Telecommunications Section

October 5, 2006

Polycom Delivers Business Quality Voice Conferencing Through Skype

Skype Certified Polycom VoiceStation 500 Delivers Natural, Hands-Free Voice Communications for Small Conference Rooms and Executive Offices.

PLEASANTON, Calif., Oct. 5 -- Polycom, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLCM) , the world's leading provider of unified collaborative communications solutions, today announced that the Polycom VoiceStation(TM) 500 conference phone is Skype Certified(TM). The integration of Skype and the VoiceStation 500 enables customers to easily host business quality conference calls in a small conference room or executive office using Skype. The VoiceStation 500 features Bluetooth wireless and an applications port that enables it to seamlessly work with Skype(TM) running on a PC.

Featuring a compact, stylish design, the affordable VoiceStation 500 delivers Polycom's award-winning Acoustic Clarity Technology(TM) for full duplex, natural group conferencing that minimizes background echoes, word clipping and distortion to provide a high-quality voice conferencing experience. The VoiceStation 500 uses AC power and can connect to a standard POTS phone line, but it also features embedded Bluetooth wireless support and an applications port for connecting to a computer running Skype. These connectivity options can also be used to connect the VoiceStation 500 to other devices such as a mobile phone and other handheld devices.

Polycom, Inc. is the worldwide leader in unified collaborative communications (UCC) that maximize the efficiency and productivity of people and organizations by integrating the broadest array of video, voice, data and Web solutions to deliver the ultimate communications experience.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 3:51 PM | Link to this Post

July 25, 2006

The Nokia N93 starts shipping

The Nokia N93 transforms the way you shoot, shape and share your movies.

Nokia world headquarters in Finland today announced that deliveries of the new Nokia N93 have begun. The latest addition to Nokia's high performance Nokia Nseries multimedia computer range, the Nokia N93 offers uncompromised digital camcorder, telephony and rich internet functionality.

Boasting a 3.2 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, 3x optical zoom and DVD-like video capture, the Nokia N93 also offers advanced connectivity and editing options. You can connect the Nokia N93 directly to your compatible TV for a widescreen movie experience, upload your images and video directly from the handset to select online albums or blogs, and even create high-quality home movies and burn them to DVD with the included Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 software.

"The mobile video revolution is here," said Satu Ehrnrooth, head of Nokia Nseries Cameras, Multimedia, Nokia. "People are already using the internet as a forum for dialogue, and what better way to share your thoughts than through video! The Nokia N93 provides a perfect medium for this - you can shoot your short movies and share them instantly with others in the internet."

Nokia Nseries is a range of high performance multimedia devices that delivers unparalleled mobile multimedia experiences by combining the latest technologies with stylish design and ease of use. With Nokia Nseries products, consumers can use a single device to enjoy entertainment, access information and to capture and share pictures and videos, whenever on the go at anytime.

The ultimate mobile device for spontaneous video recording and sharing, the Nokia N93 is based on S60 3rd Edition software on Symbian OS. The Nokia N93 has started shipments to markets worldwide, including Europe, Middle East, Asia-Pacific, China and Americas markets where 3G (WCDMA) or EDGE and GSM networks are available.

Sharp Shooter
Unfold and twist the main display, and the Nokia N93 is ready to shoot high quality video and photos, with dedicated keys for shutter, zoom and flash making it easy to capture that once-in-a-lifetime moment. Featuring MPEG-4 VGA video capture at up to 30 frames per second, stereo audio recording and digital stabilization enabling smooth and shake-free movies, the Nokia N93 shoots DVD-like quality videos. It also boasts a 3.2 megapixel (2048 x 1536 pixels) camera with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, 3x optical zoom and up to 20x digital zoom, as well as autofocus and close-up mode for amazing clarity and accuracy.

The Nokia N93 features large internal memory of up to 50 MB, which can be further expanded with a hot swap miniSD card of up to 2 GB, allowing users to capture up to 90 minutes of DVD-like quality video or up to 2500 high-quality photos.

Share and Relive Your Moments
The Nokia N93 offers multiple options for sharing your videos. Share your uncompressed photos and video clips instantly via email, Bluetooth technology or by uploading them directly from the gallery of your device to compatible blogs. Or round up your friends and debut your mobile movies on a compatible TV screen, using either the included TV-out cable or wirelessly over integrated WLAN and UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) technology. For instant playback, set the device on a surface, flip the display horizontally and use the up to 262,144 color 2.4" QVGA display (240 x 320 pixels) in landscape mode to watch your movie magic. The screen can also be used to browse the web, watch TV* over 3G networks, or make hands-free video calls*.

Be Creative
The Nokia N93 offers both in-built and in-box editing facilities. The edit function on the device allows you to combine and trim clips and insert images, music and effects. For more advanced editing, the standard Nokia N93 sales pack comes complete with Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 which allows you to burn your mobile movies to DVD and export formats for web streaming and email.

