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N33: Winbond Introduces New IC for DECT & WDCT Phones
Winbond Electronics Corporation America recently announced the W9316 and W9352X ICs, a telephone answering chipset solution for DECT/WDCT. The W9316 uses proprietary technology for voice storage, doesn't require external Flash memory, and is compatible with different platforms. The baseband chip W9352X incorporates noise suppression features.
More info...
Source: Business Wire

N32: Thomson to launch DECT Phones with Colour Displays
Thomson have announced that they will soon launch a new DECT cordless terminal with a colour display, which will be able to read cellular phone directories.  Colour displays have also featured in the reports associated with the new phones to be deployed by bezeq in israel - Thomson ones perhaps ?

N24: DECTweb announces the development of the DECT Industry Report
Scheduled to be released 1Q 2004, the DECT Industry Report will be a comprehensive analysis of the whole DECT Industry. It will provide a wide range of industry background, reviewing the market, highlighting recent developments, assessing opportunities and threats for DECT, and including an annex of companies active in DECT, as well as much more.

As a part of this DECTweb is wanting to hear the views from companies and individuals within the DECT industry, regarding what they'd like to see in the report i.e. any particular information that would like to see included in the report; as well as any information you or your company could provide for inclusion in the report.

For further details and to register your interest see: www.dectweb.com/dectreport.htm or e-mail the DECTweb editors at admin@dectweb.com

N23: Philips brings texting to fixed-line phone
Winston Chai, CNET Asia
The Onis 300, unveiled in Singapore last Thursday, is the company's first DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) phone to support short messaging service (SMS). 

The Onis 300 incorporates several handphone traits, including the ability to customise ringtones and graphics according to different caller groups.  Mirroring another popular mobile function, it also sports a predictive text feature from wireless software maker Eatoni, enabling users to send and receive text messages in countries which support fixed-line SMS. 

According to the US-based GSM Association, about 366 billion SMS messages were sent globally in 2002. This translates to over $36bn in worldwide revenue without hefty marketing and infrastructure investments. Fixed-line operators are now hoping to tap into this burgeoning market and expand revenues beyond voice services through fixed-line SMS messaging. 

'We have about 5,000 users who send SMS messages between fixed lines and mobile phones on a daily basis," said Suresh Rajendra, SingTel's senior manager for marketing. 

Rajendra said in light of the positive response, the company may consider extending more SMS-based mobile applications onto home phones. "These could include news updates or the lottery results announcements," he said. "Once an application has proven its merits on the mobile phone, we may consider bringing it into the home phone," stressed Rajendra. 

Philips it is already gearing to incorporate more advanced cellular applications such as EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service) and MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) into its upcoming cordless phones.  "We are working to authorities in Europe to finalise the standard for EMS and MMS on the fixed line," said Philippe Deflandre, Philips' DECT product manager. "These products should be ready by next year." 

N22: DeTeWe Product bring DECT VOIP
Unstrung 
DeTeWe, the leading provider of voice and data solutions, have announced its plans to launch the first ever integration of wireless telephony in VoIP networks in Q4 of 2003. Until recently, the infrastructure of VoIP networks had been incomplete, offering only wired solutions, making DeTeWe the first company in the world to achieve wireless mobility over IP networks.

This launch puts DeTeWe at the forefront of wireless IP development. Until now, DECT radio networks could only be integrated into telecommunications structures. Modern IP networks could only address corded IP telephones. With a DECT over IP solution, roaming functionality, with the service quality required for business users, is enabled.

Nadahl Shocair, Chief Executive of DeTeWe UK and Directing Strategist to the Board of DeTeWe AG, comments: “DECT over IP offers clear business benefits to UK firms. Most companies are still operating network infrastructures split into a telephony network, a computer network, and additional networks for facility management. This spread of legacy networks results in expensive and inefficient installation and maintenance, and is difficult and costly to expand. Put simply, the network infrastructure is not set up to adapt as the business grows."

N21: Plantronics lauches new DECT Headsets
ZDNet.co.uk, UK
New Bluetooth and DECT wireless headsets claim to offer significantly better battery life and longer range than was previously possible.

Plantronics showed its new wireless headset product for landline phones, the CS60. Rather than being Bluetooth-based, the CS670 uses DECT wireless -- the system used in many domestic cordless phones -- to get greater range. 

Plantronics claims the device has a range of about 100 metres, which would be 10 times Bluetooth's maximum range. While other DECT headsets are already available, Plantronics believes this to be the first clip-on one to come to market.

N20: Cordless telephone frequency phased out in Malta
di-ve.com, Malta - 17 Jun 2003
CT1 and CT1+, CT2 no longer to be used in Malta

In a statement, the Department of Wireless Telegraphy has advised that after various consultations, the use of CT1, CT1+ analogue application frequencies and CT2 digital applications in the 900MHz band should be used for other purposes in the future.

