Singapore – Mobile handset manufacturer Motorola will acquire Soundbuzz Pte Ltd, a pan-Asian music provider, to enhance its music delivery capabilities in Asia. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The deal, subject to customary conditions, is expected to close in Q1 2008. Motorola, through its MOTOMUSIC service, has delivered mobile music to consumers for over two years through its carrier customers in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The acquisition of Soundbuzz will allow Motorola … [Read more...] about Motorola to acquire Soundbuzz
asian entertainment news
Full IPTV service gets go-ahead in Korea
Seoul - Korea's National Assembly passed the long-awaited IPTV bill on Dec 28 2007 to allow the launch of full IPTV services in the country. The new bill allows real-time Internet streaming of TV programmes being aired by terrestrial broadcasters to complete 'pre-IPTV' services already offered by telcos, as well as facilitating the addition of interactive services including e-commerce, multimedia messaging and video conferencing. The bill also splits regulatory responsibilities for the IPTV … [Read more...] about Full IPTV service gets go-ahead in Korea
Hong Kong goes digital
Hong Kong - Digital broadcasting has commenced in Hong Kong with digital terrestrial television (DTT) services officially launched by free-to-air broadcasters Television Broadcasts Ltd. (TVB) and Asia Television Ltd. (ATV) on Dec 31, 2007. The initial launch serves up to half of Hong Kong's population, covering areas in Kowloon, north Hong Kong Island, part of Sha Tin and east Lantau Island. ATV and TVB are simulcasting their existing four TV channels in digital format, and will launch new free … [Read more...] about Hong Kong goes digital
Myanmar junta orders price hike for satellite TV
Yangon, Myanmar - Myanmar's military junta has ordered a hike of over 150 fold to the annual satellite TV licence fee in an attempt to prevent the public from accessing "dissident" international news broadcasts. While no official statement from the government regarding the increase was issued to the state media, an unnamed official from the Myanmar Post and Telecom confirmed the hike. Citizens due to pay the annual 6,000 kyat (US$4.70) fee also found that it had been raised to 1 million kyat … [Read more...] about Myanmar junta orders price hike for satellite TV
Telco spending slow in Japan, surging in rest of region – Ovum RHK
Telecom equipment spending in the region for the first three quarters of 2007 was, at US$47.1billion, up 6% on the same period in 2006. Outside of Japan, though, capex rose at a much stronger 19.5% clip to $31.8billion. "NTT's long anticipated next-generation network build-out is largely still on hold, so vendors heavily reliant on this market are struggling," notes Matt Walker, Ovum RHK's Senior Analyst for Network Infrastructure. But Asia Pacific's big emerging markets are another story as … [Read more...] about Telco spending slow in Japan, surging in rest of region – Ovum RHK
Singapore surprise at Asian Idol
Jakarta - Singapore's Hady Mirza was crowned the first Asian Idol, held December 17, 2007, at the Jakarta International Expo. Mirza pipped his fellow five contestants from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and India amidst some criticism of the voting system. Disappointingly, many critics were from the new Asian Idol's home country of Singapore, where bloggers and journalists alike speculated that Mirza won by virtue of accumulating the most second votes - cast for the wrong reasons. … [Read more...] about Singapore surprise at Asian Idol