Mark S.
02-10-2005, 02:18 AM
LG Unveils New Broadcast Phone
By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter
LG Electronics, the world's fifth-largest mobile phone manufacturer,
on Monday unveiled a brand-new broadcasting handset based on locally
developed technology.
The phone, weighing 170 grams, will be operated under homegrown
technology called the terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB),
which will be commercially launched from next year.
Terrestrial DMB allows people to enjoy seamless video, CD-quality
audio and data on the move through mobile gadgets like cell phones or in-car
devices.
Medium-sized terminals for terrestrial DMB have been disclosed several
times but it is the first time in the world to incorporate this function
into a cell phone.
``Up until now, terminals for terrestrial DMB were too bulky to carry
and were not equipped with cell phone functions. We overcame such obstacles
with up-to-date technologies,'' LG said in a statement.
The firm added it has developed a terrestrial DMB-specific system on
chip, a major breakthrough that enables the advent of sleek broadcasting
phone with low power consumption.
To come out with the cutting-edge phone, LG has spent 20 billion won
for the past two years with 130-strong researchers participating in the
project.
The new broadcasting phone is by no means lacking in the latest
applications as it is armed with a built-in mega-pixel camera as well as an
MP3 player.
On the back of such technical competitiveness, LG said it will preempt
the lucrative DMB phone market, which is expected to take off in years to
come.
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI)
predicted the local market for terrestrial DMB phones would reach 539
billion won in 2006 and 1.32 trillion won in 2010.
Two Versions of DMB
In addition to terrestrial DMB, there is an alternative version titled
satellite DMB, which is spearheaded by the nation's top mobile operator SK
Telecom.
Terrestrial DMB is an upgraded edition of the European-based
audio-specific format, dubbed the digital audio broadcasting, while the
satellite DMB is a mobile broadcasting of which signals come through
satellites.
Originally, experts figured out that satellite DMB would stand out
from the two-way competition as SK Telecom and its Japanese partner MBCo
have channeled a significant amount of money into the business.
The two corporations jointly launched the DMB satellite MBSat, also
nicknamed ``Hanbyol,'' and MBCo started commercial services last month.
In line with the fast movement, Korea's flagship handset makers of
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics each released satellite DMB phones in
May.
In sharp contrast to Japan, however, Korea has failed to deploy the
services in time due mainly to administrative red tape as the nation has yet
to release a license for the business.
SK Telecom and its affiliate TU Media originally planned to embark on
commercial services in July, but for now such offerings are not expected to
be available until early next year.
In consideration of the situation, the ETRI slashed its estimate of
satellite DMB users by about 500,000 to 3.5 million in 2009, while enhancing
the figure for terrestrial DMB to 6.8 million in the same year.
Despite the current competition between satellite and terrestrial DMB,
the two versions are eventually forecast to be displayed in a single
terminal with cell phone vendors expected to accelerate their efforts to
roll out a converged model.
Samsung is currently developing a high-end chip, which can catch
signals of both satellite and terrestrial DMB, with the goal of
accomplishing the mission early next year.
LG also looks to follow suit of Samsung late next year, according to
Paik Woo-hyun, the firm's chief technology officer.
``We plan to introduce our own satellite DMB chip within this year and
the chip will be combined with that of terrestrial DMB into a single chip,''
Paik said in a news conference for the unveiling of their terrestrial DMB
phone.
By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter
LG Electronics, the world's fifth-largest mobile phone manufacturer,
on Monday unveiled a brand-new broadcasting handset based on locally
developed technology.
The phone, weighing 170 grams, will be operated under homegrown
technology called the terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB),
which will be commercially launched from next year.
Terrestrial DMB allows people to enjoy seamless video, CD-quality
audio and data on the move through mobile gadgets like cell phones or in-car
devices.
Medium-sized terminals for terrestrial DMB have been disclosed several
times but it is the first time in the world to incorporate this function
into a cell phone.
``Up until now, terminals for terrestrial DMB were too bulky to carry
and were not equipped with cell phone functions. We overcame such obstacles
with up-to-date technologies,'' LG said in a statement.
The firm added it has developed a terrestrial DMB-specific system on
chip, a major breakthrough that enables the advent of sleek broadcasting
phone with low power consumption.
To come out with the cutting-edge phone, LG has spent 20 billion won
for the past two years with 130-strong researchers participating in the
project.
The new broadcasting phone is by no means lacking in the latest
applications as it is armed with a built-in mega-pixel camera as well as an
MP3 player.
On the back of such technical competitiveness, LG said it will preempt
the lucrative DMB phone market, which is expected to take off in years to
come.
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI)
predicted the local market for terrestrial DMB phones would reach 539
billion won in 2006 and 1.32 trillion won in 2010.
Two Versions of DMB
In addition to terrestrial DMB, there is an alternative version titled
satellite DMB, which is spearheaded by the nation's top mobile operator SK
Telecom.
Terrestrial DMB is an upgraded edition of the European-based
audio-specific format, dubbed the digital audio broadcasting, while the
satellite DMB is a mobile broadcasting of which signals come through
satellites.
Originally, experts figured out that satellite DMB would stand out
from the two-way competition as SK Telecom and its Japanese partner MBCo
have channeled a significant amount of money into the business.
The two corporations jointly launched the DMB satellite MBSat, also
nicknamed ``Hanbyol,'' and MBCo started commercial services last month.
In line with the fast movement, Korea's flagship handset makers of
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics each released satellite DMB phones in
May.
In sharp contrast to Japan, however, Korea has failed to deploy the
services in time due mainly to administrative red tape as the nation has yet
to release a license for the business.
SK Telecom and its affiliate TU Media originally planned to embark on
commercial services in July, but for now such offerings are not expected to
be available until early next year.
In consideration of the situation, the ETRI slashed its estimate of
satellite DMB users by about 500,000 to 3.5 million in 2009, while enhancing
the figure for terrestrial DMB to 6.8 million in the same year.
Despite the current competition between satellite and terrestrial DMB,
the two versions are eventually forecast to be displayed in a single
terminal with cell phone vendors expected to accelerate their efforts to
roll out a converged model.
Samsung is currently developing a high-end chip, which can catch
signals of both satellite and terrestrial DMB, with the goal of
accomplishing the mission early next year.
LG also looks to follow suit of Samsung late next year, according to
Paik Woo-hyun, the firm's chief technology officer.
``We plan to introduce our own satellite DMB chip within this year and
the chip will be combined with that of terrestrial DMB into a single chip,''
Paik said in a news conference for the unveiling of their terrestrial DMB
phone.