Wireless Asia articles from November 2008

Wireless Asia archives from November 2008

LTE: it's what you make of it: there's no sense in building an LTE business case on the iPhone or Web 2.0, because by the time LTE sees commercial rollouts, the users will have moved on and taken the goalposts with them.(THE SIGNAL)
November 1, 2008... As you might have gathered, LTE is shaping up to be the big story in 2009. We won't see commercial rollouts as such, but we'll see some of the groundwork being laid--standards, hardware, spectrum allocations, etc--and we'll be hearing an awful...

Making Wimax and Wi-Fi work together: having different orientations and advantages, Wimax and Wi-Fi technologies can be mutual supplements.
November 1, 2008... Wimax and Wi-Fi have been the most popular topics in the communications industry over recent years. Wi-Fi technology features short propagation distance, small coverage, a mature industry chain, and cost-effective and wide-range applications of...

LTE could be femto's ticket to success.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
November 1, 2008... As LTE approaches widespread deployment in 2010-2011, femtocell adoption could gather steam along with it if the groundwork is laid right. Nearly all carriers are trying out femtocells. But as carriers debate whether customers should bear...

Handsets remain top obstacle for TD-SCDMA.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
November 1, 2008... TD-SCDMA is stilling lagging behind in handset development, but greater participation from leading international handset makers would help resolve the issue, says the technology's chief industry body. Currently 20 handset makers are...

RFID delivers revenue boost for fashion chain.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
November 1, 2008... RFID is paying its way for a Hong Kong-based fashion chain that says the smart-tag technology has helped jack up its sales revenue by 20% on average. Mi-tu--a brand of Hong Kong-headquartered Magazzin Group, which owns eight mi-tu outlets...

GSMA accelerates HSPA laptop push.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
November 1, 2008... The race to embed post-3G chipsets in laptops and MIDs--and grab as much mindshare as possible along the way--accelerated last month after the GSM Association established a new initiative that will see HSPA-embedded laptop computers ready to...

NTT DoCoMo, Renesas, Fujitsu and Sharp join forces to develop a single-chip Large Scale Integration (LSI).(SHORT BURSTS)
November 1, 2008... NTT DoCoMo, Renesas, Fujitsu and Sharp join forces to develop a single-chip Large Scale Integration (LSI), as well as a phone platform to support it.

Lao Telecommunications Company.(SHORT BURSTS)
November 1, 2008... Lao Telecommunications Company (LTC) launches the country's first 3G service.

Nokia Siemens Networks.(SHORT BURSTS)
November 1, 2008... Nokia Siemens Networks says it will start shipping LTE-compatible base stations to mobile operators by the end of the year.

India's Department of Economic Affairs has criticized the Department of Telecom.(SHORT BURSTS)
November 1, 2008... India's Department of Economic Affairs has criticized the Department of Telecom for its policy of charging lower rates for 3G spectrum compared to 2G spectrum.

Japan's Emobile is seeking a trial LTE license.(SHORT BURSTS)
November 1, 2008... Japan's Emobile is seeking a trial LTE license from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Ericsson.(SHORT BURSTS)
November 1, 2008... Ericsson unveils a wind-powered version of its Tower Tube energy-efficient base station site concept.

Hong Kong RFID Center.(SHORT BURSTS)
November 1, 2008... The Hong Kong SAR government inaugurates the Hong Kong RFID Center.

National Telecommunication's Commission.(SHORT BURSTS)
November 1, 2008... Thailand's National Telecommunication's Commission is developing Wimax legislation and licensing terms, and should be ready to issue licenses next year.

Wimax Forum.(SHORT BURSTS)
November 1, 2008... The Wimax Forum is predicting 130 million Wimax users in four years, while cautioning that network interoperability remains a challenge.

Motorola signs a multi-year Wimax contract with wi-tribe.(SHORT BURSTS)
November 1, 2008... Motorola signs a multi-year Wimax contract with wi-tribe, a new wireless broadband operator in Pakistan.

Redline Communications and Starent Networks will co-develop carrier-grade mobile.(SHORT BURSTS)
November 1, 2008... Redline Communications and Starent Networks will co-develop carrier-grade mobile Wimax solutions.

Nissan Motor, NTT DoCoMo and Sharp jointly develop a mobile phone capable of functioning.(SHORT BURSTS)
November 1, 2008... Nissan Motor, NTT DoCoMo and Sharp jointly develop a mobile phone capable of functioning as an intelligent key for automobiles.

KDDI.(SHORT BURSTS)
November 1, 2008... KDDI is launching the "auBox", a service that allows subscribers to transfer content from home entertainment systems to mobile phones.

Apple, HTC and Android for Wimax in 2009: Wimax players need a wide range of real gadgets to draw in the punters. In 2009, that could include devices from Apple and HTC, with the latter supporting both Windows and Android.(RESEARCH NOTE)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wimax's major first phase impact may be on bringing fixed access to underserved communities, but it hits the headlines when it proves a trailblazer for advanced mobile broadband services. These, as chief cheerleader...

The rocky road to LTE.(Cover story)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Almost every operator on the planet has LTE on their 4G roadmap, and with wireless broadband all the rage, LTE can't come soon enough. But with LTE still a couple of years away from serious deployments, cellcos must...

