- Insignia Seeks Java Embedded Patent
- ST Announces Cash Offer for Vision Group PLC
- Montreal To Get Wideband CDMA Network Trial
- ORBCOMM Is to Bring Satellite Data and Messaging Services to Russia, Belarus and Mongolia
- ADSL Expected To Reap Broadband Market As Cable Modems Lag
- WorldPort Communications To Provide Backbone Bandwidth To @Home in Netherlands
- Iridium to Buy Claircom Aeronautical Telephone Business from AT&T
- Forrester Research Predicts HDTV Will Fail
- Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association Responds: The Research
is Clear: Consumers Want HDTV- 941.3 Chips
- 941.4 EDA
- 941.5 DCC
- 941.6 Standards
- 941.7 Operating Systems
- 941.8 Applications
- 941.9 Displays
- 941.10 Broadband
- 941.11 Broadcasting
- 941.12 Companies
- 941.13 Deals
--------------------------------------------------------------------
***Insignia
Seeks Java Embedded Patent
(December 22)
Insignia Solutions announced that it has filed an application with The Patent Office of the United Kingdom for international protection of its technologies related to JENE, its implementation of Java for embedded systems.
Features of JENE, which are seen as significant, include concurrent garbage collection and adaptive optimizing dynamic compilation.
***ST Announces Cash Offer for Vision Group PLC (December 22)
STMicroelectronics and Vision Group PLC announced that they have agreed to a cash offer by STMicroelectronics to acquire Vision Group. STMicroelectronics will offer (British pounds) 0.62 in cash for each Vision Group share which values Vision Group's issued ordinary share capital at approximately (British pounds) 23.3 million.
Vision Group is a supplier of CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) image sensors. Vision Group's products are currently utilized in: desktop video conferencing, digital still cameras, security, biometrics, automotive, toys and have various industrial applications. Vision Group has its headquarters in Edinburgh, with offices in California and New Jersey. It has approximately 85 employees.
The Board of Vision Group is pleased to recommend the merging of Vision Group's design and operational experience with the manufacturing and market strength of ST."
***Montreal To Get Wideband CDMA Network Trial (December 22)
Newsbytes reports that North American GSM (global system for mobile communications) Alliance members and Nortel Networks are planning to test a W-CDMA network in Montreal, Canada. W-CDMA is expected to be the basis of 3-G (third-generation) wireless networks. W-CDMA offers access to wide bandwidth mobile data communications, at speeds of up to 384,000bps.
Nortel is working with members of the North American GSM Alliance to install the Montreal test network. Canadian PCS (personal communications service) operator Microcell is the local carrier.
Nortel Networks will be working closely with Panasonic, to develop 3-G wireless voice and data "solutions," to provide the network hardware, software and terminals. Participants in the trial will be able to test advanced mobile services, including high-bandwidth Internet access, data, video, image and multimedia, using prototype personal phones, wireless modems and even digital cameras.
***ORBCOMM Is to Bring Satellite Data and Messaging Services to Russia, Belarus and Mongolia (December 22)
ORBCOMM Global, L.P. announced it has signed a service license agreement with GPSS (Gibraltar) Holdings Limited to provide two-way data and messaging communications to the territories of Russia, Belarus and Mongolia. ORBCOMM and GPSS expect to launch commercial service in these territories during 1999 through the Radio Engineering Corporation, the operating arm of GPSS in Russia.
Russia, Belarus and Mongolia will be served by the ORBCOMM satellite system and ground infrastructure that includes three gateway earth stations to be located in Moscow, Novosibirsk and Khabarovsk, as well as a gateway control center to be located in Moscow. The gateway earth stations and the gateway control center route messages to and from the satellites and their terrestrial destinations. The area of coverage is 17 million square kilometer territory.
GPSS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cambridge Research Advisory Group (CRAG). The mission of CRAG, which is based in the United Kingdom, is to support technological and economic development in Eastern Europe and Russia over the long term.
ORBCOMM provides two-way monitoring, tracking and messaging services through the world's first low-Earth orbit satellite-based data communications system. ORBCOMM applications include monitoring of fixed assets such as electric utility meters, oil and gas storage tanks, wells and pipelines and environmental projects; tracking of mobile assets such as commercial vehicles, trailers, rail cars, heavy equipment, fishing vessels, barges and government assets; and messaging services for consumers and commercial and government entities.
