GO (Etihad Atheeb Telecom), a leading telecom services provider in Saudi Arabia has launched the company’s latest digital voice product, GO Terhal” thus introducing a revolutionary concept for the first time in the Kingdom.

According to the company, GO Terhal provides a range of unique features starting with the ability to transform any smart device (iPod Touch, iPad, and Samsung Galaxy Tab) to a phone device to make local and international calls and receive calls free of charge, with a special number from GO starting with 08111.

Besides, any smart phone device (iPhone, Galaxy S, HTC, Sony Ericsson, Nokia, and Blackberry) running on operating systems such as (iOS, Google Android, Smibian^3, and Windows Phone 7) or any Personal computer or Laptop (Windows, MAC, Linux), can work without a SIM Card and with the ability to customize infinite numbers on one device and ability to share one number among infinite number of devices.

GO Terhal” can be downloaded free of charge from any of the popular App Stores such as iTunes App Store, Ovi Store and Google Android. Calls within GO Terhal” network are free of charge during launch period.

According to Raed Kayal, acting Chief Executive of GO Telecom, the company is pleased to launch the Digital calling service GO Terhal”, which is a significant step for both the company and the Saudi telecom market, as a varied number of segments inside and outside Saudi Arabia will benefit from this high-definition voice service. The company’s aim is to fully utilize their advanced infrastructure and increase the number of subscribers as every internet user inside or outside the Saudi Arabia is a potential customer regardless of their internet service provider.

­Nokia has announced that its Ovi Store has reached 3 million downloads per day. The company is also expanding significant software developer momentum with more than 400,000 new developers joining Forum Nokia in the past 12 months, and 92 crossing the million download milestone for their apps.

In connected news, the Nokia Qt Software Development Toolkit (SDK) and the Qt SDK combined have been downloaded 1.5 million times.

In late September, Nokia began shipping its N8 smart phone; it’s first to run under Symbian 3, followed a couple of weeks later by the second Symbian 3 phone, the C7. The new version of Symbian has brought with it a greater variety of new apps in the Ovi Store.

According to Tero Ojanper¤, Executive Vice President, Services, Nokia, Ovi Store is on a strong trajectory fueled by new apps and games from a growing number of partners and more than 250,000 new consumers signing up for Ovi every day. The number of daily downloads has increased from about 2 million to 3 million since September. The company anticipates their progress will continue as they have just begun shipping their new Symbian smartphones.

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Following an announcement by the board of the Symbian Foundation that it will be transitioning from its current operational activities to become a licensing operation only, Nokia today reaffirmed its commitment to the Symbian platform. Nokia plans to continue to invest its own resources in developing Symbian, the world’s most widely used smartphone platform, and expects to deliver a strong portfolio of Symbian-based smartphones to people around the world.

“The future of Symbian as a platform does not depend on the existence of the foundation,” said Jo Harlow, Senior Vice President, Smartphones, Nokia. “The changes announced by the foundation have no impact on Nokia’s Symbian device roadmaps or shipping commitments. The platform powers hundreds of millions of smartphones – including our own – and we expect to deliver ongoing support and innovation benefitting the Symbian ecosystem in the future.”

Nokia’s recent decision to focus on Qt as its sole application development framework is expected to bring greater efficiency and speed of evolution to the Symbian platform. This approach is aimed at ensuring compatibility for apps with future Symbian platform versions, and enables more frequent updates and upgrades for Nokia smartphones. To take advantage of this ever-growing opportunity, developers can find the tools and support they need through Forum Nokia, and global distribution to Nokia’s broad base of smartphones through Ovi Store.

Nokia is the volume market leader in smartphones and the company’s commitment to the Symbian platform is unchanged. Nokia smartphones based on the new Symbian platform include the Nokia N8, Nokia C7 and the new Nokia C6-01 which are available now, as well as the upcoming Nokia E7 which is expected to ship before the end of 2010. Nokia expects to sell more than 50 million Symbian^3-based devices.

