Hardware
ò IDC reported that computer sales in Asia Pacific ex-Japan, registered an 18% increase year-on-year to 11.6 million units. The report said Lenovo Group increased its lead over global rivals Dell and Hewlett-Packard in personal computer sales across the region in the second quarter, which the research group attributed to strong demand in China. Lenovo, the worldÆs third-largest computer maker, registered 27.9% growth in its shipments year-on-year in the second quarter, which increases its market share to 20% from 18.4% a year ago. HP reported 17.4% year-on-year growth in Asia-Pacific ex-Japan, to maintain its 12% market share as the region's No. 2 personal computer supplier. The two companies have posed a challenge to LenovoÆs major presence in the region by way of aggressive price-cutting and marketing in lower-tier cities across China.
Internet
ò According to In-Stat, the Asia Pacific region is leading the global revolution of IPTV with regard to infrastructure deployment, applications development, and subscriber adoption. The study said the region's broadband penetration and regulatory support has helped to foster the fastest-growing IPTV market in the world. The report also predicted that the subscriber base for IPTV in the region would hit 39 million, with revenues reaching US$8.1 billion by 2011.
Japan
Mobile/Wireless
ò Faith, a firm that provides digital content distribution solutions for mobile terminals, has entered into a partnership with InterVideo, a developer of DVD software. Under the alliance, the two companies will jointly develop cutting-edge solutions for distributing audio and visual data, as well as a new platform for entertainment, targeting mobile terminal manufacturers, PC makers, cell phone carriers, and content providers. The partnership will work on activities in Japan and Europe first, but plans a global expansion later on.
ò NTT DoCoMo has revealed it is developing a Sound Leaf bone conduction receiver microphone for use with mobile phones. With the product, the sound is communicated through vibrations that are transmitted from the skull to the cochlea in the inner ear. The new receiver microphone enables users to hear calls more clearly in noisy places, and works as an effective communications tool for the elderly and hearing impaired. The Sound Leaf enables a continuous talk time of 25 hours.
NTT DoCoMo, Japan's biggest mobile-phone operator, also said it is in talks to form alliances with Google Inc and Yahoo Japan Corp by October. It has closed agreements for search services provided by nine companies including Microsoft Corp, Japan's Livedoor Co and Rakuten Inc, which will be added to its mobile offerings. Analysts are saying that Yahoo JapanÆs alliances with Google will enable it to maintain its market lead over rivals KDDI Corp and Softbank Corp, two firms that are aiming to offer online services to mobile phone users.
ò According to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, the value of mobile phone-based commerce in Japan totaled Ñ722.4 billion ($6.2 billion) in 2005, up 39% from the previous year. The report said the growth reflected the popularity of ring tone downloads and Internet auctions among mobile phone users. The value of traded digital content, including ring tones, video games and video clips, increased by 21% to Ñ315 billion ($2.7 billion).
Ring tone transactions went up almost 3% to Ñ56.2 billion yen (US$483 million). Turnover of Internet auctions, hotel bookings, stock brokerage services and other transactions increased 57% to Ñ407.4 billion yen (US$3.5 billion). The ministry also said that by late 2005, the number of people accessing the Internet via cell phones and other mobile devices exceeded that of people connecting from personal computers.
ò Konami Digital Entertainment Inc is entering into an alliance with TOKYOPOP, which is considered the No. 1 manga (comic magazines) company in the US, to launch a series of mobile games starting with the popular manga East Coast Rising. The game is expected to be available soon. Konami Corp is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of digital entertainment properties, specializing in the home video game market. TOKYOPOP is a leading youth-oriented entertainment brand and an innovator of manga creation, with a revolutionary artistic vision that transcends a variety of platforms.
Internet
ò Neowiz Japan has acquired the publishing rights for MMORPG ôDekaronö in Japan. The company said the game will be offered through NeowizÆs Japan game portal, Gamechu. Industry observers note that Neowiz has been boosting its game line-up since it opened aa game portal about three months ago. The game has been offered in South Korea since April.
ò J-Stream, Japan's leading streaming service provider announced that it has initiated a service to help companies set up their own broadcasting sites on the web. The basic service program includes creating business plans, building a website, making promotional videos, providing net channels, creating program content, managing broadcasting services, and distributing programs over the Internet. J-Stream offers optional services including viewer system management and studio construction support.
ò Japan-based mobile operator E Mobile, has selected Chinese telecommunications equipment provider Huawei as a supplier for the roll out of its new 3G UMTS and high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) network. Under the agreement, Huawei will deploy the countryÆs first all IP-based HSDPA radio access network, with initial coverage including several larger metropolitan areas such as Sendai and Sapporo. E Mobile is expected to roll out a nationwide UMTS/HSDPA network in the coming years.
Ventures/Investments
ò Sources indicated that Toshiba Corp. has agreed to form a consortium with Marubeni Corp.and two other firms for its Ñ630 billlion ($5.4-billion) acquisition of US nuclear plant builder Westinghouse Electric Co. The two other firms are Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. of Japan and engineering firm Shaw Group Inc. of the US. Of the total acquisition costs, Toshiba plans to pay Ñ360 billion ($3.1 billion), giving it a 57% stake. Marubeni and Shaw will each contribute Ñ125 billion ($1.1 billion), or 20%, while the remaining 20 billion yen (US$172 million) is to be paid by Ishikawajima-Harima.
Sources said that Toshiba earlier hoped to limit its stake to 51-53%. After talks with its partners, however, it decided to raise its investment by some Ñ30 billion yen ($257.8 million) and boost its stake to 57% stake. The consortium has to wait for approval from US and European antitrust authorities before it can complete the acquisition procedures by the end of September.
Information Technology
ò IBM Japan, in collaboration with Connect Technology, has developed an electronic clipping system which uses invisible 2D barcodes printed on paper to integrate information from paper and digital data such as information provided on Internet sites. The company said the new system adds an invisible digital layer to printed materials, enabling them to be used like a portable site.
Invisible 2D barcodes that store digital data, are printed on paper using invisible ink. The barcodes are then extracted from the paper by an image processing application. Since invisible ink is used, 2D barcodes can be printed over paper prints, not restricted by original print designs and layouts. Invisible barcodes can be printed on each magazine or paper article, allowing users to clip and buy articles instead of magazines and papers.
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