ORBCOMM is a partnership owned by Orbital Sciences Corporation and Teleglobe Inc. of Canada.
***ADSL Expected To Reap Broadband Market As Cable Modems Lag (December 22)
Communications Today reports on a results of a forthcoming study by Allied Business Intelligence which shows asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) technology getting a market leap on cable modems. According to "Broadband Delivery in the Local Loop:
1999," to be will released in January, ADSL will capture 37 percent of the United States market for broadband subscribers in 2004, overtaking cable modem technology that is projected to capture 24 percent of the market in 2004.ADSL's is expected to rise from a six percent share in 1999 in part due to the expected success of the G.Lite initiative. The big loser in this market is ISDN, whose share of the broadband subscriber market is expected to fall from a 74 percent share of the market in 1999 to 17 percent by 2004.
***WorldPort Communications To Provide Backbone Bandwidth To @Home in Netherlands (December 22)
Communications Today reports that WorldPort Communications of Atlanta will provide @Home Netherlands, a subsidiary of @Home Networks Inc., with backbone services with its EnerTel subsidiary in the Netherland.
@Home will introduce new broadband Internet and content services provided to subscribers via cable television providers. EnerTel will provide broadband interconnectivity between @Home's network facilities in Amsterdam, @Home's regional data centers in the Netherlands, the cable network facilities of Castel and Palet, and the Amsterdam Internet Exchange. To enable @Home to provide its customers with high-speed access to the Internet, EnerTel will develop a customized backbone network for @Home using asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) technology.
Home Netherlands is a joint venture of U.S.-based @Home Network, two major Dutch cable companies CasTel and Palet, and Intel of Santa Clara, Calif.
***Iridium to Buy Claircom Aeronautical Telephone Business from AT&T (December 22)
Iridium LLC announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase Claircom Communications Group (Claircom) from AT&T and Rogers Cantel for $65 million in cash and debt. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals.
Claircom's inflight telephone services will complement Iridium's portfolio of services tailored for the business-traveling professional. Following completion of the transaction, the Claircom installations will carry the Iridium brand, and will be integrated into Iridium's global wireless telephony and paging offering.
Seattle-based Claircom began revenue service in 1993, and is the second largest provider in the United States of telephone communications to commercial airplanes. Claircom owns and operates a digital air-to-ground telephony network consisting of 160 ground stations distributed across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and two switching centers. The network currently serves passengers with more than 100,000 inflight telephones on approximately 1,700 commercial and executive aircraft. Claircom is also a major marketer of international aeronautical equipment for satellite services, with installations on over 200 aircraft.
Iridium's satellite aeronautical services unit, scheduled to begin global commercial service late Q1 1999 will join with Claircom to create an aeronautical services business with products and services for all types of aircraft and their passengers. The Iridium system will be capable of delivering aeronautical communications services to the cockpits and cabins of commercial airliners and personal and corporate aircraft. The system will provide passenger communications for in-bound and out-bound calling, direct communications to belt-worn pagers, and cockpit communications worldwide, including previously unavailable polar route service.
***Forrester Research Predicts HDTV Will Fail (December 8)
While digital television offers a variety of ways for TV manufacturers, broadcasters, and cable operators to make money, high-definition television (HDTV) doesn't. A Report from Forrester Research predicts that standard definition digital television (SDTV) will succeed where HDTV fails by offering an affordable digital TV experience for consumers and viable business models for TV makers, broadcasters, and distributors.
The benefits of HDTV-high resolution, wide-screen pictures, and six-channel sound-have been widely touted. To deliver these features, the consumer electronics industry has invested nearly $1 billion to create new digital products. But these investments, along with the cost of producing the components to receive and display HDTV broadcasts, will keep the price of HDTV sets at or more than $2000 for another 10 years. As a result, only 1 million U.S. households will own HDTV sets in 2003.
In contrast, SDTV delivers the same benefits as HDTV without the high-definition picture. By eliminating the need for a high-resolution display, the price of SDTV sets should fall to less than $1000 by 2002. This price point, combined with picture and sound that is far superior to today's analog broadcasts, will draw consumers to SDTV in large numbers. As a result, Forrester expects SDTV to be in 4 million households by 2003 and capture more than 80% of the market by 2008.
