Oct 12
The operator of Fukushima—Tokyo Electric Power Company—has just confessed in a report that its post-tsunami nuclear crisis was totally avoidable. Ugh. More »
Oct 12
While a new crop of smartphones has just been released in the U.S., the Japanese aren’t going to fall behind anytime soon. They just upped the ante with the new Sharp Aquos Phone Zeta SH-02E, which is the first production smartphone with an IGZO display.
What’s so interesting about IGZO? The indium gallium zinc oxide tech promises higher translucency, compared to regualr LCDs, which reduces the energy needed for backlighting and thus saves power – and the backlight is usually the number one consumer of power in mobile devices. The 2,000 mAh battery is no slouch either, though it’s unknown how much battery life is actually improved by the IGZO display.
The phone has a large 4.9-inch screen with 1,280 × 720 resolution, and a 16 MP camera. It has a 1.5 GHz S4 Pro quad-core processor and has NFC-compatibility. Hopefully we’ll get something like this in the States soon.
Oct 12
International Telecommunication Union: worldwide mobile subscriptions hit six billion in 2011
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Last year, the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) told us there were five billion mobile subscriptions worldwide at the close of 2010, and now it’s reporting that at the end of 2011, that figure hit a staggering six billion.
Interestingly, the number of global mobile broadband subscriptions now outnumbers fixed ones by two to one, and mobile internet services showed the biggest growth rates in 2011: 40% worldwide and 78% in developing markets. The ITU attributes the latter figure to the relatively high price of fixed access in these countries, and the increasing availability of mobile alternatives. The CTIA also commented on mobile broadband use, reporting that from July 2011 to June this year, Americans consumed 104 percent more data — no doubt due, in part, to people taking advantage of expanding 4G coverage. As usual, we’ve given you the cheat sheet, so if you’d like the full reports and have got a thing for statistics, there’s plenty more in the source links below.
[Image credit: Chris Jordan]
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Wireless, Internet, Mobile
International Telecommunication Union: worldwide mobile subscriptions hit six billion in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink 
Ars Technica | 
ITU, CTIA | Email this | Comments
Oct 12
This week its becoming clear that the Japanese wireless service provider known as SoftBank is ready and willing to take a giant stab at the US marker with Sprint as is readies 23 billion dollars in borrowed cash for a bid. By acquiring Sprint, SoftBank has been tipped to be gaining favor with a variety of hardware manufacturers, this allowing them to grab high-tiered smartphones and tablets for their own brand in Japan. Meanwhile it would appear that the deal is “a must-do deal” for Sprint while for SoftBank it simply isn’t so – this idea coming from Yasuo Sakuma, portfolio manager at Bayview Asset Management in Tokyo, adding “it’s going to be very difficult to turn Sprint around.”
Sakuma of course refers to Sprint’s recent not-so-fabulous showing in the market as US-based Verizon and AT&T continue to grow by leaps and bounds. Meanwhile 4th runner-up T-Mobile continues talks to acquire Metro PCS, they together running up ever closer to Sprint’s third-place standing in the states. Sakuma added that, “the strong yen is probably one of the reasons for SoftBank to acquire overseas assets, but I don’t think this deal will be good for SoftBank.”
With a massive $23 billion in loans to finance this purchase, SoftBank has been warned that they’ll have “unacceptably high” levels of debt – so says a brokerage speaking with Rueters on the matter. This adds to the madness that is Sprint’s market value jumping by $2 billion at news this week of SoftBank’s acquisition talks, this bringing the US-based company up to $17 billion in value altogether.
Sprint also currently has a net debt of around $15 billion while SoftBank’s current net debt sits at $10 billion. Banking business group Societe Generale sent a note out this week on the deal saying that “This deal simply appears to be driven by Masayoshi Son’s belief that Sprint Nextel is too cheap, and little more.” Masayoshi is the current CEO and founder of SoftBank.
SoftBank plans $23 billion for Sprint bid is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Oct 11
It takes years for a person to learn how to write Japanese or Chinese characters. There’s good news though. Robots can do it a lot quicker. A research group has developed a ‘bot that can identify and mimic detailed brush strokes that are required to write these kinds of characters.
The Motion Copy System was developed at Keio University by Seiichiro Katsura. It stores the gestures associated with traditional Japanese calligraphy, and copies them. All that one needs to do to train the system is to guide the robot’s arm with their hand, and it can precisely replicate their recorded brush strokes. Unlike traditional system, the robot can record and reproduce the force applied to the brush similarly to when people touch something.
The calligraphy replication ‘bot was presented at the 2012 Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies in Tokyo, Japan.
[via DigInfo.TV via designboom]
Oct 11
Earlier today it was rumored that Japanese mobile data carrier SoftBank was in talks with Sprint over a possible acquisition of the US carrier – this news has now been confirmed by Sprint with a very brief comment. The words delivered by Sprint here nearer noon on October 11th include confirmation that they’re “engaged in discussions” with the Japanese group and that there are “no assurances that these discussions will result in any transaction.” They also let it be known that if a transaction does occur, it very well could include “a change of control of Sprint.”
