Wireless Federation

Nokia welcomes Marko Ahtisaari to the Nokia leadership team (Finland)

On 01.27.12, In Mobile, By Editor

Leading mobile phone maker, Nokia, has appointed Marko Ahtisaari as Executive Vice President, Design, and a member of the Nokia Leadership Team, effective February 1, 2012. He will be reporting directly to President and CEO Stephen Elop.

According to a report by the company, Ahtisaari will continue to lead the Nokia design team, responsible for the industrial design and user experience design of all Nokia products.

Stephen Elop, president and CEO, Nokia has said that one of the key differentiators of Nokia is the elegant and head-turning design of their products. He added that as they have charted their new course, Marko Ahtisaari has ensured that they elevate the importance of distinctive design, which is evident in the industry’s response to their award-winning Lumia and Asha products.

Also, by appointing Marko to the Nokia Leadership Team, they believe his influence will ensure that design leadership becomes part of everything they make and also everything they do.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Asha • design • Lumia • Marko Ahtisaari • Nokia • Stephen Elop

Nokia partners with T-Mobile to launch Lumia 710 (USA, Finland)

On 12.16.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Finalnd based handset maker, Nokia is hopeful of re-establishing itself in the U.S. by collaborating with mobile operator T-Mobile for the sale of its Lumia 710 smartphone. According to company reports, the smartphone powered by Microsoft’s Windows software is expected to be sold for US$ 50.

With the smartphone market being largely dominated by Apple’s iPhones and Google Android powered smatphones, Nokia hopes to capture some of the market share through its low-priced smartphone. The company reportedly aims to position the Lumia 710 as the affordable smartphone for all consumers. Further, the company has hinted that users will also be provided with unlimited calls to a special concierge line which would help them set up as well as adapt the handset to suit their needs.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Apple iPhone • Google Android • Lumia smartphones • Microsoft Windows • Nokia • T-Mobile

Nokia plans to sell off luxury division ‘Vertu’ (Europe)

On 12.09.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Finnish handset maker Nokia is reportedly planning to sell of its luxury handset division Vertu, which manufactures handsets encrusted with precious stones for the affluent market segment. According to reports, the division has been valued in the range of US$ 260 million and US$ 400 million approximately.

While many would believe that there would be very few buyers for a US$ 10,000 handset, the division has reported very good profit margins and has as much as 60 percent of the European market in its grip. A major attraction for people buying these phones is the concierge service which is available 24/7. The service has a special call button on the phone which gives users access to a team of dedicated assistants which take care of various requests such as taxi and restaurant bookings along with finding whatever is requested for.

As per sources, analysts speculate that apart from the private equity firms, luxury brands may also be interested in acquiring Vertu based on its target market.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: luxury mobile phone • Nokia • Vertu

Apple iPhone leads the way with more than half of the industry profits

On 11.08.11, In Mobile, By Editor

According to industry reports, Apple iPhone is leading the smartphone industry, accounting for more than half (52 percent) of the industry’s total profits in the third quarter. Samsung had raced ahead of Apple during the second quarter but found itself in second place with the launch of Apple’s new iPhone 4S. Further, as per reports, during the third quarter of 2011, Apple and Samsung were responsible for as much as 81 percent of the revenues in the smartphone market. The remaining major manufacturers such as RIM, Sony, Motorola, Nokia, LG, HTC and Ericsson, all fell under 10 percent of the profits.

When compared to a few years ago, sources reveal that Nokia was dominating the smartphone industry with over 67 percent of the profits four years ago as compared to Apple’s profits of only 4 percent. Industry analysts believe that Apple’s position is only going to get stronger in the fourth quarter and may take as much as 60 percent of the industry profits. According to sources, Apple is expected to sell 29 million iPhones by December 2011 and over 100 million iPhones by the end of next year.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Apple iPhone • Motorola • Nokia • RIM • Samsung • smartphones

Nokia to target the U.S. smartphone market in 2012 (USA)

On 11.03.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Nokia has reportedly announced that it plans to re-enter the United States smartphone market by early next year with its new range of devices running on Microsoft’s Windows operating system. According to reports, Nokia has suffered a loss of over $85 billion since 2007 when Apple launched its first iPhone. Further, as per industry sources, Nokia’s market share dropped from 50.8 percent to 20.9 percent in the second quarter of 2007. Sources claim that Stephen Elop, CEO, Nokia has said that they plan to be very competitive and to go head-on with the appropriate devices at the appropriate price points. He added that the company plans to extend its new product line by introducing more economical as well as more expensive phone than the previously launched Lumia 800 and Lumia 710.