"Consumers will be dazzled by HDTV's picture and sound, but the sets will remain economically out of reach for 90% of consumers," said Josh Bernoff, principal analyst in New Media Research at Forrester. "By comparison, SDTV delivers all the benefits of digital at a small premium over today's prices. SDTV's affordability will deliver the audience that the industry needs to make digital television a reality in the United States."
In addition to attracting consumers with affordable digital TV sets, SDTV offers a variety of profitable business models for TV producers, broadcasters, and distributors. Chief among these is multicasting-sending multiple simultaneous signals on a single broadcast. Multicasting will improve revenues by creating new broadcast carriage options and expanding viewership. Local broadcasters and cable operators will use multicasting to offer time-shifted program repeats, bring cable shows to new audiences, and introduce network programming into new areas.
Broadcasters will also experiment with datacasting - sending interactive data like stock quotes, related Web pages, and program enhancements along with broadcasts-as an alternative to multicasting. Because datacasting can reach receivers other than televisions, broadcasters could use their spectrum to provide real-time data feeds to industrial customers or consumers. By offering both potential new revenue streams and an audience, SDTV will entice the industry to make the investments necessary to deliver digital television.
For the Report "HDTV Dreams, SDTV Realities," Forrester spoke with leading networks and station groups, cable and satellite operators, and program producers. Forrester also interviewed more than 50 TV manufacturers, retailers, and software and equipment vendors to assess the impact of digital television on the industry.
***Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association Responds: The Research is Clear: Consumers Want HDTV (December 7)
Responding to a survey released by Forrester Research, "HDTV Dreams, SDTV Realities," Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA) issued the following statement: "The Forrester research results are wrong. Forrester makes predictions in its report about what consumers want without talking to consumers. Our HDTV research is based on consumer opinion surveys and consumer focus groups that included HDTV demonstrations. The results of our research are clear: consumers want high definition TV (HDTV) and, in demonstration after demonstration, they express a strong preference for HDTV over standard definition TV (SDTV). "HDTV is like ice cream. You can read about ice cream. But until you taste it, you don't know how good it is. Our research tells us that when consumers see HDTV, they are excited about the technology and willing to pay for it.
"The entire history of our industry demonstrates that Americans want the best picture and sound quality technology has to offer. And 20 million households have already invested $2000 or more on their television. Even at introductory prices, HDTV is a success with consumers. As prices come down - and they will - HDTV sales will go up, making this technology the next generation of television." CEMA estimates digital television sales of 150,000 sets by the end of 1999, and sales of 600,000 in the year 2000. CEMA projects that the first 10 million sets will be sold by 2003, the next 10 million in 2004 and 2005, and 10.8 million to be sold in 2006.
***Pixelworks and Analog Devices Team to Offer Interface Solution for Flat Panel Displays (December 2)
Pixelworks and Analog Devices are partnering to demonstrate a high-performance interface solution for next-generation flat panel display (FPD) products.
The combination of the two components, the PW364 ImageProcessor from Pixelworks and Analog Devices' AD9884 Graphics Digitizer enables a complete standard 15-pin VGA interface input for FPDs with unprecedented integration and image quality. The design supports resolutions up to UXGA with a large number of display features on a reference design board measuring only 4 inches by 6 inches.
The design delivers image quality from the standard 15-pin VGA input, found on all of today's computers, regardless of input source format, without manual user intervention and at a lower cost than alternative approaches. Compatibility with the existing base of computer and video standards will help accelerate adoption of flat panel display technology including LCD monitors, LCD projectors and gas plasma displays.
Major FPD manufacturers and OEMs are currently evaluating this reference design. The combination reduces the cost of the display controller to less than $100 and the component count to as few as four chips. Products using this reference design will be introduced in the second quarter of 1999 and are expected to set new standards for FPD image quality and ease of use.
The Pixelworks PW364 ImageProcessor handles the digital portion of the interface after the AD9884 has converted the incoming analog signal. It provides image resizing to support graphics resolutions from VGA up to UXGA, automatically creating high-quality images. The PW364 also supports multi-standard video interfacing in addition to computer inputs, which converts interlaced video signals such as NTSC to a progressive scan signal suitable for flat panel displays. The PW364 includes frame rate conversion, ensuring that flat panel displays using the PW364 are just as compatible as today's CRT monitors. Pixelworks has also developed a proprietary adaptive image optimization technology that automatically and continually adapts in real time to provide an optimal image. Manual adjustments such as "sync," "phase," "position," "clock" and "tracking" are eliminated. This will make products using this design as easy to connect as today's auto-synch CRT monitors.
