Earthquake early warning and automatic translation capabilities, also Cyber-shot, AQUOS and VIERA branded phones. Tech-On! introduces the highlights of the new functions and handset models that NTT DoCoMo announced Nov 1, 2007. Video clips below.
One of the new functions we are introducing here is "Area Mail," which delivers quick emergency reports such as earthquake early warnings. The capability, dubbed a CBS (cell broadcasting system), only broadcasts the information to handsets within a specific area. The capability can transmit not only earthquake early warnings issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency but also other information concerning disasters and evacuations, for example.
As earthquake early warnings require split-second urgency, the information is displayed on top of the standby screen, unlike standard email. Dedicated ring tones are provided as well. Please check out how they sound like in the video clip.
The Aria Mail service will be started in 2007. At the presentation, DoCoMo operated a demonstration model that reproduces screen displays and ring tones on its own without the actual service operating. All the 905i series models and six 705i series models support this service.
The "Shabette Hon-yaku" automatic translation capability using a voice recognition system has also been added to the 905i series handsets. If you speak a phrase that you want translated while talking on the phone, a translation will be displayed on the screen after a few seconds. The 905i handsets support translation from Japanese to English and from English to Japanese.
Voice recognition and translation is done server-side, although voice input is not sent directly to the server. The mobile phone extracts characteristics from the voices and sends them to the server, before the server runs voice recognition.
The ability to extract audio characteristics is not limited to "Shabette Hon-yaku" and is also available through other i-appli services. The capability allows mobile phone operation using voices instead of the keyboard. Game titles using this capability will be provided as well.
Video clip 1: New functionalities (about 47 sec)
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DoCoMo announced 23 new handset models. As a new structural experiment, the P905i is designed to open sideways in addition to upward, the common direction for standard flip-open mobile phones. This design helps users stably set the phone when viewing horizontally long 1seg broadcasts.
New products with popular AV equipment brand names were also highlighted. Handsets featuring the "Cyber-shot" digital camera and "AQUOS" and "Viera" display names will emerge in the DoCoMo handset market. Adopting the technologies of the original brand names to mobile phones, DoCoMo is also aiming to increase mobile phone sales through these strong brand names.
The 705i series of products will be launched in 2008 and therefore only mockups were presented with no demonstrations. Nevertheless, reporters clamored to get pictures of N705iμ and the P705iμ, which both had slim 9.8 mm bodies.
Video clip 2: New handsets (about 1 min 33 sec)
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