From CDMA to LTE via eHRPD: CDMA operators planning on evolving to LTE need a migration path that will enhance their existing HRPD network without requiring a forklift upgrade.(TECH FOCUS)
November 1, 2008... In ten short years people have significantly changed the way they communicate, stay informed and seek entertainment. With access to breaking-news, video updates and instant global communications, we have become the Internet generation. And now...

Battery technologies for wireless sensor networking: choosing the right battery can determine the success or failure of a wireless sensor networking project. Here's a quick rundown of battery technologies to help you choose wisely.(TECH SPOTLIGHT)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When you're the CTO of a device networking solution company you spend a lot of time speaking to customers about their respective connectivity challenges and different technology options. Over the past few years, a...

On-site testing for UMTS: thoroughly testing UMTS base stations both at initial installation and during preventive maintenance ensures that problems are addressed before they affect subscribers.(TECH CLOSEUP)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Comprehensive on-site testing of UMTS base stations using real-world scenarios, both at initial installation and then during ongoing maintenance, plays a vital role in preventing and solving performance problems...

Multi-handset LTE test equipment.(WIRELESS GEAR)
November 1, 2008... Aeroflex has launched an LTE version of its TM500 multi-handset (multi-UE) test mobile equipment. Up to 32 LTE handset UEs are provided in one multi-UE test mobile, which simplifies complex tasks such as functional network testing with...

GPS front-end module.(WIRELESS GEAR)
November 1, 2008... Infineon Technologies' BGM681L11 GPS front-end module takes up just 3.75 cubic millimeters, which the chipmaker says makes it the smallest such module on the market. The GPS Receive Front-End Module BGM681L11 is shipped in a lead-free...

2.4 GHz RF range extender.(WIRELESS GEAR)
November 1, 2008... Texas Instruments has launched its CC2590 RF range extender for 2.4-GHz wireless applications, such as ZigBee, wireless sensor networks and industrial, consumer and audio equipment. According to TI, the CC2590 extends range up to eight...

Wi-Fi modules for mobile devices.(WIRELESS GEAR)
November 1, 2008... Redpine Signals has released a set of three Wi-Fi SiP modules based on its ultra low power Lite-Fi 802.11 n technology. The modules offer a set of small form-factor and low-cost solutions for current and next generation "battery...

Bluetooth-powered heart-rate monitoring system.(TECHNOLOGY SECTION)
November 1, 2008... CSR says that its BlueCore Bluetooth silicon provides wireless connectivity for the Team2 heart-rate monitoring system from Polar. The system comprises up to 28 Bluetooth heart-rate monitors that link up to a PDA, PC or laptop to log and...

Zigbee SoC + development tools.(TECHNOLOGY SECTION)
November 1, 2008... Ember has introduced new ZigBee development tools that let users create applications around its integrated ZigBee system-on-chip (SoC). The Ember chip combines a 2.4 GHz 802.15.4 radio, 16-bit microprocessor, flash, and RAM in a compact 7mm...

Wimax chip combines voice and data.(TECHNOLOGY SECTION)
November 1, 2008... Beceem says its new BCS5200 is the first complete single Wimax chip with integrated voice and gateway router functionality. The BCS5200 combines Beceem's high-performance Wimax solution with an applications processor that supports a...

P2P protocol for mesh networks.(TECHNOLOGY SECTION)
November 1, 2008... Digi International has announced its DigiMesh 900MHz and 2.4GHz XBee embedded RF modules. DigiMesh is a peer-to-peer mesh networking protocol optimized for battery powered networks that simplifies mesh networks while providing advanced...

The greener side of GPS.(TECH VIEW)
November 1, 2008... Let's think about the planet for a second. In the turmoil of high gas prices and rising costs, GPS and location-based services continue to quietly provide us with a combination of savings and planet-regenerating benefits. Fleet managers...

Open source challenge for mobile ISVs: adopting an open source license for an entire product development for a company that does not derive its main revenues from software royalty involves less risk. Google, for example, makes its money through advertising, not selling software.(ANALYST VIEW)
November 1, 2008... Open source is the emerging development methodology for mobile phones, reducing operational costs, harnessing innovation and shortening time to market for new devices and services. With both Nokia and Google already choosing an open source...

Networking opportunities across Asia.(EVENTS CALENDAR)(Calendar)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] november Nov 12-14, 2008 Carrier Ethernet World APAC 2008 Singapore Nov 17-20, 2008 Telecom World Middle East Dubai, United Arab Emirates Nov 18-20, 2008 Mobile Asia Congress Macau SAR, China Nov...

Email on my mind.(WIRELESS HORIZON)
November 1, 2008... Telepathy may or may not be the ultimate disruptive technology to the wireless sector, but it's not just science fiction, either. The US Army recently awarded a grant to researchers at University of California, Irvine, Carnegie Mellon...

Predictable handsets.(WIRELESS HORIZON)
November 1, 2008... NTT DoCoMo's latest Big Idea for mobile living: handsets that literally predict your every move. Under Japan's "Information Grand Voyage" research project, DoCoMo is looking at ways to tap data from sensors in mobile phones, such as...

Going green made easy.(WIRELESS HORIZON)
November 1, 2008... Everyone's going green, from companies to individuals, but while many people get the concept of a carbon footprint, not many know how to calculate their own, or have the patience to constantly track the necessary data to do so, especially when...

Light is the new Wi-Fi.(WIRELESS HORIZON)
November 1, 2008... Researchers at several universities in the US are taking the phrase "lighting up network" literally. The Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center, which is part of an $18.5 million, multi-year National Science Foundation grant awarded to...