More than two billion individuals around the globe will have become mobile phone subscribers by the end of 2005, and that number will jump to over three billion by 2009, analysts predict.
However, according to new data from Infonetics Research, mobile operators are "paying through the nose" to handle the so-called backhaul of voice, video and data traffic across their networks.
"Mobile operators spent $16bn on mobile backhaul link services in 2005, and will spend double that in 2009," said Michael Howard, principal analyst at Infonetics.
"Although this is a significant increase in charges, the good news is that they will be getting a lot more for their money in the coming years.
"The average annual charge per connection will go up only 18 per cent between 2005 and 2009 from $8,004 to $9,455, while the capacities will grow from one to two T1/E1s per connection to tens of megabits/sec to even 100Mbps."
The Infonetics report said that IP, Ethernet and next-generation microwave technologies are allowing carriers to provide new mobile backhaul options for mobile operators that should reduce capital and operation costs.
"New technology and product options are becoming available now, especially in next-generation microwave and IP/Ethernet products, where single products can efficiently handle 2G/3G voice simultaneously with 2.5G/3G/3.5G data and video traffic streams," said Howard.
"These improvements will allow mobile operators to slowly increase their capital investment while rapidly adding more subscribers and higher capacity services."
According to the report, worldwide sales of mobile cell site backhaul equipment hit $3.4bn in 2005, and will decline 39 per cent to $2.4bn in 2009.
The decline in revenue is due mainly to microwave equipment becoming significantly cheaper with much higher capacities.
Robert Jaques, vnunet.com
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Mobile dressing
Khomba Singh / New Delhi
MARKETPLACE: From jewellery for cellphones to covers for mobiles, there’s big money in accessories.
Bored of your mobile phone? Want to exchange it for another? Wait, there might be another solution — simply dress it up. Or maybe you’d like to jazz it up anyway as part of your style statement.
Anything from disguising it like a pendant to dressing it up in Swarovski, the market was never as huge for mobile accessories as it is now.
As Indians increasingly turn their handsets into fashion statements, the accessory market is proving to be a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs.
For now, much of this business is in the grey market, and experts feel a mere 5 per cent of the Rs 2,500 crore mobile accessories business is legitimate. But with monthly additions of 6 million subscribers, it can only grow — hopefully the official way.
Already, Indian companies are tying up with their international counterparts to import mobile fashion accessories.
These might include Finland-based Golla branded covers for Rs 200-300, mobile jewellery from a South Korean firm in the Rs 250-700 range (think rings that can be attached to the mobile phone to carry around easily), China’s Screenlife scratch-free covers (Rs 65 onwards) offers scratch fee covers for the screen of the mobile phone — and for a really good splurge, mobile pendants with embedded Swarovski crystals (even perhaps in Ganesha motifs) that could cost a staggering Rs 11,000.
Among those who’re taking the lead in the segment is Delhi-based Molife Communications, which has tied up with US-based Disney Mobile accessories for attractive arm strap and hand strap mobile pouches.
Molife will also offer the Golla range of covers and jewellery for mobiles. “We will offer branded accessories and target brand conscious consumers in the metros and in major cities,” Ashoek Kumar Gupta, director, Molife, says.
Molife is planning four stores, apart from the one in Delhi, and also proposes to place its products in handset outlets and fashion and gift shops.
In all, these products could be available in as many as 10,000 shops in the next six months. “We are looking at increasing the availability across the country in the first phase,” Gupta adds.
Despite a high (35 per cent) duty on some products, the company is hoping for a turnover of $2-3 million in the first year, and is also working on tie-ups for bundling offers with handset manufactures.
The Indian Cellular Association (ICA)is now taking up the issue of high duties with the telecom ministry, as a likely deterrent in increasing official imports.
“Because of the high duty on accessories,” says Pankaj Mohindroo, president of ICA, “about 90 per cent of it is traded in the unorganised market.”
The Indian handset industry expects to sell 60 million handsets this year “if we look at 200 million mobile subscribers by 2007”. Says Gupta, “Even if each of them spends $5 a year on phone accessories, the market will expand in a big way.”
Business Standard Ltd.
MARKETPLACE: From jewellery for cellphones to covers for mobiles, there’s big money in accessories.
