To: JohnG who wrote (66835 ) 4/8/2002 3:13:32 PM From: JohnG Respond to of 74651 More on MSFT op sys opportunity. Wireless operator KDDI of Japan appears to have committed to install the Qcalcomm 2.4 Mbps CDMA 1xEVDO system on KDDI's new network prior to the May 31 start of the World Soccor finals in Korea and Japan. This systen provides wireless data at 3x the bit rate of the rival NTT FOMA wireless phone system in Japan. Thus cell phones, PDA's and lap tops in Japan will be enabled with streaming multimedia coverage of off site events. These CDMA networks allow international roaming between Korea, Japan, China and the US -- however the 2.4 Mbps service is limited to Japan and Korea for now. Samsung to Export 3G Mobile Phone Equipment to Japan By Kim Deok-hyun Staff Reporter Samsung Electronics said yesterday it was putting the finishing touches to negotiations with Japan's No. 2 mobile carrier KDDI to export third- generation (3G) mobile telephone equipment, a senior official said yesterday. ``At the current time, we are unable to disclose details of the deal with KDDI, but it is likely to be one of the biggest contracts ever,'' said Han Tae-shin, director of public relations at Samsung Electronics. ``We are currently in the final stages,'' said Han, adding ``We can not comment on anything further.'' KDDI will launch a so-called CDMA2000 1X EV-DO (evolution data optimized) service as its next-generation mobile network ahead of the World Cup finals, which is to be co-hosted by South Korea and Japan between May 31 and June 30, Samsung said. An introduction of the EV-DO network, which was first commercialized in South Korea, will create a foothold for other domestic 3G equipment makers and network carriers to make inroads into the Japanese market, analysts said. Earlier this month, Japan's second-largest mobile operator launched what it called a 3G service, based on Qualcomm's CDMA2000 1X technology. The 1X network is known to be faster than current mobile phone services but reportedly slower than its rival NTT DoCoMo's 3G network called the Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access (FOMA) service. Experts say, however, the EV-DO network is three times faster than the FOMA's data transmission speed, promising higher speed access to the Internet from mobile phones, with top-quality pictures and music. KDDI allegedly plans to launch the EV-DO service, incorporating Samsung's equipment and mobile handsets, as early as next week and aims to receive three million subscribers by next March. KDDI president Yusai Okuyama had said the company would launch a world class 3G phone system as part of plans to loosen the monopoly of former state owned company NTT's stranglehold on the ever-changing telecommunications industry in Japan. kdh@koreatimes.co.kr