Two major wireless vendors, Japan’s NTT DoCoMo and Finland’s Nokia, are starting research initiatives in two of the world’s largest markets.
NTT DoCoMo announced that it was setting up a U.S. subsidiary that will invest in wireless technology and conduct research to promote third-generation (3G) wireless technology. The technology laboratory also will work to strengthen a variety of other Internet-related technologies, according to the company.
Nokia said
it would work with China’s Research Institute of Telecommunications Transmission (RITT), to further the development of 3G communications in China.
Under the agreement, Nokia will install an experimental W-CDMA 3G system in Beijing this month with testing scheduled to begin later in the year. The company said the purpose of the trials was to demonstrate and evaluate the technology in an operational environment and to examine new services and applications.
In a separate announcement, Razorfish has opened a laboratory in its Finnish office that will showcase mobile technologies such as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and Short message Service (SMS) applications for smart phones.
The laboratory also will test platforms on various platforms, networks and devices in an attempt to ensure interoperability. Partners in opening the lab are Nokia, Ericsson and WAPit.