The Energy, Water and Communications Ministry cancelled the tender for wireless broadband Internet (WiMAX) on July 18, the final day for submissions, as the specifications did not meet the ministry’s requirements.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) specifications for the provision of the WiMAX licence did not include a nationwide rollout.
“They (MCMC) went ahead and gave out the specifications before I could take a look at them. I am a bit angry and disappointed with MCMC because they went out without getting the ministry’s input and I have it ordered to be recalled,” Dr Lim said.
He said the ministry would relook at the specifications and call for fresh submissions. He said the specifications would involve consultations with industry players to ensure the best criteria, which include infrastructure and content.
The tender for the WiMAX 2.3 gigahertz (Ghz) opened in May this year and the closing date was yesterday. Three companies, DiGi.com Bhd, REDtone International Bhd and NasionCom Holdings Bhd, were reportedly keen on a WiMAX licence.
He said the MCMC did not comply with the MyCMS 886 standards. The MyCMS 886 is a five-year ICT blueprint which outlines an industry-driven initiative that will leverage on existing policies and programmes to increase the usage of broadband Internet, cellular telephone service and 3G service.
Speaking to reporters after opening the Conference and Exhibition on IP Telephony (CEIPT 2006), he said the new criteria would specify that applicants should be ready to invest in infrastructure and have enough content to “excite” users.
Dr Lim said the candidates should invest in infrastructure to be connected before they were eligible to be considered. The candidates should also be able to offer a full range of services, which include Internet protocol television (IPTV), IP Telephony, high-speed broadband connectivity and quality data to attract people to subscribe to the service.
WiMAX technology is akin to WiFi (wireless fidelity) technology, where users could link up to broadband Internet from a “hotspot”. Unlike WiFi which only covers short distances, the range for WiMAX could stretch to an entire city.
To boost broadband penetration, he said the ministry was thinking of setting up a universal service provision fund – a government fund to provide rural areas with broadband connectivity. He did not give details on the proposed fund.-theedgedaily
DiGi.Com Bhd's failure to obtain a 3G licence was attributed to the lack of content and infrastructure that it has to back up the 3G rollout, a source with the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry said.
The source refuted claims that the ministry was against foreign players following the failure of DiGi in getting the licence as the decision was in line with the ministry’s plan to grow the country’s 3G industry.
On March 5, the Energy Water and Communications Ministry, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission granted Time dotCom Bhd and MiTV Corp Sdn Bhd 3G licences. Telekom Malaysia Bhd and Maxis Communications were earlier granted the licences.
The source said: “The 3G licence was given to Time.dotCom because it is the only player besides Telekom that has a trunk line. This would create competition for Telekom.”
He said MiTV was given the 3G licence as it would be able to provide exciting content to users. It is also not against the exclusive satellite TV rights given to Astro.
In some countries, the source said, they have a balance of 3G licence given to mobile operators and the content providers to encourage growth in the industry.
The source said the ministry wants Time.dotcom to team up with independent content provider to attract more users.-theedgedaily
Most telco players were surprised by the government’s decision yesterday to knock back the tender for Malaysia’s first wireless broadband licence.
At least three companies – DiGi.Com Bhd, REDtone International Bhd and NasionCom Holdings Bhd – made a bid, which ended yesterday, for a WiMax licence for the 2.3 GHz spectrum.
The Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) technology is similar to WiFi that most laptops are equipped with, except that the technology provides a higher capacity and operates across a much wider area.
It was developed to beam the Internet across cities using radio networks further than WiFi, which is limited to “hotspot” areas of around 50 to 100 metres.
REDtone group managing director Wei Chuan Beng said: “We are quite shocked by the decision.”
It would wait for the regulatory body, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), to explain its decision, he said, adding that the company would continue to support and push for wireless broadband despite the setback.
NasionCom group managing director Peter Tham said the company had submitted a comprehensive proposal to bid for the licence in May.
“Naturally, we are disappointed but we respect the decision,” he said, adding that NasionCom had tried to contact MCMC for details on the decision but to no avail.
Asked if a second round of tenders for the licence could occur, Tham said: “From my experience it is not a common thing, but we are hopeful.”
