Acer Acquires E-TEN
Mitsubishi Electric Turns Off Ringers
Willcom Developing Handset Based on Intel's Low-Power Processor
Panasonic Ventures into the UMPC Market
New "Temple Switch" for iPod
The World's Thinnest OEL TV
China Mobile to Invest $800M in Pakistan
Ningbo Bird to Sell Back Shares to Sagem

Acer of Taiwan announced in early March 2008 that it would acquire E-TEN, a Taiwan-based smartphone developer and manufacturer, reported ITmedia.com. The acquisition will be in the form of a stock exchange. The deal, estimated at $300 million, is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2008.

Acer's acquisition of E-TEN is part of its strategy to expand its operations. Acer previously acquired Gateway of the U.S. and Packard Bell of the Netherlands, because it sees portable communication as a growth industry.

Acer plans to solidify its position in the smartphone market through this latest acquisition and to strengthen its competitive edge in ultra-mobile market by combining PC and communication technologies. [M. Robertson, Portelligent]

Mitsubishi Electric of Japan announced in early March 2008 that it would stop manufacturing cell phones, reported ITmedia.com. Currently, three Mitsubishi Electric models (the D705i, D705im, and D905i) are being sold through NTT DoCoMo. Once those models are sold out, Mitsubishi Electric will no longer develop or market cell phones.

Face with declining shipments, it has become impossible for Mitsubishi Electric to revitalize its cell-phone operation. Its cell-phone shipment volume is estimated at 2.1 million units for the year ending March 2008. The company had planned to ship 3.2 million handsets this fiscal year, but adjusted the number downward due to sluggish sales. Mitsubishi Electric's handset revenue during this period is estimated at 100 billion yen ($972,384,146.46 @ yen 103/$US 1). However, it will post 17 billion yen ($165,305,304.90 @ yen 103/$US 1) one-time loss for getting out of the cell-phone business.

The company will redirect its resources to base stations and car navigation systems. The 600 employees who were involved in the cell-phone operation will be relocated to different divisions of the company.

In general, the prospect is not rosy for Japanese handset manufacturers. The cell-phone subscription rate in Japan has reached the saturation point, and the handset upgrade cycle is becoming longer. Recently, Sanyo Electric, another Japanese handset supplier, sold its handset operation to Kyocera. That move and Mitsubishi Electric's decision may influence other Japanese handset suppliers to follow suit. [M. Robertson, Portelligent]

Willcom, a Japanese PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) operator, is developing a cell phone using Intel's new low-power processor, Atom, reported Tech-On! in early March 2008. Willcom plans to market the phone in June 2008.

Announced by Intel in March 2008, the Atom is a super-low-power 86-type microprocessor targeted at mobile Internet devices, UMPCs (Ultra-Mobile PCs), and low-cost Internet PCs. Willcom says the Atom is capable of both high performance and low power consumption.

The new phone uses the Windows Vista operating system and has a wide-panel LCD from Sharp. Other options include FMC (fixed mobile convergence) service and broadband wireless communication.

Although images and specifications are not yet available, Willcom plans to unveil the new phone at a press conference scheduled for the end of April 2008. [M. Robertson, Portelligent]

Matsushita Electric of Japan, known for its Panasonic brand, plans to supply Ultra-Mobile PCs (UMPCs), reported Nikkei Net in early March 2008. The new UMPC model, part of Matsushita's TOUGHBOOK series, features a rugged design and a 5.6-inch touchscreen. Delivery in the U.S. and other countries is slated for summer 2008. However, delivery to the Japanese market will not occur till fall 2008. Panasonic plans to ship a total of 50,000 units globally.

Matsushita showcased the new UMPC in early March at CeBIT 2008 in Hannover, Germany. Incorporating Intel's new low-power processor, the Atom, the UMPC is intended for use at industrial sites such construction sites and power distribution networks. The unit weighs less than 1kg, and the battery lasts over 10 hours. It is also water resistant and shock resistant so that it can be used in the rain and can withstand being dropped.

UMPC is a new personal computer category proposed by Microsoft and Intel. UMPCs are not only portable, but also compatible with regular personal computer software. [M. Robertson, Portelligent]

A new Japanese-made remote control plays a user's favorite music tune literally in the blink of an eye, reported ITmedia.com in early March 2008. Kazuhiro Taniguchi, a researcher at Osaka University Graduate School of Engineering, developed the so-called "temple switch" to control the operation of an iPod without the use of one's hands.

