DoCoMo's FOMA appliance controller

DoCoMo has announced a controller for home appliances that includes a built-in camera, compatible with its 3G FOMA phones. Sounds like quite a package:

The controller enables operations such as programming the recording of a TV program and then viewing the playback on the phone, turning air conditioners and lights on an off, and viewing live video from the controller's built-in camera, including automatically if the unit's built-in motion sensor detects movement. Video can also be transmitted from a FOMA phone for live viewing on a screen connected to the controller.

It can also control a Sony Aibo, should you feel the need, and will in future be able to remote control a PC, though we imagine that could be an amazing pain from a cellphone screen. The only downside we can see is the need to sign up for another FOMA line and buy a datacard to plug into the controller; would be great were it possible to plug it into a network and access it over the web. No info on pricing yet.

[Read: NTT DoCoMo press release]