Panasonic Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SanDisk Corporation, Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation today announced that they have reached an agreement in principle to collaborate on a new content protection technology for flash memory cards such as SD Cards and various storage devices. Under the “Next Generation Secure Memory Initiative,”*1 the five companies will start preparing for licensing and promotion of HD (high-definition)-capable security for SD Cards and embedded memory for use in advanced consumer applications such as tablets and smartphones.

This content protection solution will be robust enough to protect HD content. A high level of content security will be realized through the use of the initiative’s technologies, including unique ID (identification) technology for flash memory and robust copy protection based on public key infrastructure.

The five companies believe this technology will enable various HD content applications such as HD network download, broadcast content to go and HD Digital Copy/Managed Copy from Blu-ray Disc™*2 media. With these applications, users can enjoy HD content on a wide range of devices, including Android™*3-based smartphones and tablets, TVs and Blu-ray™*4 products.

The five companies believe that they each can make substantial contributions that, when combined, will enable them to start licensing the new secure memory technology early next year. The five companies expect to see adoption of flash memory products and various embedded flash memory solutions using this technology in the market in 2012.

“Panasonic has always been an innovator in providing the best possible content viewing experience in the living room through development of Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D™ technologies and products” said Yoshiyuki Miyabe, Corporate CTO, Panasonic Corporation. “With our new secure memory solution, we are excited to create a strong link between the living room experience and the mobile experience. Now consumers can enjoy watching premier content, such as movies, on the go with their smartphones and tablets”.

“Samsung believes that the time is ripe for an advanced security solution and welcomes the opportunity to deliver a highly viable solution using flash memory chips. Samsung’s ongoing commitment to technology excellence will now further extend to early market availability of high-performance NAND technologies implementing the new advanced security solution,” said Young-Hyun Jun, Executive Vice President, Memory Business, Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.

“Consumers are ready for a solution that enables the effortless consumption of online and offline content across multiple device platforms,” said Sumit Sadana, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for SanDisk. “SanDisk looks forward to building on its history of innovation in the Flash industry by delivering optimized memory solutions to enable this new usage model with robust security technologies that can protect premium content.”

“We believe the secure solution created by this initiative will enable customers to enjoy high quality experiences anytime, anywhere. Sony has always been focused on bringing amazing experiences to people through highly-advanced technologies in content creation, content distribution and picture display,” said Hiroshi Yoshioka, Corporate Executive Officer and Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation.

“This technology will open a new door to flash memory applications. As a flash memory manufacturer, we are pleased that our flash memory technology will contribute to bringing people more convenient and exciting experiences of HD content. We will continue our development efforts to create surprising innovation,” said Yasuo Naruke, Corporate Vice President, Vice President, Memory Division, Semiconductor & Storage Products Company, Toshiba Corporation.

sony.com

“Our new 2,800 square-foot store in Great Falls provides plenty of space for both shopping and customer service, in keeping with our commitment to deliver innovative voice and data plans, exciting new devices and services and the best possible wireless experience,” said Melanie Braidich, regional president of Verizon Wireless.

Verizon Wireless, the wireless company with the most customers of any wireless brand, led the industry forward earlier this year with the introduction of new nationwide plans with Unlimited Anytime Minutes. The plans give customers all their calls – anytime to anyone in the U.S., including landline phones – at a flat rate for $99.99 monthly access. In addition, BroadbandAccess plans offer customers two choices for Internet browsing, e-mail access and downloading files. The new BroadbandAccess plans offer customers monthly data plan options of 50 Megabytes (MB) or 5 Gigabytes (GB) (5,120 MB).

Verizon

Nokia is celebrating the launch of the Nokia Music Store in Australia with an exclusive live album from leading independent and ARIA awarding winning group, The John Butler Trio. Recently recorded in March 2008, the live performance provides a unique insight into this popular local act. The live recording is available only from the Nokia Music Store music.nokia.com.au

Rock legend, Jimmy Barnes will be the first local music recommender, suggesting his top playlist to store visitors.

We will have an exclusive track from Pete Murray and Kate Miller-Heidke also. The free track of the week will be from Stone Parade, winners of the Nokia Be Heard competition in 2007.

“It is now access all Areas for Australia music lovers,” said Shaun Colligan, General Manager, Nokia Australia.

“Not only we do we have millions of tracks available for consumers, but we have something for everyone, whatever their music tastes. Australian consumers can be confident that the Nokia Music Store will have a broad range of genres including popular and non-mainstream genres and independent artists.

“We want to be the most locally relvent music story and will feature artists such as The John Butler Trio, The Presets, Pete Murray, Kate Miller Heidke, Powderfinger, Silverchair, Lior, Cut Copy, Kisschasey, Kasey Chambers and many more!”

With a single account, Australian music lovers can access the Nokia Music Store via their personal computer or directly from their optimised Nokia devices including the Nokia N95 8GB, Nokia N81 8GB and the N82.

In addition, the ability to sync from a PC is available on a wider range of Nokia models including the latest Xpress Music handets, Nokia 5610 and Nokia 5310.

The PC store’s intuitive user-interface makes streaming full-length tracks easy and offers options to create customised playlists and to add tracks on a wishlist that you can decide to buy later. Tracks purchased can also be transferred via your PC to compatible Nokia devices. The music collection can then simply be synchronised between the PC and a mobile using Windows Media Player 11.

All music on the Nokia Music Store can be purchased through a variety of payment options, including credit cards and pre-paid vouchers.

Nokia

VirtualLogix is a leader in real-time virtualization—an innovative technology that is shaping the future for communications devices and equipment. Their technology enables the mobility of applications from the desktop to devices, improves quality of service and security in an open mobile world, and will enable a new generation of dynamic individual user experiences.

“As the mobile eco-system grows increasingly complex, demand for simplified product designs that allow dynamic mobile experiences to run across multiple platforms will intensify,” said Reese Schroeder, managing director, Motorola Ventures. “Virtualization offers a solution to this complexity. Our investment in VirtualLogix will help accelerate the delivery of their technology to next-generation communications devices and infrastructure equipment.”

“As virtualization moves out from the datacenter and into everyday front-end connected devices, our connected world will require the delivery of efficient, secure and customizable user experiences,” said Peter Richards, CEO of VirtualLogix. “To meet this demand, leading electronics manufacturers are looking to leverage the VirtualLogix technology to create products with improved security, manageability and customization.”

Motorola joins VirtualLogix’s current investors Atlas Venture, Cisco Systems, DFJ Esprit, Index Ventures, Intel Capital and Texas Instruments.

Motorola

Some specifications:
- GPRS;
- VGA-camera;
- WAP ver. 2.0;
- Bluetooth.