatch and numerous other sites have reported Google's click-to-call icon being displayed again. New York City hotels seem to be the popular place for them this morning.
A Google query performed in Opera 9 TP2 and Internet Explorer returned the green phone symbol next to a listing for the Marriott Marquis Hotel.
Click on the icon, and an Ajax window opens as part of the listing. 'Speak with now. Enter your telephone number.' appears atop a box where the number can be typed in by the user. Then, clicking the 'Connect for free' button will generate a call to the advertiser.
Google said in its click-to-call help that it foots the bill for local and long-distance calls. Calls to a mobile phone may incur charges per the plan details for that phone.
Users have the option to save their phone number for future click-to-calls. Google noted it does not share the number with the advertiser or with anyone without consent. However, Google does retain the call details temporarily and will delete it 'after a period reasonably necessary to operate, audit, and evaluate the service.' "
Threadwatch and numerous other sites have reported Google's click-to-call icon being displayed again. New York City hotels seem to be the popular place for them this morning.
A Google query performed in Opera 9 TP2 and Internet Explorer returned the green phone symbol next to a listing for the Marriott Marquis Hotel.
Click on the icon, and an Ajax window opens as part of the listing. 'Speak with now. Enter your telephone number.' appears atop a box where the number can be typed in by the user. Then, clicking the 'Connect for free' button will generate a call to the advertiser.
Google said in its click-to-call help that it foots the bill for local and long-distance calls. Calls to a mobile phone may incur charges per the plan details for that phone.
Users have the option to save their phone number for future click-to-calls. Google noted it does not share the number with the advertiser or with anyone without consent. However, Google does retain the call details temporarily and will delete it 'after a period reasonably necessary to operate, audit, and evaluate the service.' "
Google Makes Measure Map A Statistic
The Measure Map team has joined Google, bringing their blog stat/web analytics to the search advertising company and asking bloggers to request an invitation to join the service.
Measure Map is currently in alpha testing, and looks like a lite version of Google Analytics, judging by the screenshots of the tool on their website.
Avid cyclist Jeffrey Veen from the Measure Map team blogged about the transition from working with Adaptive Path, which sold Measure Map to Google, to becoming a Googler himself; he called it "an exciting validation of the user experience work" he had accomplished with Adaptive Path.
The service takes a friendly visual approach to delivering blog stats to its users. Its look-and-feel should be less intimidating to new or casual bloggers who just want to see how many visitors came to the blog along with other stats like inbound links used, number of comments left, and how many posts on the blog had visitors.
Now, Google has to address the same issue with Measure Map that it encountered with the enthusiastic response to the release of the free version of Google Analytics - supporting the service. Measure Map appears to provide fewer stats than Google Analytics, which should mean less data to parse and store on Google's servers.
However, Google has learned from its experience with Analytics, and there is no wide-open signup process for Measure Map. Like Analytics, Measure Map requests interested users to leave an email address and promises to get back to them with an invitation.
---
Email WebProNews here.
The Measure Map team has joined Google, bringing their blog stat/web analytics to the search advertising company and asking bloggers to request an invitation to join the service.
Measure Map is currently in alpha testing, and looks like a lite version of Google Analytics, judging by the screenshots of the tool on their website.
Avid cyclist Jeffrey Veen from the Measure Map team blogged about the transition from working with Adaptive Path, which sold Measure Map to Google, to becoming a Googler himself; he called it "an exciting validation of the user experience work" he had accomplished with Adaptive Path.
The service takes a friendly visual approach to delivering blog stats to its users. Its look-and-feel should be less intimidating to new or casual bloggers who just want to see how many visitors came to the blog along with other stats like inbound links used, number of comments left, and how many posts on the blog had visitors.
Now, Google has to address the same issue with Measure Map that it encountered with the enthusiastic response to the release of the free version of Google Analytics - supporting the service. Measure Map appears to provide fewer stats than Google Analytics, which should mean less data to parse and store on Google's servers.