Communication Skills
Like all Nokia Nseries devices, the Nokia N93 also provides exceptional communication and multimedia computing features. Designed to work on wireless LAN, 3G (WCDMA 2100 MHz), EDGE and GSM (900/1800/1900 MHz) networks, the Nokia N93 provides mobile broadband internet access for browsing, uploading content, and sending and receiving emails, allowing you to stay connected on the move.

The Entertainer
Store up to 1500 songs on your Nokia N93 with a separately available 2 GB miniSD card, and use the digital music player to listen to your favorite tracks wherever you go. You can also create playlists, rip your CDs and transfer your music collection to your Nokia N93 using Nokia Music Manager, provided on the inbox DVD-ROM. Or listen hands-free to your stored music or the stereo FM radio of the Nokia N93 by using the built-in speaker or a compatible stereo headset. And for a complete entertainment experience you can also enjoy high-quality 3D games with the pre-installed N-Gage franchise System Rush: Evolution.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 2:14 PM | Link to this Post

June 24, 2006

Nokia and Siemens to merge their communications service provider businesses

New global network leader for fixed‚ mobile convergence.

Nokia and Siemens have announced that they intend to merge the Networks Business Group of Nokia and the carrier-related operations of Siemens into a new company, to be called Nokia Siemens Networks. The 50-50 joint venture will create a global leader with strong positions in important growth segments of fixed and mobile network infrastructure and services.

View Nokia Siemens Deep Customer Relationships

The combined company is positioned to lead the development and implementation of revenue-generating and cost-saving products and services via its scale and global reach. Nokia Siemens Networks will have one of the world's best research and development teams, with the ability to invest in next generation fixed and mobile product platforms and services. The new company will have a world-class fixed-mobile convergence capability, a complementary global base of customers, a deep presence in both developed and emerging markets, and one of the industry's largest and most experienced service organizations.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 8:55 AM | Link to this Post

March 23, 2006

Sony Ericsson unveils game changing innovations to take women's tennis to next level of fan entertainment

Global title sponsorship to yield technology and television innovations designed to make game more fan friendly and interactive on television and at tournament sites.

LONDON, United Kingdom - March 21, 2006 – Sony Ericsson and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced today the unveiling of a series of groundbreaking technological and television innovations that will greatly enhance the sport for television and live viewers of women’s professional tennis across the globe.

View Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Cutouts in Circle

The package includes (1) pre-match player interviews so fans can hear what players are thinking as they are about to step on the court; (2) coaches interviews during matches; (3) placing of wireless microphones on players during practice; (4) enhanced microphones on court and in the umpire’s chair to bring the true sound of play to viewers at home; and (5) coordination with broadcasters to reduce on-air pre-match warm ups so that TV viewers are taken right to match action.

This announcement represents the fulfillment of one of the central promises of Sony Ericsson’s landmark 6-year, $88 million global title sponsorship of the WTA Tour signed in January 2005 – to make the sport more fan friendly, interactive and innovative through the intersection of sport with technology. The new initiatives follow several technological and music innovations unveiled in 2005 by Sony Ericsson, including the introduction of live scoring and enhanced content to fans’ mobile phones, the launch of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour “Girls on Tour” website which includes player diaries, ring-tones, games and other unique content, and bringing of live Sony BMG music acts to select Tour events.

“Sony Ericsson’s sponsorship of women’s tennis is all about using innovation to take the game to the next level of entertainment,” said Dee Dutta, Sony Ericsson’s CVP and head of global marketing. “Sport is entertainment, and the package of changes announced today is another important step in the direction of making the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour a more fan friendly, interactive and exciting spectator sport. Watch this space as there is more exciting change to come”

“Our fans and broadcasters are telling us that they want to get closer to our players, and to feel the incredible athleticism and energy that is women’s professional tennis,” said Larry Scott, CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. “Through our partnership with Sony Ericsson we are making that desire a reality. Fans watching at home on TV and at our tournaments will now be able to experience the excitement, sounds and speed of women’s tennis like never before.”

“These are great initiatives. We really believe that these innovations will enhance our viewers’ experience and interest, as well as make them feel closer to their favorite players,” said Geraldine Filiol, Deputy Managing Director at Eurosport.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 8:39 AM | Link to this Post

March 22, 2006

Sony Ericsson introduces new lifestyle of imaging communication with first Cyber-shot™ phones

K800 and K790 camera phones deliver new level of imaging quality.

London, February 2006 – Sony Ericsson is taking digital imaging in camera phones to new heights with the launch of the K800 and K790 phones, the first handsets to carry the Cyber-shot™ brand, a true mark of imaging quality.