Nokia at Symbian Exchange and Exposition 2010

Nokia will exhibit and demonstrate its portfolio of Symbian-based smartphones at the annual Symbian Exchange and Exposition (SEE) 2010 event in Amsterdam, Netherlands November 9-10. Nokia’s Jo Harlow will deliver a keynote address on Tuesday, November 9 at approximately 10:15am CET. For more information on the event, which is hosted for the Symbian community and free to attend, visit http://www.see2010.org/.

About Nokia
At Nokia, we are committed to connecting people. We combine advanced technology with personalized services that enable people to stay close to what matters to them. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia device – from mobile phones to advanced smartphones and high-performance mobile computers. Today, Nokia is integrating its devices with innovative services through Ovi (www.ovi.com), including music, maps, apps, email and more. Nokia’s NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, while Nokia Siemens Networks provides equipment, services and solutions for communications networks globally.

As Symbian Foundation announces changes, a new era of Symbian development and innovation begins

Espoo, Finland – Following an announcement by the board of the Symbian Foundation that it will be transitioning from its current operational activities to become a licensing operation only, Nokia today reaffirmed its commitment to the Symbian platform. Nokia plans to continue to invest its own resources in developing Symbian, the world’s most widely used smartphone platform, and expects to deliver a strong portfolio of Symbian-based smartphones to people around the world.

“The future of Symbian as a platform does not depend on the existence of the foundation,” said Jo Harlow, Senior Vice President, Smartphones, Nokia. “The changes announced by the foundation have no impact on Nokia’s Symbian device roadmaps or shipping commitments. The platform powers hundreds of millions of smartphones – including our own – and we expect to deliver ongoing support and innovation benefitting the Symbian ecosystem in the future.”

Nokia’s recent decision to focus on Qt as its sole application development framework is expected to bring greater efficiency and speed of evolution to the Symbian platform. This approach is aimed at ensuring compatibility for apps with future Symbian platform versions, and enables more frequent updates and upgrades for Nokia smartphones. To take advantage of this ever-growing opportunity, developers can find the tools and support they need through Forum Nokia, and global distribution to Nokia’s broad base of smartphones through Ovi Store.

Nokia is the volume market leader in smartphones and the company’s commitment to the Symbian platform is unchanged. Nokia smartphones based on the new Symbian platform include the Nokia N8, Nokia C7 and the new Nokia C6-01 which are available now, as well as the upcoming Nokia E7 which is expected to ship before the end of 2010. Nokia expects to sell more than 50 million Symbian^3-based devices.

Nokia at Symbian Exchange and Exposition 2010
Nokia will exhibit and demonstrate its portfolio of Symbian-based smartphones at the annual Symbian Exchange and Exposition (SEE) 2010 event in Amsterdam, Netherlands November 9-10. Nokia’s Jo Harlow will deliver a keynote address on Tuesday, November 9 at approximately 10:15am CET. For more information on the event, which is hosted for the Symbian community and free to attend, visit http://www

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As Symbian Foundation announces changes, a new era of Symbian development and innovation begins

Espoo, Finland – Following an announcement by the board of the Symbian Foundation that it will be transitioning from its current operational activities to become a licensing operation only, Nokia today reaffirmed its commitment to the Symbian platform. Nokia plans to continue to invest its own resources in developing Symbian, the world’s most widely used smartphone platform, and expects to deliver a strong portfolio of Symbian-based smartphones to people around the world.

“The future of Symbian as a platform does not depend on the existence of the foundation,” said Jo Harlow, Senior Vice President, Smartphones, Nokia. “The changes announced by the foundation have no impact on Nokia’s Symbian device roadmaps or shipping commitments. The platform powers hundreds of millions of smartphones – including our own – and we expect to deliver ongoing support and innovation benefitting the Symbian ecosystem in the future.”

Nokia’s recent decision to focus on Qt as its sole application development framework is expected to bring greater efficiency and speed of evolution to the Symbian platform. This approach is aimed at ensuring compatibility for apps with future Symbian platform versions, and enables more frequent updates and upgrades for Nokia smartphones. To take advantage of this ever-growing opportunity, developers can find the tools and support they need through Forum Nokia, and global distribution to Nokia’s broad base of smartphones through Ovi Store.