Bored of your mobile phone? Want to exchange it for another? Wait, there might be another solution — simply dress it up. Or maybe you’d like to jazz it up anyway as part of your style statement.
Anything from disguising it like a pendant to dressing it up in Swarovski, the market was never as huge for mobile accessories as it is now.
As Indians increasingly turn their handsets into fashion statements, the accessory market is proving to be a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs.
For now, much of this business is in the grey market, and experts feel a mere 5 per cent of the Rs 2,500 crore mobile accessories business is legitimate. But with monthly additions of 6 million subscribers, it can only grow — hopefully the official way.
Already, Indian companies are tying up with their international counterparts to import mobile fashion accessories.
These might include Finland-based Golla branded covers for Rs 200-300, mobile jewellery from a South Korean firm in the Rs 250-700 range (think rings that can be attached to the mobile phone to carry around easily), China’s Screenlife scratch-free covers (Rs 65 onwards) offers scratch fee covers for the screen of the mobile phone — and for a really good splurge, mobile pendants with embedded Swarovski crystals (even perhaps in Ganesha motifs) that could cost a staggering Rs 11,000.
Among those who’re taking the lead in the segment is Delhi-based Molife Communications, which has tied up with US-based Disney Mobile accessories for attractive arm strap and hand strap mobile pouches.
Molife will also offer the Golla range of covers and jewellery for mobiles. “We will offer branded accessories and target brand conscious consumers in the metros and in major cities,” Ashoek Kumar Gupta, director, Molife, says.
Molife is planning four stores, apart from the one in Delhi, and also proposes to place its products in handset outlets and fashion and gift shops.
In all, these products could be available in as many as 10,000 shops in the next six months. “We are looking at increasing the availability across the country in the first phase,” Gupta adds.
Despite a high (35 per cent) duty on some products, the company is hoping for a turnover of $2-3 million in the first year, and is also working on tie-ups for bundling offers with handset manufactures.
The Indian Cellular Association (ICA)is now taking up the issue of high duties with the telecom ministry, as a likely deterrent in increasing official imports.
“Because of the high duty on accessories,” says Pankaj Mohindroo, president of ICA, “about 90 per cent of it is traded in the unorganised market.”
The Indian handset industry expects to sell 60 million handsets this year “if we look at 200 million mobile subscribers by 2007”. Says Gupta, “Even if each of them spends $5 a year on phone accessories, the market will expand in a big way.”
Business Standard Ltd.
Google Goes Into Mobile Search, But Wireless Carriers Resisting
BY REINHARDT KRAUSE
INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY
Google, (GOOG) the online search titan, is fighting for a piece of the nascent cell phone search market. Global mobile search advertising revenue is expected to reach $1.5 billion by 2011, up from virtually nothing today.
Yet the firm's muscle won't guarantee success. In some ways, it may hurt.
Many wireless firms cringe at Google's mighty brand. As mobile advertising revenue grows, carriers plan to steer it in their own direction, not Google's.
That's why the Mountain View, Calif., company aims to make friends of wireless phone companies and hammer out revenue-sharing pacts with them.
Wireless firms can't ignore Google's popularity, says Dipchand Nishar, director of product management for Google Mobile. He concedes there's plenty of competition in mobile search.
"(Wireless) carriers are going to explore different options for themselves," Nishar said. "This is a business. And companies form relationships that make sense for them.
"I'm confident that Google has a big role to play."
Wireless Internet differs from online searching. There's typically no easy-to-use search button on mobile phone screens, unlike personal computers.
And in wireless, phone companies rule — or try to.
Wireless firms dictate how most mobile phones sold to subscribers are designed. And they control phones' home pages, or portals, which guide customers to music, games, news and restaurants.
A walled garden of sorts, these portals are designed as much to bring in revenue from partner sites as they are to shepherd users. Wireless firms fret that Google's search engine will direct their customers to content or information outside their domain.
Advertisers are warming to mobile phones as a way to tout their brands. Mobile ad revenue will jump to $11.3 billion worldwide by 2011, up from $871 million this year, says Informa, a market research firm.
It forecasts that search-related mobile ad revenue will climb to $1.5 billion in 2011, up from just $3 million this year.
