By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net

IF I were to think of a word that best describes last week’s CommunicAsia in just one word, here it is: broadband.

Specifically, from Ericsson’s point of view, the future of networks is about broadband without wires. In numeric terms, thanks to a new standard called LTE (Long Term Evolution), that’s 150Mbps download speed on your mobile phone or HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access)-powered laptop — wherever, whenever.

So after going through really interesting IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) and mobile TV demos, it was a refreshing thought to find more about how Miss Jolie plans to make the world a better place. Minus the Lara Croft outfit, of course.

By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net

THEY are no longer called mobile phones.

They are “multimedia devices” that will become the portable computer you carry around, according to Nokia.

Just take a look at these devices featured in CommunicAsia by different manufacturers this year. They all sport colorful and bigger-than-usual screens that will allow you to view on-demand video and television shows.

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By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net

WHAT I’m holding is a prototype mobile TV handset by Ericsson. This was taken during the demonstration of the unit at CommunicAsia 2007 in Singapore.

Unlike mobile TV handsets by Nokia or Samsung, this one does not receive TV signals via DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld).

That’s because Ericsson’s vision of mobile TV runs on another standard called MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service).

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TECHNICAL experts from Nokia Siemens Network gave media a glimpse of Long Term Evolution, a next-generation mobile network technology that will allow the streaming of high-definition video to mobile devices.

Video taken by INQUIRER.net reporter Erwin Oliva on June 19, 2007 in Singapore during Nokia Connect 2007 and CommunicAsia 2007.

By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net

SINGAPORE–An executive from Nokia Siemens Network said today’s mobile phones are no longer mere telephones. They are mobile or, better yet, multimedia devices.

That may sound like a marketing ploy meant to reintroduce what was once called smart phones. But newer handsets unveiled during the CommunicAsia 2007 offered multiple functions other than making calls, sending text messages, taking video or photos.

Mobile phone vendors showcased mobile devices that had bigger screens that were designed for better viewing of on-demand or pushed content. It was also evident that Internet browsing is becoming a standard feature.

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