Sony Ericsson K800 Camera Phone

Both are highly capable mobile phones with integrated 3.2 Megapixel digital cameras with Autofocus, Xenon flash and BestPic™ - Sony Ericsson’s unique imaging technology that allows you to capture exactly the moment you desire.

View Photo taken with K800 Camera Phone

View another Photo taken with K800 Camera Phone

K800 and K790 combine advanced image capture capabilities with high speed data transfer, making them perfect tools for shooting and sharing high quality pictures and videos. K800 is a dual-mode UMTS/GPRS phone and the K790 is a Tri Band EDGE phone. Both are available from Q2 2006.

"With the Cyber-shot™ phone we aim to create a new lifestyle of ‘imaging communication’ by combining Sony Ericsson’s unique mobile applications and Sony digital imaging technologies,” said Rikko Sakaguchi, Senior Vice President, Product and Application Planning, Sony Ericsson. "Our aim has always been to innovate and create new values for the mobile life, and with the Cyber-shot™ phone we will enable anyone to enjoy an entirely new level of communication –taking quality pictures of anything, anytime and anywhere, and sharing their precious moments with others."

The handsets have a classic Sony Ericsson design, with a large screen and responsive, tactile keypad with a sleek and stylish dual front phone design. Turn the phones horizontally and there you have a digital still camera. Simply slide the active lens cover downwards and a user interface similar to that of a Cyber-shot™ camera automatically appears.

The superb technology within the K800 and K790 deliver a new level of imaging quality in camera phones. High resolution, sharp, crisp images are guaranteed every time thanks to added features more common to standalone cameras. 3.2 Megapixel resolution with Auto Focus is just the start. The cameras in K800 and K790, like in any digital still camera, have a Xenon flash that gives sharp and colourful pictures even in the dark with red-eye reduction included. Also, the image stabilizer function compensates for the small hand movements that can make pictures blurred.

A completely new feature developed by Sony Ericsson is BestPic™, which ensures that you never ‘miss’ an important picture. Press the shutter button once and get 9 full quality 3.2 megapixel pictures to choose from in a time sequence – 4 pictures before and 4 pictures after the actual image you captured. All 9 pictures are displayed as icons on the display. Simply scroll backwards and forwards through the 9 images and save the ones you like best.

The K800 and K790 offer full support for a complete digital imaging lifestyle. Printing is possible without the need for a PC thanks to PictBridge™, a feature that transfers pictures directly to a printer by using a USB cable. Storing and managing image files on your PC are made easy with the supplied Adobe software, and the phones are among the first to feature fully integrated Picture Blogging Blogging is growing exponentially as a way of sharing personal experiences with words and images, and Picture Blogging in K800 and K790 allows users to create and update personal blogs directly from the phone in just a few clicks.

Business users will find the K800 and K790 valuable work tools while out of the office and the sleek Velvet Black casing fits neatly with the professional image. Full HTML browsing with RSS feeds and Google Search give you high-speed, graphic-rich Internet use. Support for standard push email and a connectivity suite comprising Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0 and Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) means that keeping in touch is effortless. A complete entertainment package including music player, 3D gaming and an RDS FM radio are also provided for business downtime or relaxation.

The Sony Ericsson K800 is a dual-mode UMTS handset while K790 is a Tri Band EDGE handset. Both products will be commercially available in Velvet Black and start shipping globally during Q2 2006. The variants in the market will be:

K800i - Dual mode UMTS (2100MHz) - GPRS 900/1800/1900 MHz for Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa
K800c - Dual mode UMTS (2100MHz) - GPRS 900/1800/1900 MHz for Mainland China. (Launch dependent on availability of 3G services.)

K790i - Tri Band EDGE 900/1800/1900 MHz for Europe, Asia Pacific, Americas
K790a - Tri Band EDGE 850/1800/1900 MHz for Americas
K790c - Tri Band EDGE 900/1800/1900 MHz for Mainland China

Edited & Posted by Editor | 7:50 AM | Link to this Post

March 19, 2006

Motorola, Pininfarina and Maserati: Technological Concept Car at Geneva International Motor Show

Italian designer and mobile phone manufacturer are collaborating on futuristic dream car.

GENEVA -- Motorola, Inc. and Pininfarina, the design company behind such iconic cars as Maserati and Ferrari, had announced together with Maserati the world premiere of a technological concept car equipped with futuristic automotive and mobile technologies at the 2005 Geneva International Motor Show. This new creation, a tribute to the Maserati of the future based on its heritage and on its advanced mechanicals, is a rolling high-tech sculpture that demonstrates technologies that are imaginary but possible.

Motorola is a Fortune 100 global communications leader that provides seamless mobility products and solutions across broadband, embedded systems and wireless networks. In your home, auto, workplace and all spaces in between, seamless mobility means you can reach the people, things and information you need, anywhere, anytime. Seamless mobility harnesses the power of technology convergence and enables smarter, faster, cost-effective and flexible communication. Motorola had sales of US $31.3 billion in 2004.