He said there was a foreign news report that suggested another round of tenders could be called in the near future.
“The decision to cancel the bids is definitely a setback for the telco players,” Tham said.
An official with DiGi said the company was not prepared to make any comment.
“We have just heard the news from the media. At this stage it is too early to comment,” he said.
An AmReseach telco analyst said: “We are very surprised that the bids had been cancelled.”
He said there must be valid reasons, noting that the government had always been supportive of wireless broadband for the country.
An analyst with another research house said having wireless broadband was a natural progression for the country.
“We don’t see any reason for the delay in adopting wireless broadband. Any teething problems should be worked out over time,” he said.
When contacted by StarBiz, an MCMC official said: “We will be issuing a formal statement to the media tomorrow (today).”
Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said the tender had to be recalled because the specifications were not according to ministry policies and the conditions for the tender did not take into account the building of infrastructure and content.
“I'm a bit angry and disappointed with MCMC for not getting the ministry's input and ordered it (tender) to be recalled,” he was quoted by Bernama as telling reporters after opening the Conference and Exhibition IP Telephony-theStar
O2’S XDA Atom has a new sibling. Called the XDA Atom Exec, the device is much like the regular Atom, except it comes with a new matte “gun metal” finish, more memory and a more powerful processor.
The new Atom Exec runs on a 520MHz Intel XScale processor (up from 416MHz on the Atom) and has 192MB memory (compared with just 128MB on the Atom).
The Atom Exec also incorporates the latest update to the Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system, which enables push-e-mail with mail servers running Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2. This allows you to receive e-mail on the device as soon as it is sent to the mail server.
Otherwise, the Atom Exec has all the same features as the Atom – the relatively small form factor, 2.7in 262,000-colour TFT LCD screen, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth v1.2, triband GSM with GPRS/EDGE connectivity, integrated FM Radio and a 2-megapixel digital camera.
The O2 XDA Atom Exec will be available at the end of this month at recommended retail price of RM2,988
Specifications | Network Technology | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 | | Hardware/Processor | Intel PXA 27x processor 520MHz | | Dimensions (mm) | 102 x 58 x 18.5 | | Weight (g) | 140 | | Display | | Screen Size | : | 2.7 inch, 240 x 320 | | Screen Color | : | TFT 262K colors | | | Design | | Type | : Blok | | Antenna | : Fixed Internal | | | Memory | | Internal(MB) | : RAM: 64MBROM: 192MB | | Expansion | : Mini SD | | | Battery | | Battery Type | : Li - Ion | | Stand-by (hrs) | : 150 | | TalkTime(min) | : 330 | | | Entertainment | | Ringtones | | Polyphonic | : 64-chord polyphonics | | Customization | : MIDI, MP3, WAV and WMA | | | MP3 | Yes | | FM Radio | Yes | | Video Record | Yes | | Video Support | MPEG 4, WMV | | Audio Support | MIDI/MP3 / WAV / WMA/AMR Stereo Speaker | | Voice Support | Recording, Speaker, Dial | | Messaging | | SMS | Yes | | MMS | Yes | | EMS | No | | Email | Microsoft® Outlook® Mobile with Direct Push | | Instant Messenging | Pocket MSN | | Connectivity | | Bluetooth | Yes | | EDGE | Yes | | Support 3G | No | | Data Types / GPRS | Yes | | Infrared (IrDA) | Yes | | USB Port | Yes | | WIFI/WLAN | IEEE 802.11b | | Software | | Java (J2ME) | Yes ,MIDP 2.0 | | WAP | Yes Ver 2.0 | | Platform / OS | Windows Mobile 5.0 | | Browser | Internet Explorer Mobile | | Other Application | O2 Media PlusWord MobileExcel MobilePower Point MobilePDF viewerPush EmailWindows Media Player 10 | | Personals | | Themes | No Info. | | Camera | | Lens Type | CMOS, 2.0 Megapixel | | Digital zoom |
| | Max. Resolution |
| | Flash | Yes | | Night Mode | Yes | | Extra Features | Self Portrait | | Photo Format |
| | Video | Yes | |
Motorola, the global leader in Bluetooth devices, today showcased its latest portfolio of Bluetooth wireless devices, which are set to vastly enhance the mobile experience for Malaysian consumers. Designed for freedom, ease-of-use, seamless access, and safe hands-free communications, Motorola’s innovative and stylish Bluetooth devices are leading the way in wireless connectivity.
