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-------------------------------------------------------------- This story was printed from CNET Asia. --------------------------------------------------------------
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3GSM World Congress at a glance
By Damian Koh
16/02/2006 URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilephones/0,39050603,39311038,00.htm
Of course, with the implementation of smart cards, one of the main concerns is security. For Mobile FeliCa, you can remotely lock the smart card function either via email or phone call to prevent unauthorized use. Other features include a motion sensor which opens the doors to various mobile games. In a demonstration over at Sharp's booth at 3GSM, a representative illustrated the scenario of a commuter who had run out of money to purchase a can of drink from a vending machine. With Mobile FeliCa, the user need only flash his mobile phone which has a non-contact smart card embedded, and the vending machine would automatically release a can of coke (or whatever the machine is meant to dispense). Our take: Interesting concept, but security remains as one of the key concerns. Gemplus .SIM
The .sim provides the user with a fully customized default screen on a mobile handset which can be transferred conveniently to another mobile device just by swopping the card. For mainstream consumers, this new SIM card allows "easy-to-use access and secure management of contacts, content and payment". For mobile operators, "it means control over their brand, services and user experience in both the mobile and Internet worlds". Previously, market segmentation of mobile handsets was primarily tied to the various functions of the phone. For example, a business-geared mobile contains applications and content which favor a business user. However, with the introduction of the .sim, market segmentation now shifts in alignment with the card. With a fully customized default screen and easy access to multimedia experiences and services, the general consumer is better able to relate and use the applications on a business-geared mobile--all on a friendly and familiar interface. Our take: While the buzz is on content generation for feature-rich handsets, we also wonder at the escalating costs involved while hopping onto the bandwagon. Varioptic liquid lens
According to the company's press release, its Artic 320 liquid lens "changes shape automatically without mechanical aid" and is, in fact, modeled very much after the human eye. It uses electricity to change the focus of the lens by altering the border between two drops of liquid. In terms of size, cost, speed, durability and quality, Varioptic's patented "electrowetting" technology provides several advantages over traditional lenses. Currently, the liquid lens is targeted at high-volume markets and costs approximately 1 euro (industry price). Varioptic has also been working with Samsung Electro-Mechanics to provide autofocus lenses for camera-phones. If everything works well, we could be seeing the first camera-mobile sporting Varioptic's liquid lens by end 2006. At press time, Varioptic's liquid lenses were compatible only with products and devices sporting small apertures. Liquid lenses may possibly be used in Web cams; for built-in cameras on notebooks and PCs; indoor video surveillance and biometrics; and, of course, in digital still cameras and accompanying devices. Our take: We'll wait and see if this new liquid lens delivers on image quality and performance. Zi Corp's mobile platform
The company also announced its new eZiType solution at the 3GSM World Congress. In a nutshell, eZiType is designed to "alleviate text input challenges on mobile email devices such as slowed input, spelling errors due to double-key presses and bumpy on-the-go environments that make accurate typing difficult". According to a representative from Zi Corp, this new software-based solution features a unique auto-correction feature that's currently not available in the market. Also at the event, the company released its Qix service discovery engine on the UIQ platform. According to Zi Corp, Qix "provides an intuitive, fast search index for a mobile user, in the same way that an Internet search engine helps Web surfers find what they are looking for". The engine pulls out the most frequently accessed selections over time and presents them in priority over other information with the same key presses. The best part? Qix does not interfere with normal phone operations and can be disabled anytime to suit user preferences. Our take: A really user-friendly software to have, especially when you tend to get lost among the various applications on your handheld. ACCESS Linux platform
According to an ACCESS representative, ACCESS and PalmSource are looking at making available the ALP Software Developer Kit (SDK) to its licensees by the end of 2006.
Previous Palm OS users will be glad to know that PalmSource applications including PIMs, multimedia, messaging, Hotsync and Palm Desktop are compatible with the new ALP. We have exclusive screenshots of the new ACCESS Linux platform. However, do note that the current system is still in the prototype stage and changes are expected over time.
Our take: Is Palm OS going, going, gone forever?
Battle of the clones
Battle two: Battle three: The slimmest, the popular and the anticipated
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