This sort of deal is just as, if not more, important than the deal that nearly went down earlier this year here in the USA with AT&T attempting to swallow up T-Mobile. Though that deal did not go through in the end, T-Mobile continued to seek options and is now in talks to join forces with another USA-based group Mobile PCS. With Japan-based SoftBank looking into picking up the entirety of Sprint, there’s no knowing what will become of the third-largest mobile carrier in the USA.
“Sprint Confirms Discussions with Softbank on a Possible Transaction
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), October 11, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE: S) today confirmed that it is currently engaged in discussions with Softbank regarding a potential substantial investment by Softbank in Sprint. Although there can be no assurances that these discussions will result in any transaction or on what terms any transaction may occur, such a transaction could involve a change of control of Sprint. Sprint does not intend to comment further unless and until an agreement is reached.” – Sprint
This news also suggests that SoftBank is looking into Sprint so that it might be able to pick up devices from across the world for less than they’re able this moment. This would seem odd, however, as Japan has never been really hurting for smartphones that bring on abnormally high-spec’d amalgamations of technology. With Sprint on their side, they may be looking to get in on the Apple and Samsung game with more solid stakes.
You’ll want to keep your eye on this deal, ladies and gentlemen, as it could mean big things for Sprint here in the USA. Stick to our mobile tag hub to keep up to date with this and other acquisition news as it comes down from around the world.
Sprint confirms SoftBank talks of acquisition is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Oct 11
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Japanese mobile carrier Softbank is in advanced talks to acquire US operator Sprint for a cool $12.8 billion. More »
Oct 11
Japan’s Softbank in ‘advanced talks’ to acquire Sprint for more than $12 billion (update: confirmed)
Posted in: Today's Chili 
While recent rumors suggested Sprint could be interested in snatching up Metro PCS, it may actually be the target of an acquisition.The Nikkei, Reuters and Wall Street Journal report it is in final buyout talks with Japanese carrier Softbank at a price in excess of 1 trillion yen ($12 billion US). Just over a week ago Softbank snapped up rival eAccess in a billion dollar deal that added 50 percent more base stations to its LTE network and will move it from third to second largest in the country when it is completed. It got to third place with a leveraged buyout of Vodafone’s Japanese arm back in 2006, and CEO Masayoshi Son mentioned last week that he has his eye on the number one spot. We’re not exactly sure how a potential purchase of the third place American carrier fits into its plans (or what this means for Sprint’s future, its LTE rollout and its often woeful 3G speeds), but we’re betting Softbank’s CFO is just trying to keep Son away from any juicy looking eBay “Buy It Now” auctions.
Update: Looks like those reports were on the money: Sprint just released a statement confirming it is in talks with Softbank about a possible transaction. Find that terse press release embedded below.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sprint
Japan’s Softbank in ‘advanced talks’ to acquire Sprint for more than $12 billion (update: confirmed) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 07:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Wall Street Journal, Nikkei, Reuters | Email this | Comments
Oct 10
NTT DoCoMo opens Japanese pre-orders for the LG Optimus G L-01E tomorrow, sales start October 19th
Posted in: Today's Chili 
LG revealed Japan’s NTT DoCoMo would be the first carrier to offer its Optimus G (which it’s been proud enough to announce more than once) and now we have an exact date. Pre-orders for the L-01E start tomorrow ahead of it going on sale October 19th, bringing its quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon CPU, 4.7-inch True HD IPS LCD, 13MP camera, Android 4.0 packaged with the waterproofing, DMB tuning and FeLiCa wallet support local buyers will expect. While we wait for release details in the US on AT&T and Sprint (or another leak of that supposed LG Nexus phone) you can check out the red and black variants rolling out across the Pacific.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
NTT DoCoMo opens Japanese pre-orders for the LG Optimus G L-01E tomorrow, sales start October 19th originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 23:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Oct 10
Leave it to Japan to come up with something like Soineya. It’s the newest cafe in town and it’s probably the only of its kind in the world. That’s because instead of offering juice or coffee or sandwiches, Soineya serves up hugs and cuddles instead.
Yep, you read that right. In Soineya, customers pay to hug, spoon, or sleep (in bed) with some random woman who they just met. Obviously it isn’t the same as getting hugged by someone you care for (and who cares for you, too) but if you’ve got no one, then at least the women at Soineya will be there for you.
Check out the offerings on their ‘menu’:
Admission fee: 3,000 yen
Standard Course
- 20 min – 3,000 yen
- 40 min – 5,000 yen (only 3,000 yen for first time visitors)
- 60 min – 6,000 yen
- “Shimei-ryo” (fee to pick the girl you want to sleep with) – 1,000 yen + 500 yen per hour
Optional Course
- Customer sleeps in girl’s arm (3 min) – 1,000 yen
- Girl pats customer on the back (3 min) – 1,000 yen
- Customer pets girl on the head (3 min) – 1,000 yen
- Customer and girl stare at each other (1 min) – 1,000 yen
- Girl changes clothes (1 time) – 1,000 yen
- Girl gives customer foot massage (3 min) – 1,000 yen
- Customer gives girl foot massage (3 min) – 2,000 yen
- Customer sleeps with head on girl’s lap (3 min) – 1,000 yen
- Girl sleeps with head on customer’s lap (3 min) – 2,000 yen
[via Japan Today via Geekologie]
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