SHOWCASE: Besides the mobile phones announced by Nokia, Samsung, LG and Garmin-ASUS (for its nuvofone series), there are other highlights from the show worth mentioning and taking note (at least from a HWM regional standpoint).

1) Bridgewater gives iPhone and BlackBerry users control over data usage and roaming charges

Mobile personalization company Bridgewater Systems introduced its myPolicy solution which will enable Apple iPhone and BlackBerry subscribers to control components within their devices so that they don’t get a shock on their data charges in their phone bill.

Hoping to work with potential mobile operators, the firm’s solution features real-time usage tracking of data, SMS and apps, including voice and roaming charges; the ability to set personalized limits, notifications and roaming controls; as well as support for special offers in real time such as day passes for new apps, bandwidth top-up and free SMS with mobile advertising.

Bridgewater Systems can be found at Hall 3 (booth 3J2-01) at CommunicAsia 2009.

2) Asia leads the world as broadband grows 4% despite downturn
The Broadband Forum announced that broadband and IPTV growth has been on the rise despite the economic downturn. Industry analysts Point Topic points out that broadband grew by 16.6 million lines globally in the last quarter alone, with Asia being the dominant riser.

Within Asia, China dominated with an addition of 4.8 million lines with others like India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Vietnam, Australia and Singapore taking top spots. For IPTV growth, there is now nearly 7 million lines of IPTV across Asia. Download the PDF report to read the rest of the findings here.

3) Huawei branded smartphones unveiled at CommunicAsia 2009

Huawei's U8230 is based on Google's Android platform, featuring a 3.5-inch touch screen and QWERTY keyboard.

Huawei's C8000 is Windows Mobile-based, has a 2.8-inch touch screen and optimized power management features.

Shenzhen, China-based Huawei Technologies showcased two new smartphones at CommunicAsia 2009 - an Android-powered U8230 and a Windows Mobile-based C8000. Huawei expects these two smartphones to be commercialized by the second half of 2009.

The Android-powered U8230 features full and half QWERTY keyboards and a 3.5-inch LCD touch screen. It uses Google Chrome Internet browser as it’s based on Google’s Android platform. Battery is a 1500mAH. The C8000, on the other hand, being Windows Mobile powered, incorporates a 3-D menu user interface on a 2.8-inch touch screen. It has an optimized power management for usage to last 6-8 hours.

4) MDA forms FutureTV network initiative with partners

Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has put its support behind a group of companies coming together to form a FutureTV network initiative to shape a new generation of media experiences. Leading the network are StarHub, SingTel and so forth, where together with MDA, the network will seed ideas and collaborations to explore greater interactivity and personalization in the way visual media is consumed and experienced.

5) Panasonic wows broadcasters at BroadcastAsia 2009 with 3D Theater showcase and new P2HD and AVCCAM cameras

Panasonic's AG-HPX302EN is the world's first AVC-Intra Camera-Recorder with 1/3-inch, 2.2-Megapixel image sensor.

For broadcasters, filmmakers and producers, Panasonic Systems Asia Pacific has launched an affordable, Asian-made 3D Theater solution in Full High-Def featuring a dramatic 10-minute 3D Thai film. The film was shot in full HD with Panasonic’s P2HD AVC-Intra camera (AJ-HPX3000). The theater itself includes 5.1-surround sound, 2.7 x 1.5-meter silver screen and two Full HD DLP projectors (PT-DZ6710).

Of course, besides the 3D theater, new products demo-ed at their booth include:

• AG-HPX302EN (world’s first P2HD AVC-Intra camera-recorder with 1/3-inch, 2.2-Megapixel image sensor)
• E-series P2 cards
• AG-HMC40 (low-cost professional AVCCAM handheld with 10.6-Megapixel still cam)
• AG-HMR10 (AVCCAM portable recorder/player)
• AG-HCK10 (multi-purpose 3-MOS HD camera head)
• AW-HE870 (2/3-inch 3-CCD high def convertible camera)
• AV-HS450 (16 input multi-format HD/SD switcher with built-in dual display multi-viewer)

Panasonic Systems Asia Pacific is located in Hall 8 (8L3-01) of the Singapore Expo as part of BroadcastAsia.

6) Hong Kong-based firm, BNS, showcases revenue-centric interactive shopping app for IPTV operators

BNS Touch utilizes the IPTV platform to give home shoppers a richer experience when browsing catalogs.

One of Asia’s leading IPTV technology and content solutions provider, BNS, has launched a multimedia solution integrating the IPTV platform, shopping catalog/advertisement in a magazine and an RFID pen called The Wiz to enhance customer loyalty when it comes to shopping experiences.

