Microsoft's research labs in Cambridge have developed i2i, a camera for use with instant messaging that automatically frames and tracks its subject so that he seems to look at the camera, even if he is staring at his pc screen.

Using multiple webcams and a new algorithm, the technology creates a 3D image which can be rotated and viewed from many angles.

Besides, 3D emoticons can be inserted in the combined image, and appear to float in orbit around the users head. It can also blur the background (for privacy) or insert a different background.

There is no plan to launch it on the market yet. But if one day, maybe not too far away, in the near near future, they could create an application for video phones that would be great.

From The Register.

Swisscom will release at the end of August on the Swiss market Mobile Unlimited - a combined GPRS/UMTS/WLAN PC data card to allow subscribers to be automatically connected to the fastest available broadband technology from any location.

From DM Europe.

Swedish company "Thinking Materials" and biometric tech provider "VeriTouch" joined forces to design iVue, a media player relying on biometric security to eliminate piracy and prevent illegal copies to be made of music, videos, and video games delivered wirelessly or on mini-DVD disk.

From The register

Researchers with Swedish packaging company SCA have built a cardboard only piano that sounds almost like a real one.

Integrated circuits are pressed onto paper instead of silicon chips or circuit boards. It's based on technology developed to make paper products that change color or include radio-frequency tags for inventory control.

When one of the 88 keys is pressed, the circuit underneath sends a signal to an external loudspeaker, which plays the adequate sound.

For the moment, the prototypes are only used to demonstrate the development of next-generation printing techniques.

Read Silicon Valley.

Last week, during the International Conference on Beyond 3G Mobile Communications in Tokyo, NTT DoCoMo Inc revealed the detailed test results of its 4G experiment.

The definition of 4G states that the data rate should be around 100Mbps when moving fast like in a train, and 1Gbps when not moving.

But it looks as if the tests reached a maximum downstream data rate of 300Mbps with an average rate of 135Mbps in a car running at the speed of 30 kilometers per hour in areas 800m to 1km away from the 4G wireless base stations.

NTT DoCoMo wants to achieve much faster speeds by adding the "multiple input, multiple output" (MIMO) technology, which uses multiple antennas, to the current wireless system. The goal of the wireless data rate is as high as 1Gbps when not moving. The experiment will continue until July.

Details in NE Asia, via Mobile Tracker.

Motorola has issued the Cross-Technology PoC (Push-To-Talk over Cellular) for users to have "push-to" connectivity across and between GPRS, CDMA2000 1X, and WiFi networks.

Several characteristics of Cross-Technology PoC solution could help operators expand the availability of PoC service to meet the increasing interest from consumers:

- operators with networks on different technologies can secure subscribers on all of their networks the possibility to stay connected with the push of a button.
- operators negociating network interconnection agreements can augment roaming areas, which would allow customers on different networks to have “push-to” connectivity over a wider area.
- enterprises with WiFi networks can expands PoC roaming coverage into their premises.

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