The AD9884 chip is an integrated triple 8-bit, 140-MSPS (megasamples per second) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that consumes less than 700 mW at 3.3-V power supply. It can support display resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 at 75 Hz refresh rate. The AD9884 also includes an internal +1.25-V reference, a phase-locked loop (PLL), and programmable gain and clamp control. With full-power analog bandwidth that is greater than 500 MHz, it has sufficient input bandwidth to accurately acquire and digitize each pixel for crisp image quality. The AD9884 was designed specifically for demanding RGB graphics processing, LCD monitor and projector, plasma display panel and scan converter applications.
***Synopsys' Synthesis Enables "Smart TV" System On a Chip (December 7)
Synopsys announced that smart television integrated circuit (IC) manufacturer TeleCruz achieved first-time tape-out success using the Synopsys synthesis solution.
TeleCruz chose both Synopsys' tool suite and other competing synthesis tools.
The TeleCruz design team relied exclusively on Synopsys Design Compiler throughout their project to produce the first highly integrated single-chip solution that offers PC-quality graphics and two-way communication capability in standard televisions.
TeleCruz's TC701 is a single chip controller for interactive televisions. The advanced features of TC701 are designed to support television manufacturers requirements for a platform capable of supporting various information services at low added cost.
TeleCruz uses a comprehensive synthesis solution from Synopsys:
Design Compiler, for industry-leading synthesis; PrimeTime, for static-timing analysis; Arcadia, for fast and accurate parasitic extraction; and a combination of DC Expert Plus for one-pass test and TestGen, for automatic test pattern generation (ATPG). All of these tools integrate seamlessly into Toshiba's sign-off flow.TeleCruz Technology Inc., is a developer of embedded products for interactive television. The company designs and manufactures integrated circuits for the interactive television market.
***Media 100 Certifies Compaq Professional Workstation AP500 (December 2)
Media 100 announces it has approved the Compaq Professional Workstation AP500 for use with MEDIA 100 qx and qxc for Windows NT. The Compaq Professional Workstation AP500 is the most affordable system ever approved for MEDIA 100 qx for Windows NT products and uses the Intel 440 BX chip set with 100 MHz bus speed to provide superior performance and throughput capabilities.
Media 100's certification process for MEDIA 100 qx and qxc includes thorough environmental and application testing of the Compaq Professional Workstation AP500 with various third-party peripheral products. As a result of this certification, Media 100 will work closely with Compaq on future workstation products, continually testing such offerings with new MEDIA 100 releases and third-party products.
As a certified compatible computer system, the Compaq Professional Workstation AP500 will be supported under Media 100's PLATINUM TECHNICAL SUPPORT packages. Media 100 is the only manufacturer to test, certify and support third-party solutions. MEDIA 100 qx for Windows NT will support up to 300KB/frame data rates (NTSC) when configured with the AP500, Windows NT Version 4.0 and Service Pack 3, 128MB RAM, Wide-Ultra SCSI disk drives and disk controllers, and an approved TrueColor/Direct Draw compatible AGP graphics card. A single Wide-Ultra disk drive and disk controller will support up to 150KB/frame; higher data rates require additional Wide-Ultra SCSI drives and controllers.
***Viewgraphics' SDxstream and Eyeon's Digital Fusion join (December 2)
Viewgraphics and Eyeon Software announced the combination of Eyeon's Digital Fusion compositing and special effects package with Viewgraphics' new SDxstream uncompressed serial digital video non-linear editing system.
The new package makes possible full bitrate uncompressed D1 digital video content creation on the desktop. The $6,995 price tag for the board bundle includes Viewgraphics' single slot serial digital PCI board integrated with QuickTime and Adobe Premiere plus Eyeon's Digital Fusion V.25 software. A pre-configured editing system including the SDxstream package and a 450 MHz Pentium II computer with ½ hour uncompressed video storage is also available for $13,495.
