[via i-mode Strategy] From an EDN Global Roundtable:

Pradeep Chakraborty, Correspondent, EDN Asia/India: India is fast emerging as a design hub. And, wireless and broadband are all the rage. Several local and international companies are involved in various activities. Quasar Innovations, a local company in Bangalore, is said to be the first to develop a full-featured Bluetooth-capable GSM/GPRS phone. LG is also said to have developed a phone [in India]. The big news is that Nokia has opened its first fully integrated mobile phone manufacturing facility in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, in India. Both GSM and CDMA handsets will be produced here. Elcoteq has also set up its manufacturing facility in Bangalore, focusing on communication-technology products, especially wireless. This is not all. Sony Ericsson plans to manufacture mobile handsets in India, as do Moser Baer and LG. Samsung and the others should not be far behind. With the telecom companies getting an additional 10 MHz of spectrum, it is now envisaged that India can handle a mobile phone population of 250 million by 2007, compared with the current 51.4 million subscribers in February 2005.

Next, several companies are developing GPRS, WCDMA, and MMS stacks for the global market (Sasken, Wipro), as well as WAP gateways (Jataayu). Furthe, OATSystems, and Infosys have joined hands to address the needs of the global RFID market. EPCGlobal has also launched its India initiative to address RFID applications. In the Wi-Fi space, Microsense has outlined its strategy. Proxim will be conducting beta trials for WiMax in Q2 2005. MobiApps is designing and manufacturing terrestrial- and satellite-communication chipsets, transceiver modules, and software platforms for applications that require remote monitoring, asset tracking, and two-way messaging.

David Weinberger writes about Jeff Hawkins' book:

Here's why I liked the book. First, it gets past the "brain is a computer" analogy. Instead, Hawkins says the brain is all memory, no CPU. It has no programs other than the most basic pattern-matching "algorithm" — and I don't think that's the right word...the ocean does a good job of sorting rocks on the beach without using any algorithms. Second, it gives a simple explanation that (if right) accommodates enormous complexity.

Robert Scoble (of Microsoft) writes about the products he'd like and which teams at Microsoft would perhaps consider developing:

1) I want an "Internet Content Sharing Suite" that does it all with simple, common, interfaces.
2) I want a really killer podcasting device.
3) I want another "Internet Memo.

John Battelle writes in the context of Yahoo's My Web 2.0:

Search is no longer a stand-alone application, a useful but impersonal tool for finding something on a new medium called the world wide web. Increasingly, search is our mechanism for how we understand ourselves, our world, and our place within it. It’s how we navigate the one infinite resource that drives human culture: knowledge. [an excerpt from Battelle's forthcoming book "The Search"]

What is potentially exciting about all this is the ability for bottom up domain specific search to get built. Imagine a Globalspec built by a community of users who are all sharing their searches across My Web. Then imagine they realize what they've built, and decide to make a business of it. I am quite sure Yahoo will be right there, helping them figure that out, and folding those domain specific realms of knowledge into their broader index. Weiner says his roadmap for where My Web is going is one of the deepest ever created at Yahoo.

Barron's writes:

Handset numbers overwhelm the iPod's. While optimists think Apple could sell 45 million iPods next year, mobile-phone makers will be selling more than 750 million handsets.

All those handsets could weigh on the iPod's growth prospects -- and Apple's premium stock valuation. Cellphone users won't need to lug around a second gadget to have their music. By next year, a standard feature in many new handsets will be the software, circuitry and data storage for portable music. Handsets will be able to "side-load" songs from a personal computer, like the iPod. But in addition, they will be able to download music over-the-air, using the fast transmission speeds of the third-generation wireless networks that cellular carriers are now deploying around the country. The cellular firms are upgrading to third-generation, or 3G, technology, in large part so they can sell their voice customers stuff like music.

The wireless companies will start launching their music services in the fall. They're not planning to match Apple's musical offering -- they want to marginalize it. Wireless technology will allow interactivity and immediacy beyond what's possible with a tethered product like the iPod. Convenience and impulsiveness pay: Cellphone subscribers willingly spend two bucks for a six-second pop-song ringtone, while spending only 99 cents for the full-track song at Apple's iTunes Music Store. Ringtones are already a multi-billion dollar business for cellular firms and for recording companies.