As per reports, Elop has said that while they haven’t yet announced any plans to launch a tablet-computer, they do see the opportunity offered in the tablet market segment. Further, he said that the new Windows 8 is expected to have a tiled user interface which is like a ‘supercharged’ version for the tablets. Industry sources reveal that Samsung and Apple have rapidly overtaken Nokia in the smartphone segment, and that the Windows phones maybe the company’s final chance to regain some of its lost market share. Regarding the number of apps for its smartphones, Elop has reportedly said that that they will take the necessary measures to ensure that the most popular apps are offered on their platform. According to reports, the Lumia 800 phone has been priced much lower than the Apple iPhone 4S at $ 590 and has a higher resolution camera than the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Apple • Nokia • Samsung • smartphone • Stephen Elop • Windows Microsoft

Nokia plans marketing blitz for the Lumia 800 (Finland)

On 10.31.11, In Mobile, By Editor

The Nokia Lumia 800, based on Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7.5 operating system (Mango), is being considered as the best Windows phone yet. Reports suggest Nokia has taken extra care while designing this handset, offering customers a worthy substitute for an iPhone or an android.

According to reports, Nokia has taken care that the polycarbonate shells for phones have been dyed instead of simply being sprayed over, so as to maintain the colour of the phone even if it is scratched. The phone has been designed in such a way that the sides of the device are curved while the top and bottom of the phone is flat. The phone enables users to experience vibrant colours through its version of the Super AMOLED Plus screen. Also, the camera is the same as in Nokia’s N9 handset, providing users with great results. Further, as per sources, on the software side, Microsoft has offered its users a new feature enabling them to pin certain functions of an application to their handset’s home screen. Priced at $590, the device is expected to be available in Europe by next month.

As per sources, Stephen Elop, CEO, Nokia said that he managed to beat expectations by delivering the first Windows smartphone before Christmas. However, he added that winning over customers will require a marketing blitz. He has reportedly claimed that the amount spent on marketing the Lumia series will be triple as compared to the previous product launches. Sources also suggest that Nokia has tied up with some of the biggest phone companies including Vodafone Group PLC, in an attempt to bring back customers who have shifted their allegiance towards the iPhone and Android based devices. Further, Nokia plans to make use of Windows distinctive interface which comes with big, colourful tiles as compared to the smaller icons offered by Apple and Android.

However, Industry analysts state that even with a technically good phone and enhanced marketing strategies, Nokia may need to wait a while for Apple loyalists and Android users to switch to a Windows phone.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Android • Apple • mango • Microsoft • Nokia • Stephen Elop • Vodafone • windows

Nokia’s new $6,800 diamond encrusted phone

On 10.17.11, In Mobile, By Editor

At the time mobile phones were introduced to consumers, there was one name that was dominant across regions – Nokia. Recently though, with players like Apple and Samsung bringing in new technology, users have shifted their allegiance to other manufacturers, causing Nokia to lose some of its market share. However, the luxury division of Nokia ‘Vertu’ is still going strong and has as much as 60% of the European market in its grip.

While all iPhone fans are awaiting the launch of Apples’s new handset next week, Vertu has captured the attention of the luxury phone users, with its latest handset complete with a diamond encrusted QWERTY keypad. The phone, priced at $6,800 has a gold frame, a diamond encrusted case and keys made of precious stones. While the handsets of the luxury segment have been accused of not being the most updated in terms of technology, Nokia’s latest handset boasts of a better operating system and a higher resolution built-in camera.

According to reports, services chief, Mark Izatt, says that a big draw for old and new Vertu customers is the company’s concierge function, provided free to the users for the first year and charged at about $3,000 annually thereafter. This function gives users a 24 hour access to the hotline staff, who speak nine languages including Chinese, Russian and Arabic, and take care of user requests such as restaurant reservations and travel planning, along with some exquisite requests like sending a box of live butterflies as an anniversary gift.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Apple • Diamond phone • iPhone • Nokia • Russia

Nokia, RIM lead mobile market, Apple lags behind (India)

On 10.14.11, In Mobile, By Editor

While Apple iPhone’s have become quite the rage across the world, India, the world’s second largest mobile phone market, receives fewer handsets than most of the smaller markets, as per recent reports. Nokia and Research In Motion have been the most successful in India’s mobile market with 602 million subscribers.