Nokia is the volume market leader in smartphones and the company’s commitment to the Symbian platform is unchanged. Nokia smartphones based on the new Symbian platform include the Nokia N8, Nokia C7 and the new Nokia C6-01 which are available now, as well as the upcoming Nokia E7 which is expected to ship before the end of 2010. Nokia expects to sell more than 50 million Symbian^3-based devices.

Nokia at Symbian Exchange and Exposition 2010
Nokia will exhibit and demonstrate its portfolio of Symbian-based smartphones at the annual Symbian Exchange and Exposition (SEE) 2010 event in Amsterdam, Netherlands November 9-10. Nokia’s Jo Harlow will deliver a keynote address on Tuesday, November 9 at approximately 10:15am CET. For more information on the event, which is hosted for the Symbian community and free to attend, visit http://www.see2010.org/.

About Nokia
At Nokia, we are committed to connecting people. We combine advanced technology with personalized services that enable people to stay close to what matters to them. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia device – from mobile phones to advanced smartphones and high-performance mobile computers. Today, Nokia is integrating its devices with innovative services through Ovi (www.ovi.com), including music, maps, apps, email and more. Nokia’s NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, while Nokia Siemens Networks provides equipment, services and solutions for communications networks globally.

.see2010.org/.

About Nokia
At Nokia, we are committed to connecting people. We combine advanced technology with personalized services that enable people to stay close to what matters to them. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia device – from mobile phones to advanced smartphones and high-performance mobile computers. Today, Nokia is integrating its devices with innovative services through Ovi (www.ovi.com), including music, maps, apps, email and more. Nokia’s NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, while Nokia Siemens Networks provides equipment, services and solutions for communications networks globally.

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Nokia-C6-01

Nokia has unveiled another Symbian^3 handset- the Nokia C6-01 and has also started the shipping of the same. Nokia C6-01 is the most affordable Symbian^3 handset to date and also the most compact one.

The C6-01 measures 103.8 x 52.5 x 13.9mm and weighs in at just 131g. The phone is fully functional communicator with support for 3G and Wi-Fi on board. It’s got a 3.2-inch AMOLED capacitive touch-screen featuring the new ClearBlack display technology for the first time. The C6-01 is also one of Nokia’s greenest devices to date; featuring the use of bio-plastics and recycled metals for much of its construction. The handset also offers free navigation through Ovi Maps, extra apps from Ovi Store and tunes from Ovi Music.

The expected price of the mobile is US$365.14 before taxes and subsidies.

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Nokia launches C7 in India

ncNokia launches Nokia C7 in India. It is the second Symbian^3 Operation System device after N8. If we go by the Mobile dealers, the phone is now available with a price tag of US$438.67.

Nokia C7 phone comes with a stunning stainless steel body with 3.5? AMOLED screen, 8MP camera with Dual LED Flash, 720p Video Recording and 8GB onboard memory. The handset also features a Full-touch glass display and integrated social networks. And more users can install thousands of apps at Ovi Store. Users can even set three customizable home screens.

The phone is available in three colors Charcoal black, Frosty metal, Mahogany brown.

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Nokia is planning a comeback in the US market  to compete with the other high- end smartphones.

According to Executive Vice President Tero Ojanpera, Nokia Oyj’s effort to regain lost U.S. market share hinges on convincing software developers its new high-end smartphone can compete with Apple and Samsung for holiday shoppers. Delivering simple tools for creating games like the popular Angry Birds will help Nokia become more relevant to U.S. consumers and overcome Apple Inc.’s dominance.

Ojanpera oversees Espoo, Finland-based Nokia’s location, messaging, entertainment and context-based services.

The company is claiming that N8 will change U.S. shoppers’ views that Nokia devices, which use the Symbian operating system, aren’t as fun or easy to use as Apple’s or products with Google Inc.’s Android software.