The prototype demonstrates Motorola’s concept of “seamless mobility”: the ability to reach the people you need, the entertainment you love, and the information you can’t live without, whether you are at the office, at home, or even in your car. The integration of Motorola’s technology in the car realizes the seamless mobility theory: the car itself becomes an intelligent moving network, able to interact with its passengers and keep them constantly and seamlessly connected to all the aspects of their lives. This concept is translated even into the car’s interior, which is physically seamless.

The technologies integrated into the Maserati dream car include a transparent heads-up display revealing the intelligent core of the vehicle. Through a central mounted navigation device, drivers can navigate through a personalized array of functions and menus. The numerous cameras positioned on the car allow drivers to share their driving experience with others. The car was created completely from renewable resources, using recycled components rather than natural materials. It also features a swappable drive system that transfers from gasoline to hybrid drive in six minutes.

The idea to build a technological dream car with Motorola came as Pininfarina Extra, the division of the Pininfarina Group, began designing Motorola’s latest line of iDEN handsets. Pininfarina Extra, which has partnered with Motorola on the design of its latest mobile phones, thought about how they could integrate Motorola’s concept of ‘seamless mobility’ within a technologically advanced car. This challenge was taken up and carried forward by Pininfarina Extra through its cooperation in the design of the cabin and the accessories of the concept car.

“This Maserati illustrates some of Motorola’s future technologies in a way that visitors to the Geneva International Motor Show can experience first-hand,” said Sam Desai, senior vice president and general manager, Motorola’s iDEN Networks and Handsets. “It is another example of how Motorola and Pininfarina are working together to bring exciting designs to new products.”
Motorola and Pininfarina also demonstrated several cutting-edge products designed for automotive enthusiasts, including the Pininfarina Limited Edition Motorola i833 handset as well as Motorola’s line of NASCAR phones, mobile phone car kits, and other phones and accessories.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:22 PM | Link to this Post

President Bush Honors Motorola Leadership in American Innovation and Competitiveness

Motorola Awarded National Medal of Technology during White House Ceremony

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 2006 – At the White House, President George W. Bush presented Motorola, Inc. with the 2004 National Medal of Technology. The prestigious annual award recognizes Motorola for its outstanding contributions to America’s technological innovation and competitiveness. The National Medal of Technology, established in 1980 by an act of Congress, is the highest honor awarded by the President to America’s leading innovators.

Since its founding in 1928, Motorola has stood on the cutting edge of innovation in areas such as two-way radios, cellular communication, paging, space flight communication, semiconductors and integrated, digital enhanced networks. As a result, the company has helped establish entirely new industries and driven the phenomenal growth of portable and mobile communications.

Motorola is known around the world for innovation and leadership in wireless and broadband communications.

“All of us at Motorola are honored to receive the National Medal of Technology from the President,” said Ed Zander, Motorola chairman and chief executive officer. “This award belongs not only to the talented employees of today but to the several generations of Motorolans who built our heritage of innovation. Given this heritage, we strongly support the President’s plan to keep America the world’s most competitive and innovative nation.”

In the President’s State of the Union address on January 31, he announced his American Competitiveness Initiative. The initiative calls for bold private-sector investment in innovation and renewed emphasis on math and science education.

“We applaud the administration for proposing increased investments in R&D, in particular for the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) at Commerce and for the National Science Foundation,” said Padmasree Warrior, Motorola executive vice president and chief technology officer. “From convergence to mobile Internet to nanotechnology, we must educate, excite and inspire our nation’s children about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

Motorola invests more than $3.5 billion annually into research and development and has long supported math and science education, including the FIRST Robotics competition, the Teach for America program, the United Negro College Fund, the Mathcounts Foundation, Girls Inc. and the Ibero American Science & Technology Education Consortium.

History of Innovation
A pioneer, innovator and visionary in wireless, broadband and mobile communication, Motorola has transformed innovative ideas into products and solutions to connect people to each other and the world around them.

In personal communication, Motorola has changed the way the world communicates, from the introduction of the DynaTAC cell phone in 1983 to today’s ultra-thin RAZR handset. In two-way radio services -- from the Handie-Talkie radio of World War II to today’s light-weight models -- Motorola has been the leading provider to public safety, government, transportation, utility and manufacturing enterprises.

Its digital video set-tops and voice-over-IP enhanced cable modems deliver the promise of a connected home just as the original home radios, telephones, and televisions did in the 1930s and ‘40s. Motorola has also developed an array of microprocessors for products ranging from some of the first video games to today’s most advanced digital cameras.