Analysts suggest that one of the reasons for Apple’s lower market share in India is the inability of Indian wireless carriers to offer fast services that use the iPhone features to the fullest. As per reports, the 3G network in India isn’t at par with the services offered in regions like Western Europe and Northern America. Further, as Apple only sells its products through licensed resellers, accessibility to the product can also become an issue.

As per the World Bank estimates, about 900 million people live on less than $2 a day in India. With the cheapest iPhone 4 selling for $705 and the cheapest iPad 2 costing about $603, affordability is also a cause for concern for users in the nation. In contrast, Apple’s U.S. online store offers its users the iPhone 4 at $199 with an AT&T Inc. contract and the iPad at $499. Sources claim that while only 62,043 iPhones were shipped to India during the last quarter, lesser than those send to Norway, Belgium or Israel, the number of iPads shipped was as low as 21,150 accounting for only 0.2 percent of its global total.

As per sources, Nokia accounted for 46 percent of India’s smartphone shipments in the quarter ended June 30, followed by Samsung Electronics at 21 percent, RIM at 15 percent while Apple accounted for only 2.6 percent. Further, reports suggest that Nokia and Research In Motion Ltd. sell more devices in India, where smartphone shipments are forecast to grow almost 70 percent a year until 2015.

Analysts claim that RIM got the right product, the right timing and the right app. RIM’s BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) instant-messaging service gained popularity because it was one of the first, and it functions well on 2G speeds as well. As per reports, Krishnadeep Baruah, Director of Marketing for Waterloo, Canada-based RIM in India said that RIM, which entered India in 2004, plans to extend its lead over Apple after expanding distribution to 80 cities from 15 starting last year.

As per industry estimates, smartphone shipments in India are expected to grow at an average of 68 percent a year, to 81.5 million units by 2015.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Apple • Belgium • Blackberry • Canada • India • iPhone • Israel • Nokia • Norway • RIM

Bharti Airtel signs deal with Nokia to expand 3G services in Africa

On 10.13.11, In Mobile, Mobile Operators, By Editor

Bharti Airtel, a leading telecom operator has signed a contract reportedly worth $ 700 million with Nokia Siemens Networks to expand its 2G network and deploy and manage 3G services in Africa.

As per the agreement, Nokia Siemens Networks will manage all network operations as well as provide energy-efficient base stations for Airtel in seven African countries including Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Congo Brazzaville. In an attempt to increase its subscriber base, Airtel has been expanding its presence in Africa’s rural regions.

According to reports, Manoj Kohli Airtel’s CEO (International) and Joint Managing Director said that this partnership will further enable them to rapidly expand their network coverage and provide high-speed wireless internet connectivity to their customers. Further, Nokia Siemens Networks, Chief Executive Officer, Rajeev Suri said that they look forward to working closely with Airtel to expand its network rapidly and deliver the right innovative products and services to help meet user demands.

Filed under:Mobile,Mobile Operators Tagged with: 3G • Africa • Bharti Airtel • Congo Brazzaville • Kenya • Madagascar • Malawi • Monaj Kohli • Nokia • Tanzania • Uganda • Zambia

Wind Italy carries out trial for HSPA+ in Milan (Italy)

On 09.26.11, In Mobile Technology, By Editor

Italy’s third largest mobile operator in terms of subscribers, Wind Italy, has reportedly tested HSPA+ in Milan. Wind partnered with Nokia Siemens for the trial of the new technology which offers download speeds of upto 42 Mbps.

According to reports, Ziad Shatara, CTO of Wind Italy, has said that in order to improve the quality of services for their customers, and rapidly expand their mobile broadband business, they needed strategic partners to implement technology quickly and smoothly. With its ability to innovate, vast experience in network modernisation and focus on energy efficiency, they found an ideal partner in Nokia Siemens Networks’.

The HSPA+ technology enables operators to better meet the subscriber’s needs leading to enhanced customer experience. Further, HSPA benefits operators by making more efficient use of spectrum. Thus operators can easily and cost-effectively accommodate more users and services without having to buy additional spectrum. Also, it reduces operators’ overhead costs, and thus, makes them better able to price their HSPA services at a point that is competitive yet profitable.

Filed under:Mobile Technology Tagged with: HSPA • Italy • Milan • Nokia • Wind (Italy)