ASIA : The prime feature of the ubiquitous society is being able to access networks anywhere, anytime, and one of the leading roles in this society is being played by cellular telephones, which let users remotely control elements of lifestyle and entertainment, and link directly with people around the world through video and data communications.

Inset above shows the view from a camera in the head of the Asimo robot via a FOMA cellular telephone (NTT DoCoMo booth)

At CEATEC JAPAN 2003, visitors are experiencing the developing world of the cellular telephone. NTT DoCoMo, is demonstrating international videophone using the 3G WCDMA system, services for which started in the United Kingdom this month. Visitors use an NTT DoCoMo FOMA telephone to converse with a Japanese-speaking Londoner in England, letting them experience the connection quality of the service. On the booth's main stage, the popular humanoid robot Asimo is being used to demonstrate remote operation of home security systems and digital home appliances with cellular telephones.

Inset below shows Cellular telephone capable of receiving terrestrial digital television broadcasts (KDDI booth)

KDDI Corporation is exhibiting the world's first cellular telephone terminal that allows video images taken with the phone to be shown on a television screen. Also on display are cellular telephones that can receive terrestrial digital television broadcasts (starting in December in three major metropolitan areas of Japan) and FM radio broadcasts. In addition, KDDI is exhibiting a new positioning service featuring a map that progresses in accordance with the user's movements.The booths of manufacturers are also not to be missed. Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., is exhibiting a dual-mode cellular telephone compatible with both the WCDMA system and the 2G GSM system, which is widely used in Europe, and a cellular telephone terminal capable of receiving terrestrial digital television broadcasts.

Other features include the Panasonic (Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.) booth, where the new Broadband Receiver, which allows remote operation of a DVD & HDD recorder from a cellular telephone, is on display. NEC Corporation is demonstrating the use of a cellular telephone to operate an AIBO (dog-shaped) robot. In this demonstration, video images taken by a camera in the robot are viewed on-screen via a FOMA cellular telephone.This is just a sampling of what the cellular telephone world has to offer in the ubiquitous era, showcased at CEATEC JAPAN 2003.