Today, Motorola’s labs are researching and developing cutting-edge technologies to deliver on the promise of seamless mobility – connecting the unconnected and bringing the mobile Internet to the next billion people worldwide. In addition, Motorola’s research in micro-miniaturization and concern for the environment are resulting in ever-smaller portable electronic devices that reduce power consumption and are eco-friendly.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:04 PM | Link to this Post

March 14, 2006

Nokia Convergence Devices for Mobile TV and the Digital home at Nokia Mobility Conference

Nokia Mobility Conference is one of the world's premier forums for operators, developers, IT vendors, content owners, service providers, retailers, and other members of the mobility-industry value chain. Featuring speakers from Nokia and other key players in the industry, the Nokia Mobility Conference showcases real-life examples of business opportunities across the sector.

View Photo: Business Opportunities at Nokia Mobility Conference

View Photo: Nokia Mobility Conference - Avenues to Revenues

Nokia has launched three more Nokia Nseries multimedia devices, while new Nokia products and solutions for enterprises, application developers and mobile networks give convergence a push.

At Nokia Mobility Conference 2005, Barcelona, Spain, and Espoo, Finland, Nokia illuminated its convergence strategy by extending the Nokia Nseries multimedia range to include three new devices: the Nokia N92 (the world's first mobile device with a built-in DVB-H receiver), the Nokia N71 and the Nokia N80. With these new devices consumers can wirelessly watch mobile TV, stream music, share photos and send emails with attachments.

This latest launch follows the announcement in October 2005 of the Nokia Eseries, a new family of Nokia smartphones targeted at the business world. The Nokia Nseries, first launched in April, and the Nokia Eseries are the manifestation of Nokia's vision of convergence and the emerging digital industry, bringing together information technology, enterprise applications, broadcasting, music and imaging. Speaking at the Nokia Mobility Conference, Nokia Chairman and CEO Jorma Ollila explained how devices like these lie at the heart of digital convergence.

"We expect the market for convergence devices to double to 100 million units in 2006. Developers, media companies and enterprises are shifting their focus to Nokia's S60 smartphone platform, as they see the business potential of using it to offer content and ensure secure remote access to corporate applications," said Ollila. "Convergence is opening up a world of opportunities for our customers and partners, and Nokia is committed to developing the tools, solutions and products to make the promise of the digital industry a reality."

Nokia N92: the clearest picture yet for mobile TV
The Nokia N92 is the world's first mobile device with a built-in DVB-H receiver, making it possible for users to watch and record live TV at any time. Based on open standards, DVB-H is the leading mobile-TV broadcasting technology, enabling low-cost delivery of high-quality broadcast programs to mass audiences.

The Nokia N92 features applications and functionalities that make it easy for users to watch and search for TV programs, create personal channel lists, subscribe to TV-channel packages, set program reminders and access interactive TV services. The ergonomic form factor includes media keys, a view mode and a large (2.8") anti-glare QVGA screen supporting 16 million colors.

Nokia N71: all-in-one entertainment
The latest member of the Nokia XpressMusic family, the Nokia N71 is a pocket-sized entertainment system complete with stereo FM radio and support for digital music and videos. The Nokia N71 also features the new Nokia Web Browser with Mini Map. This allows a semi-transparent, zoomed-out view of a web page, so that users can quickly orientate themselves on a handset screen.

Nokia N80: make yourself at home
Equipped with WLAN and 3G, the Nokia N80 is the world's first handset to feature UPnP technology. This allows it to be used as a remote control for wirelessly swapping content between compatible PCs, audio equipment and TVs. Images and video stored on the Nokia N80 or on a compatible PC can be viewed on a TV, for instance, while music stored on the device can be played through an audio system. Nokia N80 users can also print wirelessly to any UPnP-enabled printer. In addition, the Nokia N80 supports most commonly used email solutions and office-application formats.

Web browsing in your pocket
At the conference Nokia also unveiled a new web browser for its S60 software for smartphones. The browser, designed to give equal access both to full web pages and mobile-optimized content, is available for S60 licensees as part of the S60 3rd Edition offering. With the browser built on open architecture, S60 licensees and open source developers will be able to extend its core and build new features on top of it.

In keeping with this open source approach, Nokia has also launched a new Internet portal for its open source software projects: opensource.nokia.com. The portal, a natural extension for the Forum Nokia online developer community, consolidates Nokia's open source activities and provides access to its projects.

Mobilizing the enterprise
The new Nokia Eseries family of smartphones for the business world also made its public debut at the conference. The Nokia E60, the Nokia E61 and the Nokia E70, each with its own distinct design, are built on a platform that meets the security and manageability needs of corporate IT professionals. The Nokia Eseries is targeted at companies and public institutions that want to improve their performance while keeping the cost of device management and support under control.

