For technology fans, Beijing is now the place to be. The city is hosting Asia's largest telecom expo, showcasing the world's latest technologies in the communications industry. And it's easy to tell that technology is indeed working miracles.

A phone call is no longer just about what you hear. Now it's also about what you see. This is a scene at the China Telecom Expo. Callers at both ends can hear and watch each other on TV.

The key lies in this Nortel set-top box which is based on the next generation technology, or NGN. The gadget is still being tried out, but the manufacturer is already beaming confidence.

George Huang, Nortel Networks, said, "We are demonstrating the convergence of the 3G and the NGN technologies, from wireless to ... making integrated solutions which brings us not only low cost, faster investment returns and the latest technologies."

This cell phone looks normal. What makes it different is that it reads fingerprints and is useable only after recognizing the correct fingerprints, or those of its owner.

This security technology is brought by Pantech from South Korea, a new comer to the Chinese market.

Chen Ss, China chief representative of Pantech Co., Ltd., said, "This is the world's first model using fingerprint recognition technology. It can sufficiently protect its owner's business secrets, privacy and things such as short messages."

Aside from the gadgets already on the market, the expo is also a stage showing how the future may be shaped.

(CCTV October 28, 2004)