However, Google has learned from its experience with Analytics, and there is no wide-open signup process for Measure Map. Like Analytics, Measure Map requests interested users to leave an email address and promises to get back to them with an invitation.
---
Email WebProNews here.
Skype's free internet calls to be offered on 3 network
· Deal threatens traditional operators' revenues
· Mobile business entering new world, say Vodafone
Richard Wray in Barcelona
Wednesday February 15, 2006
The Guardian
Skype, the provider of free phone calls over the internet, yesterday clinched an important deal with mobile phone operator 3 which will see its service offered across the company's five networks, including in Britain, later this year.
The deal, the first of its kind, represents a significant threat to operators such as Vodafone who are trying to protect revenues from traditional networks while moving customers onto new 3G networks.
In contrast, 3 does not have any legacy revenues to protect, owning only 3G networks, so can offer free calls to Skype users as it attempts to increase its customer base from its current 11 million.
Skype chief executive and co-founder Niklas Zennstrom said other operators had become willing to talk to him over the past few months but talks with 3 started a year ago. "Yes the calls are free," he said. "But you're paying for the mobile access and that drives usage and something that drives usage is good for the operators."
Skype has attracted 75 million users who use their PCs, a broadband connection and Skype's software to talk to other users free. The company, bought last year by eBay for $4.1bn, (£2.4bn) makes money by also offering users the ability to call people on fixed line or mobile networks.
3 intends to run trials of the service over the next few months with a launch later in the year when handsets with Skype pre-installed should become available. After paying an as yet unspecified monthly fee for mobile internet access, Skype mobile users will be able to talk to each other and "Skypers" on PCs for no extra charge.
"I think 'for free' is not exactly the way we would describe this; we will be bundling the service," said Hutchison's managing director of European telecoms Christian Salbaing at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona. "For us this is about giving the customer the choice."
The rest of the mobile industry accepts that VoIP (voice over internet protocol) will transform its business model, making calling in effect free, but had hoped it was a few years down the line while it readjusted its business model.
Vodafone chief executive Arun Sarin yesterday admitted the industry in western Europe was "morphing" from being based on charging for minutes to offering the sort of "all you can eat" mobile internet access tariffs needed for VoIP to take off. But his timescale was longer than 3's. "That's clearly the world we're going into. Is that world around the corner? No. Is it two or three years away? Yes."
Vodafone yesterday announced a deal with Google for its mobile content search engine to be offered through Vodafone's Live portal.
Meanwhile T-Mobile, whose web 'n' walk mobile internet service has a deal with Google, announced plans to launch Britain's first very high speed data network with HSDPA technology which could see wireless internet access speeds exceed those of fixed line broadband this year.
More from the Online team
· Deal threatens traditional operators' revenues
· Mobile business entering new world, say Vodafone
Richard Wray in Barcelona
Wednesday February 15, 2006
The Guardian
Skype, the provider of free phone calls over the internet, yesterday clinched an important deal with mobile phone operator 3 which will see its service offered across the company's five networks, including in Britain, later this year.
The deal, the first of its kind, represents a significant threat to operators such as Vodafone who are trying to protect revenues from traditional networks while moving customers onto new 3G networks.
In contrast, 3 does not have any legacy revenues to protect, owning only 3G networks, so can offer free calls to Skype users as it attempts to increase its customer base from its current 11 million.
Skype chief executive and co-founder Niklas Zennstrom said other operators had become willing to talk to him over the past few months but talks with 3 started a year ago. "Yes the calls are free," he said. "But you're paying for the mobile access and that drives usage and something that drives usage is good for the operators."
Skype has attracted 75 million users who use their PCs, a broadband connection and Skype's software to talk to other users free. The company, bought last year by eBay for $4.1bn, (£2.4bn) makes money by also offering users the ability to call people on fixed line or mobile networks.
3 intends to run trials of the service over the next few months with a launch later in the year when handsets with Skype pre-installed should become available. After paying an as yet unspecified monthly fee for mobile internet access, Skype mobile users will be able to talk to each other and "Skypers" on PCs for no extra charge.