SDxstream allows users to edit their video using the Premiere interface-all the while achieving vastly improved video quality when compared to compressed video board solutions. Digital Fusion integrates a creative image processing and compositing environment for production of truly spectacular effects.
SDxstream provides real-time access to uncompressed 4:2:2 serial digital video (ITU-R BT.656, SMPTE 259M). SDxstream transfers continuous full bitrate serial digital streams over the PCI bus with no compromises to compression, not even so-called "lossless" compression. Video image data flows directly into and out of standard Y'CbCr QuickTime files in an NTFS file system. Also, two channels of embedded audio are acquired, de-multiplexed from the input serial digital signal and delivered to QuickTime. Output audio is synchronized with the video and multiplexed into the serial digital stream.
Digital Fusion's release, V2.5, is a non-linear compositing and post production system that runs on the Windows NT platform. It is a fully resolution-independent creative image processing and special effects environment for broadcast video, feature films, multimedia, and other moving image media. Digital Fusion's architecture is an advanced, object-oriented, multi-threaded, multi-processing environment. All time-consuming operations are processed as background tasks, leaving the user free to create new flows without having to wait for a render to be completed. Every operation uses its own thread, allowing frames to be pre-loaded or saved while other frames are processed. This takes full advantage of a multi-processor machine's resources, and speeds up rendering significantly. Even on single processor machines, throughput is significantly increased.
Multiple options are offered. Users with an NT system meeting minimum system requirements, which include a dual ultra-wide SCSI video array and high quality Pentium II PC system, may choose the SDxstream board along with QuickTime, Adobe Premiere, and Digital Fusion V2.5 for $6, 995. The system is also available without the Digital Fusion option for $4,995. Viewgraphics also offers a system bundle containing a 450MHz PC, a 36 GB video disk array subsystem providing ½ hour of uncompressed storage, the SDxstream board, QuickTime, Premiere and Digital Fusion V2.5 for the incredibly low price of $13,495. The SDxstream system bundle without Fusion is $11,495. SDxstream can be purchased directly from Viewgraphics at 888-284-9060 and at the Sdxstream web site. Both bundles are immediately available and come with an unconditional 30-day money back guarantee.
***Standards for Efficient Cryptography Group (SEGG) formed (December 15)
Several providers of cryptographic security technologies and solutions announced the creation of the Standards for Efficient Cryptography Group (SEGG). The group's charter is to develop Standards for Efficient Cryptography (SEC), a family of commercial standards that will specify interoperable, easily implemented, and cost-effective security solutions based on elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) technology.
The SEC solutions will enable developers to build secure applications in such areas as e-commerce, stock trading, wireless communications, Internet access, online banking, smart cards and electronic payment systems.
The SEGG seeks to achieve the following goals:
*Address the problems of interoperability that are common to today's different cryptographic solutions.
*Allow the effective incorporation of ECC technology into these various solutions.
*Serve to provide more efficient digital certificate structures and public-key infrastructure definitions than are currently available.
*Provide the critical standardization necessary for widespread deployment of ECC in the general public-key infrastructure as well as in processing power-constrained devices such as PDAs and smart cards.The first of the SEC documents will be reviewed at a public conference hosted by Certicom in February 1999.
The SEGG standards draw extensively on existing efforts in relevant ANSI, IEEE, and ISO draft standards.
Founding Members include:
3Com, Baltimore Technologies, Certicom, Diversinet, Ernst & Young, Fujitsu, Giesecke & Devrient, GlobeSet, GTE CyberTrust, Hewlett-Packard, Motorola, NTT Electronics Corporation, Rainbow Technologies, Thawte Consulting , and Xcert International.
***Microsoft
Joins the Meta Data Coalition
(December 7)
Microsoft has become a member of the Meta Data Coalition with the goal of helping solidify the Coalition's role in evolving a technology and vendor-independent standard for metadata interchange.
Microsoft will provide an implementation-independent version of its Open Information Model (OIM) to the Coalition and work as a member of the technical subcommittee to devise a plan for merging the OIM with the Coalition's Meta Data Interchange Specification (MDIS). This makes the Coalition the long-term owner of a unified industry standard for metadata that already is in widespread productive use and guarantees that it evolves in a vendor-neutral and upward-compatible fashion.