Wireless firms worry about Google's mobile goals because advertising drives its business, says Nicky Walton, an Informa analyst. That could put the search giant at odds with the carriers' own business plans.
She expects Google to sign revenue-sharing deals with wireless firms.
But Google and phone companies are jockeying for negotiating power, she says.
Google has partnered with a few wireless firms, mainly outside the U.S.
In April, Google began testing mobile text ads in Japan with KDDI, the country's No. 2 carrier.
Google has also partnered with Vodafone (VOD) in the U.K. and Deutsche Telekom's (DT) T-Mobile unit in Germany.
In the U.S., though, none of the big wireless firms features Google as the search engine on home pages.
Instead, cell phone users must bookmark Google's Web address in browsers or send a short text message to Google.
SMS Vs. Voice Directory
Google and Yahoo (YHOO) have touted SMS-based searches as an alternative to paid voice-directory services from phone companies.
With SMS-based searches, users send the service a text message with their location and what they're looking for.
The service then sends back a list of results, often with phone numbers the users can click to call directly.
SMS searches appeal to young cell phone users, says Charles Golvin, an analyst at Forrester Research. Via SMS, Google sends mobile users everything from driving directions to weather forecasts.
In most cases, carriers get a cut, charging a few cents for every SMS sent and received.
"A younger audience that has grown up online will find a way to get to Google on mobile," Golvin said. "The carriers can't dream of completely dislodging that relationship."
But in September Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Vodafone and Verizon Communications, (VZ) debuted its free Get It Now search service, using technology from search startup Medio Systems of Seattle.
Subscribers can search for downloadable multimedia content from Verizon, including games and ring tones.
Medio's service allows ads to be placed near search results.
AT&T -owned (T) Cingular is reportedly working with another mobile search startup, JumpTap.
Both Cingular and Verizon Wireless declined to comment for this story.
"Carriers want to own the mobile experience. That includes monetizing search in all of its forms," Golvin said.
Wireless Search Leader
Nishar, speaking about Verizon Wireless' decision to go with Medio, said: "This is a wide open field and there are many competitors in this space."
Still, Google ranks No. 1 in wireless searches, just as it does in online searches, say two research firms, M:Metrics and Telephia.
Aside from mobile ads, Google stands to garner revenue by prioritizing sponsored links on search results, says Jerry Rocha, a Telephia analyst.
Analysts say local search is one area where Google will likely butt heads with wireless firms. That's because phone companies have a long history of making money from yellow-page books.
Phone companies now offer local directories online and via mobile phones.
Verizon Wireless charges $1.99 per day or $3.99 monthly for access to its Superpages directory.
Rocha says wireless users might find Google search a better option to look up local restaurants via ZIP codes.
"If Verizon is pushing Superpages as something they sell, they really don't want Google to give it away," he said.
Startups abound in mobile search. They include 4Info, Promptu and V-Enable. Several startups are developing voice-based mobile search.
That's a feature Google also plans to deliver.
Cingular inked a deal with Tellme Networks for its voice recognition software, which the carrier will use to power an enhanced 411 service to offer Internet-style searches in addition to standard phone directory info.
Yahoo's Go For Mobile
Feisty startups aren't Google's main worry in mobile search. Yahoo is making a big push with its Go for Mobile service.
Yahoo on Oct. 4 said it's testing an ad-sponsored search system for mobile phones in the U.S. Search results will include links that take customers to paid advertisers' sites.
Cell phone maker Nokia (NOK) puts Yahoo's search engine and Flickr photo service on its high-end multimedia phones.
"From the Nokia point of view we need to play in all areas, even in terms of creating our own Internet experience (on phones)," said Tero Ojanpera, Nokia's chief technology officer.
In August, Yahoo forged a deal with Motorola (MOT) to embed its search and mail service on some smart phones. Google also has a phone deal with Motorola.
Google and Yahoo are racing to develop a wide range of mobile applications.
The strategy is aimed at bolstering their core search businesses.
Telephia has ranked Yahoo Mail as the most visited site by mobile consumers.
In August, Yahoo inked a mobile search pact with Go2 Systems, a local directory firm.
In July, Google unveiled a mobile version of its personalized home page.