"I think 'for free' is not exactly the way we would describe this; we will be bundling the service," said Hutchison's managing director of European telecoms Christian Salbaing at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona. "For us this is about giving the customer the choice."
The rest of the mobile industry accepts that VoIP (voice over internet protocol) will transform its business model, making calling in effect free, but had hoped it was a few years down the line while it readjusted its business model.
Vodafone chief executive Arun Sarin yesterday admitted the industry in western Europe was "morphing" from being based on charging for minutes to offering the sort of "all you can eat" mobile internet access tariffs needed for VoIP to take off. But his timescale was longer than 3's. "That's clearly the world we're going into. Is that world around the corner? No. Is it two or three years away? Yes."
Vodafone yesterday announced a deal with Google for its mobile content search engine to be offered through Vodafone's Live portal.
Meanwhile T-Mobile, whose web 'n' walk mobile internet service has a deal with Google, announced plans to launch Britain's first very high speed data network with HSDPA technology which could see wireless internet access speeds exceed those of fixed line broadband this year.
More from the Online team
Thursday, February 09, 2006
A Very Spatial Podcast
A Very Spatial Podcast is your weekly source for information on Geography and geospatial technologies. Geography touches most things we do everyday, but we rarely even think of it. This podcast seeks to point out how it is filtering into our digital lives and daily lives. We are listed in a number of places. The majority of our connections are currently through iTunes. You can also use one of the myraid of great RSS aggregators to connect using our Feedburner link. There is always the low tech version where you make sure to come to this page to download the podcast each week.
Also, our weekly show notes are available via the blog and through email. To subscribe to the email list send an email to shownotes-subscribe@veryspatial.com, and on the wild chance that you want to unsubscribe send and email to shownotes-unsubscribe@veryspatial.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscription options
Download Show Notes Description
AVSP Episode 33 Episode 33 Coming March 5:
AVSP Episode 32 Episode 32 Coming February 26: Desktop GIS Round-Up
AVSP Episode 31 Episode 31 Coming February 19: Discussion with Rich Hoch of CVI
AVSP Episode 30 Episode 30 Coming February 12: The NationalMap and GeoPortals
AVSP Episode 29 Episode 29 Interview with John O'Loughlin
AVSP Episode 28 Episode 28 Community GIS
AVSP Episode 27 Episode 27 Political Geography
AVSP Episode 26 Episode 26 Half year anniversary - Interview with Peter Morville
AVSP Episode 25 Episode 25 Importance of professional organizations and conferences
AVSP Episode 24 Episode 24 Location Based Services
AVSP Episode 23 Episode 23 2005 in review, 2006 predictions
AVSP Episode 22 Episode 22 Holiday 2005 out-takes episode
AVSP Episode 21 Episode 21 Physical Geography and our changing world and review of Making Maps
AVSP Episode 20 Episode 20 Interview with Tim Warner on Remote Sensing
AVSP Episode 19 Episode 19 Comparing GIS analysis and web mapping
AVSP Episode 18 Episode 18 GAW 2005, Migration: The Human Journey
AVSP SE03 SE03 GIS Day 2005
AVSP Episode 17 Episode 17 Pubic and private information
AVSP Episode 16 Episode 16 Community Mapping
AVSP Episode 15 Episode 15 Digital cartography
AVSP Episode 14 Episode 14 Geospatial data dissemination
AVSP Episode 13 Episode 13 Customizing GIS
AVSP Episode 12 Episode 12 Geographic education ramblings
AVSP Episode 11 Episode 11 Global warming and geospatial technolgies
AVSP SE02 Duke Podcasting Symposium
AVSP Episode 10 Episode 10 Impact and future of blogging, podcasting, and new mapping technologies
AVSP SE01 TerraForming
AVSP Episode 09 Episode 09 Geographic Infomation
AVSP Episode 08 Episode 08 Space and Place
AVSP Episode 07 Episode 07 Geography and hazards research
AVSP Episode 06 Episode 06 Who decides when the maps are right
AVSP Episode 05 Episode 05 Webmap API wars
AVSP Episode 04 Episode 04 A brief overview of what Geographers do
AVSP Episode 03 Episode 03 A brief overview of the history of GIS
AVSP Episode 02 Episode 02 Geospatial technologies
AVSP Episode 01 Episode 01 Introduction to avsp
Promo 02 Promo 02
Promo 01 Promo 01
A Very Spatial Podcast is your weekly source for information on Geography and geospatial technologies. Geography touches most things we do everyday, but we rarely even think of it. This podcast seeks to point out how it is filtering into our digital lives and daily lives. We are listed in a number of places. The majority of our connections are currently through iTunes. You can also use one of the myraid of great RSS aggregators to connect using our Feedburner link. There is always the low tech version where you make sure to come to this page to download the podcast each week.