“Motorola’s continued focus on consumer needs and experiences have resulted in the creation of an extensive portfolio of products and lifestyle statements that underscore our existing global leadership position in the Bluetooth marketplace,” said Eric Chong, Country Manager, Malaysia & Brunei, Motorola Mobile Devices Business. “We have taken Bluetooth devices from a practical expression of technology to a design statement. For example, a colour headset can now reflect your personality.”
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Complementing its industry-leading portfolio of Bluetooth headsets and wireless devices, Motorola has announced the O ROKR, the next generation of Bluetooth eyewear from Oakley and Motorola that lets you stay connected to calls and music with wireless freedom, digital stereo fidelity and patented optical clarity. With integrated speakers and buttons to control your music, the O ROKR can wirelessly stream music from a compatible Bluetooth-enabled phone or a portable music player with an add-on Bluetooth adapter.
Motorola has also recently announced the Motorola SoundPilot Bluetooth Stereo Controller S705 and the Motorola Portable Bluetooth Car Kit T305, enhancing the integration of mobile entertainment and communications, while driving the adoption of simple and effective in-car communications solutions.
Motorola’s SoundPilot Bluetooth Stereo Controller S705 introduces a whole new experience in wireless communication and entertainment. The stylish, ultra portable unit allows users to wirelessly stream and control music from their Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, personal computer or iPod1 using their favourite wired headphones, while never missing a call using the S705’s built-in microphone. The unit also features an integrated FM radio with RDS ensuring you never miss your favourite radio program while on-the-go.
The Motorola Portable Bluetooth Car Kit T305 delivers an affordable, convenient and non-intrusive method of hands-free communication and is easily transferable between vehicles. The T305 easily pairs with Bluetooth-enabled mobile handsets and clips to the car’s sun visor to give loud, clear communications allowing drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Advanced echo and noise reduction technology is employed to deliver an exceptional hands-free listening environment.
Extending Motorola’s MobileME colour palette beyond the wide range of colour-matched headsets, Motorola has announced the P790 Portable Charger. This compact, attractive and wire-free portable power charger provides a mobile power source for handsets and headsets with low or dead batteries, allowing users to enjoy extra talk times and multimedia and productivity features. The P790 will come in blue, green, orange, pink and purple.
Maxis Communications Bhd has handed out research grants amounting to RM774,000 to two universities to fund studies aimed at improving the local mobile communications industry.
Multimedia University (MMU) and the University of Malaya (UM) received the grants under Maxis' Industry Development Programme. Researchers from MMU will analyse two areas of communications techology - the future of mobile network architecture design and subscriber behaviour - while UM researchers will be focusing on video compression.
Datuk Jamaludin Ibrahim, Maxis chief executive officer, said the world of mobile technology needs to be explored further because it is limitless. The maximum benefits of communications technology have yet to be fully tapped, he said.
"It is a challenge to understand the suitability of current and future technologies that work best to deliver the nation's future wireless communications needs in the most efficient way," Jamaludin said.
He said the collaboration between Maxis and the academia will allow an exchange of expertise. "They have some expertise that we don't and vice-versa, and hopefully together we will do a better job in R&D," he said.
Jamaludin said the results of the research will not be exclusive to Maxis alone. "It is to better improve the local telecommunications industry and we will be sharing the results," he said.
Members of the research team, Dr Lee Sze Wei and Chang Yoong Choon from MMU and Prof P. Raveendran from UM are happy that their subjects were chosen as pioneers for the grants. "With the grants, we will be able to conduct more studies and even develop new areas of study," said Raveendran.
Maxis' Industry Development Programme is in its first phase and the telco plans to make it an ongoing initiative. It is now in talks with other institutes of higher learning to begin phase two of the initiative. Jamaludin said the grants in phase two would be slightly higher, but declined to disclose the total amount. -theStar
Samsung launched Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) phone (model: SGH-P200) in Italian market. It is the world's first commercial mobile phone to which UMA technology is applied.