The Department stated that CT1+ applications were never used in Malta although CT1 and CT2 were widely successful. However, these frequencies have now been superseded by Digital European Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) applications, which is a pan-European standard.

Thus, the Department of Wireless Telegraphy has informed the general public that as from 1st August 2003, CT1 and CT2 cordless telephones will no longer be approved for use in Malta.

N19: Swiss Office of Private Health Care Deploys IP Telephony Solution
Business Wire - 16 Jun 2003
Swiss Office of Private Health Care Deploys IP Telephony Solution from Nortel Networks
The new headquarters of the Office of Private Health Care (OKK - Offentliche Krankenkasse (KuV AG)) in Landquart has deployed a Succession 1000 enterprise IP (Internet Protocol) telephony solution from Nortel Networks to help drive reduced costs, greater productivity and improved customer service.

Implemented by Swisscom Systems, the Swiss service company for private branch exchange (PBX), this new IP-based enterprise solution is delivering advanced business telephony services to OKK's six regional offices across the canton of Grison. The company's employees are now benefiting from a range of new features and services, allowing OKK to establish a fully-integrated corporate and mobile network internally, and to develop closer relationships with customers and partners.

The OKK network is based on Nortel Networks Succession 1000, Nortel Networks CallPilot Unified Messaging, and Microsoft TAPI (Telephone Applications Programming Interface), which enables 'screen pops' through employee PCs. OKK is also using Nortel Networks Symposium Call Centre Server to set up and manage its contact centre. OKK also chose to converge its network to enable its entire staff to benefit from a flexible, mobile environment using 90 Nortel Networks i2004 Internet Phones and Nortel Networks Meridian C4010 DECT (Digital European Cordless Telephone) cordless phones.

N18: Bluepoint Deploys Nortel Networks Solution to Create 'State-of-the-Art' Infrastructure; Able to Adopt Latest Converged Voice over Data Technology at Its Own Pace
Business Wire (press release) - 4 June 2003
Bluepoint Corporation Ltd has deployed an advanced telecommunications system from Nortel Networks that supports current business operations while positioning Bluepoint to implement the latest converged voice and data technology at its own pace. The deployment was completed in conjunction with Kingston Communications, a Nortel Networks 'channel partner.'
    
Bluepoint, a leading UK computer hardware distributor that had a turnover of over GBP17m per annum in 2002, selected Kingston Communications to deploy Nortel Networks technology to provide a 'state-of-the-art' infrastructure for its new GBP1.5million headquarters in Milton Keynes. 

Nortel Networks Business Communications Manager (BCM) enables Bluepoint to use standard telephones, then gradually roll out IP telephony in a phased approach in order to streamline telecoms expenditures. BCM ties in with Bluepoint's cordless (DECT) phones to ensure that staff are reachable whether at their desks or in the warehouse. Nortel Networks call centre software can route calls according to the availability and skills of Bluepoint's staff.

N17: Simultaneous access to Internet and telephone may soon become a reality
The Hindu - 6 May 2003
About 1000 Internet users in the St. Thomas Mount telephone exchange in Chennai and 500 Internet users in R. T. Nagar telephone exchange in Bangalore, would soon have the facility of accessing the Internet and using the telephone simultaneously at any given point of time. The facility is already in place at Koppam some 250 km from Chennai, making 45 villages Internet ready through wireless.

N14: CorDect Order Books Full With Contracts For Over 2 M Lines
Financial Express, India - 23 Feb 2003 
For CorDect, the Dect-based wireless in local loop (WLL) technology, the mega orders have finally started rolling in. First, Reliance announced its major order of 15 lakh CorDect lines across the country in the next two to three years. And now, after a test-run with 25,000 CorDect systems in 24 cities across nine states for over an year, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has recently awarded a contract for over 5.7 lakh CorDect lines.

CorDect, the wireless access system for last mile connectivity, has been jointly developed by Chennai-based Midas Communication Technologies Pvt Ltd and Telecommunications and Computer Network Group (TENET) at IIT-Chennai.

Also see Chitradurga villages to get wireless phone connections

N13: DSP Group posts 40% growth in revenues in 2002 attributed to 2.4Ghz chip and plans to target DECT in Europe
Ha'aretz, Israel - 22 Jan 2003
DSPG CEO and Chairman Eli Ayalon said that the company's domination of the American market enables it to divert its development efforts to the European market, where it is now making inroads. He says that the company's new chip will operate with the DECT protocol, at a frequency of 1.9 Ghz, and is intended for distribution in Europe. Ayalon states that the new chip is expected to be released in 2004, and that substantial sales in the European market may be expected at that time.