Called BNS Touch, the system combines IPTV technology with sophisticated invisible dot-code printing and recognition technology, allowing hotel guests or catalog shoppers to browse (printed catalog), view (via the IPTV rich media network) and order (via the pen called Wiz) the items they want (including selecting quantity, color preference, etc.). BNS is located at Hall 3 in CommunicAsia. Check out the trailer to get a better idea of what the platform does.

Will there ever come a time when one smartphone rules over the rest? Knowledge at Wharton finds out.

Knowledge at Wharton lets users download an audio file commentary of their news. We’ve included the link here. It’s a playable MP3 audio file.

T&A: Knowledge at Wharton online business journal released a report asking the question if there will soon be one smartphone company emerging to become the overall market winner.

Basically, this seems to be a trend now, considering that computer operating systems were jostling for the same position in the late 1970s and early 1980s until Bill and company hit jackpot thanks to the IBM-compatible PC.

Today however, the smartphone market is far more fragmented than it ever was. Smartphones today allow users to web surf, email, manage calendars beyond making phone calls and watching the latest bloopers. Players like BlackBerry, Apple, Palm, the Symbian guys (Nokia especially), Google Android and Microsoft are all vying for that sweet spot. What’s complex however is the dominance the telecom providers (like AT&T in the US, Sprint for the Palm Pre, etc.) have over these device manufacturers.

According to Wharton, if this isn’t a game-changing tipping point, nobody would know what is. Will there be a consolidation of just one or two dominant operating systems or will the fragmentation hamper the growth of the industry? The attraction however lies in the locking in of users once their minds are fixed on a particular smartphone. This is because the entire ecosystem has a ‘locking in’ effect and it would be extremely difficult to switch platforms without busting both familiarity and contract. (Editor opinions: 1) (more…)

PC makers like HP, ASUS and Dell might consider running Android on future mini-notebooks but will this move disrupt the mojos of dominant players like Microsoft and Intel?

T&A: Wall Street Journal online published a report today (could be an April Fool’s joke but you never know…so check the link for updates), where PC makers like Hewlett-Packard (HP) and others have considered using free software developed by Google to run smaller computers.

For instance, they have been testing Google’s Android operating system (OS), now accessible on mobile phones, in new versions of their mini-notebooks. The problem however is that the OS isn’t exactly compatible with most popular PC applications, which is one of the reasons why Microsoft’s Windows continues to dominate in this space, which according to research firm NPD Group, sits in more than 90% of new mini-notebooks.

Besides HP, Taiwan-based Asustek might be considering using Android in its mini-notebooks while Dell has been customizing Android software in a range of its devices which it plans to launch next year, including mobile phone, mobile Internet devices and so on. (Editor opinions: 1) (more…)

CORP TALK: Looks like SingTel has done it again, at least when it comes to making region firsts for introducing highly anticipated handsets touting newfangled OSes. Hot off the exclusive Apple iPhone launch last year, Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) and HTC Corporation will put on sale the HTC Dream tomorrow: the first Android-powered mobile phone to go on sale in Asia. Customers of SingTel and its wholly-owned subs in Australia, Optus, get to be the first in Asia to enjoy it.

Come tomorrow, several phone users will get to own a piece of Google's Android platform, courtesy of SingTel and HTC.

The HTC Dream itself touts full touch-screen functions and a QWERTY keyboard. It’s also suppose to come with a mobile Web experience that combines can’t-do-without Google apps and Google Search. Key to being an Android powered phone of course is access to Android Market, which hosts a bevy of apps from developers worldwide. For SingTel users, the HTC Dream will come with an app called SG SavvyShopper, where customers can scan a product barcode using their camera phone and get info like prices, product info and reviews.

To date, the Android-powered phone is available as the T-Mobile G1 in the US and the Era G1 in Poland.

For a video that compares some of the features between the HTC Dream (or G1) and the Apple iPhone, here’s a ZoneOut video episode done by the Singapore team. (Editor opinions: 2)

ZoneOut #7 - Dreaming the HTC Dream from videoman on Vimeo

Here’s a quick glance at SingTel’s price plans (2-year contracts) for the HTC Dream at launch tomorrow: 

* Applicable for all new and recontracting customers across compatible phone models

** Applies after unlimited data bundle is exhausted

*** After S$200 (US$130) trade-in

David Chieng, Editor, HWM Singapore

David (HWM SG): What worked for the iPhone may not necessarily work for Android phones because Android phones will only really appeal to the geek crowd. Unlike the Apple iPhone, the Android-powered phone doesn’t have the same ease-of-use philosophy behind the device, except that the software’s designed by Google. (more…)