It works like this. First, a sensor attached to the user's eyeglasses or headphones detects the subtle movement of winking. An infrared sensor then sends an electronic signal to a microcomputer in the user's Apple iPod. To rewind a song, the user closes an eye for one second. To skip to the next song, the user closes the other eye. To play or pause a song, the user must close both eyes.

Does unintentional and unconscious blinking replay other songs? Apparently not. The system will not malfunction when the user eats, talks, walks, and runs because the microcomputer is capable of detecting the difference between intentional and unconscious winking, says Mr. Taniguchi.

The potential of the Temple Switch is huge. It could useful in applications where both hands are already engaged, including in elderly care or when rock climbing or riding motorcycle. (Of course, the prospect of closing both eyes while riding a motorcycle in traffic may cause potential users to have second thoughts.) The system could also serve as a third hand for astronauts and physically disabled people.

Mr. Taniguchi's research team plans to set up a start-up company in about 2 to 3 years to market the new technology. Images of the new remote control are available at http://www.afpbb.com/article/environment-science-it/science-technology/2359239/2699028. [M. Robertson, Portelligent]

Kaga Hightech of Japan announced in late March 2008 that the company would begin selling a portable OneSeg TV (a digital TV broadcast standard for portable electronic devices), the KODAK ELiTe Vision KTEL-30W, reported ITmedia.com. The company plans to sell the new TV through its online shop for 29,800 yen ($289.77 @ yen 103/$US 1).

The unit houses a 3-inch wide active-matrix OEL (Organic Electroluminescent) panel co-developed by Kaga Electronics, Eastman Kodak, and Andes Electric. The panel uses Kodak's proprietary Global Mura Compensation (GMC) technology to control irregular brightness. It also uses Andes Electric's RF (radio frequency) technology. The companies claim that the KTEL-30W, which is only 8mm thick, is the world thinnest portable OneSeg TV.

The unit's built-in battery offers 3.5 hours of OneSeg TV viewing. An EPG (Electronic Programming Guide) and captions are also available. The KTEL-30W measures 67.5mm (h) x 88.5mm (w) x 8mm (d) and weighs 64gm. Images are available at http://plusd.itmedia.co.jp/lifestyle/articles/0803/06/news068.html. [M. Robertson, Portelligent]

China Mobile, China's largest wireless operator, plans to invest $800 million to upgrade and expand its mobile networks in Pakistan over next 2 to 3 years, Chinese media reported in late February 2008. The company is aiming for 20 to 25 percent market share by the end of 2008.

China Mobile ventured into the Pakistani communication market in 2007 by acquiring Paktel, a Pakistani communication carrier, for $460 million. China Mobile then renamed Paktel and set up CMPak, a wholly owned subsidiary. CMPak serves about 2 million of the 70 million wireless subscribers in Pakistan. Currently, there are six global communication service carriers in Pakistan, and China Mobile hopes to be in the top three by year's end.

China Mobile earmarked $400 million to expand the GSM network of CMPak. Named as suppliers of infrastructure are ZTE, Shanghai Bell, Alcatel, Ericsson, and Huawei. [M. Robertson, Portelligent]

Ningbo Bird, China's top cell-phone manufacturer, plans to sell its shares of a joint venture with Sagem Mobile of France back to Sagem Mobile, Chinese media reported in early March 2008. Sagem Mobile will pay 159 million yuan ($22,366,024.48 @ yuan 7/$US 1) for the 50 percent equity owned by Bird.

Sagem Mobile is the sixth largest wireless cell-phone manufacturer in the world and has been an important partner in Ningbo Bird's cell-phone operation. The two companies began co-developing and manufacturing cell phones in 1999 and set up a joint venture, Ningbo Bird Sagem Electronics, in August 2008.

Ningbo Bird has been selling off some of its assets since 2007. Based on its recent bleak performance, the Chinese company decided to sell its shares in the joint venture altogether. However, operations at the existing facility will continue, so Ningbo Bird and Sagem will maintain some level of cooperation for the time being. [M. Robertson, Portelligent]