China Mobile Communications (CMCC) has selected Motorola as the primary TD-LTE solution partner to provide indoor coverage for all major pavilions at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China, and will also integrate and launch, what is claimed to be, the world’s first TD-LTE USB dongle that supports both 2.3GHz and 2.6GHz.

The World Expo is scheduled to be held from 1 May to 31 October 2010.

At the event, Motorola will deploy an LTE network to provide indoor coverage in all CMCC selected pavilions. The company informed that its LTE network will serve as the primary source of broadband connectivity in those locations, as well as providing backup networks for other vendors’ TD-LTE systems.

Motorola informed that it will provide an end-to-end TD-LTE solution that includes its evolved packet core (EPC including MME and GW) and radio access network (RAN), user equipment (UE) and leverage its experience of commercial Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) networks with professional services to deploy, maintain and optimise these networks.

Harmonic has announced that Altibox (formerly Lyse Tele), a telecommunications service provider based in Norway, has deployed Harmonic’s StreamLiner video servers, Armada ‘intelligent asset management’, and ProStream 8000 digital mosaic solution.

The company informed the deployment will enable advanced IPTV video-on-demand (VOD) services and multi-channel mosaic viewing for Altibox subscribers across Norway and Denmark. Altibox is initially introducing this IPTV offering for Norwegian Elite Series football programming with plans to expand to additional sporting events in the future.

With this deployment, subscribers can watch a live football match and switch to on-demand viewing of important events in other matches using Altibox’s intuitive Electronic Program Guide (EPG).

In addition, the ProStream 8000 digital video mosaic solution generates the multi-channel mosaics that allow the subscriber to watch up to eight simultaneous football matches on a mosaic grid or in full-screen mode, and interactively link to the VOD content to follow highlights from all matches.

Ericsson and Tandberg Television, part of the Ericsson Group, are set to launch a host of advanced solutions that will offer consumers the latest in video-on-demand (VOD) technology, including the option to move their viewing experience across various screens.

The solutions will be demonstrated and launched at the 2009 International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Ericsson has revealed the new products and demonstrations at IBC will include:

a) Device-aware back-office system for multiplatform TV: The OpenStream Digital Services Platform allows consumers to experience their VOD services on PCs, TVs and mobile devices, shifting the services between each screen. The system can also support VOD deployments with both MPEG 4 AVC-capable set-top boxes and legacy MPEG 2 set-top boxes.

b) VOD for digital terrestrial and satellite TV platforms: Any multichannel TV operator can now offer consumers on-demand services via a progressive download to their set-top box or direct to the TV.

c) VOD without a set-top box: A new VOD solution, based on CI+ or Open IPTV Forum standards, enables service operators to deliver on-demand services such as network-based time-shift services and targeted advertisements directly to the TV without a set-top box.

d) One-way VOD opens the door for on-demand services to all cable set-top boxes: The system is designed for cable operators who either have a one-way hybrid fibre-coaxial cable (HFC) network or have deployed one-way set-top boxes.

Rubik’s Cube has gone ‘touch’ with the introduction of Rubik’s TouchCube, an electronic solvable Cube.

Rubik’s TouchCube utilises the latest in touch and motion technologies and will make its debut in New York City next week at the American International Toy Fair, 15-18 February.

The cube features touch sensor technology on all six sides, a motion-detecting accelerometer, and coloured lights in every square.

It mimics the movements of the original 3×3 Cube—swipe a finger across three squares and the lights will follow, ‘turning’ a side of the Cube; make an ‘L’ shape to turn the top face of the Cube a quarter turn.

The cube’s motion-detecting accelerometer only recognises moves made on the top side of the cube, so that a player’s fingers will not move the lights on other sides when holding it

Toshiba has announced the development of a new USIM card for use in mobile phones supporting the NFC (Near Field Communication) function, in anticipation of the worldwide rollout of mobile contactless services forecast for 2010 and 2011.

Toshiba plans to release samples of the new card in the third quarter of 2009, and will exhibit the card and provide full details at the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2009, to be held in Barcelona, Spain, from 16-19 February.

Toshiba informed that its USIM card meets the latest specifications of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute-Smart Card Platform (ETSI SCP) and the GSM Association (GSMA).

It is also compatible with the GSMA’s Pay-Buy-Mobile programme, and offers full support for mobile contactless services, and meets the security levels required for international payment applications.

Moving forward, Toshiba plans to complete final development of the new card by 3Q 2009, when it expects to begin provision of samples to Mobile Network Operators worldwide.

Qualcomm, a developer of advanced wireless technologies, products and services, and Abertis Telecom, a telecommunications infrastructure and services operator in Europe, will collaborate to bring a live MediaFLO broadcast mobile TV demonstration to Mobile World Congress, 16-19 February, 2009.

At this year’s conference and for the first time, the MediaFLO network will broadcast both at the show venue and throughout the city of Barcelona to showcase the mobile TV coverage and performance MediaFLO technology delivers in a range of geographic environments.

The MediaFLO demonstration will feature more than 30 channels of content, including a collection of Spanish programming from Abertis, and international channels from France24, ProSieben and others.