Nokia to begin rolling out Nokia 808 PureView in May (Finland)
Nokia confirmed that the Nokia 808 PureView will start rolling out in select markets in May. The Nokia 808 PureView is the first smartphone to feature Nokia’s award-winning PureView technology. PureView represents Nokia’s highest level smartphone imaging experiences, bringing together high-performance sensors, exclusive Carl Zeiss optics, and Nokia developed imaging algorithms. The first markets to begin selling the Nokia 808 PureView include Russia and India.
Since its launch in February, the Nokia 808 PureView has received multiple awards, including Best Mobile Device at Mobile World Congress 2012, as well as an award for Best Imaging Innovation for 2012 from the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA).
Jo Harlow, Head of Smart Devices at Nokia, said that PureView has completely raised the bar on imaging performance for the whole smartphone industry – and Nokia is not stopping here. They are going to carry on developing PureView for their future smartphones in ways that will again revolutionize the imaging experience.
The Nokia 808 PureView features a large, high-resolution 41 megapixel sensor with high-performance Carl Zeiss optics and new pixel oversampling technology. At standard resolutions (2/3, 5 and 8 megapixels) this means the ability to zoom without loss of clarity and capture seven pixels of information, condensing into one pixel for the sharpest images imaginable. At high-resolution (38 megapixels maximum) it means the ability to capture an image, then zoom, reframe, crop and resize afterwards to expose previously unseen levels of details. With superior low-light performance and the ability to save in compact file sizes for sharing in email, MMS, and on social networks, the Nokia 808 PureView makes it possible for anyone to capture professional looking images in any conditions.
In addition to superior still imaging technology, the Nokia 808 PureView also includes full HD 1080p video recording and playback with 4X lossless zoom and the world’s first use of Nokia Rich Recording. Rich Recording enables audio recording at CD-like levels of quality, previously only possible with external microphones. The Nokia 808 PureView also features exclusive Dolby Headphone technology, transforming stereo content into a personal surround sound experience over any headphones and Dolby Digital Plus for 5.1 channel surround sound playback.
Airtel appoints Nokia Siemens Networks to manage 4G network (India, Finland)
Leading telecom operator in India, Bharti Airtel, has selected Nokia Siemens Networks to build and operate its TD-LTE (time division duplex long term evolution) network in Maharashtra, one of the country’s largest telecom circles. TD-LTE is a 4G mobile broadband technology that delivers instant internet access and can support video streaming and high-definition video conferencing. The launch of commercial TD-LTE services later this year will offer Bharti Airtel subscribers in Maharashtra a much improved experience when using bandwidth-intensive applications, with more consistent network coverage and faster response times.
Bharti Airtel will deploy its TD-LTE network in the 2.3 GHz frequency band allocated by the Indian government for broadband wireless access technologies.
Sanjay Kapoor, CEO Bharti Airtel (India & South Asia) said that in the next five years, data will be the main thrust in India, riding on the waves of 3G or 4G technologies. As per industry estimates, mobile data traffic in the country will increase nearly 100-fold by 2015 and consumers will stream nearly 600 hours of video content – every second, thus paving way for the ensuing data revolution. LTE provides ultra high speed data access, in conjunction with 3G, this will lead the data revolution and drive fundamental changes in individual lifestyles, businesses and the society at large. He added that they look forward to the advent of 4G technology which will be launched in India at the same time, as the rest of the world.
Being part of India’s large-scale 4G commercial rollout, Nokia Siemens Networks will deliver the TD-LTE network and end-user data devices that can provide data speeds of upto 100 megabits per second (Mbps) as specified by 3GPP. The company will use its newly introduced and industry’s first TD-LTE 6 pipes radio. This integrated solution considerably reduces site space and the operator’s total cost of ownership per site compared to the traditional approach of using one remote radio head per sector. Nokia Siemens Networks is widely deploying this TD-LTE solution to commercial customers in Russia, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.
Nokia Siemens Networks’ NetAct operations support system will enable effective and consolidated monitoring, management and optimization of Bharti Airtel’s GSM and TD-LTE networks. Nokia Siemens Networks will provide network design, integration, commissioning and optimization services to the operator for rapid roll-out of the network and full set of care services including hardware, software and competence development services. It will use its Global Network Solutions Center at Noida, India that is already supporting TD-LTE networks globally, to remotely deliver services for improved efficiency and network performance.
Ashish Chowdhary, head of Customer Operations Asia and Middle East at Nokia Siemens Networks, has said that from networks to devices, Nokia Siemens Networks offers a full range of LTE solutions. He added that as Bharti Airtel’s long-standing partner, they are glad to be chosen for the launch of 4G services. With their expertise and focus on mobile broadband, they hope to assist the operator in taking mobile broadband experience to a completely new level for its customers.
Nokia to end mobile money service (Finland, India)
Handset maker Nokia is planning to put an end to its mobile money business in an attempt to keep with the company’s strategy of focusing on the core areas of the business. Nokia launched its service a couple of years back in India.
