A week in Japan tech
Hardware
- Network security equipment company TechMatrix is to market internet security systems designed to protect Web servers from cyberattacks. The system combines a load-distribution device with special firewall software to monitor all incoming and outgoing data traffic without diminishing the operating performance of the Web server.
- HP Japan announces new round of price reductions for its PC servers, with prices slashed up to 26% effective the same day. The firm has lowered prices on 34 models in its HP ProLiant series. Cuts of up to 18% have also been implemented on optional products such as memory and central processing units. HP Japan had just cut prices on PC servers by as much as 37% in January.
Media, Entertainment and Gaming
- Sega is to merge with Japan's largest maker of pachinko pinball machines. The maker of Sonic the Hedgehog game character said it reached an agreement with Sammy to merge the two companies' operations by Oct. 1. Sammy President Hajime Satomi will head the merged company. Sega has a market value of about ¥160 billion ($1.32 billion), while Sammy has a market value of ¥132 billion.
Software
- Hitachi to emphasize sales of computer software products that help save energy and protect the environment. The major electronics manufacturer has set up an internal system to evaluate software that helps cut carbon dioxide emissions and save energy. The firm has chosen four document management-related products to market to public administrative offices.
Mobile / Wireless
- Suppliers of high-margin phone parts get share price boost. Nokia, Samsung, Philips and Sony Ericsson are promoting phones with cameras this year. Companies such as Citizen Electronics, Geomatec and Miyota are currently the only manufacturers with the technology and quality that these larger phone makers demand. Already, over 15 million in Japan use phones to snap photos.
Information Technology
- IBM Japan and Ines join in the systems integration field, aiming to tap the market for companies that are merging and need to tie their information systems together. Ines has experience in building large systems from various makes of computers. In this new service, the two partners will offer a service to integrate various makes of mainframes using a single IBM machine.
A week in Korea tech
Telecommunications
- KT, KTF set to merge landline and internet services. KT is considering bundling its wireless LAN service - called "Nespot" - with a mobile phone service offered by its wireless sister unit, KTF. KTF officials have insisted that it is perfectly legal to bundle the two different telecom services since the convergence of technology and services is the very trend shaping the telecom industry in Korea.
- Hanaro to launch its own intercity and international services beginning October this year. Until now, Hanaro has relied on the resale of such services rather than operating the network for intercity and international phone call services as a certified landline telecom operator. The Korean government allocates key telecom services to select telecom operators in the form of licenses.
- SK Telecom and KTF hesitating to make major network infrastructure investments. Earlier, KTF said that it would launch W-CDMA 3G services in June while SK Telecom said that it would follow suit in September. Currently, their plans might be altered, casting doubt over the viability of establishing two different, competing mobile networks in Korea.
Information Technology
- Samsung SDS and IBM Korea launches Samsung SDS Web-Service Center on WebSphere at the Samsung SDS High-Tech Center located in Bundang in an effort to establish a Web-service support system. IBM Korea provided the software and hardware needed to establish and operate the center while Samsung SDS manages the overall operation and staffing.
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