Newsletter Archive 8

Newsletter 8 - 2001

ccWAP.com Newsletter No 8- 2001

1. Kiosk-Terminal (POI, POS) with integrated WAP Gateway and communication system
2. Korean 3G in 2003
3. Hotmail goes mobile
4. Sony and Ericsson join forces
5. Ericsson skins for the ccWAP Browser
6. Swisscom down again
7. Malaysian government forces 3G mergers
8. 3G in Romania
9. China Mobile invests in GPRS-development
10. NTT DoCoMo's phones unable to receive incoming calls
11. Metricom cancels wireless web services
12. German Oktoberfest and its wireless services
13. Audi includes GPRS-system in new cars

1. Kiosk-Terminal (POI, POS) with integrated WAP Gateway and communication system

Now available: The new Kiosk-Terminal-Communication-System (KTCS). Any user of this system can be supplied with information from a KTCS at airports, university campuses, official company headquarters or any other place. Other possible uses could be shopping over the wireless web, software uploads to wireless web devices with location based advertising. This Linux terminal includes an 18'' display, a tough keyboard (practically unbreakable), a network card, an ISDN card, an infrared module and a special interactive
communication system. Additionally, the integrated Wireless Web Gateway (GSM and GPRS) enables mobile phones to access the terminal directly. This will raise the number of concurrent users by leaps and bounds, since not only people behind the keyboard can use the services, but also anyone with a wireless web capable device. Anyone who accesses this gateway with their wireless web device, will also save costs, because they do not have to go over the regular wireless web provider and just pay the connection. The
software package of the Kiosk-Terminal also includes a complete office package and an SMS-based information center with reminder service, dating- and chatting-possibilities and different games. The communication system can easily be customized with the corporate design. A local connection to the LAN system or to the local internet over a ISDN or DSL modem can be created quickly and without hassle. The infrared interface gives users the possibilities to download/upload logos, ringing tones and software. A self-developed payment solution allows the offering of software and contents for pay. In the future more functions will be added. www.checkcom.com

2. Korean 3G in 2003

The Korean company LG Telecom has released a statement that it will provide Korea with a 3G network. The network will be based on CDMA2000 of Qualcomm, instead of wideband-CDMA. This is not a disadvantage and may very well be a big advantage in the long run, since CDMA2000 is just becoming more popular in other Asian countries. CDMA is becoming a world standard more and more, with big user groups in Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia.

3. Hotmail goes mobile

European Hotmail users finally get the chance to access their Hotmail accounts with mobiles. A big chunk of the 20 million users world-wide will profit from Hotmails cooperation with some of the biggest European telecommunication providers. Besides all these good news, most people might overlook a small but important fact: Hotmail can still not be accessed over WAP. Only users who are willing to SMS back and forth can access their e-mail with a mobile. www.hotmail.com

4. Sony and Ericsson join forces

Not a surprise to experts, but nevertheless big news: Two of the biggest mobile phone manufacturers in the World are founding a joint-venture. The cooperation is only in the mobile phone sector and the resulting company will be second to none world-wide. Together these companies gross over 7 billion U$ each year, but that is only for mobile phone selling. Experts fear that a cooperation of this size might be the start of a monopoly in the mobile sector. www.sony.com www.ericsson.com

5. Ericsson skins for the ccWAP Browser

The new online version of the ccWAP Browser allows the user the selection of a Ericsson R520 mobile. WAP-emulators are mostly for the presentation of wap sites over the regular internet. Users who do not own a WAP mobile and want to save money can access a WAP site of any company, before saving it with OTA on a WAP phone. www.checkcom.com

6. Swisscom down again

Not even a month after the embarassing incident, which put millions of Swiss mobile owners out of touch with the rest of the world for over 10 hours, Swisscom has done it again. This week the Swiss population had to endure Frequent black-outs in mobile communcation and regular phone lines. Most experts agree that those two incidents will do great harm to Swisscom great reputation. Whether a third company is involved this time (like Alcatel in early August) is unclear at the moment. www.swisscom.com

7. Malaysian government forces 3G mergers

The auction for 3G licenses in Malaysia could result in several mergers of the big telecommunications companies. Since there will only be a small number of licenses given out, some of the 5 big telecommunication companies might need to merge to be in the 3G race. According to governemt sources, these mergers are actually wanted by the goverment to encourage more competition and better services for the customers. The Malaysian auction should be over early next year.

8. 3G in Romania

Mobifon, Romania's leading mobile operator, has announced that it wants to aquire one of the 4 3G licenses. Today, Mobifon is testing their GPRS service, which should be launched within the next 4 months. Mobifon is controlling more than half of the Romanian mobile market and it also plans to become Nr. 1 in the UMTS market. The Romanian 3G auction is scheduled for some time in early 2002. Mobifon is the first of the major telecommunications companies to announce their desire for a UMTS license.

9. China Mobile invests in GPRS-development

China Mobile, one of Chinas leading mobile operators, is running GPRS-tests in several Chinese cities. Supposedly, more than 3000 users are testing the GRPS networks fora certain period of time. For this purpose, China Mobile has invested around 14 Million U$. The China Mobile spokespeople have not yet announced the official start of GPRS. UMTS in China is still far away, but China Mobile is staying with the competition, by preparing their 3G strategies with the help of foreign companies.

10. NTT DoCoMo's phones unable to receive incoming calls

NTT DoCoMo Inc., the founder of the i-Mode technology, has stated that one of their i-Mode phones has been unable to receive calls or e-mails for certain time periods. In July, around 100'000 of the P503i mobile phones were unable to receive incoming calls or e-mails every 10 to 15 minutes. Now, NTT DoCoMo has announced that the glitch has been completely fixed and all the users of this phone will experience no further trouble. (www.nttdocomo.com)

11. Metricom cancels wireless web services

The US company Metricom has been providing wireless web services to customers all over the US. The so-called Ricochet service has had 34'500 subscribers last month with customers in all of the large metropolian areas such as Los Angeles, Baltimore, New York etc. Metricom is also cancelling jobs of the 282 people who were working for the Ricochet service. Metricom has been one of the most popular high speed wireless web services for business people, servicing them in several large airports.

12. German Oktoberfest and its wireless services

This years original Oktoberfest in Munich Germany is not only fully wired, it is also fully wireless. With a new city guide, a quiz around the event, an event program and even a dating game, the mobile owners can get to all the information they need by accessing http://wap.wiesn.de (German). The German mobile manufacturer Siemens has even brought out a limited edition of an Octoberfest mobile in the traditional white and blue. (http://wap.wiesn.de)

13. Audi includes GPRS-system in new cars

The German luxury car manufacturer has announced that it will include computers in their new cars, which will be able to access the internet with GRPS-technology. The famed 8 series (A8 and S8) will most likely be the first cars to have a complete GPRS-system with wireless web and HTML Browser. In the near future, all Audi-owners can download software (maps, location based information etc.) directly over their car computer. The computer will also include a firewall, which will make sure that no outside sources can access the cars computers. (www.audi.de)

Next Newsletter: How to build and run your own Wireless Web Gateway (GSM and GPRS)

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