According to Analysis, Nokia has a 38% share of the smartphone market. Its total U.S. market share is 7.8%.

As per Ojanpera, What’s hot in the U.S. today will change. The discussions are going on in the U.S. about Android passing Apple. The good news is change happens and winning ultimately is about responding to the consumers’ needs.

Nokia is trying to win market share in the smartphone category by combining features of its online Ovi store, which include music, apps and maps, to offer services such as local concert listings next to tracks of artists like Coldplay.

According to the company, the Ovi Store still comes across as a mobile computing resource for business users. The company has also reduced the complication of its developer tools and is sponsoring a US$10 million contest with AT&T Inc. to create new applications.

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Nokia considers Windows Phone 7

If reports are to be believed, Nokia may consider Windows Phone 7 as a platform for its upcoming smartphones.

Nokia has also teamed up with Intel to develop the MeeGo mobile platform which has yet to emerge on the handsets and doesn’t show any signs of becoming a serious rival.

If they were to make a Windows Phone 7 handset they would need to strengthen the internal hardware, one  of the areas in which the N8 lacks. The 600MHz processor features may just not be enough to cut it in the existing smartphone/OS conflicts, so a more powerful option would be a necessary. Nokia has seen a steep decline in its company value since the release of the iPhone in 2007.

Microsoft’s mobile platform currently has five launch partners; HTC, Samsung, LG, Acer and Dell and is a major improvement over the previous WinMo OS.

If Rumors are to be believed, Finnish company would soon ditch the Symbian platform entirely have proven untrue and were ridiculous to begin with. This was demonstrated last week when Nokia and AT&T announced a competition to entice developers to make apps for the Ovi Store with up for US$10million in prize money up for grabs.

Pre-orders for the N8 have been the highest Nokia has had for any handset till date, though currently it is the only smartphone in its line-up which could potentially have the mass appeal that it needs.

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www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The first U.S. device to arrive preloaded with Nokia’s popular Ovi Maps navigation application has been announced by Nokia. It is T-Mobile USA’s forthcoming Nokia 5230 Nuron. It is also the first from a national U.S. operator to come preloaded with Nokia’s Ovi Store mobile content marketplace.

T-Mobile is also offering carrier billing as well as credit card purchases. Free turn-by-turn navigation and directions, weather forecasts and Facebook-based location sharing, the 3.2-inch touchscreen Nurion device Android Develops Enhanced OpenGL Support are some of the features of the smartphone.

Ovi Maps also features recommendations from Lonely Planet guides. Scheduled to be shipped in the next few weeks, T-Mobile USA exclusive comes preloaded with maps for the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The announcement that more than 3 million consumers have downloaded the Ovi Maps application since its debut in late January was made by Nokia during last month’s Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona.

According to Niklas Savander, the handset giant’s executive vice president of services, Ovi Maps now averages more than one download per second, 24 hours a day, translating to around 100,000 downloads on a daily basis.

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www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Increased integration with mobile apps and content stores as a key part of mobile internet strategy has been announced by Deutsche Telekom. Delivery of the widest choice of mobile apps and content and creation of an environment that is easy to use regardless of what brand of phone its customers are using is the main aim of the telco.

Operator billing option will also be launched as a part of this approach allowing T-Mobile customers to download apps from the key stores and have them charged back onto their mobile phone bill, removing the need to pay with a credit card.

The partnership between Deutsche Telekom and Nokia to roll-out a T-Mobile billing option for content and applications purchased in the Ovi Store is the first step towards this goal.

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www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Nokia will reportedly slash 450 jobs by reducing investment in creating new services, in order to reduce costs further.
Nokia also intends to streamline its mobile services platforms and migrate its existing games services over to its Ovi applications portal.
All Nokia games will be available through the Ovi Store, and also through existing channels. Nokia hopes to spur its oppurtunities for game developers.
The Finnish manufacturer, which had earlier issued 3000 pink slips, says that 450 job cuts will also involve the internal IT unit and industry collaboration activities.

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