Also, our weekly show notes are available via the blog and through email. To subscribe to the email list send an email to shownotes-subscribe@veryspatial.com, and on the wild chance that you want to unsubscribe send and email to shownotes-unsubscribe@veryspatial.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscription options
Download Show Notes Description
AVSP Episode 33 Episode 33 Coming March 5:
AVSP Episode 32 Episode 32 Coming February 26: Desktop GIS Round-Up
AVSP Episode 31 Episode 31 Coming February 19: Discussion with Rich Hoch of CVI
AVSP Episode 30 Episode 30 Coming February 12: The NationalMap and GeoPortals
AVSP Episode 29 Episode 29 Interview with John O'Loughlin
AVSP Episode 28 Episode 28 Community GIS
AVSP Episode 27 Episode 27 Political Geography
AVSP Episode 26 Episode 26 Half year anniversary - Interview with Peter Morville
AVSP Episode 25 Episode 25 Importance of professional organizations and conferences
AVSP Episode 24 Episode 24 Location Based Services
AVSP Episode 23 Episode 23 2005 in review, 2006 predictions
AVSP Episode 22 Episode 22 Holiday 2005 out-takes episode
AVSP Episode 21 Episode 21 Physical Geography and our changing world and review of Making Maps
AVSP Episode 20 Episode 20 Interview with Tim Warner on Remote Sensing
AVSP Episode 19 Episode 19 Comparing GIS analysis and web mapping
AVSP Episode 18 Episode 18 GAW 2005, Migration: The Human Journey
AVSP SE03 SE03 GIS Day 2005
AVSP Episode 17 Episode 17 Pubic and private information
AVSP Episode 16 Episode 16 Community Mapping
AVSP Episode 15 Episode 15 Digital cartography
AVSP Episode 14 Episode 14 Geospatial data dissemination
AVSP Episode 13 Episode 13 Customizing GIS
AVSP Episode 12 Episode 12 Geographic education ramblings
AVSP Episode 11 Episode 11 Global warming and geospatial technolgies
AVSP SE02 Duke Podcasting Symposium
AVSP Episode 10 Episode 10 Impact and future of blogging, podcasting, and new mapping technologies
AVSP SE01 TerraForming
AVSP Episode 09 Episode 09 Geographic Infomation
AVSP Episode 08 Episode 08 Space and Place
AVSP Episode 07 Episode 07 Geography and hazards research
AVSP Episode 06 Episode 06 Who decides when the maps are right
AVSP Episode 05 Episode 05 Webmap API wars
AVSP Episode 04 Episode 04 A brief overview of what Geographers do
AVSP Episode 03 Episode 03 A brief overview of the history of GIS
AVSP Episode 02 Episode 02 Geospatial technologies
AVSP Episode 01 Episode 01 Introduction to avsp
Promo 02 Promo 02
Promo 01 Promo 01
Public Geo DataGeographic information - spatial data, or geodata - is the bedrock of how civic society is managed in an Information Age.
Geodata describes where you live, who you can vote for, how much tax you pay on your property, where your children go to school. Geodata describes the environment around us and helps to create strategies for managing it together sustainably. PublicGeodata is a foundation for shared civic planning. Access to geodata is driving a GeospatialWebBoom, a new generation of location-based technologies connected through the Internet.
