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Mobile slash gaming enthusiasts who have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Nokia’s latest N-Gage platform will be happy to know that it will be launching next week. While that’s definitely good news, here’s some bad news. Although the N95 and N95 8GB also have the N-Gage option built in, it’ll do them no good. The application is totally useless as the platform will be launching only for the N81 handset. That includes the 8GB version as well. Why Nokia has chosen this cockeyed way to launch it eludes us completely. Let’s hope they have a change of heart ASAP.

LG Electronics India Pvt. Limited (LGEIL), has launched two new mobile handsets - KG 288 and KG 285. These handsets are an addition to LG’s entry portfolio and are targeted at the entry-level customer. Both models are loaded with an anti-theft tracker and have features like Sudoku and in the case of the KG288, a hot key for FM radio. Anil Arora, Business Group Head, GSM said, “LG has always been on the forefront in launching new technology and wrapping it up with the style quotient.

In our latest offering, we have continued with this trend by providing the customer attractive features at unbeatable prices.”The KG 288 and 285 are equipped with TFT 65K Color Displays; 300 entry phone book memory and 100 SMS memory. Both models also have speaker phones and are dual band handsets. Other features include a stopwatch function, calendar and an alarm. The KG 288 also comes with an inbox headset for listening to FM. The KG 288 and KG 285 will be available in the market for Rs. 1,949 and Rs.1,649 respectively.

LG Electronics unveiled some new products and future technologies at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It officially launched the LG-KF700, a new handset with an optimized user interface that makes use of touch technology. Other handsets from LG featuring touch technology included the convenience oriented LG-KF600, the slim and stylish interactive touch-lighting LG-KF510, and the professional level camera phone-equipped LG Viewty.

Combining three separate input methods, the LG-KF700 provides easy access to multimedia features, which includes a full web browser, digital audio and video players, and handy widgets. The high-res 3-inch full touchscreen LCD provides an optimized interface for watching video content. A shortcut dial on the rear of this 3G, HSDPA-enabled handset offers an easy and intuitive way to switch among applications. There’s a sliding alphanumeric keypad for calls. Other features include a 3 megapixel auto-focus camera, support for microSD cards, Bluetooth and USB connectivity.

Finnish mobile operator TeliaSonera Finland has successfully conducted the world’s first EDGE-WCDMA packet data handover using Nokia equipment and terminals in a commercial network. Now TeliaSonera Finland’s customers can enjoy seamless continuation of 3G services while roaming between EDGE and WCDMA networks.
TeliaSonera Finland’s commercial network has been upgraded by Nokia to support intersystem handovers (ISHO) nationwide and the connection was conducted using the world’s first terminal capable of EDGE-WCDMA ISHO - the Nokia 6630 imaging smartphone. Handovers between WCDMA to GSM/GPRS/EDGE are crucial to quality end user services experience, and are key to the success of the smooth introduction of WCDMA. “We are encouraged by the success of this packet data EDGE-WCDMA handover with Nokia. This will mean our customers can enjoy seamless 3G services as EDGE bridges the gap between WCDMA and GPRS performance in urban and rural areas,” says Pasi Mehtonen, Vice President, Products and Services, TeliaSonera Finland.
“As the world leader in EDGE technology we are delighted with the success of this packet data handover which marks another important milestone in the smooth evolution of GSM networks to 3G,” says Jan Lindgren, Vice President, TeliaSonera Business Team, Networks, Nokia. “It is significant that these connections were carried out in a commercial GSM/EDGE network that has been upgraded to support handovers from WCDMA. This clearly demonstrates that EDGE enables seemless coverage for 3G service delivery that is complementary with WCDMA,” he adds.Handovers in the direction of WCDMA to EDGE and vice versa - as Nokia and TeliaSonera Finland have now demonstrated - are especially important in the initial phases of commercial WCDMA deployment since WCDMA coverage will, in the early phases, not be as ubiquitous as GSM/EDGE service.

NEC Corporation and NEC Malaysia announced new Mobile Phones “e238″ and “e101″ to Malaysia. NEC also reveals its new branding strategy and slogan “Get Personal”, which is in line with NEC’s global corporate statement “Empowered by Innovation(TM)”, to further expand its mobile business in Malaysia.Starting with these two new models with three color variation as one of the key products, NEC will pursue its new strategy to enter into the wider-range product market segment to appeal to various consumers in Malaysia. With the new and specific target market segmentation, NEC will further launch products answering to the requirements from every customer of each segment.”Get Personal” is a new slogan to help NEC increase its awareness in the mobile terminals arena and build brand loyalty in Malaysia. We are aiming to position the company as the most creative, leading mobile solutions company within 2 years. Variety of mobile terminals are being introduced for the global market this year. This new slogan will be a dynamic step towards strengthening NEC’s presence in the Malaysian mobile market, and is also in line with the strategic move to expand NEC’s mobile business globally.” said Mr. Hiromi Orikasa, General Manager of Mobile Terminals Marketing & Sales Division, NEC Corporation.”Our latest challenge regarding current brand perception is to create a unique, human and user-friendly image, showing NEC’s deeper level of communication with consumers by defining ourselves as a “people company,” which proactively reaches out to customers to gain knowledge about their needs in Malaysia. Then, customers can acquire not only the latest state-of-the-art technology but also a mobile phone that suits their own lifestyle.” said Mr. Takao Shimada, Managing Director of NEC Malaysia Sdn Bhd.The new models introduced today are clamshell-shaped e238 & e101. They target a wider range of people, from business to individuals, with friendly, simple and stylish designs. The feature-packed e238 are equipped with 300,000 pixels digital camera with various camera functions, 1.9 inch color large TFT screen with 65,000 colors, JAVA and MMS. The e238 also feature 64 polyphonic ring tones and also support motion jpeg, movie CLI, MP3, IRDA and USB connectivity, among other things.

