Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Moderated Thread - please read rules before posting -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: foundation who wrote (31693)	1/25/2003 9:34:27 AM
From: John Biddle	Respond to of 197146

Japan re-enters U.S. market The Associated Press Last Modified: 1:13 a.m. - 1/24/2003 cjonline.com LAS VEGAS -- For American cell phone users, the past few years have been ones of deprivation. While folks in Japan and Europe chatted on slick cell phones made by Sony, Panasonic, NEC and others, Americans had to make do with models that sported fewer features. Japanese makers had largely fled the American market because it was cluttered with competing networks. But now, the Japanese handset makers are coming back -- a trend that figures to help keep prices down and speed the rollout of new cell phone applications. Japan began its U.S. comeback in 2001, when Sony and Sweden's Ericsson started selling high-tech phones under a joint venture. Panasonic and Sanyo sell a few models for AT&T Wireless and Sprint PCS, respectively. None makes a dent in the market domination of the top three: Finland's Nokia, Illinois-based Motorola and South Korea's Samsung. But in October, Hitachi launched a camera phone that uses Sprint PCS's CDMA network. Hitachi and Sprint also plan to sell a personal digital assistant/phone in the spring that runs a Microsoft operating system. NEC, another big vendor in Asia and Europe, hopes to tempt U.S. consumers this spring with its model 515 phone, a folding handset with a 2.2-inch color screen. It operates on the four GSM bands used in North America and Europe and is the first in a new line being readied for the U.S. market. And Panasonic is bringing a high-end camera phone to the United States in the spring, having launched it in Europe in October. Its GU-87 will operate on AT&T Wireless' GSM network. In a demonstration at the International Consumer Electronics Show, a Panasonic representative used the phone to connect to the Internet, then retrieve pictures from a wireless webcam perched on a pole inside the Las Vegas Convention Center. The camera could have been anywhere in the world, said Panasonic's Jim Reilly. "If it's in your refrigerator, you can check it on your way home to see if you need milk," Reilly said. Getting back into the U.S. market won't be easy, but Japanese manufacturers have a few advantages. First, the companies have already proven their technologies can sell in Japan, the world's most advanced market. Second, Japanese manufacturers have long been the world's leaders in cramming goodies into tiny packages. In this case, the phones are loaded with cameras, fine color screens, Internet browsing and e-mail capabilities. Third, the Japanese no longer have to manufacture separate phones just for the United States. American carriers -- like many of their counterparts overseas -- have almost completely converged on two wireless standards, GSM and CDMA, and now agree where the country's future generation standards are headed. With three carriers -- Cingular, AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile -- offering GSM in the United States, Panasonic and Sony Ericsson can simply sell their European phones here. Others, like NEC, plan U.S.-centric models that require little modification. "Now that the U.S. consumer market is embracing new technologies, NEC is poised to bring our years of experience in the Japanese market to the U.S," said Noboru Sakata, general manager of NEC America's wireless division. Hitachi also believes U.S. consumers and networks finally are ready for fancy Japanese phones. Both of its U.S. models handle e-mail, Web browsing and can take and send pictures like their Japanese counterparts. "People want more features. They want a smaller package," said Gerard Corbett, vice president of Hitachi America. What sells in Japan may not sell here, however. Americans, who are more likely to have computers at home, may have less use for Internet, e-mail, games and cameras on their cell phones. Japanese and Europeans also commute more on trains and buses -- where they can check e-mail or play games. American commuters, typically stuck behind the wheel, are more interested in just talking.

To: foundation who wrote (31693)	1/25/2003 1:28:28 PM
From: foundation	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 197146

Telecom operators shun comments on TRAI tariff; feel let down PTI [ SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2003 07:18:28 PM ] NEW DELHI: Telecom operators, both basic and cellular, appear to be in a state of shock over the new tariff package announced by the Telecom regulator TRAI, but declined to comment despite their feeling of being let down. Both Association of Basic Telecom Operators and Cellular Operators Association of India, which have been fighting each other over market share while accusing TRAI of favouring other, were conspicuous by their silence even hours after the announcement of the tariff package by TRAI chief M S Verma. However, sources in both the association said that TRAI had favoured the other side but officials said that they were still assessing the impact of the proposals. According to the basic telecom industry, TRAI had ushered in a Calling Party Pays (CPP) regime through the back door and thus lost out in the battle as they would now be paying to cellular operators on equal basis. While cellular operators cried foul over TRAI giving free hand to WLL operators to determine their tariffs. They also decried TRAI announcing free incoming calls on cell phones without levying any additional fixed charges. Bharti officials said they were studying the order and would respond only next week. State owned PSUs -- MTNL and BSNL-- also said that they would be in a position to comment only after studying the proposals. economictimes.indiatimes.com