In Europe, geodata is collected by a network of publically funded NationalMappingAgencies. Each one has its own local SpatialDataInfrastructure, different languages and taxonomies for describing how each country is managed and governed.
The Proposed INSPIRE Directive on creating a European SpatialDataInfrastructure is a piece of EC legislation designed to help NationalMappingAgencies collaborate on sharing and creating geographic data across Europe.
The NationalMappingAgencies are under a lot of pressure to "recover the costs" of collecting public geodata. This pressure results in commercial licensing and strict copyright on data that affects European citizens lives and businesses in a really fundamental way.
As the InspireTimeline shows, while the new Directive has gone through the CoDecisionProcess in Europe, it has acquire d more emphasis on the intellectual property rights that public geodata collectors gain over data collected originally at taxpayers' expense.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PublicGeodata.org is two things. It aims to convince you to SignThePetition to the Members of the European Parliament not to rubberstamp INSPIRE along party lines on its Second Reading; the civic and economic innovation that open, public access to geodata can support is tremendous.
It's never too late to ContactYourMEP and let them hear your voice.
There are AlternativeModels for publishing and licensing access to this data in a more open way, that have not been considered in the INSPIRE Directive creation process.
Even if you've never heard of a SpatialDataInfrastructure, your mobile phone, your in-car navigation system, your public transport smart-card, all depend on it, and assigning intellectual property rights to public data providers will make all your toys more expensive and less useful. Read more - WhySignThePetition
PublicGeodata.org is also a quick reference guide for anyone who considers themself to have a stake in the GeographicInformationIndustry, no matter how small. It highlights some of the ProblemsWithInspire being experienced by industry, academic, local government and open-source software groups who have not been consulted.
If you care about European citizens' ability to participate in the GeospatialWebBoom that is driving social and economic activity in the US and Canada right now; even if you like the idea that NationalMappingAgencies such as the UK's OrdnanceSurvey should be granted intellectual property rights and copyright on geographic data that you paid to help collect in the first place, this site hopes to help you to ActOnInspire.
Much of the reference material gathered here is based on the persistent and vocal freelance research work carried out by Chris Corbin and published on the European Geographic Information Policy mailing list
The creation of a SpatialDataInfrastructure is ultimately a technological problem which does not need a legislative solution right now. The StandardsForGeographicInformation are in flux. OpenSourceGeospatial software and services are just starting to mature and come together. There is an awful lot at stake here for economy and society in Europe; why is the Proposed INSPIRE Directive being rushed through the next session of the European Parliament, with copyright and intellectual property rights clauses that were not publically consulted on, and not in the spirit of the original draft?
The availability and potential re-use of PublicSectorInformation is a general case of public geodata availability. EnvironmentalInformation legislation currently demands more openness than INSPIRE is offering.
Find out HowYouCanHelp to compile information that will be useful for researchers, campaigners the MEPs themselves over the coming weeks before INSPIRE goes to its second reading.
TheDebate over charging or not charging citizens for access to geodata tends to be falsely polarised between "Total Freedom" and "Cost Recovery", but there are plenty of middle ways and moderate voices that the INSPIRE process has just not taken into account.
PublicGeodataContacts - getting in touch, talking about this.
last edited 2006-02-08 17:07:04 by JoWalsh
Geodata describes where you live, who you can vote for, how much tax you pay on your property, where your children go to school. Geodata describes the environment around us and helps to create strategies for managing it together sustainably. PublicGeodata is a foundation for shared civic planning. Access to geodata is driving a GeospatialWebBoom, a new generation of location-based technologies connected through the Internet.
In Europe, geodata is collected by a network of publically funded NationalMappingAgencies. Each one has its own local SpatialDataInfrastructure, different languages and taxonomies for describing how each country is managed and governed.