Under-The-Radar Acquisitions
It also updated the Google Maps for Mobile feature to include satellite imagery and live traffic updates for 30 U.S. cities.
Google has made several mobile-related acquisitions, including Neven Vision in August. The startup has visual search technology.
In 2005, Google purchased Dodgeball, a mobile social-networking service.
Google has snapped up three other mobile startups: Reqwireless in early 2006, Android in 2005 and Zipdash in 2004.
While Google would like to forge deals with U.S. mobile firms, Nishar says it's well-positioned globally.
In emerging markets, he says, mobile phones are more common than PCs.
Google is said to be talking with China Mobile (CHL) about a deal.
"This is a long-term investment from our standpoint," Nishar said. "And we are a global company. In many markets, the mobile paradigm may be more important than the PC paradigm. That needs to be kept in mind."
INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY
Google, (GOOG) the online search titan, is fighting for a piece of the nascent cell phone search market. Global mobile search advertising revenue is expected to reach $1.5 billion by 2011, up from virtually nothing today.
Yet the firm's muscle won't guarantee success. In some ways, it may hurt.
Many wireless firms cringe at Google's mighty brand. As mobile advertising revenue grows, carriers plan to steer it in their own direction, not Google's.
That's why the Mountain View, Calif., company aims to make friends of wireless phone companies and hammer out revenue-sharing pacts with them.
Wireless firms can't ignore Google's popularity, says Dipchand Nishar, director of product management for Google Mobile. He concedes there's plenty of competition in mobile search.
"(Wireless) carriers are going to explore different options for themselves," Nishar said. "This is a business. And companies form relationships that make sense for them.
"I'm confident that Google has a big role to play."
Wireless Internet differs from online searching. There's typically no easy-to-use search button on mobile phone screens, unlike personal computers.
And in wireless, phone companies rule — or try to.
Wireless firms dictate how most mobile phones sold to subscribers are designed. And they control phones' home pages, or portals, which guide customers to music, games, news and restaurants.
A walled garden of sorts, these portals are designed as much to bring in revenue from partner sites as they are to shepherd users. Wireless firms fret that Google's search engine will direct their customers to content or information outside their domain.
Advertisers are warming to mobile phones as a way to tout their brands. Mobile ad revenue will jump to $11.3 billion worldwide by 2011, up from $871 million this year, says Informa, a market research firm.
It forecasts that search-related mobile ad revenue will climb to $1.5 billion in 2011, up from just $3 million this year.
Wireless firms worry about Google's mobile goals because advertising drives its business, says Nicky Walton, an Informa analyst. That could put the search giant at odds with the carriers' own business plans.
She expects Google to sign revenue-sharing deals with wireless firms.
But Google and phone companies are jockeying for negotiating power, she says.
Google has partnered with a few wireless firms, mainly outside the U.S.
In April, Google began testing mobile text ads in Japan with KDDI, the country's No. 2 carrier.
Google has also partnered with Vodafone (VOD) in the U.K. and Deutsche Telekom's (DT) T-Mobile unit in Germany.
In the U.S., though, none of the big wireless firms features Google as the search engine on home pages.
Instead, cell phone users must bookmark Google's Web address in browsers or send a short text message to Google.
SMS Vs. Voice Directory
Google and Yahoo (YHOO) have touted SMS-based searches as an alternative to paid voice-directory services from phone companies.
With SMS-based searches, users send the service a text message with their location and what they're looking for.
The service then sends back a list of results, often with phone numbers the users can click to call directly.
SMS searches appeal to young cell phone users, says Charles Golvin, an analyst at Forrester Research. Via SMS, Google sends mobile users everything from driving directions to weather forecasts.
In most cases, carriers get a cut, charging a few cents for every SMS sent and received.
"A younger audience that has grown up online will find a way to get to Google on mobile," Golvin said. "The carriers can't dream of completely dislodging that relationship."
But in September Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Vodafone and Verizon Communications, (VZ) debuted its free Get It Now search service, using technology from search startup Medio Systems of Seattle.
Subscribers can search for downloadable multimedia content from Verizon, including games and ring tones.
Medio's service allows ads to be placed near search results.