Nokia Eseries devices support all GSM bands, 3G, WLAN, corporate email access and advanced voice functionality (including IP PBX connectivity over WLAN), and offer integrated security features and tools for device management. Multiple email solutions are supported, including BlackBerry Connect, GoodLink, Nokia Business Center, Seven Mobile Mail, Seven Always-on mail and Visto Mobile. Nokia Eseries devices are a perfect fit with the Nokia Business Center, a robust and cost-effective solution for the mass-market rollout of corporate mobile email.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 5:29 AM | Link to this Post

March 11, 2006

Nokia celebrates the inauguration of its manufacturing facility in Chennai, India

• Nokia becomes the first equipment vendor to manufacture both mobile devices and network infrastructure equipment in India

• Achieved milestone of manufacturing over one million handsets in India to-date

• India to become the second biggest mobile device market in the world in terms of volumes in 2010

Chennai, India - March 11, 2006: Nokia, the world leader in mobile communications, inaugurated its manufacturing facility in Sriperumbudur, Chennai, India. Present at the inauguration, were the Honorable Prime Minister of Finland, Minister of Transport and Communications, Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu, Secretary to the Government of India and Chairman of Telecom Commission, and senior Nokia executives including Mr. Jorma Ollila, Chairman & CEO and Mr. Robert Andersson, Executive Vice President, Customer & Market Operations, amongst others.

View Photo: Nokia Connect GSM Solution

The manufacturing facility in Chennai is Nokia's fifteenth manufacturing facility globally. Nokia is the only company in India whose facility manufactures both mobile devices and network infrastructure equipment.

Nokia commenced commercial production of mobile handsets at its India factory on the 2nd of January 2006 and has achieved the milestone of manufacturing over one million handsets in India to-date. The Chennai manufacturing facility currently employs 1100 people and expects to significantly expand its work force in India over time.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Jorma Ollila, Chairman & CEO of Nokia said, "India is amongst the top 5 telecom markets in the world. Setting up this manufacturing facility in India reiterates our long term commitment to the Indian market. We are proud to have only taken 23 weeks from the time we started construction to rolling out the first products at this state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Chennai is a great location with excellent state and central government support, availability of skilled labor and a conducive business environment. I am confident that our manufacturing facility in Chennai will enable us to reduce our time to market and better respond to our customer requirements in this market and around the region. "

"We anticipate that there will be a long term sustainable demand for mobile telephony in the fast growing Indian market. In fact, we estimate that India will become the world's second biggest mobile device market when measured by volumes in year 2010. There is tremendous potential to bring mobile communications for the very first time to many in India who do not yet have any access to communications. To bring the benefits of mobility to the first time subscribers, Nokia is working closely with operators to lower the total cost of ownership with affordable handsets and cost-efficient network solutions," he added.

Nokia has played a pioneering role in the growth of cellular technology in India, starting with the first-ever GSM cellular call a decade ago on a Nokia mobile phone over a Nokia-deployed network. The addition of a manufacturing facility in India strengthens Nokia's commitment to the market.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 7:47 AM | Link to this Post

March 8, 2006

Nokia N91 for a True Mobile Music Experience

Storage for up to 3000 songs, plus smartphone functionality in an ultra-portable package.

At Amsterdam, Cancun, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur, Nokia recently introduced the Nokia N91 multimedia, the company's latest device optimized for mobile music consumption. With room for up to 3000 songs on the integrated 4-gigabyte hard disk, the Nokia N91 delivers a premier music experience. In addition, the industry standard 3.5mm stereo headset jack and easy transfer of music files from your PC help make the Nokia N91 a connected mobile jukebox. Encased in stainless steel, the Nokia N91 has dedicated music keys on its face, which slide down to reveal the phone keypad. The Nokia N91 is a part of the new Nokia Nseries range, bringing you the latest multimedia technologies and smartphone functionalities.

View Photo: Nokia Mobile Music Experience

"The Nokia N91 delivers both a fantastic music experience and cutting-edge phone features," said Jonas Geust, Vice President, Music at Nokia. "What sets the Nokia N91 apart is the fact that it is always connected - you can download new music while on the move, add it to your favorite playlist and then share your playlist with friends. It's truly the world's best mobile connected jukebox."

Listen to Music

The Nokia N91 serves up to 12.5 hours of great sound via the included stereo headset with remote control. Enjoying your music collection has never been easier, as the Nokia N91 supports a wide range of digital music formats including MP3, M4A, AAC and WMA.

Nokia N91 is compatible with a number of accessories from industry leading brands Bose(R), Harman Kardon, JBL, and Sennheiser. In addition to using their favorite audio accessories with the Nokia N91 through its standard 3.5mm jack, consumers can maximize their audio experience by choosing products from a line-up of Nokia tested and recommended audio accessories*.