South Korea’s IT839 strategy comprises 8 services, 3 infrastructures and 9 new growth engines. “Under the value chain, the introduction of 8 new services will prompt investment into the building of 3 essential networks. And these networks will pave the way for the 9 new sectors to grow fast, creating synergic effects.”

8 Services

1. Wi-Bro Service: The Wireless Broadband Service is a portable Internet service that provides a high-speed wireless Internet connection anytime anywhere, whether you are on the move or at a standstill.

2. DMB Service: The Digital Multimedia Broadcasting service is a mobile multimedia broadcasting service that provides quality audio and video services over handheld devices or in a vehicle.

3. Home Network Service: The home network service refers to a series of future services including consumer electronics control, interactive D-TV, VOD, health care and e-learning that will be provided at home.

4. Telematics Service: Telematics is an in-vehicle multimedia service that offers infortainment as well as information for traffic and emergency rescue operations via location-based, mobile communications networks.

5. RFID based Service: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a sensor technology that identifies information on the product with an RFID tag and gathers information on its surrounding environments.

6. W-CDMA Service: The W-CDMA service is an IMT-2000 service that provides voice, video and high-speed data service in the 2GHz band.

7. Terrestrial Digital TV: The terrestrial digital TV service is a high- quality, multi-functional broadcasting service that provides CD-level audio and definition five to six times higher than analog broadcasting.

8. Internet Telephony (VoIP): The high broadband penetration and improvement in the quality of service on the Internet created VoIP that offers inexpensive phone services.

3 Infrastructures

1. Broadband Convergence Network (BcN): BcN is a next generation network through which multimedia services that integrate telecommunications, broadcasting and the Internet are delivered.

2. Ubiquitous Sensor Network (USN): The USN recognizes and manages information by connecting RFID tags and u-sensors to the Broadband Convergence Network.

3. Next-Generation Internet Protocol (IPv6): The expected depletion of the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) address from 2006 requires a fundamental solution.

New Growth Engines

1. Next-Generation Mobile Communications Devices: Next-generation mobile ommunications is a technology that enables users to have a fast and clear access to multimedia information, while on the move or at a standstill, via mobile and satellite communication networks.

2. Digital TV / Broadcasting Devices: The digital broadcasting service will not only provide high-definition but also intelligent, personalized, realistic and paid services in addition to those converged with telecommunications… Bi-directional Digital Multimedia Broadcasting data service technologies are expected to be developed in 2005, tailored information DTV terminals in 2006 and giga-level cable transmission/reception systems in 2007.

3. Home Network Devices: Home network devices and software, which consist of home gateways, information home appliances and networking, are basic technologies for consumer service… A telecom-broadcasting convergent home server is expected to be developed in 2005 and a telecom-broadcasting-game convergent home server in 2007.

4. IT System-on-Chip (SoC): IT SoC refers to a non-memory integrated circuit which is not only a growth engine itself for the next-generation but also a key that determines the success of IT products.

5. Next-Generation PC: A next-generation PC refers to a key information device that takes the form of cloth, accessories and others and has information processing and networking power. The next-generation PC that integrates sensors and human interface technologies will provide human-centered services with convenience and excellent portability. Prototypes for a wearable PC will be developed in 2005, technology standards established in 2006 and a wearable computer commercialized in 2007.

6. Embedded SW: Embedded SW is software built in information appliances, vehicles, robots, industrial equipment, medical equipment, SoC and so on. Embedded SW provides smart functions such as the HW control, communications, multimedia, Internet and artificial intelligence services. The digital content and SW solution industry will develop real image digital actors for supporting roles in 2005.

7. Digital Contents and Software Solutions: The advent of a digital era increased the importance of digitalized content on culture, education, medicare and other areas of our daily lives… Core technologies such as 3D computer graphics, multi-platform geared online game engines and multi-platform e-learning solutions will be developed.

8. Telematics Devices: The telematics industry will develop core technologies that support various in-vehicle multimedia services such as information for traffic and emergency rescue operations, remote auto inspection and the Internet via location-based, mobile communications networks. The telematics industry will develop services that satisfy the demand of those who want to lead an enriching in-vehicle life.

9. Intelligent Service Robot: An IT-based intelligent service robot refers to a Ubiquitous Robotic Companion (URC) that provides necessary services anytime anywhere. Consumers will be able to enjoy various services of the robot at lower costs since the URC will operate by simply adding network functions to the existing robots.

Tomorrow: The Impact