AT&T -owned (T) Cingular is reportedly working with another mobile search startup, JumpTap.
Both Cingular and Verizon Wireless declined to comment for this story.
"Carriers want to own the mobile experience. That includes monetizing search in all of its forms," Golvin said.
Wireless Search Leader
Nishar, speaking about Verizon Wireless' decision to go with Medio, said: "This is a wide open field and there are many competitors in this space."
Still, Google ranks No. 1 in wireless searches, just as it does in online searches, say two research firms, M:Metrics and Telephia.
Aside from mobile ads, Google stands to garner revenue by prioritizing sponsored links on search results, says Jerry Rocha, a Telephia analyst.
Analysts say local search is one area where Google will likely butt heads with wireless firms. That's because phone companies have a long history of making money from yellow-page books.
Phone companies now offer local directories online and via mobile phones.
Verizon Wireless charges $1.99 per day or $3.99 monthly for access to its Superpages directory.
Rocha says wireless users might find Google search a better option to look up local restaurants via ZIP codes.
"If Verizon is pushing Superpages as something they sell, they really don't want Google to give it away," he said.
Startups abound in mobile search. They include 4Info, Promptu and V-Enable. Several startups are developing voice-based mobile search.
That's a feature Google also plans to deliver.
Cingular inked a deal with Tellme Networks for its voice recognition software, which the carrier will use to power an enhanced 411 service to offer Internet-style searches in addition to standard phone directory info.
Yahoo's Go For Mobile
Feisty startups aren't Google's main worry in mobile search. Yahoo is making a big push with its Go for Mobile service.
Yahoo on Oct. 4 said it's testing an ad-sponsored search system for mobile phones in the U.S. Search results will include links that take customers to paid advertisers' sites.
Cell phone maker Nokia (NOK) puts Yahoo's search engine and Flickr photo service on its high-end multimedia phones.
"From the Nokia point of view we need to play in all areas, even in terms of creating our own Internet experience (on phones)," said Tero Ojanpera, Nokia's chief technology officer.
In August, Yahoo forged a deal with Motorola (MOT) to embed its search and mail service on some smart phones. Google also has a phone deal with Motorola.
Google and Yahoo are racing to develop a wide range of mobile applications.
The strategy is aimed at bolstering their core search businesses.
Telephia has ranked Yahoo Mail as the most visited site by mobile consumers.
In August, Yahoo inked a mobile search pact with Go2 Systems, a local directory firm.
In July, Google unveiled a mobile version of its personalized home page.
Under-The-Radar Acquisitions
It also updated the Google Maps for Mobile feature to include satellite imagery and live traffic updates for 30 U.S. cities.
Google has made several mobile-related acquisitions, including Neven Vision in August. The startup has visual search technology.
In 2005, Google purchased Dodgeball, a mobile social-networking service.
Google has snapped up three other mobile startups: Reqwireless in early 2006, Android in 2005 and Zipdash in 2004.
While Google would like to forge deals with U.S. mobile firms, Nishar says it's well-positioned globally.
In emerging markets, he says, mobile phones are more common than PCs.
Google is said to be talking with China Mobile (CHL) about a deal.
"This is a long-term investment from our standpoint," Nishar said. "And we are a global company. In many markets, the mobile paradigm may be more important than the PC paradigm. That needs to be kept in mind."
NootMobile Launches Support of Google Talk For Mobile Instant Messaging
SEATTLE, BUSINESS WIRE -- Knewtrino Inc. (OTCBB:KWTN), parent company of NootMobile(TM) and a leading innovator of mobile instant messaging and information delivery services, today announced support of Google(TM) Talk for NootMobile(TM) Beta, the mobile instant messaging service for next generation smartphones and mobile devices.
NootMobile(TM) is a mobile instant messaging service that provides mobile access to the most popular instant messaging communities including AOL(TM) Messenger, Yahoo!(TM) Messenger, MSN(TM) Messenger and now Google(TM) Talk. Unlike other mobile instant messaging services, the NootMobile(TM) Beta instant messaging service is accessed through a mobile web browser and requires no software download.
In the past month, NootMobile(TM) Beta has added mobile instant messaging support for the most popular instant messaging networks. By removing the need to download software, NootMobile(TM) Beta ensures users are free to choose whichever instant messaging service they wish regardless of mobile device.