According to a report by Hindu, Nokia has over 1.2 million subscribers availing the mobile money service, via different platforms. The company has tied up Yes Bank, Union Bank as well as provides the service via its own platform, ‘Nokia money’. However, the impact will be felt by the 2 lakh subscribers using the service under the Nokia Money brand.
The report reveals that the information to these subscribers to use up the money deposited in the mobile money account will be sent starting March 15. Further, Nokia will continue the service for the next 3 to 4 months to give enough time for subscribers to use up the money.
The company will surrender its licence to the apex bank in India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as well as refund the registration fee to the subscribers.
Nokia launches new mobile money service (India, Finland)
Nokia, the Finland based handset maker, has reportedly launched its Nokia Money service across India enabling users to perform daily financial transactions via their mobile device. According to reports, a differentiating factor for this service is in its simplicity and convenience of use.
As per sources, users can avail Nokia’s Money service by simply registering with an authorized outlet and do not require the Know Your Customer (KYC) paperwork like in the case of most mobile money offerings. Further the service is available to all mobile users irrespective of the type of mobile used by them.
Reports also reveal that customers can perform the financial transactions via SMS and do not require an internet connection. With a large portion of the Indian population still unbanked, and the increasing penetration of mobile phones, Nokia’s new mobile money service is expected to take the m-payment industry by storm.
Nokia Siemens Networks announces 17,000 job cuts (Europe)
Telecommunications firm, Nokia Siemens Networks, has reportedly announced 17,000 job cuts across the world in an attempt to narrow the gap with market leader Ericsson.
According to reports, the Finland based company has said that the reduction, equivalent to about 22 percent of its workforce, will be completed by the end of 2013, when Nokia Siemens aims to cut $1.3 billion in annual operating expenses and production costs. Further, Nokia Siemens will focus on mobile broadband and services and plans to divest or manage for value units that aren’t central to its focus.
As per sources, the company plans to simplify its organization, consolidate sites and functions, and strip out more jobs from the integration of Motorola Solutions Inc. units acquired this year. Further, Jozefa Terloo, spokeswoman, Nokia Siemens has said that they haven’t yet decided how many jobs will be cut per country. She reportedly added that negotiations with worker representatives will start immediately.
Telefonica signs network sharing agreement with China Unicom (Spain, China)
Spanish telecom operator Telefonica has reportedly entered into a strategic partnership with China Unicom, wherein both operators will use each other’s networks to expand their coverage. According to reports, the deal will provide Telefonica access to China Unicom’s network in the regions of Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Australia, France and Sweden.
In return, China Unicom can reportedly increase its presence through Telefonica’s network in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico, USA, Puerto Rico, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria Denmark, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.
Reports suggest that Telefonica believes this agreement will help both operators expand their capabilities to provide telecom services to various customers in different geographic areas.
Finnish Ministry proposes auction for 800 MHz frequencies (Finland)
According to reports, the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Finland has proposed to auction mobile communication frequencies in the 800 MHz spectrum band. As per reports, the auction is expected to be held by the end of 2013.
According to sources, the winning operators in the spectrum auction will need to construct their networks within three years from the start of the licence period. Further, reports suggest that the draft also proposes that the Ministry of Education and Culture be granted a one-off sum of US$ 7.5 million to compensate for expenses incurred to wireless microphone users from switching to alternative frequencies. Sources claim that the deadline for comments on the draft is 29 November whereas a public hearing on the resolution is expected to be held on 14 November.
Nokia’s run of financial losses continue in the second quarter
For the second quarter the current year, Nokia has witnessed financial loss. The handset maker posted a drop by 7 percent in its revenues. At the end of June 2011, Nokia had generated $13.16 billion for three months. That represents a drop of 7% as in comparison to last year revenue for the same period while a drop of 11% in comparison to the first quarter of the current year.
Nokia’s net loss stands at $522 million while the shareholders had earned $322 million the preceding year. In addition, the headline loss was $692.66.
A look into the second quarter 2011, suggests that distributors and operators had bought devices across Nokia’s portfolio in lesser numbers, in their attempt at emptying Nokia devices inventories.
The shipments of handset slumped from 111 million the previous year to 88.5 million, representing a drop of 20%.
The year-on-year decrease in Nokia Smart Devices volumes were attributed to the burgeoning surge in demand for competing smartphones and other devices across the European and Chinese markets in particular, in addition to the pricing tactics employed by a number of competitors.
On a different note, the operating results of Nokia Siemens Networks for the second quarter 2011 showed the inclusion of Motorola Solutions networks assets’ acquisition as on April 30, 2011. Understandably, the results of Nokia Siemens Networks for the second quarter 2011 are not directly comparable to its preceding results.
However, revenues have surged by 20% to post $5.16 billion.
Nokia Siemens Networks’ increase in year-on-year revenue from net sales in the second quarter 2011, has been attributed to the growth in the product and services businesses across most areas, in addition to contribution from the acquired Motorola networks assets. Had the acquired Motorola networks assets were left out, the increase in Nokia Siemens Networks’ net sales would have stood at 13% year-on-year.
