02/12/2007
The only Apple at the 3GSM World Congress is affixed to the front door of a health-food snack stand in one of the main conference halls.
But Apple Inc. is looming over the event - one of the wireless industry's largest - as companies like Microsoft Corp., Nokia Corp. and Omnifone offer an array of media content that they hope will keep Apple from taking a bite out of their market share.
The iPhone isn't due to be released in the U.S. until June and a European launch is scheduled for the fall. So far Cingular, the new AT&T, is the only major operator with a deal to distribute the phone, which marries the form and function of an iPod with touch-screen and cellphone capabilities.
Bill Gadja of the GSM Association, which stages the annual congress, said companies were more than happy to welcome Apple into the field, but noted that the features Apple is touting - a large touch screen, the ability to play music and surf the Internet - are already found on most modern handsets.
“All of those innovations that Apple talked about are already appearing on phones and we're going to see handsets that go way beyond that this week,” he said.
Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., the world's third biggest maker of cell phones, drew large crowds eager for a peek at the Ultra Smart F700, dubbed by the industry as an iPhone killer.
Samsung said the Ultra Smart F700 also has a full touch screen as well as a traditional QWERTY key pad that slides out. The phone can also access the Internet, play music, take pictures, show videos, handle e-mail and share photos, said Samsung.
Microsoft PlayReady
While Apple allows its music only to be played on its iPods using its iTunes player, others like Microsoft planned to work with cell phone network operators and suppliers to make it easier to share media like songs and images among different devices.
Dubbed PlayReady, the Redmond, Washington-based software company said it would let both operators and handset makers support several different content types with a flexible digital rights management to let users have an easier time in downloading and listening to music and other content.
“Our wireless partners worldwide asked for a single system to power a growing array of business models and consumer scenarios - the result is Microsoft PlayReady,” said Amir Majidimehr, a corporate vice president of Microsoft's Consumer Media Technology group. “With consumer demand for digital goods of all types growing exponentially, this technology delivers a foundation for the future and accelerates the transparent delivery of rich content to consumers.”
So far, Microsoft has deals with Spain's Telefonica SA, its U.K. unit O2, Verizon Wireless, Bouygues Telecom and Cingular, which plan to support the format.
Cayetano Lluch, manager of technology and services at Telefonica, said it would help them manage media content for its subscribers.
“Demand for mobile media content is growing exponentially and Microsoft PlayReady will help us deliver a tailored digital entertainment experience for our customers,'' he said.
Omnifone
Other companies are looking at rival services to Apple altogether. Omnifone, a British mobile music company, unveiled a new music service that will let cell phone users download songs on the go and over the air without a connection to a PC.
The company said its new MusicStation will be an “all you can eat” service that will let users - in Europe first, but with plans to expand elsewhere - download new songs from dozens of major music labels for a weekly cost of 1.99 pounds, or about US$3.88.
Motorola
Both Nokia and Motorola Inc. unveiled a bevy of new phones, including sleek premium versions of the former's E-Series and Motorola's shiny and tiny Moto-oriented lines.
Motorola, the second-largest maker of mobile phones, introduced its MOTOSLVR L9 with built-in music player that uses stereo Bluetooth and an FM radio that supports radio data system, or RDS, meaning users can see the radio station's name, song title and genre on the main screen.
It also sports a 2 megapizel camera and an external microSD memory card.
“The handset has an eye-catching mirror-reflective finish with feature-rich functionality to deliver an entertaining mobile experience that matches today's digital lifestyle,” said Ron Garriques, president of Motorola Mobile Devices.
Nokia
Nokia announced three new devices in its E-series line, which is aimed at business users, including a slim E61i with e-mail capability, the E65 slider Communicator and the E90 Communicator.
On the consumer side, the company also unveiled its 6110 Navigator phone that sports integrated GPS to let users find their location worldwide and pinpoint places of interest such as restaurants, hotels or destinations.
Using complete turn-by-turn 3D navigation, the phone offers the best route to follow by car, or on foot, using voice, text and visual cues. It is set to start shipping in 2007.
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