Get Music

Packed with multiple connectivity options, such as WCDMA, WLAN and Bluetooth wireless technology, the Nokia N91 makes it easy for you to find and enjoy music when and where you want. With the Nokia N91, you can quickly and easily find and purchase music over the air to your device from your operator's music store.

Manage Music

Drag and drop your personal music collection from your PC to your Nokia N91 or synchronize your recent music purchases with your PC via USB 2.0. You can also create and manage your playlists directly on your Nokia N91, or shuffle songs around to build your optimal listening experience.

Share Music

A revolutionary feature of the Nokia N91 is the possibility to share your playlists with friends by multimedia message, email or Bluetooth. Proudly show off your musical taste or simply share the latest songs that have been stuck in your head.

The Nokia N91 also contains the latest multimedia technologies and smartphone functionalities, including a 2 megapixel camera for print-quality photos, email support, a full web browser and video sharing.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:32 PM | Link to this Post

March 5, 2006

Vodafone K.K. unveils first 3G mobile handset with VGA display

Vodafone 904SH supports new chat and multiplayer game services based on Bluetooth

Vodafone K.K. has announced the Vodafone 904SH by Sharp, the first mobile handset*1 to feature a VGA*2 liquid crystal display (LCD). The 904SH is scheduled to go on sale in late April 2006 as a new 3G handset.

The 904SH’s VGA LCD has four times the resolution of current QVGA*3 LCDs, making it possible to reproduce visuals and render small characters with more vividness and clarity than before.

The 904SH is a new flagship model that supports a full range of new services and features. By using Bluetooth, friends and acquaintances can enjoy new communication services like instant messaging or multiplayer games within a 10-metre radius free of charge. The 904SH is also the first handset to feature a new Motion Control Sensor, which is capable of measuring handset posture in all directions in 3D. Customers will be able to enjoy a host of new applications that fully take advantage of the new sensor’s enhanced accuracy. The 904SH also has Vodafone K.K.’s first Face Recognition feature for enhanced security and privacy protection.

The main features of the 904SH are as follows:

- First mobile handset*1 with VGA LCD and leading-edge specs: 3.2 megapixel autofocus 2x optical zoom camera and stereo speakers that support 3D surround sound

- Supports new services and features: Bluetooth communication, applications for newly-developed Motion Control Sensor, Vodafone K.K.’s first Face Recognition

- Flagship model that fully supports existing 3G services like Vodafone live! FeliCa for e-money and e-ticketing and Vodafone live! NAVI for GPS navigation

Edited & Posted by Editor | 9:16 AM | Link to this Post

February 21, 2006

Siemens to showcase the trends from the mobile world of tomorrow 3GSM World Congress 2006

Mobile TV

DVB-H stands for Digital Video Broadcasting for Handhelds and is based on DVB-T, the digital terrestrial transmission standard that has already been launched in some regions of Germany and is replacing analog television. So it’s possible for viewer to participate interactively in the tv-program. They can, for example, hold a vote on “The goal of the month”. Besides you don’t miss any live sport event, for example the Olympic Games 2006 in Turin.

Barcelona, Feb 9, 2006: Watching television on a mobile, playing high-resolution multi-player games, making mobile phone calls while simultaneously transferring files or videos over the wireless network: On some 400 square meters of exhibition floor space at the 3GSM World Congress 2006 in Barcelona, the Siemens Communications Group will be showing how mobile communication technology is going to be changing our leisure and working worlds in the years to come.

View Photo: Mobile TV

This year’s highlights will include a live demonstration of mobile television over DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld) as well as new IP-based mobile applications. In addition, Siemens will also be showcasing new services and products for the wireless networks of the coming years. On display at Booth A08 in Hall 8 at the Fira Fairgrounds and in a truck outside of Hall 8 will be innovations for operators, enterprises and consumers.

Live on the fairgrounds: Watching TV on a mobile while out and about

In Barcelona, Siemens will be providing coverage for the entire Fira Fairgrounds with DVB-H, the digital video broadcast technology for handhelds. Special DVB-H devices will enable visitors to the tradeshow to receive 16 different television programs live, including music channel MTV, news networks CNN and BBC World, as well as coverage of the Olympic Winter Games in Turin from Rai Olimpics Torino. In addition, Siemens will be providing live demonstrations of how the process works – from the TV camera right through to the image on the DVB-H device – in a special TV studio at the booth. Moreover, visitors to the show will also be able to use the Siemens solution to participate interactively in the TV program and to use a wireless backchannel to cast their votes for the “goal of the month,” for example. To do that, the user clicks on the touchscreen of his or her DVB-H device to send a text message (SMS) to the mobile operator, who then displays the results of the voting on the screen. The mobile broadcasting system from Siemens is the world’s first solution to operate with DVB-H devices from a variety of leading manufacturers.