The Proposed INSPIRE Directive on creating a European SpatialDataInfrastructure is a piece of EC legislation designed to help NationalMappingAgencies collaborate on sharing and creating geographic data across Europe.
The NationalMappingAgencies are under a lot of pressure to "recover the costs" of collecting public geodata. This pressure results in commercial licensing and strict copyright on data that affects European citizens lives and businesses in a really fundamental way.
As the InspireTimeline shows, while the new Directive has gone through the CoDecisionProcess in Europe, it has acquire d more emphasis on the intellectual property rights that public geodata collectors gain over data collected originally at taxpayers' expense.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PublicGeodata.org is two things. It aims to convince you to SignThePetition to the Members of the European Parliament not to rubberstamp INSPIRE along party lines on its Second Reading; the civic and economic innovation that open, public access to geodata can support is tremendous.
It's never too late to ContactYourMEP and let them hear your voice.
There are AlternativeModels for publishing and licensing access to this data in a more open way, that have not been considered in the INSPIRE Directive creation process.
Even if you've never heard of a SpatialDataInfrastructure, your mobile phone, your in-car navigation system, your public transport smart-card, all depend on it, and assigning intellectual property rights to public data providers will make all your toys more expensive and less useful. Read more - WhySignThePetition
PublicGeodata.org is also a quick reference guide for anyone who considers themself to have a stake in the GeographicInformationIndustry, no matter how small. It highlights some of the ProblemsWithInspire being experienced by industry, academic, local government and open-source software groups who have not been consulted.
If you care about European citizens' ability to participate in the GeospatialWebBoom that is driving social and economic activity in the US and Canada right now; even if you like the idea that NationalMappingAgencies such as the UK's OrdnanceSurvey should be granted intellectual property rights and copyright on geographic data that you paid to help collect in the first place, this site hopes to help you to ActOnInspire.
Much of the reference material gathered here is based on the persistent and vocal freelance research work carried out by Chris Corbin and published on the European Geographic Information Policy mailing list
The creation of a SpatialDataInfrastructure is ultimately a technological problem which does not need a legislative solution right now. The StandardsForGeographicInformation are in flux. OpenSourceGeospatial software and services are just starting to mature and come together. There is an awful lot at stake here for economy and society in Europe; why is the Proposed INSPIRE Directive being rushed through the next session of the European Parliament, with copyright and intellectual property rights clauses that were not publically consulted on, and not in the spirit of the original draft?
The availability and potential re-use of PublicSectorInformation is a general case of public geodata availability. EnvironmentalInformation legislation currently demands more openness than INSPIRE is offering.
Find out HowYouCanHelp to compile information that will be useful for researchers, campaigners the MEPs themselves over the coming weeks before INSPIRE goes to its second reading.
TheDebate over charging or not charging citizens for access to geodata tends to be falsely polarised between "Total Freedom" and "Cost Recovery", but there are plenty of middle ways and moderate voices that the INSPIRE process has just not taken into account.
PublicGeodataContacts - getting in touch, talking about this.
last edited 2006-02-08 17:07:04 by JoWalsh
Verizon Announces LBS (Location Based Services) with Motorola V325, VZ Navigator so that Bush and Dick Can Trace Your Every Move
Personally, I like Bush. Bush teaches us all that fearing an unknown foreign entity leads to creating a more fearful enemy within. Within the White House that is. So with Bush and Dick's Blessing, Verizon released the Motorola V325 with VZ Navigator LBS Location Based Services Enabled e911 chip.
What this enables you to do is see all the restaurants and gas stations whereever you drive. You may even be able to see the gas prices of all the stations within a certain radius. All hunky-dorry? No!.
Verizon is keeping records of where you are. Where you were. How fast you drove. WHO YOU WERE WITH.
Don't Worry. Sprint, Cingular, T-Mobile, And every other AMERICAN Cell Phone Carrier will do the same thing. So you non Verizon Customers, You too can enjoy the watchful eye of BIG BROTHER - coming soon to a everywhere near you.