The results of this collaboration will provide the enterprise market with:
· a technology-independent and vendor-neutral information model describing the structure and semantics of metadata,
· an implementation-independent XML-based interchange format for metadata, and
· a platform for vendors and end-users to collaborate on the design of the above.
***Oracle,
Sun Take OS Out of Computers
(December 14)
Oracle and Sun Microsystems have announced that they have teamed to build a computer that will not utilize a traditional operating system. Under the partnership, Oracle will use the Sun Solaris core with the Oracle8i Internet database for its upcoming database server appliance, code-named Raw Iron.
Raw Iron is aimed to be a low-cost, pre-configured database appliance. The companies are hoping that the technology will become popular for running large applications such as e-mail, text files, and accounting programs, thereby eliminating the demand for the smaller servers used with Windows NT.
The agreement allows both companies to distribute and support combined offerings of the Oracle8i database and Sun Solaris operating environment. It also allows Sun to provide its customers with capabilities for Internet and e-commerce applications by leveraging combined Oracle database technology. Sun claims that the Solaris-based environment will feature enhanced file storage, e-mail, calendaring, directory, session information, and system management.
***Clarion Unveils Auto PC Powered by Microsoft Windows CE (December 4)
Clarion Corp. of America unveiled the Clarion AutoPC. The Clarion AutoPC, powered by the Microsoft Windows CE operating system, is now available-for the first time-in select locations in California, Washington and Oregon. This product will be available throughout the United States at hundreds of authorized Clarion retailers in January 1999.
The Clarion AutoPC is a high-powered AM/FM stereo with integrated Digital Signal Processing (DSP) equalization and a built-in 35 watt x 4 channel amplifier, which comes standard with Windows CE, Hitachi SH3 processor and 16 MB DRAM/8 MB ROM.
The unit also boasts the first-ever in-dash Clarion-quality CD audio and CD-ROM drive, which supports an optional six-disc CD changer through Universal Serial Bus (USB). The backlit, 8-color LCD screen provides consumers with an easy-to-read, icon-driven user interface. An Infrared Data Port provides easy information exchange to and from other PC Companion devices such as a Palm-size PC. In addition, built-in support for CompactFlash (CF) cards enables additional memory and access to hardware accessories.
Designed with safety, efficiency and convenience in mind, the Clarion AutoPC recognizes simple voice commands, allowing consumers to do things like select music and retrieve contact information without taking their eyes off the road.
Through "speech synthesis" technology, the Clarion AutoPC provides information back to the driver by "speaking" the displayed texts. Other built-in features applications include an address book and voice memo feature.
With optional map data from Navigation Technologies, the Clarion AutoPC is able to provide route calculation from a user-specified starting location and destination, as well as spoken turn-by-turn directions. Coupled with an additional Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, the unit provides automatic starting-point identification and location updates as well as pinpoints the driver's exact locale.
A number of hardware accessories will be available for the Clarion AutoPC in January 1999. Some of these accessories include a cellular phone cradle with modem to allow for voice-controlled operation; a wireless receiver providing access to an array of customized information, such as real-time traffic reports, news updates, numeric paging, and e-mail alerts; and a vehicle diagnostic module that enables the Auto PC to receive data from the vehicle's on-board computer system.
Many more applications are on the way to make driving safer and easier. The suggested retail price for the basic Clarion AutoPC unit is $1,299.
***Flexible
Computer Screen Moves Ahead
(December 7)
According to Reuters the computer display could be getting more flexible. The US Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent on "flexible plastic organic" LED displays. Researchers from Universal Display Corporation are working on the technology with a team at Princeton University. It's the third critical patent the team has received, following ones for transparent display technology, and a special pixel array that lets transparent or flexible screens shine in vivid color. The three together are an important combination.
The so-called OLED technology makes possible myriad new types of electronic displays. Some of the more dramatic possibilities: plastic roll-up computers or transparent heads-up computer screens in fighter-jet cockpits. In the short term, though, the technology promises to revolutionize the grainy, black-and-white world of handheld computers and cell phones. Universal Display expects to have prototypes for high-definition, color-cell-phone and PDA displays ready by mid-1999, and into commercial production by 2000.
