Monday, May 20, 2002		Lens on IT

Two Indian street children talk to each other through a toy phone in the eastern city of Kolkata. The telecom sector is one of the few success stories of India's decade-long liberalisation program. Global technology research firm Gartner has forecast that India's fixed line phone subscribers would touch 83 million, and mobile phone customers rise to 30.9 million customers, by 2005. 

A Microsoft Mobile Device Division employee demonstrates streaming video media on the soon to be released Smartphone 2002 at Microsoft's annual media day at corporate headquarters in Redmond, Washington. This device, a Sendo manufactured product, is able use Microsoft software as well as be used as an integrated cellular telephone. It is to be released in late 2002. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan (L) meets Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar after handing over computers to the foreign ministry in Islamabad. The Chinese foreign ministry gave 30 computers to the Pakistan foreign ministry as a gift. 

South Korean women use a PDA and mobile phone at Inchon World Cup stadium. Korea is looking to show off some smart new technology when some of the world's best soccer teams come to town. South Korean enterprise, KTF, is involved in negotiations to get a FIFA licence to provide breaking World Cup news and video images mobile phones, Ha Tae-sook, head of KTF's World Cup communications team said. 

Sakura, a Welsh Corgi, demonstrates the "Bowlingual," Japanese toymaker Takara's new gadget to translate dog emotions at the Tokyo Toy Show. The gadget analyses a dog's voice with a wireless microphone attached to a collar, interpreting and displaying patterns of expressions such as happiness and sadness. Bowlingual goes on sale in Japan in August for $115. — Reuters photos

— Reuters photos