CommunicAsia 2005 (1) - 25/06/05

CommunicAsia 2005: mobile handsets focus

No doubt that CommunicAsia 2005 is a big show, with vendors and operators showing their latest technologies and solutions. Press releases and announcements were, however, mainly focused on mobility.

A lot of new mobile services made their debut at CommunicAsia 2005. As examples, mOrange (from Mozat) is a platform that allows enterprises to develop push applications for mobile devices, and Ipdrum service (from Ipdrum), a service that allows cellphone users to call anywhere in the world using Skype at local rates.

An avalanche of new mobile handsets was the main topic.

LG introduced six new models: a DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) phone, with a 2-megapixel camera, CD-quality audio and satellite-transmitted data; the LP 3900, a new slide phone, with Bluetooth, and MP3 music; a 5-megapixel camera phone (LP5500); a 3-D game phone (SV360 / KV3600); Real MP3 music phone (KP4400); and a Sports car-design phone (410 series.

Sony Ericsson added nine handsets and four add-ons. The S600i includes a 1.3-megapixel camera, a 1.8-inch rotatable display for portrait or landscape 3D gaming, multiplayer peer-to-peer gaming via Bluetooth, music player with stereo speakers.

Nokia introduced seven new handsets, of which three 2-megapixel sliders, three CDMA models and a 3G phone. The Nokia 6280 slider will come with two cameras (both 2-megapixel and one VGA resolution) as well as an FM radio and music player.

Motorola unveiled its 3G-enabled V1150, mass-market offerings V280 and V360, as well as a revamped version of the E398, three brand new Bluetooth-enabled headsets.

Panasonic showed eight new models, while Samsung introduced 20 new handsets, of which a worldwide first of a 7-megapixel phone.