Some doubt exists that Universal will meet its deadlines. "I think we're still some years away from seeing practical products from this stuff, though it's certainly an area that shows promise," said Martin Reynolds, an analyst for the Gartner Group. Even if Universal Display can bring the products to market quickly, consumers may not want to pay the price for a snazzy new look on their PDAs.
UDC has been working on flat-panel technology since 1994 as part of team that includes Princeton University, the University of Southern California, and Hughes Electronics. The team received a $3 million award from the Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is interested in deploying transparent, flat-panel technology on the battlefield for use in "smart" battle helmets, among other things. The two universities are both major shareholders in UDC, which has the sole marketing rights to technology the team develops.
***Road Runner Roars Past 160,000 Subscribers (December 3)
Road Runner, Time Warner, Microsoft Corp., Compaq Corp. and Advance/Newhouse, has 160,000 customers in the United States, the joint venture announced.
With fourth quarter customer installations exceeding expectations, the company projects that year-end subscriber numbers will surpass original projections of 170,000.
The robust growth is largely attributable to the growing awareness and popularity of the service in the approximately 50 communities where it is available. Penetration levels in at least 14 of these communities' areas are exceeding 9 percent with several reporting a benchmark of 12 percent. Time Warner Cable and MediaOne continue to be the leading MSO's in the high-speed data business.
Road Runner is a joint venture among affiliates of Time Warner Inc., MediaOne Group Inc., Microsoft Corp., Compaq Corp. and Advance/Newhouse. It combines the resources and strategic talent of the five partners who are world leaders in media, broadband communications, computer software and hardware and publishing. The Road Runner character is a trademark and copyright of Warner Bros.
***JVC to Build Receivers for WorldSpace Digital Satellite Audio (December 9)
Victor Company of Japan(JVC) will manufacture receivers for WorldSpace Corp, which is planning to provide audio broadcasting services to emerging markets. Under the agreement, JVC will develop, manufacture, and market the receivers to be used exclusively on WorldSpace's broadcasting system.
The project will enhance social conditions in developing countries, where needs such as education, entertainment, and other areas have gone unmet because of substandard communications infrastructures.
Key Features:
· High quality digital sound
· Portable concept with high power and large-sized speakers
· Easy and logical man-machine interface features
· Detachable WS satellite antenna
· Program type search
· Language search
· Jog dial
· Additional digital synthesizer tuner (FM/MW/SW)
· WS data (BC) In/OutSpecifications
· Power Requirement - 110V/127V/230V
· Output power - 2.3W x 2 (AC operation)
· Dimensions - Approx. 450 x 155 x 250mm
· Weight - 4 kgs (without batteries)
***NEC
Electronics Restructures
(December 2)
NEC Electronics announced a corporate restructuring effort designed to make the company a more market driven, customer focused and cost-effective organization. As a result of this change, approximately 400 positions have been eliminated from the company's headquarter offices, in Santa Clara, manufacturing facility in Roseville, California, and in sales offices throughout North America.
This figure represents approximately 13% of NEC Electronics' total workforce. This action has been taken to improve the company's profitability which has been affected by the worldwide slump in semiconductor business. At the same time, new direction has become a priority as customer demands have shifted to requiring more service and support, resulting from their increased demand for the most sophisticated system level integrated solutions.
Construction will continue on the company's recently announced $1.4 billion G-Line manufacturing facility in Roseville. Planned for completion in 2002, the new facility is expected to be among the most advanced semiconductor facilities in the world and one of the first 300mm fabs up and running.
NEC Electronics Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., designs, manufactures and markets an extensive line of electronic products including ASICs, microprocessors and microcontrollers, graphics accelerators, digital signal processors (DSPs), memories and components including flat panel displays and lithium-ion batteries. The company operates a 709,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Roseville, Calif. NEC Electronics is an affiliate of NEC Corporation, a multibillion dollar international manufacturer of computer, communications and semiconductor products.
***Xybernaut Licenses IBM's ViaVoice 98 Speech Recognition Software (December 7)
Xybernaut announced that it has entered into an agreement with International Business Machines Corporation whereby Xybernaut has selected and licensed IBM's ViaVoice 98 to be its standard speech recognition package for bundling in its recently introduced Mobile Assistant IV (MA IV) series of wearable computers. Under the licensing arrangement, Xybernaut has committed to purchase 25,000 copies of IBM's ViaVoice software in the first year.
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