UMA is a next-generation fixed-mobile convergence technology standard which allows for seamless handover between cellular networks and fixed IP networks (hot spots). Handsets with UMA technology allow free voice and data communication both in mobile and fixed modes.
Samsung's UMA Phone (P200) allow free switching between cellular networks such as GSM, GPRS, EDGE and wireless LAN networks (WiFi), offering seamless connectivity.
The UMA phone thus has far greater mobility, compared to existing WiFi phones that can be used in a limited manner, only in hot spot areas.
For instance, with the UMA phone, high-speed large-capacity data communication or VoIP is possible though WiFi in places installed with hot spots such as at home and schools and in places without WiFi, the cellular network is used instead.
The P200 also comes in a sophisticated slide-up design as well as cutting-edge features including 1.3 mega pixel camera, a camcorder, multimedia messaging system (MMS), MP3 and file viewer functions.
"Samsung is proud to introduce the first Unlicensed Mobile Access phone into the market. We will continue to introduce innovative products and lead the next generation fixed-mobile convergence technology." said Kitae Lee, president of Samsung's Telecommunication Network Business.
The launch of Samsung's UMA phone will follow in other European countries soon.
Samsung's UMA Phone (SGH-P200) Specification
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Standard | | GSM / GRPS/EDGE
UMA, WiFi (802.11 b/g) |
|
Camera | | 1.3 Megapixel Camera with flash |
|
Display | | 1.9" 176x220 262K Color TFT |
|
Features | | Video Playing (MPEG4 / H.263)
Music Player (MP3 / AAC / ACC+)
Pictbridge, USB
Document Viewer |
|
Memory | | 80MB embedded |
|
Size | | 95 x 44 x 22.5 mm |
|
Weight | | 95g |
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* Specifications are subject to change without notice.
JSC Ancort company and Mr. Peter Aloisson the world famous Austrian jeweler, the designer and the inventor of the luxury mobile phones have signed an agreement to start a project on the creation of a Diamond Crypto Smartphone. The cost of the luxurious Diamond Crypto Smartphone is USD 1.300.000.
The philosophic idea of the project is to attract the attention of the world community to the problem of the preservation of a person’s individuality and works in the contemporary man-caused world.
The civilization has reached astonishing success in its development. It is now possible to fly quickly from one part of the world to another, to speak on a mobile or satellite phone to practically any part of the planet, to order a film via Internet and at the same time to read practically any newspaper in the world sitting in the apartment. Two billion mobile phone subscribers have been registered in 2006. A mobile air with an astronomic volume of information has been formed. It is possible to know practically anything about a person speaking over a mobile phone from the analysis of his phone conversations.
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The most important problem is the following. Modern technology can easily change (falsify) the voices and the speech of people speaking over the phone, and it costs very cheap. Naturally, boundless possibilities to manipulate a person’s consciousness appear, when a person is unable to define whom he is talking to on a phone; falsified conversations aimed to compromise people are created. The consequences may be catastrophic for mankind. The intrusion into the private life of people with the aim to compromise them may become global. First of all it may affect the prominent people of the planet who are the intellectual potential of the civilization. For example, a falsified phone conversation of the head of a state may cause tremendous internal and external conflicts.
We remember the oracular words from the first chapter of Gospel from Ioann: “First there was the Word and God had the Word”. What does it mean? God existed, God exists and God will exist. God does not change. So also our words shouldn’t be changed. A word is a materialized thought and idea, and no one can change a person’s words without his consent.
Jeweler's art, the most ancient science on Earth, materialized the idea of a person’s originality and individuality in the magnificent jewelry. Jewelers chose gold, platinum and diamonds for their masterpieces. These materials do not change as millenniums pass by. Out from the remote ages they bring us unique ideas of great masters.
The science of cryptography also provides a possibility for a person to preserve his words and ideas throughout the millenniums. The combination of two ancient sciences in the project - cryptography and jewelers art - will help us once again to bring up the issue about the importance to protect the individuality and the soul of every person, about a person’s right to think independently as a key fact for the development of our civilization.