At the upcoming 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, France, RAD Data Communications will be exhibiting its ACE-3X00 family of multiservice aggregation units for cellular backhauling applications. RAD’s ACE-3100, ACE-3200 and ACE-3400 aggregation devices are designed to accommodate the rapid expansion in cellular backhaul traffic that will accompany the widespread deployment of 3G services. “Aggregation of E1/T1 lines is the ideal solution to simultaneously ensure the most economical allocation of backhauling resources and the delivery of dependable multiple 3G services to the customer,” explains Gaby Junowicz, Senior Business Development Manager for Cellular and Wireless Networks at RAD Data Communications. Co-location and Aggregation Lower Capex and Opex Given the initial cost of UMTS services, not all mobile subscribers are able or willing to upgrade immediately to 3G. “For that reason GSM is not being replaced overnight in one fell swoop, but, instead, will continue to co-exist side-by-side with 3G networks for many years to come,” Junowicz notes. “Due to the lengthy transitional period between 2G and 3G, it will not be uncommon for 3G/Node Bs to be co-located at the same site along with 2G/BTS facilities.” Indeed, a recent survey conducted by Philip Marshall, Director of Wireless Mobile Technologies at The Yankee Group, clearly identifies why cellular operators are searching for ways to boost the efficiency of their technical operations. The Yankee Group report indicated that 30 percent of cellular operators’ expenditures are consumed by technical operations, and a whopping 62 percent of these costs are for backhaul transmission and the related expenses of site rental, field maintenance and product support.“A single aggregator for both generations of cellular technologies will not only yield significant savings on Capex and Opex,” Junowicz states, “but it also furnishes cellular service providers with the flexibility and dexterity to move between Circuit Emulation Services (CES) and UNI/IMA, an asset that can also further reduce expenditures on field maintenance and support.”The ACE-3X00 aggregation devices are optimized to provide CES over AAL1 in order to connect GSM equipment, as well as IMA to connect UMTS, both over ATM. This solution allows operators to minimize costs by establishing Node Bs alongside 2G base stations and using the same transport network for all cellular services. The ACE-3X00 products aggregate traffic from several sites and transport them onto a single ATM link.

The Nokia Mobile RFID Kit as part of the Nokia Field Force Solution has started shipping. The solution allows for easy management of tasks and service team workflow in the field. The Nokia Field Force Solution is designed specifically for industry sectors such as security, services, utilities, health care, and government branches to increase the efficiency of field personnel. Application examples include repair, maintenance, asset management, time, attendance, meter reading and work completion reporting. The solution is based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology.”Companies can improve their workflow management and increase effectiveness of their operations with the Nokia Field Force Solution. It supports real-time enterprise by allowing high visibility on delivered services, and reduces costs of field services while improving quality,” says Gerhard Romen, Head of Market Development, Nokia Ventures Organization. A unique benefit of the Nokia Field Force Solution is that it allows easy interaction with field activities by sending real-time information like location, work time or task status from the field to the office. In addition, it can be used for receiving service instructions or work assignments in the field. The information exchange starts by simply touching the RFID tag placed on objects - such as assets, billboards, meters or other equipment - with the Nokia RFID enabled phone. The data is then sent via text message or GPRS data as real-time exchange with the Nokia Local Interactions Server and the company’s systems.The full Nokia Field Force Solution enables real-time, two-way interaction between the client software, Nokia Local Interactions Server and a company’s existing back-office systems, such as work scheduling, task management or information databases. The solution consists of the J2EE based software product, the Nokia Local Interactions Server and client software, which work together with the Nokia Mobile RFID Kit for the Nokia 5140 phone and RFID tags. The Nokia Mobile RFID Kit is available through the local Nokia mobile device resellers in the Europe as well as in the US. The Nokia Mobile RFID Kit includes two Nokia Xpress-on(TM) RFID reader shells for the Nokia 5140 phone, which is available separately.

