Wednesday, May 8, 2002

Survey Says 36 Pct. of Users Don't Use FOMA Features

What do DoCoMo users think about its FOMA service? BizTech has conducted a survey among subscribers of NTT DoCoMo Inc.'s cellular phone service (FOMA users and non-FOMA users included) to seek the answers. NTT DoCoMo started the full-fledged service of "FOMA," the third-generation cellular phone service, in October 2001, and the service area has expanded since April 1, 2002. It got a lot of attention when it started, but the number of subscribers hasn't increased as the company expected. NTT DoCoMo was at the beginning hoping to acquire 150,000 subscribers, but the number is still at 90,000. (Asia Biztech)
2:50:39 PM    comment   



New hope for the blind. Yesterday the Optobionics Corporation released results of a 21 month trial study of its new Artificial Silicon Retinatm. Of the six trial patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa who were given the implant, several reported improved eyesight. [kuro5hin.org]
12:06:56 PM    comment   



Three Times Fast: Service-Centric Service: Apple offers up some more information on its upcoming Mac OS X 10.2 release, including a longer paragraph on Rendezvous, its IP-based resource discovery system which supports wireless, wired, and FireWire networks.

[80211b News]
12:04:45 PM    comment   



SpectraLink adds voice priority to its Wi-Fi phone: SpectraLink, makers of a phone that works over 802.11b to a central phone switch, added prioritization to their product today, giving a glimpse of what life with IEEE 802.11e will look like. Telephony, unlike data, waits for no one, and a regular stream of packets must continuously be fed on a scheduled, priority basis to ensure clear voice calls. This quality of service (QoS) improvement works currently just with Symbol NetLink wireless 802.11b networks. Symbol makes primarily logistics equipment, which means their networks and devices are often installed in warehouses and other spread-out locations in which telephony via conventional wires would be expensive, and proprietary wireless telephony equally tricky.

[80211b News]
12:03:24 PM    comment   



Korea Telecom in Last Leg of 15-Year Push to Privatize. Executives of Korea Telecom outlined plans to get the remaining 28.6 percent of the company's stock into the hands of investors by the end of the month. By Don Kirk. [New York Times: Business]
11:43:38 AM    comment   



A Purchase Puts Vivendi Even Deeper in Utilities. Even as its share price continued a disastrous downward spiral, Vivendi Universal said that its water subsidiary would spend about $600 million to acquire another utility in southern England. By Alan Cowell. [New York Times: Business]
11:20:19 AM    comment   



The complete mouse genome free on the Web.  In less than five years, you will be able to get your genes read for under $1 k in less than a couple of days.  [John Robb's Radio Weblog]
11:07:41 AM    comment   



Marketing site for Boeing Connexion high speed Internet service for aircraft. [John Robb's Radio Weblog]
11:07:09 AM    comment   



Apple's preview of its upcoming OS X 10.2 Jaguar release included a technology the company is calling Rendezvous: the automatic discovery (search and recognition) of TCP/IP devices over Ethernet, FireWire, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

Alan Reiter remarks on it a bit and wonders what I think. My opinion: a whole new world of discovery awaits us.

[80211b News]
11:00:18 AM    comment   



Cisco Buoyed by Earnings, but It Sees No Turnaround. Cisco reported profits for its third quarter that were better than expected, but predicted no quick recovery from the slowdown in spending by its customers. By Chris Gaither. [New York Times: Technology]
10:57:29 AM    comment