Mobile vendor strategies - 10/12/05

Chip makers see plunging cellphone prices in 2007, to $20 in retail price and $ 10 in production. Without lowering product quality, new chips could integrate fewer features in a $5 single chip.

Ericsson has added new capabilities to its Mini-Link TN microwave transmission family. New features include HSDPA aggregation, increased capacity for PDH systems and a new high-capacity, flexible interface towards radio base stations.

Samsung has licensed full rights to use ArrayComm solutions for base stations across the full breadth of its wireless portfolio.

Qualcomm has joined the Wi-Fi Alliance.

Siemens Mobile phone (owner BenQ) is joining OSDL (Open Source Development Labs) to develop Linus-based OS and APIs.

Nokia is opening Flagship Stores to showcase Nokia' s complete portfolio of products and services, offering consumers an opportunity to experience the full benefits of mobility in a comfortable, cutting-edge environment, and to generate additional sales. "Consumer focus is at the heart of our strategy and the Nokia Flagship Stores enable us to increase our focus at the retail level," explains Cliff Crosbie, director of Global Retail and Trade Marketing.

Matsushita' s Panasonic Mobile will progressively stop making GSM/GPRS handset starting in January 2006, and focus on new generation systems and terminals instead.