Nokia brings two new Smartphones into the family
Nokia has unveiled its two new Symbian based Smartphones – the Nokia E7 and Nokia C7 to form a family of Symbian products. The company also declared its latest beta release of free Ovi Maps with new pedestrian and motorist features.
Nokia also revealed an improved C6 for smartphone users. The new Smartphones will include a completely updated Ovi Store experience. The new store experience is driven by a friendlier user interface and a new collections feature to quickly access popular apps and games available now, or soon. In addition to this Ovi Store will continue to offer exclusive apps including Audiotube, Tesco and others along with favorites like Fring, Shazam, and Asphalt 5.
According to Niklas Savander, Executive Vice President, Markets, Nokia, today the company’s fight back to smartphone leadership shifts into high gear. Despite new competition, Symbian remains the most widely used smartphone platform in the world. The new family of smartphones introduced today features the all-new Symbian OS, rewritten to be faster, easier to use, more efficient and more developer friendly.
Nokia E7 is a phone with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync on board. It provides direct, real-time and secure access to corporate email inboxes and other personal applications. E7 is equipped with a 4-inch touchscreen display featuring Nokia ClearBlack technology for improved outdoor visibility and a full keyboard. Where as Nokia C7 features a 3.5-inch AMOLED display and a combination of stainless steel, glass and soft edges.
Nokia re-establishes its business in US Market
With the launch of C3 in the US, Nokia is back in the market. Last week, hundreds of consumers lined up to buy Nokia’s C3.The Nokia C3 is the first device to bring a full QWERTY keyboard to Series 40- world’s most popular mobile phone platform – and is the first in the range to enable access to social networks directly on the home screen. Users can view, comment, update their status and share pictures at their favorite social networks such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter.
Set to facilitate customers with Nokia mobile services – like banking, e-mail or even agricultural education as a part of a service called Nokia Life Tools in developing markets the phone is already getting a huge appreciation in the United States.
Nokia C3 is a pocket friendly handset, estimated to cost around US $115. Its key features are as follows:
- Full QWERTY keypad
- 1-click access to email and chat via Nokia Messaging
- Easy Ovi Mail and Ovi Chat account creation
- Conversational SMS for chat type messaging
- Favorite Contacts
- Social networking
- 1-click access to social networking via Communities client
- Viewing alerts and news on the home screen
- Webkit based browser
- Opera mini client
- Web Search
- WLAN (with easy access point authentication without opening browser)
- 2 megapixel camera with 4 x digital zoom
- Media player
- FM stereo radio
- 3.5 AV connector
- Support for up to 8GB memory card
- Built-in handsfree speaker
Nokia has a goal of signing up 300 million Ovi users by the end of 2011.
Nokia files suit against Apple for iPad, iPhone technology
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A patent-infringement lawsuit has been filed by the world’s biggest maker of mobile phones, Nokia Ovi against Apple Inc. in its latest salvo over the iPhone and iPad. The fifth patent complaints between the two companies broaden the fight to include Apple’s iPad touch-screen computer tablet.
Apple has seized Nokia’s position as the company that defines the high-end smartphone market with the introduction of iPhone three years back. Nokia had been really slow to move to the touch screens featured on the bestselling iPhone and on the iPad.
According to Paul Melin, general manager of patent licensing at Nokia, Nokia has been the leading developer of many key technologies in mobile devices and it has taken this step to protect the results of its pioneering development and to put an end to continued unlawful use of Nokia’s innovation.
Telkom Kenya shifts focus for 2010 following net loss
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In an attempt to recover, following a net loss of KES10 billion (USD124.6 million) in 2009, Telkom Kenya has announced that it will shift its strategic focus in 2010. Revenue of KES11 billion was generated by the company but due to higher levels of competition it turned to net loss.
The profit level of the industry also plunged when the operators dropped their prices to gain market share.
According to Telkom Kenya CEO, Mickael Ghossein, the company had encountered severe conditions in the last trading year that had affected its ability to generate profits and so the company has turned its focus on providing quality services, innovating and providing value for money.
The company has also planned to move the market towards true broadband connectivity, offering speeds of up to 8Mbps.
Nokia to limit app publishers on its Ovi Store
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Only registered companies will be allowed to submit apps to Nokia’s Ovi store as a part of its screening process and to ensure mobile Ovi Store carries clean apps. However, a barrier is set up by this requirement for individuals interested in developing apps for the app store, as well as aspiring startups and entrepreneurs that may not have registered business licenses.
According to Marc Einstein, ICT industry manager at Frost & Sullivan, the move is an effort to avoid some of the controversies seen at competing stores, such as offensive content that had ended up on Apple’s App Store in the past and as such, Nokia’s move to limit app contribution is a necessary evil.
Nelson Wee, Nokia’s Asia-Pacific senior services marketing manager, explained that the company established the policy due to international tax complexities besides aiming at ensuring content on the Ovi Store is legal and authentic.
