The "TiMO" is a new handset being released by Toyota, branded by au. It's a joint effort between Toyota Motor Corporation and KDDI, based on Toshiba's "W44T" handset. The specs are the same as the W44T, but there's on key difference: hands-free connection with Toyota's official Bluetooth Navigation System. We unfortunately don't have any details on exactly what this connection entails (if anything beyond using Bluetooth for hands-free talking), so hopefully we'll hear something about it from Toyota.



Inspired by:
http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/30786.html

Press Release:
http://www.kddi.com/corporate/news_release/2006/0830/

KDDI isn't NTT DoCoMo; they're not just going to throw out a bunch of handsets without services that support their new features. That's why KDDI has announced a whole bunch of new services to go hand-in-hand with their announcement of a those new handsets.

The new services are:

• TV Phone Service
  
• EZ Channel Plus
  
• au My Page
  
• EZ News Flash
  
• EZ Keitai Arrange
  
• Address Book Entrust Safety Service
  
• Decoration Mail
  
• Picture Talking Mail
  

Oh giggity! More details on each new service inside.

KDDI made an enormous announcement for au on Monday: 12 new handsets are to be released from as early as September. In the lineup we have the:

• W43H from Hitachi
  
• W47T from Toshiba
  
• DRAPE from Toshiba
  
• W43CA from Casio
  
• W43SA from Sanyo
  
• W43S from Sony Ericsson
  
• W43K from Kyocera
  
• W41SH from Sharp
  
• W45T from Toshiba
  
• W42SA from Sanyo
  
• W44K from Kyocera
  
• A5522SA from Sanyo
  

The W47T and DRAPE both support the upcoming EV-DO Rev.A, which we reported on last week in this article. The W43H, W43CA, DRAPE, and W47T also support BCMCS, also described in the above-mentioned article.

More details on each handset inside. Rather than making a different article for each handset, we'll instead puch each handset on a different page of a single article.

KDDI Labs has a new software solution for recognizing the rotation, pan, tilt, and zoom of a handset. This allows users to "directly control" the operations of their handset, for example enabling them to scroll a map by moving their handset in the direction in which they want the map to scroll.

Similar technology has already been employed on Vodafone's "V603SH" and "904SH," as well as DoCoMo's "N702iS." However, these implementations involved the use of additional hardware inside the handset, such as acceleration sensors, gyroscopes, and so on. KDDI Labs' solution however takes advantage of hardware already present in the handset -- its camera -- and analyzes video data is it is received by the handset. This video data is analyzed so that the phone is able to "sense" its positioning. Because it requires no additional hardware, it has a lower implementation cost for KDDI, and it can operate using software alone.



Inspired by:
http://plusd.itmedia.co.jp/mobile/articles/0608/25/news099.html

Press Release:
http://www.kddilabs.jp/pr_pdf/060825.pdf

KDDI is all set to launch "EV-DO Rev.A" in December of this year, an extension to their existing CDMA 1X WIN (EV-DO Rev.0) network. Rev.A is the basis of KDDI's upcoming all-IP-based next generation network. The primary advantage of Rev.A is enhanced upload speeds -- as fast as 1.8Mbps -- which are around 12 times as fast as those of the existing Rev.0 network (144kbps). Compared with HSDPA being pushed by NTT DoCoMo, Rev.A offers a more efficient use of frequencies and faster upload speeds.

A number of services are planned to take advantage of the new communication system: KDDI will expand existing realtime communication services, and introduce TV phone services using packet transmission (VoIP). After that, they will expand communication services such as email and blogs, and introduce voice calls using VoIP. This will all be made possible with the introduction of Quality of Service (QoS) controls.

All major cities in Japan are scheduled for coverage by the end of this year, with the entire country covered within the next three years. KDDI is investing 200 billion yen (~$1.72B USD) in their plans.

Furthermore, in September of this year, KDDI will be introducing BCMCS, or "Broadcast/Multicast Services." These services allow content such as video to be simultaneously distributed to a large number of users. Since introducing BCMCS requires o­nly a software upgrade to existing EV-DO Rev.0 facilities, coverage will be nationwide when the service launches in September.

Inspired by:
http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/30660.html

Press Release:
http://www.kddi.com/corporate/news_release/2006/0822/

KDDI is all set to release a new mobile phone you're supposed to give to your children. This o­ne adds a new feature that will automatically transmit the GPS coordinates of the handset in the event that its power is turned off.

If you've been dying to try EZ Navi Walker but don't live in Japan or don't have AU, there's good news: KDDI has just opened a PC version.

At their PC portal site, Duogate, simply select 地図・乗換, then you'll be able to give the service a shot.

Of course for those of you with AU, there's still good news -- the PC version cooperates with the mobile version, so you can search for a route with your PC and send it to your handset when you're ready to go.

You have no shortage of handsets at your disposal for au. No less than 7 have been announced today. 6 of the phones are in the "W41" series, and o­ne of the phone's is au's 5th in the "au design project." The new phones are:

• neon
• W41SA
• W41K
• W41T
• W41S
• W41CA
• W41H

Coverage of each inside.

Please use the page navigation buttons appearing above the comments space to navigate your way through this article.

This is the first of several au-related articles we have for you tonight. There are new services, new handsets, and new products to go along with these handsets. Time permitting, we'll be covering all of the above.

The first item to cover au's new audio service called "au LISTEN MOBILE SERVICE," or simply "LISMO." The new service expands upon their existing and extremely successful "Chaku Uta Full" download service.

Sanyo threw down three new phones for au's CDMA 1X service. The Sweets pure, A5520SA, and A5518SA. Each offers plenty of au style and functionality.