Gen Kanai discusses the IT industry in Japan – Link , following a series of articles in Japan Inc. and Newsweek.
Airspan "Globes" report – now in English
Airspan’s feature has reached the English website of Globes – Link
Globes reports on Airspan
Globes, the Israeli Business magazine, features a report on Airspan. It is an interview with Paul Senior, Airspan’s CTO.
Google's Android
Played a bit with Google’s Android Mobile Platform.
Looks OK, seems to work, the eclipse Plugin is OK, the simulator actually works, though I experienced a few glitches.
BUT, Can Google really have success with this one? I doubt it, iPhone User interface is 10 times better, Symbian is out there for a long time, Windows Mobile is De-Facto operating system for Smart phones. I believe the answer is NO!
And one more funny thing, if you search for “Android” in Google, the first result is “Open Handset Alliance” web site. Did they tweak it, so it looks like it is really an alliance?
Sprint and Clearwire cancel Joint WiMAX plans
Audio-Technica ATH-ACN7
Have recently acquired Audio-Technica’s active noise cancellation headphones, the ATH-ACN7.
List price is around 220$, but could get it for 130$ from Amazon. Was first thinking on buying the Bose headphones, but decided to save some money (for other gadgets).
This gadget improved my flights experience: airplane noise is bearable, and I can actually hear the music. Can sleep better, and feel more refreshed after long flights (most of my flights are longer than 10 hours).
Highly recommended!
ITU approves WiMAX as new IMT-2000 Standard
A very “techy” title, but what does it really mean?
First, a few pointers:
ITU approval, WiMAX Forum Press Release, Unstrung news.
Unstrung explains:
“News that WiMax is now officially a member of the IMT-2000 family of 3G standards should make it easier for operators to deploy networks in markets where spectrum is allocated specifically to IMT technologies.”
and
“Initially this ruling will affect the so-called “UMTS Extension Bands” — frequencies at 2.5 GHz to 2.6 GHz. European regulators are due to start allocating this spectrum from January 2008.”
Overall, very good new for all the companies pushing WiMAX, and especially Intel.
disclaimer: This is a personal blog. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer. (I am working for a WiMAX equipment vendor).
Best Of WiMAX World – MiMAX USB
The product I develop (I am the Software Manager), the MiMAX USB, won “Best Of WiMAX World 2007” in the Device/Peripheral/Application category. link
I am very proud of it, and to celebrate I attach a photo I took during the conference. The photo shows the MiMAX USB behind the Plexiglas, receiving video streaming using the MobiTV application.
Oh, the MiMAX USB is that small USB device connected to the Notebook.
disclaimer: This is a personal blog. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer. (I am working for a WiMAX equipment vendor).
KDDI Mobile WiMAX
These news are already old, but I was just too busy posting this entry.
KDDI has formed an alliance to bid for the lucrative 2.5GHz Mobile WiMAX license.
Named “Wireless Broadband Planning K.K” (WBPK), the company will receive an investment of 850 million YEN (~7 million dollars). I assume this is the only initial investment as it is obviously a small sum that is not even getting close to actual deployment (See sprint investment).
The group is comprised of KDDI, Intel, JR East, Kyocera, Daiwa, and Tokyo-Mitsubishi bank.
If you remember, the Japanese Ministry of communications (MIC) wanted to increase competition in the Japanese wireless industry. Therefore they do not allow the “big players” to own more than 33% of the companies that enter the 2.5GHz bid.
This link has the press conference slides. I may translate them at a later date.
If I have to bet, I guess DoCoMO (with ACCA) and KDDI (with this new consortium) will win the bid
disclaimer: This is a personal blog. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer. (I am working for a WiMAX equipment vendor).
MiMAX USB
Airspan just posted in their website a brochure and graphics of a WiMAX USB device, the MiMAX USB: http://www.airspan.com/products_wimax_custprem_mimax.aspx
Can’t write too much about it as I happen to be the Software Manager of this product.
disclaimer: This is a personal blog. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer. (I am working for a WiMAX equipment vendor).