Vendors and telcos weave the mobile web

Mobile phone vendors and telecoms companies are to work together on compatibility between handsets and services in order to boost mobile internet services.

The partnership, which was announced at Comdex and is to be known as the open mobile architecture initiative, will include Nokia, AT&T Wireless, NTT DoCoMo, Telefonica Mobiles, Sony and Ericsson.

Nokia chief executive Jorma Ollila said the initiative will help develop software which is compliant with the specifications of bodies such as the Wireless Application Protocol Forum and the third-generation (3G) Partnership Project. It will also support standards such as Java and Multimedia Messaging Service.

Ollila said the initiative intends to standardise technology to make it easier to develop and deploy new services and to avoid proprietary systems. The single platform will be a benefit to users and developers of mobile applications.

Among the new products being showcased at the trade show were a networked handycam that contains an integrated Bluetooth chip introduced by Sony.

With the camera and a cell phone, consumers will be able to send digital video clips or still shots from remote locations across the web.

Camera maker Ricoh showed off its new iMove (Internet Mobile Observation Equipment) device, a networked video camera containing 802.11b wireless capabilities. Each camera has its own IP address and can operate over standard 802.11b, as well as newer and faster wireless local area network (Lan) protocols.

Palm, which has started selling a new version of its operating system, demonstrated some improvements from partners, such as a Bluetooth module from TDK that lets a Palm connect to the web through a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone.

Also on the show floor, Intel unveiled intelligent roaming for notebook computers. The technology, scheduled to be delivered some time in 2002, will enable users to switch between wireless Lans, and to use wireless wide area networks including 3G and 2.5G mobile systems. It is based on the next-generation IEEE 802.11a standard.

Toshiba showcased mobile products such as the company's first entry into the PDA market, the Pocket PC e570, that offers dual built-in SD and CompactFlash II expansion slots and uses the Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 operating software.

It also demonstrated the Portege 4000 Series notebook, which weighs 4.4 pounds, and is Toshiba's first notebook with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies. It also comes equipped with a Secure Digital media slot.

Proxim took the wraps off its new Skyline Cardbus Card and Access Point wireless products which both feature the company's 2X mode that allows connection speeds up to 108Mbps.