Japan's NEC corp plans to make mobile network equipments in India

Japan's NEC Corp plans to start manufacturing mobile phone network devices in India to meet growing demand in emerging nations. They are palnning to build a new plant in Chennai by the end of fiscal 2011.

NEC is one of the leading makers of microwave radio link devices, which are used to wirelessly connect mobile phone base stations. To guard its strong position in the market amid the soaring yen, NEC has decided to create a low-cost production base overseas. However, production at the company's Fukushima plant will be maintained at the current level even after the Indian operations kick off.

Demand for devices has been growing in emerging countries as they allow for the quick construction of mobile phone networks.

Initially, the entire output will be sold in India, the biggest market for the products. Exports will be gradually increased over time to other markets like Africa.

Mobile phones soon to replace plastic money

It was recently articulated by VRL Financial News that mobile phones are ready to replace credit and debit cards as a means of transaction. This was the overall view expressed at the round table meeting hosted by Cards International.

It was said that although mobile phone is capable of this, the transition may not occur very soon, as the benefits in it are not publicized clearly as yet. According to certain industry figures, mobile payments may take off in the ongoing year. However, various professional at the meeting pointed out that it may take at least a couple of years or even more before the market for this conversion could really shape up.

Airtyme brings a budget 3G slider phone for Rs. 5,999

The company already distributing Motorola XT800 as well as HTC Pulse CDMA handset, Airtyme Communication is planning to launch its own two new 3G mobile phones in India.

The upcoming devices are dubbed as Flaunt and Torrid will be embedded with 3.2 and 2.8-inch screens respectively with full Qwerty slider keypad. In-fact, both the gadgets will include Java based touch operating system.
The Flaunt is a 3G budget phone, which will sport a 3-megapixel camera and Flash. There will also be an Opera mini browser, 3.5 mm Jack and stereo speaker. Moreover, device supports number of popular music and video formats.

It has a 528 MHz processor that supports 256 MB RAM, 1GB SDcard. However, the device accepts up to 32GB of external memory. The upcoming mobile phone from Airtyme includes 1250mAH  battery.

On the other hand, the other device to be launched by the company is names as Torrid. This mobile phone supports 2G network and comes with a smaller 2.8-inch screen along with a Qwerty slider mechanism. The mobile phone comprises an ARM based chipset and supports up to 4GB of external memory through an external SDcard.

According to Mobile Indian, the Flaunt is going to be released for Rs. 5,999, while the other handset named Torrid's price has not yet revealed. These handsets are going to be released on 20th of this month, as per the report.

The fight for top spot in 4G mobile technology starts

the next generation of high-speed wireless technology is already considered a goldmine for chip companies. Now, with No 3 player Texas Instruments leaving the market for mobile basebands, the main cell phone processor — there is now ample opportunity for smaller rivals in the arena. However smaller players face big challenges as they jostle to compete behind market leader Qualcomm Inc.

Chip companies on the other hand are eager for orders as cell phone maker’s start producing LTE phones, but the fight for the emerging market is wide open with no obvious leaders besides Qualcomm.  Some analysts expect Taiwan’s MediaTek Inc to be a front runner to follow Qualcomm because it already sells a huge volume of chips for phones that use older technologies. Other big contenders include ST-Ericsson, a venture of STMicroelectronics and Ericsson, as well as US chipmaker Broadcom and Germany’s Infineon. On the other hand, Japan’s Renesas Electronics is now in a better position to compete after agreeing to buy the wireless modem business of Nokia.

Among the Asian Players, Prospects of big mobile phone makers Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics look prominent. But at best these companies will end up supplying chips for just some of their own phones, according to analysts who say they will likely need to use Qualcomm chips too. They do not expect other handset makers such as Nokia or Motorola Inc to buy chips from Samsung or LG.

Cops won’t ban mobile phones in Wankhede during WC

The Mumbai Police have decided not to ban mobile phones inside the Wankhede stadium during the World Cup matches. 

With the threat of the city being in the radar of terrorists, the police were contemplating banning spectators from carrying mobile phones into the stadium during the matches, including the finals slated in Mumbai. 

The issue came up for discussion during a series of meetings held between city police and the match organisers. Assistant Commissioner of Police (protection and security) Madhukar Pandey said the police department was considering ban of mobile phones inside Wankhede stadium during the matches.