Nokia

Man killed when cell phone exploded on his face

On 09.03.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Gopal Gujjar, 23, was found dead with burns to his left ear, neck and shoulders, near a farm in Bandha village close to the city of Kota of Rajasthan.

According to reports police believe that the young man was killed when his Nokia handset exploded whilst he was talking on it. There were no witnesses to the incident.

Police found pieces of the Nokia 1209 handset, a basic model released in August 2008, scattered nearby.

Earlier this year, a 27 year-old woman from Andhra Pradesh was killed while using a Chinese-made mobile while it was on charging.

Deaths caused by exploding mobile phones have been reported not only in India but in countries like China, Nepal and Ghana. One of China’s higher profile incidents occurred in 2007, when a mobile phone’s battery exploded in an iron plant worker’s shirt pocket, allegedly as a result of over-exposure to extreme summer heat. The explosion caused one of the man’s ribs to pierce his heart and was marked dead leading arrival at the hospital.

Considering the billions of Handsets constantly in use the probability of being involved in such an accident are very feeble for any individual. In fact analysts estimate that an individual stand more chance of suffering a natural disaster like lightning strike, earthquake etc. & man made like a stabbing, car/plane/train crash and nonetheless a terror attack or nuclear warfare.

Orange launches HD voice for mobile phones

On 09.01.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Orange has finally launched its High Definition Voice technology, and promises to give 'crystal clear' call quality. The technology will only work between HD enabled phones on the Orange network

HD Voice gets free of the interference from calls, which will help those people who like to make calls on the run.

Orange HD Voice is available for free to all Orange mobile customers who take a HD Voice enabled handset with the Nokia 5230, Nokia X6, Nokia E5 and Samsung Omnia Pro all HD Voice enabled at launch and further manufactures expected to offer HD handsets in the coming months.

According to Tom Alexander, Chief Executive of Everything Everywhere, although what we use our mobile handsets for has evolved significantly in the past few years - the way the user make mobile calls hasn't changed a great deal since the 1990s. So the company is proud to be the first telecommunications brand in the UK to change this and offer customers a revolutionary new calling experience.

The technology, known as, Adaptive Multi Rate Wideband (AMR-WB) has been adopted for the network.

Tagged with: AMR-WB • High Definition Voice technology • Nokia • Orange • Samsung • UK

Vodafone UK soon to release Nokia N8 exclusively

On 08.31.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Vodafone has landed an exclusive deal on Nokia N8. The date for the arrival of the phone in UK is still a mystery, but this is for sure that Vodafone will be the only network operator to offer the green color variant. The handset comes in various colors. Besides the attractive color of the handset, the N8 features includes a 12 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, with Xenon flash that allows users to shoot at night with great results. The software loaded onto the phone is definitely an added bonus, now with the new software users can edit the images; add text and music on the handset itself. There are three home screens on the N8 so the users can customize each one with different wallpapers, display different apps, widgets, internet bookmarks and more. Nokia revealed in April 2010 that it was aiming to release the smartphone in the third quarter of the year, now seems they wee talking about N8. The Nokia N8 will take care of nearly every aspect of your social life; Facebook updates come straight in to N8 and post onto your home screen. All the texts, tweets, emails, Facebook updates are simple to organize as each contact has their own personal profile which keeps all their information stored under their name.

Tagged with: Carl Zeiss Lens • Facebook • Mobile • Nokia • smartphone • Vodafone • Xenon flash

India gives 60 days to RIM to provide data access to Blackberry services

On 08.31.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Indian government has averted the ban on BlackBerry services for two more months after the device's maker, Research In Motion, proclaimed that it would give security agencies greater access to corporate e-mail and instant messaging. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, it would review the situation in 60 days after the DoT studies the likelihood of routing BlackBerry services through a server in India. RIM has made certain plans for legal access by law enforcement agencies and these would start operating instantaneously. The possibility of the solutions offered would be reviewed later. If this ban takes place about 1 million BlackBerry users would have been affected in the country. RIM has unwillingly agreed to New Delhi's demands for instantaneous access to encrypted corporate e-mail, telling previously it is technically impossible to provide. According Nokia India Managing Director D. Shivakumar, the decision by Nokia Corp. — Research In Motion's major competitor in India — to set up a server in the country to facilitate government monitoring may have damaged RIM's dealing position. The company will now install a server in India in November to ensure government access to the data. This problem which extended all round the globe, made Research In Motion's stock price to a 16-month. Indian officials stated that they are not eager to ban the BlackBerry but they won't compromise on national security. Security concerns flared after the terrorist attack on Mumbai in November 2008, which was coordinated using mobile phones, satellite phones and voice-over Internet phone calls. And the security agencies feel that Commonwealth games can be the major target. Indian officials have also raised anxiety about Skype and Google, though both companies yet to receive formal notice of an inquiry.

Tagged with: Blackberry • Commonwealth games • DoT • Google • India • Mobile • Mumbai • Nokia • RIM • Skype

Smartphone companies can now hope for gaining new consumer from Blackberry’s share of the pie.

On 08.30.10, In Mobile, By Editor

The smartphone companies can now hope of profits as Indian companies are considering other options that include leaving Research in Motion (RIM) for other smartphone makers as they face a helpless ban on BlackBerry services that could disturb business.

If India blocks BlackBerry services, Apple Inc and Nokia would be among the biggest gainers as they stand next to RIM’s Blackberry Smartphones. Both the companies are in the offing.

BlackBerry faces Aug 31 deadline for giving Indian security agencies access to its corporate email and messenger services, if failed in giving the solution the government would block the services.