So take this as an example. Let's say you like Turkish Food. Heck, and you have a sweet-tooth for that Honey Drizzled Deep Fried Iraqi Desert Ka’ab Ghazal . And you happen to frequent a Middle Eastern Travel Agency because there's a really hot receptionist who works there part time. You are being tracked.
If some chump named Akheem Bin Hussein Ladin gets pinched by the POPO, The first thing the Federalles will do is a cross reference of all the people WHO WERE IN THE SAME PLACES at the SAME TIMES. Here's the kicker, Sorry Mr. Jim Smith, Your name comes up more often on the GPS LBS database than the 7-11 cashier next door. Expect a full and invasive FBI raid on all your property Monty Python Spanish Inquisition Style.
PS. I love my middle eastern friends. Only humor was intended so relax. I mean it!
__
want more wireless internet gear? Like a cell phone repeater ?
posted by Robert Kim, EVDO HSdpa Advisor @ 9:19 AM
WHAT IS EVDO? Wireless EVDO Map EVDO WIFI Router http://HSDPA-coverage.com/ EVDO Lightning Rod Antenna
2 Comments:
Anonymous said...
Your paranoia lost you a customer.
8:14 AM
Robert Kim, EVDO HSdpa Advisor said...
Hi... if you define Paranoia as par·a·noi·a
(par·a·noi'·a) as -
n. "Accurately relating the degree of privacy invasion upon the "FREE COUNTRY's Citizens" by its elected leaders." Then looks like "YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH (think Jack Nick)."
Folks... THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!
ps... were just having some fun here. let me know if you want to borrow a grain of salt. :o)
8:55 AM
Personally, I like Bush. Bush teaches us all that fearing an unknown foreign entity leads to creating a more fearful enemy within. Within the White House that is. So with Bush and Dick's Blessing, Verizon released the Motorola V325 with VZ Navigator LBS Location Based Services Enabled e911 chip.
What this enables you to do is see all the restaurants and gas stations whereever you drive. You may even be able to see the gas prices of all the stations within a certain radius. All hunky-dorry? No!.
Verizon is keeping records of where you are. Where you were. How fast you drove. WHO YOU WERE WITH.
Don't Worry. Sprint, Cingular, T-Mobile, And every other AMERICAN Cell Phone Carrier will do the same thing. So you non Verizon Customers, You too can enjoy the watchful eye of BIG BROTHER - coming soon to a everywhere near you.
So take this as an example. Let's say you like Turkish Food. Heck, and you have a sweet-tooth for that Honey Drizzled Deep Fried Iraqi Desert Ka’ab Ghazal . And you happen to frequent a Middle Eastern Travel Agency because there's a really hot receptionist who works there part time. You are being tracked.
If some chump named Akheem Bin Hussein Ladin gets pinched by the POPO, The first thing the Federalles will do is a cross reference of all the people WHO WERE IN THE SAME PLACES at the SAME TIMES. Here's the kicker, Sorry Mr. Jim Smith, Your name comes up more often on the GPS LBS database than the 7-11 cashier next door. Expect a full and invasive FBI raid on all your property Monty Python Spanish Inquisition Style.
PS. I love my middle eastern friends. Only humor was intended so relax. I mean it!
__
want more wireless internet gear? Like a cell phone repeater ?
posted by Robert Kim, EVDO HSdpa Advisor @ 9:19 AM
WHAT IS EVDO? Wireless EVDO Map EVDO WIFI Router http://HSDPA-coverage.com/ EVDO Lightning Rod Antenna
2 Comments:
Anonymous said...
Your paranoia lost you a customer.
8:14 AM
Robert Kim, EVDO HSdpa Advisor said...
Hi... if you define Paranoia as par·a·noi·a
(par·a·noi'·a) as -
n. "Accurately relating the degree of privacy invasion upon the "FREE COUNTRY's Citizens" by its elected leaders." Then looks like "YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH (think Jack Nick)."
Folks... THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!
ps... were just having some fun here. let me know if you want to borrow a grain of salt. :o)
8:55 AM
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