The TF Wireless Database is researched by attending each of the major telecom events around the world. The most recent event was IFA in Berlin in September 05. Over 400 new images of manufacturers' stands, products and displays were added to the fully relational research Database following the Berlin event.
The TF Wireless Database currently contains 11,000+ research images of cellular wireless handset products and stands from thirteen major telecom events held during the past year.
The complete TF Wireless Database can be purchased on DVD.
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| About 40 new cellular wireless handset products were seen at IFA in Berlin in Sep 05. |
Although several cellular manufacturer's products were present, mobile communications were not a central part of the event.
The one hall [4.2] devoted entirely to personal communications was manned mostly by dealers.
The presence of the German network operators was also relatively thin. T-Mobile was just part of the Deutsche Telekom hall. E-Plus (with Base) had a small stand. Vodafone had a display in the outside area and O2 had an even lower profile presence, with just one mobile repeater station parked in the exhibition grounds.
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In total there were about 40 cellular wireless handset products seen at IFA in Berlin which were either new or which had not previously been logged into the TF Wireless Database.
This brings the total number of cellular wireless handset products in the TF Wireless Database to over 1,500
Although smaller Chinese exhibitors were present in large numbers in a national hall at IFA, not all of China's major cellular manufacturers were present. For example there was no UTStarcom or ZTE.
Hisense showed a range of wireless handset products including the C312, G308 and W600, which had not been seen previously.
The Konka display included A06, A96, A26M, C616, C916, M929 and V8, all of which were new to the TF Wireless Database.
Mico also had a full display of cellular phones which included the MAC 686, MAC 687, MAC 688, MM 800 and MM 810. Although TCL were listed in the show catalogue there were no cellular phones on display at the Schneider (TCL) stand. Similarly there were no cellular phones on the Haier stand.
The two Korean majors LG and Samsung both had relatively large displays of cellular phones. These wireless handset displays were large in comparison to others at IFA, but not in comparison to the size of display these two companies usually have at major telecom events around the world.
New LG products not seen before included F2250, U8290, U8360, U8380 and V9000. The latter is a DMB/GSM phone launched at the IFA show.
The Samsung SGH-E720i (on the E-Plus and Samsung stands) and SGH-ZM60 (on the T-Mobile and Samsung stands) were also both new for the TF Wireless Database.
Grundig Mobile (the marketing brand for Spain's Vitelcom which was first announced at CeBIT) were showing several new models including A310, G410i, G600i, M131 and X5.
The major Japanese manufacturers were all present with large stands of video and other products, but many (including Mitsubishi, NEC and Panasonic) were showing no cellular products. Also there was no Sony Ericsson stand.
The largest cellular exhibit by a Japanese manufacturer was Sharp who had a large display of their (usually Vodafone branded) cellular handset products for both European and Japanese markets, including their Ferrari Edition handsets. Sharp products seen for the first time at IFA were 703, 903, GX17 and V302SH FE (Vodafone Japan).
There was no Nokia corporate stand, but Nokia products were to be found on dealer and the network operator stands. The only two new Nokia products seen were the 5140i handset and the HS-36 Bluetooth wireless headset.
Sagem showed several phones which had not been seen before including My V-56 (for Vodafone), My Z-5 and My Z-55. The recently launched VS1 and VS2 were also on display.
The Siemens display was centred around a live DVB-H demonstration. The only handset on the Siemens display was the SXG75. There was no sign of BenQ (Siemens' new Taiwanese handset partner) at this event.
T-Mobile had a full display of cellular products as part of a more general Deutsche Telekom exhibit. The T-Mobile MDA Pro (HTC Universal) was seen for the first time at this event.
Toshiba had a small display with the TS 921 first launched at CeBIT and a new TS 10.
Although neither phone was new, Vodafone were highlighting the Nokia 6630 and 6680 on their outside stand.
Nigel Cawthorne
Managing Editor
TF Wireless Database