Any thoughts about the news below? I wonder if we will see something
like this emerge and be successful. In Japan we tend to cram as much as
possible in cell-phones. What do you think is most likely in your
respective countries?
--
Duval Sébastien, Ph.D.
国立情報学研究所
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Source: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0%2c39020336%2c39283926%
2c00.htm
HP unveils vision for personal communications
Richard Thurston
ZDNet UK
October 09, 2006, 16:00 BST
HP has revealed its vision for the future of mobile devices by
unveiling, as a concept, a wearable wireless communications hub.
The hub — which resembles a wristwatch and would be worn on the arm —
would handle a user's connectivity requirements. All the individual's
other mobile devices would then communicate solely with the hub.
Phil McKinney, chief technology officer for HP's personal systems group,
said, "People want more powerful devices with more memory and more
radios, and you have to cram all this in. So we have this concept of a
watch, which is something we are driving to. Devices just need to
communicate with this watch."
McKinney said users would set up a personal area network using ultra
wideband (UWB), but also Bluetooth if they were still using today's
devices. All the radios for external connectivity — whether 3G, Wi-Fi,
WiMax or any other bearer — would be contained in the hub.
The hub would also allow a device, such as a smartphone, to seamlessly
move between different networks. McKinney added that moving all the
radios into the watch would mean radios could be removed from each
device, making devices simpler to use and cheaper to manufacture.
HP's concept mobile hub
The wireless hub would use UWB to keep a user's devices connected
But McKinney rejected suggestions that data security could be at risk
with such a profileration of individual networks. He said devices would
only communicate with a device which had a MAC address white-listed by
the user. If a device was stolen, the user would need to remove it from
the white-list.
McKinney estimated that it will take until 2016 for a hub resembling a
wristwatch to be commercially available. Before that it would go through
several iterations, he said, first appearing as a credit card-sized box
that could be carried in the user's pocket.
HP also unveiled a range of related products, including a "Smart Shelf"
and adjoining Wall Display, which would act as a charger for the hub and
could also be used as a monitor.
In the nearer term, HP will soon release two versions of its popular
iPAQ PDA containing built-in satellite navigation software. The RX5700
and RX5900 will ship for little more than it costs to buy TomTom
software on its own, HP said. The devices, which are Wi-Fi-enabled and
run Windows Mobile, will go on sale in November.
HP will also start selling its first laptop with built-in 3G
connectivity next month. The 6400 model, which will ship to businesses
for £799 (ex VAT), will come with a Vodafone SIM pre-installed.
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