NootMobile(TM) Beta can be accessed at www.nootmobile.com and is free to use. In the coming months NootMobile(TM) will expand NootMobile(TM) Beta to include other popular instant messaging networks, support multiple languages and introduce support for other mobile devices.
About Knewtrino Inc.
Knewtrino Inc. (OTCBB:KWTN) is a technology and services company focused on mobile instant messaging and information delivery services. Knewtrino operates NootMobile.com, a mobile instant messaging service that provides mobile access to the most popular instant messaging services including AOL(TM) Messenger, Yahoo!(TM) Messenger, MSN(TM) Messenger and Google(TM) Talk. Unlike other mobile instant messaging services, NootMobile(TM) Beta mobile instant messaging is accessed through a mobile web browser and requires no software download.
This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places in this release and include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control and those actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.
Contacts:Knewtrino Inc. Jenifer Osterwalder,206-652-3246
Copyright Business Wire 2006. All Rights Reserved
NootMobile(TM) is a mobile instant messaging service that provides mobile access to the most popular instant messaging communities including AOL(TM) Messenger, Yahoo!(TM) Messenger, MSN(TM) Messenger and now Google(TM) Talk. Unlike other mobile instant messaging services, the NootMobile(TM) Beta instant messaging service is accessed through a mobile web browser and requires no software download.
In the past month, NootMobile(TM) Beta has added mobile instant messaging support for the most popular instant messaging networks. By removing the need to download software, NootMobile(TM) Beta ensures users are free to choose whichever instant messaging service they wish regardless of mobile device.
NootMobile(TM) Beta can be accessed at www.nootmobile.com and is free to use. In the coming months NootMobile(TM) will expand NootMobile(TM) Beta to include other popular instant messaging networks, support multiple languages and introduce support for other mobile devices.
About Knewtrino Inc.
Knewtrino Inc. (OTCBB:KWTN) is a technology and services company focused on mobile instant messaging and information delivery services. Knewtrino operates NootMobile.com, a mobile instant messaging service that provides mobile access to the most popular instant messaging services including AOL(TM) Messenger, Yahoo!(TM) Messenger, MSN(TM) Messenger and Google(TM) Talk. Unlike other mobile instant messaging services, NootMobile(TM) Beta mobile instant messaging is accessed through a mobile web browser and requires no software download.
This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places in this release and include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control and those actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.
Contacts:Knewtrino Inc. Jenifer Osterwalder,206-652-3246
Copyright Business Wire 2006. All Rights Reserved
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Blind People Use Keen Sense Of Hearing To Make Mobile Phone Ring Tones And Music Files
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent
Manila, Philippines (AHN) - An institution for the blind called the Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment in Manila, Philippines is encouraging its members to use their keen sense of hearing to make mobile phone ring tones and music files for videoke machines.
ATRIEV president Tony Llanes said that despite their handicap, these blind people excel using their sense of hearing to write music files in midi format, to emulate versions of the original songs. These are then converted by a PC using a sequencing software and a keyboard synthesizer.
Four blind people are manning the midi file converters, said Llanes.
According to him, a company which makes and distributes the midi files, has outsourced some of its production to ATRIEV to determine if visually-impaired individuals can do the job.
The company is a content provider that sells its midi files to karaoke machine makers, particularly the popular Magic Sing karaoke microphone.
He said, "The quality of work is very good especially since blind people can be more attuned to the instruments within a song and select the appropriate sequence for the midi version. However, we we're still working on how to increase the production turnaround time."
Currently, ATRIEV can complete writing midi files is 10 days per song, but the requirements of the company is only three days.
But Llanes is offering hope that they could improve the speed of their production. "It used to be 21 days especially when we started, but gradually it became 18 days and then 10 days. We're trying to make it to four days to emulate a song."
He said that ATRIEV has proven that even blind people can be productive members of the community. "Their sense of hearing compensates for their inability to see."
Copyright © All Headline News - All rights reserved.
Manila, Philippines (AHN) - An institution for the blind called the Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment in Manila, Philippines is encouraging its members to use their keen sense of hearing to make mobile phone ring tones and music files for videoke machines.