The reason for DSPG's increased business volume is the success of its 2.4 Ghz chip, which is used in cordless phones, and mainly aimed at the American market. The chip is found in telephones manufactured by leading producers such as Panasonic and General Electric, and has supplied 60 percent of DSPG's quarterly revenues since its launch in early 2002.

N12: New Module Delivers Simple DECT Messaging Interface
DECTweb - 15 Jan 2003
Wavelink has released a messaging interface which translates outputs from a wide range of Nurse Call or other third party high level alarm systems and delivers them as text messages to KIRK DECT system handsets. This removes the need for users to carry both a pager and a cordless handset around their workplace.  

See press release: http://www.dectweb.com/News&Views/PressReleases/PR2003/150103Wavelink.htm

N11: Industrial DECT Handset Enhances Wavelink Offering
DECTweb - 15 Jan 2003
Wavelink Communications have an IP rated industrial DECT handset to their range of wireless voice and messaging solutions offered. The handset is rated IP52, protecting it against dust (with no harmful deposit) and against direct sprays of water up to 15 degrees from the vertical. This makes the handset suited for harsh environments often found in manufacturing or areas where the handset could be exposed to water, including outdoor usage.

See press release: http://www.dectweb.com/News&Views/PressReleases/PR2003/150103kirk.htm

N10: Annual DECT Conference relaunched by IBC, as part of the Short Range Wireless Conference
DECTweb - 6 Jan 2003
Following discussions between the DECT Forum, DECTweb and companies within the DECT industry, IBC have announced a DECT Conference day as part of the Short Range Wireless Solutions event taking place next month, 11 & 12 February 2003, in London.

The full conference will be 2 days. The first day will have presentations on a variety of short range wireless technologies including Zigbee, WiMedia, DECT, Bluetooth, Ultra-Wide Band & Near Field Communications. The second day will focus entirely on DECT - technology , market growth and DECT evolution. 

DECTweb is supporting this conference, both as an online partner and providing the Chairman for the second day, Walter Tuttlebee, Founding Editor of DECTweb.  If you attend the conference please take the opportunity to introduce yourself to David Tuttlebee, who will also be at the event, preparing a report on the latest DECT news and product announcements at the conference for DECTweb 

For further information about the event see the conferences page http://www.dectweb.com/LearningZone/conferences.htm

N9: Nigeria introduce new spectrum approach for DECT (and other technologies)
AllAfrica.com, Africa - 02 Jan 2003
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is introducing new spectrum fees and pricing strategy on the national spectrum. It has described its new fees as "very fair and competitive".   The Commission said in Abuja that these changes have become imperative because study has shown that the current fee structure implemented by the Ministry of Communications is defective in many ways.  According to the NCC, it was discovered that spectrum was priced on a per-subscriber basis but that there were many inconsistencies in the amount charged per subscriber.  The NCC said that while some were charged N50,000 per subscriber, others were charged N5,000 or N2,500 per subscriber for exactly the same spectrum band.

The NCC pointed out that spectrum bands which have the possibility of being shared among large number of users will be assigned under class licenses. These include microwave frequencies, point-to-point VHF/UHF radio and DECT spectrum.   DECT continues to be an attractive technology for rapid provision of new phone lines by wireless local loop in Nigeria and other countries.

N8: Ascalade swells the ranks of  DECT Manufacturers
DECTweb - 21 Dec 2002
Ascalade, a company specializing in the manufacturing of digital cordless phones (2.4GHz and DECT) for ODM/OEMs, chose to raise its profile at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair, with an unveiling of its 2003 product line.  A relatively unknown name until recently in the industry, Ascalade positions itself as a fresh option for distributors and retailers who are looking for alternative DECT and 2.4 GHz suppliers, with an emphasis on quality of product and uniqueness of design. 

In its first year (2002), Ascalade claims to have already exceeded its sales expectations and seen rapid expansion into Hong Kong and European markets, with a solid retail presence under well-recognized consumer and operator brand names. Currently Ascalade products are being sold in over 10 countries through such leading retailers as Argos, Media Markt, Media World and Fortress.  2003 will see a wide range of new telecom products launched in multiple markets and the company's entrance into new geographic areas. 

See details of their product line-up: http://www.dectweb.com/Products/residential_a-g.htm

N7: DECT Manufacturer expands into GSM
DigiTimes, Taiwan - 20 Dec 2002
DBTel who have been active in the European DECT market have recently announced an expansion into the GSM handset market for Europe.