According to RIM, singling out BlackBerry would be counter-productive for India, as it would limit the competence and efficiency of local firms.

The rival companies of Blackberry reveal that they had started getting queries from cautious corporate BlackBerry users asking if they could be a substitute for BlackBerry.

Nine mobile operators offer BlackBerry services in India, of which Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar are estimated to have the maximum number of BlackBerry users in India.

According to Vodafone Essar, there is a chance that Vodafone could receive further orders from the government requiring the company to shut down certain services available on the BlackBerry platform for an uncertain time-span. The company will be in a clearer position after September 1 to advice on the likely outcomes and whether it is necessary to engage in any detailed contingency planning.

India may extend the deadline in its argument with RIM if the company tells that it has a solution and asks for more time. India wants to track and read BlackBerry's secure email and instant messaging services that officials fear could be misused by militants trying to create instability

India is one of a number of countries putting pressure on RIM, which has built its reputation around confidentiality.

Tagged with: Airtel • Apple • Blackberry • Mobile • Nokia • RIM • smartphone • Vodafone

Nokia, Siemens confirm Equity investment talks: report

On 08.30.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Nokia and Siemens are likely to invest with private equity firms over a possible investment into Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN). Both the companies were dedicated to carrying out a turnaround before considering their options after their joint venture ends in 2013. According to Nokia's Chief Financial Officer Timo Ihamuotila, the companies are constantly willing to talk to those who want to bring ideas and capital to the industry. Nokia and Siemens will continue to be major shareholders of NSN in any likely scenario. According to a close source, a potential deal could be worth up to US$1 billion and has drawn interest from a handful of potential investors. NSN in July thumped a deal to buy Motorola's telecom network equipment business for US$1.2 billion in an effort to enter the U.S. market. According to Rajeev Suri, NSN's chief executive, private equity investment could give the business greater strength and flexibility but supposed fresh capital was not essential. The company is not just looking for financial investment but also for new ideas. NSN was associated in 2007 as a 50-50 venture that joint the network equipment weaponry of Nokia and Siemens to race against the rivals.

Tagged with: Mobile • Motorola • Nokia • NSN • Siemens • USA

Telia to start 4G LTE services in Gothenburg

On 08.27.10, In Mobile, By Editor

A mobile subscriber of TeliaSonera’s Swedish subsidiary Telia has launched 4G LTE services in Gothenburg. Under a deal inked, Nokia Siemens Networks has deployed its radio equipment to deliver LTE services equipment in the city. During the widespread pre-launch tests performed by TeliaSonera and Nokia Siemens Networks, average downlink rates of 85-90 Mbps were measured, cresting at 100 Mbps- the maximum data rate supported by the current generation of LTE devices. While the uplink, 30 Mbps was measured, this is again in the top range of the expected uplink data rates. Nokia Siemens Networks is also supplying its Flexi Multiradio Base Stations under the two-year radio network contract. Nokia Siemens Networks has also provided its NetAct network management system to monitor, manage and optimize the operator's multi-vendor network.

Tagged with: 4G • Flexi Multiradio • Gothenburg • LTE • Mobile • NetAct • Nokia • Siemens • Telia • TeliaSonera

Nokia to acquire mobile analytics firm ‘Motally’

On 08.25.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Nokia has inked a contract to acquire Motally, a privately owned U.S. company that has specialized in tracking and reporting usage statistics on mobile websites and applications. The service is set to be adapted for Qt, Symbian, Meego and Java developers, and Nokia plans to continue serving Motally's existing customer base. Nokia hasn’t disclosed the dealing with Motally, but the transaction is expected to close before the end of the third quarter.

Tagged with: Java developers • MeeGo • Mobile • Motally • Nokia • Qt • Symbian

Nokia, Intel team up to create mobile interface lab

On 08.25.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Nokia and Intel have created the 'Intel and Nokia Joint Innovation Center’, which will focus on developing 3D graphical interfaces for mobile phones. The services will take place at University of Oulu. The two companies, with their new R&D lab are aspiring to capitalize on future advancements in mobile processing and graphics power. According to Rich Green, Nokia's chief technology officer, the new joint laboratory with Intel draws on the Oulu research community's 3D interface expertise and over time will lay down some important foundations for future mobile experiences. According to Intel, the work at the centre will be associated with the MeeGo open source device platform, jointly created with Nokia, which provides the greatest flexibility for developing new 3D experiences on mobile devices.

Tagged with: 3D • Graphic • Intel • Interface • MeeGo • Mobile • Nokia • university of Oulu

Nokia to offer Ovi Life Tools, Music & Free Data on RCOM

On 08.21.10, In Mobile, By Editor

RCOM has joined hands with Nokia to offer Ovi Life Tools, Ovi Music, and to endorse mobile Internet packages across Nokia GPRS phones. RCOM will make Ovi Life Tools available across rural and semi-urban segments. Customers can subscribe to this service at very nominal rates. This would include agricultural, education and entertainment service. RCOM GSM customers will be permitted to download up to 12 GB of music via Nokia’s Ovi Music Unlimited enabled phones – 5530, 5800, X6 16GB and 5325. Consumers who are willing to buy these handsets can also buy Reliance Netconnect Broadband+ USB data cards at much lower rates. RCOM will also offer a mobile data package of 1.2GB on Nokia GPRS enabled handsets, and 1800 minutes free on-net minutes. This offer would be valid for six months from the day of purchase.

Tagged with: GPRS • GSM • Mobile • Nokia • Ovi Life Tool • RCom • USB