They’re smart, they’re small, they store digital content more securely than ever before and they’re coming soon for mobile phones, media players, PDAs, notebooks and a host of other portable devices. A unique pairing of flash memory storage and smart card security, secure memory cards are a major advance over their conventional counterparts. They mean that for the first time pocket-sized, removable storage can be used for sensitive information - like business, healthcare or government data - in complete confidence. Nobody can access stored information without the right numeric or biometric key - a fingerprint for example.And according to Aspects Software, independent developer of the software and cryptography behind the innovation, the devices will be in the pockets - and mobiles - of hundreds of millions of users within a few years. “Flash memory is everywhere from cameras and MP3 players through to corporate PDAs and laptops. It’s just so convenient.” says Aspects chief technologist and VP of product marketing Chris Caruk. “But until now there’s been zero security in the hardware.

                 Anyone finding, borrowing or stealing a flash card has had open access to what it holds.”The new cards put smart card silicon - as used in secure payment and ID cards - between the flash memory and the outside world. Secure the smart card element and the data is secured too. Previous security schemes have had to rely on the host device - the phone or PDA for example - to provide protection.At a cost similar to normal flash cards, secure memory cards will be backward compatible with all devices that use SD (secure digital) format storage. But to take advantage of the full security potential a host device must be SDIO compatible, as is much recent and new mobile electronic equipment.In addition to storing confidential information, secure memory cards are also seen as key to emerging digital rights management schemes for electronic content. Digital music, video and e-books for example can be conveniently stored and moved, yet remain restricted to purchasers.Secret behind the secure memory card is an embedded Java Card Operating System. Developed by Aspects Software, OS755 is also available for SIM cards, finance cards and the new generation biometric/ID cards. Tight, high performance, fully standards-compliant, and easily adapted to new silicon, OS755 is the only one to allow silicon vendors to go to market with a new card in weeks rather than many months.

Broadcom Corporation announced that Nokia Corporation has selected Broadcom’s advanced single-chip cellular baseband processor and its companion power management unit (PMU) for selected future EDGE mobile phones.”Nokia has been following the development of Broadcom’s single chip EDGE processor and we were impressed with the progress made by the Broadcom team,” said Peter Ropke, Senior Vice President of Nokia’s Mobile Phones Broad Appeal Business Unit. “Broadcom’s EDGE solution delivers an advanced feature-set at low power, small size, and low system cost, which make it an excellent foundation for Nokia’s future EDGE products.” “Broadcom is proud to be selected as one of Nokia’s EDGE partners and delighted by the opportunity to work closely and collaboratively with the company.

Nokia’s thorough and constructive technical evaluation process demonstrated its no-compromise approach to ensuring the technical strength of its future mobile phones,” said Yossi Cohen, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Broadcom’s Mobile Platforms Group. Broadcom first announced the BCM21331 (”Venus”) single-chip EDGE multimedia processor at 3GSM in February 2007. Designed in 65 nanometer CMOS process technology, the BCM21331 integrates an EDGE RF transceiver and all of the corresponding analog and digital baseband functions, as well as high performance multimedia and connectivity support.

Together with the highly integrated and power efficient BCM59035 PMU, the new solution accommodates small board space and slim designs that require the highest integration, lowest power consumption and lowest bill of materials available. “Broadcom has shown progress in both technology development and market presence,” said Francis Sideco, Senior Analyst of Wireless Communications for iSuppli. “This significant collaboration between Nokia and Broadcom targets EDGE, one of the key segments of the market.” According to market research firm iSuppli, the EDGE segment of the mobile phone market is projected to grow from 245 million units in 2007 to over 408 million units in 2009.

Estimates of iPhone shipment volumes in the first weekend they were available have ranged from 140 thousand units to 500 thousand units depending upon who was asked. Meanwhile, ABI Research forecasts that the smartphone market segment will grow from 218 million units in 2007 to 426 million units in 2012. Now that we have a little distance from the launch, it’s time to ask: “Will the iPhone change the smartphone market?” According to Stuart Carlaw, wireless research director at ABI Research, the answer is a qualified “yes.” “The iPhone will not revolutionize the smartphone market,” he says, “but it is a significant evolutionary step forward. As was pointed out once its specifications were made public, the iPhone is not cutting-edge telecommunications.

Where it is radical – in its user-interface and functionality – it will certainly change forever the way handset manufacturers think about their design philosophies. And from the commercial point of view, it is significant in the way it assembles its offerings in a completely integrated, brand-heavy package.” Certain technologies critical to the interface are likely to receive greater attention as a result of the iPhone, particularly touch-screens, which will become more sensitive, and accelerometers, which the iPhone uses to orient its displays and active/deactivate controls depending on how the handset is held. Carlaw adds that, “The iPhone’s effect on the market will be similar to that of Motorola’s RAZR It will spawn a number of look-and-feel-alikes and will be seen as a benchmark for future design. One thing for certain is that the product is not intended to be an enterprise device, so its impact will be most keenly felt in the high-tier feature phone market and in the emerging prosumer market segment.