N6: SMT Technologies' DECT products help parent company turnround
Star, Malaysia - 12 Dec 2002
MASTIMBER Industries Sdn Bhd, mired in red ink for the last three years, is expected to turn around and contribute positively to its parent company EG.Com Bhd’s earnings in the year ending June 30, 2003.  It was announced that SMT Technologies Sdn Bhd, a wholy owned subsidiary, would be the key contributor to group earnings for the 2003 financial year.  

“SMT recently started manufacturing digital cordless phones and wireless hands-free kits for cars and mobile phones, using DECT and Bluetooth technologies, for its customers in Europe.  We have in hand orders for 300,000 customised digital cordless phones and wireless handsfree kits"

See SMT's products and services: http://www.dectweb.com/companydirectory.htm#S

N5: Bluetooth concedes ground to DECT and Wi-Fi
The Inquirer, UK - 10 Dec 2002
One of the major themes at the Bluetooth Developers' Conference in San Jose, California has been co-existence.

The Bluetooth community has become aware that it is not alone in the 2.4 GHz airspace.  Hence there has been a spate of product announcements aimed at allowing Bluetooth to happily share with what have previously been viewed as rival technologies such as 802.11 (Wi-Fi), DECT (cordless digital phones).

N4: DECT forms part of Telefonica's Home Broadband Thrust in Spain
Europemedia.net, Netherlands - 27 Nov 2002
Netherlands based Philips Electronics and Telefónica de España, the Telefónica’s Group fixed telecoms operator in Spain, have signed a two year agreement to jointly develop the use of broadband and associated technologies in the home environment.

Philips and Telefónica say they plan to jointly commercialise a full range of broadband, multimedia and entertainment products and services for the Spanish market. Telefónica will use Philips’ portfolio of connected products for the broadband push, as well as its set-top boxes and Philips DECT phones with SMS capability.

N3: TOPCOM releases new SMS-Enabled Cordless Phone in Ireland with Letterwise Software
DECTweb, New York/Heverlee, Belgium/Paris  - 26 Nov 2002
A new generation of SMS-enabled phones designed by Paris-based firm Inventel and using the predictive-text entry software LetterWise from Eatoni Ergonomics has just been released in Ireland by Topcom, Howard Gutowitz, Eatoni CEO, announced today.

The new cordless phone, Butler 2561, sends and receives SMS messages in five languages. Text messages can be communicated between the Butler 2561 and mobile phones, email, FAX and other cordless DECT phones.

Topcom also is distributing the phone in Germany and Spain and says it will introduce Butler 2561 /2562 in all the European countries as soon as the protocol for landline SMS is established. In the Netherlands, for example, the protocol has been released and the network will be ready in Q1 2003.  In the UK BT is already supporting SMS on its network, marketing SMS DECT phones from Siemens (4000 series) as BT-branded products.

Topcom expects to be the first to introduce the SMS phone in the Netherlands, according to a company spokesperson.  "We are delighted that Topcom has chosen LetterWise as the predictive-text solution for its newest generation of cordless phones," Gutowitz said. "Topcom is among the leaders in exploring new and better ways to apply SMS in the home and business environments."

N2: "On-Track" with Blue Train
Cape Business News, South Africa - 12 Nov 2002
The world's most luxurious train now has one of the world's most sophisticated cordless telecommunication systems -based on DECT, of course.

Tellumat, the Cape-based telecommunications company, has successfully completed the contract installation of its locally-developed digital enhanced cordless telephony (DECT) system, which will allow guests and staff to communicate with each other, while being voice and data accessible to the outside world.

The new system utilises an embedded DECT PBX solution, connected to a GSM external communications system. Terminal adapters enable a phone line for each of the 42 guest suites, with another 17 handsets utilised by the staff, including butlers and suite managers.

The costs of DECT and GSM technologies for such applications are today such that having demonstrated such a commercial possibility we may expect train companies in other countries to follow suit. 

N1: SMT Technologies plans to make own-brand products
Star, Malaysia - 01 Nov 2002
SMT TECHNOLOGIES Sdn Bhd, which was recently acquired by audio speaker systems specialist EG.Com Bhd, is planning to produce digital cordless phones and wireless hands-free kits for cars and mobile phones under its own brand name in the first half of next year. 

Its executive director S. K. Yeoh told Star Business the company had a few months ago started manufacturing digital cordless phones and wireless hands-free kits for cars and mobile phones, using Dect and BlueTooth technologies, for its customers in Europe. 

“Presently, we have orders to produce 300,000 customised digital cordless phones and wireless hands-free kits for cars and mobile phones, worth about RM8.1mil, for our customers in Europe. We plan to deliver these products before Christmas,” Yeoh said. 

See SMT's products and services: http://www.dectweb.com/companydirectory.htm#S