ATRIEV president Tony Llanes said that despite their handicap, these blind people excel using their sense of hearing to write music files in midi format, to emulate versions of the original songs. These are then converted by a PC using a sequencing software and a keyboard synthesizer.
Four blind people are manning the midi file converters, said Llanes.
According to him, a company which makes and distributes the midi files, has outsourced some of its production to ATRIEV to determine if visually-impaired individuals can do the job.
The company is a content provider that sells its midi files to karaoke machine makers, particularly the popular Magic Sing karaoke microphone.
He said, "The quality of work is very good especially since blind people can be more attuned to the instruments within a song and select the appropriate sequence for the midi version. However, we we're still working on how to increase the production turnaround time."
Currently, ATRIEV can complete writing midi files is 10 days per song, but the requirements of the company is only three days.
But Llanes is offering hope that they could improve the speed of their production. "It used to be 21 days especially when we started, but gradually it became 18 days and then 10 days. We're trying to make it to four days to emulate a song."
He said that ATRIEV has proven that even blind people can be productive members of the community. "Their sense of hearing compensates for their inability to see."
Copyright © All Headline News - All rights reserved.
Sony Ericsson To Open Mobile Technology Store
Joining a number of other mobile manufacturers, Sony Ericsson announced plans today to open its first dedicated consumer store. The central London based store will give users a hands-on experience with Sony Ericsson products such as mobile phones, headsets, and other accessories.
"We are extremely pleased to be opening this first store, which will offer consumers a new Sony Ericsson retail experience with all the benefit of a regular mobile phone store. Consumers will be able to come in, try products in a relaxed state-of-the-art retail space, experiencing the very best of the Sony Ericsson brand, and then purchase or up-grade their phone just as they would in a regular store," explained Salvatore D'angelo, Head of Global Retail at Sony Ericsson.
The London based store is the first of many Sony Ericsson hopes to open globally. The store, which will open at the end of November, will be located in Kensington High Street, one of London’s prime retail locations.
Sony Ericsson To Open Mobile Technology Store
"We are extremely pleased to be opening this first store, which will offer consumers a new Sony Ericsson retail experience with all the benefit of a regular mobile phone store. Consumers will be able to come in, try products in a relaxed state-of-the-art retail space, experiencing the very best of the Sony Ericsson brand, and then purchase or up-grade their phone just as they would in a regular store," explained Salvatore D'angelo, Head of Global Retail at Sony Ericsson.
The London based store is the first of many Sony Ericsson hopes to open globally. The store, which will open at the end of November, will be located in Kensington High Street, one of London’s prime retail locations.
Sony Ericsson To Open Mobile Technology Store
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Nokia WiMAX Mobile Phone To Hit Shelves In 2008
Helsinki, Finland (AHN) - The Finnish handset maker, Nokia, on Wednesday said consumers should expect to see its WiMAX capable mobile devices sometime during 2008. The announcement came as the company rolled out its new WiMAX base station, which the company said will be commercially available for the 2.5 GHz band at the end of 2007 and for 3.5 GHz in the first quarter of 2008.
For now, a computer can connect to a WiMAX fast wireless Internet connection only when it is stationary, but a new mobile version of WiMAX will be available this year.
Nokia's move is pretty much in time since mobile carrier Sprint Nextel last year announced that it intends to roll out a WiMAX network by the fourth quarter of 2007.
Intel, Nokia, Samsung and Motorola all support the open-standard WiMAX as an alternative wireless broadband Internet connection alongside third generation mobile telephony networks, on which Internet access can get squeezed if networks fill up with voice callers.
Shaveta Bansal - All Headline News Staff Writer
For now, a computer can connect to a WiMAX fast wireless Internet connection only when it is stationary, but a new mobile version of WiMAX will be available this year.
Nokia's move is pretty much in time since mobile carrier Sprint Nextel last year announced that it intends to roll out a WiMAX network by the fourth quarter of 2007.
Intel, Nokia, Samsung and Motorola all support the open-standard WiMAX as an alternative wireless broadband Internet connection alongside third generation mobile telephony networks, on which Internet access can get squeezed if networks fill up with voice callers.
Shaveta Bansal - All Headline News Staff Writer
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