“Call and Share” – IMS turns voice services into multimedia communication

In connection with IMS (IP-based Multimedia Subsystem), Siemens will be showing “Call and Share” applications that enable the operator to pump up the volume of data traffic over the wireless network, e.g. with Videosharing. This service enables the subscriber to shoot a video during a telephone call and immediately send it to the person at the other end. This application will be of interest to real estate agents, for example, who want to provide a client with an initial impression of a property while they are still on the phone.

Whiteboarding, which can provide driving or walking directions for a stranger in a city, for example, works in a similar manner: A second person uses a laptop or mobile phone to display a map of the city and then draws in the route. The stranger is linked with this second person via the mobile network and receives the visualized driving or walking directions on his or her mobile. “Call and Share” also works together with Push and Talk (PaT), the walkie-talkie solution from Siemens that supports the open standards of the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) and can therefore interact seamlessly with handsets from a wide variety of manufacturers.

Together with partners from the IMS Developer Program, Siemens will be showcasing further IMS applications, including “Team Work,” a Java-based application for sharing information among a defined group of subscribers, such as the employees in a department or the members of a family, even if they have different end-user devices, as well as “MeetMee” – a wireless application for networking with friends.

Live demo: Flexible wireless rate modification

To afford fast and flexible modification of the rates for mobile services, Siemens will be demonstrating the latest version of charge@once live at the booth. This charging solution captures and consolidates usage data in realtime, thus enabling bonus programs or individual rate models, for example.

New technologies: The Next Generation wireless network

The growing volume of data traffic stemming from new mobile services like videosharing, music downloads or online gaming necessitate even faster and more powerful switches and radio networks. At the 3GSM World Congress, Siemens will be showing its products and innovations for evolving wireless networks through to the year 2012.

One of these innovations, from the GSM world, is eBSC – the most powerful and advanced controller for GSM base stations on the market today. Operators can use it to control their radio resources in the network more efficiently and cost-effectively. Also premiering at the tradeshow will be the new Radio Network Controller (RNC). Analogously to eBSC, W-CDMA operators can use it to more efficiently control their 3G radio resources. Plus the Multi-Standard Network Controller, a combination of eBSC and RNC that can be used to control both 2G and 3G networks. The resulting reduction in administration and resource expenses leads to significant cost savings. In addition, Siemens will also be demonstrating new components from the W-CDMA product family that afford simple upgrading of GSM base stations to 3G, for example, or improve W-CDMA network coverage inside buildings. The highlight will be a simulation that shows how intelligent network technology will be changing the face of mobile communication through to the year 2012.

High-speed wireless access technologies: HSDPA and 450 MHz FLASH-OFDM

Live at the tradeshow for the first time, Siemens will be demonstrating how data can be transferred from the Internet to commercial W-CDMA end-user devices at a speed of 3.6 megabits per second via High Speed Downlink Packet Access, or HSDPAfor short. The Internet turbos for wireless technology that will be demonstrated will also include 450 MHz FLASH-OFDM (Fast Low-latency Access with Seamless Handoff – Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing), which currently offers transfer rates of 2.7 megabits per second in commercial operation.

Seamless cross-network communication

Siemens will be using the IMS@vantage IP platform to demonstrate seamless interplay between GSM networks and WLAN hotspots (handover) as well as between various operator networks (roaming). This fixed-mobile convergence solution will be of interest to both wireline and wireless operators.

A mobile solution for enterprises

At the 3GSM World Congress 2006, Siemens will also be showcasing Mobile Centrex – a virtual PABX for enterprises of all sizes. This solution offers the advantage of eliminating the entire PABX infrastructure from an enterprise and providing all of its functionalities over an operator network. Within the context of Fixed Mobile Substitution, mobile operators can now integrate an enterprise’s wireline users, in addition to its wireless subscribers, into the communication system without restriction via Mobile Centrex. This also makes the services provided within the enterprise, e.g. conference calls or partner rings, available to all parties. Enterprises can cut their costs with Mobile Centrex, because they no longer have to maintain a network of their own, and mobile operators can use high-level services to attract new customer groups.

Services and security for wireless and wireline networks

With „Music2You“ the Carrier Services Division will be showcasing the world’s first convergent wireline/wireless solution for downloading music tracks. With this solution, music lovers can listen to the latest songs “over the air” on their mobile handsets and, if they are interested, then download the full-track titles to their mobile handsets, PCs or set-top boxes. Siemens is playing a pioneering role in the fast-growing music download market: The company was the first to develop a convergent music service that operates over the Internet, wireless and wireline networks. As a white label provider, Siemens Communications operates several of Europe’s largest Internet and mobile user portals. “Music2You,” for example, serves as the platform for the successful “musicload” Internet service from T-Online, which has blossomed into the largest digital Internet music offering in Germany. In addition to this solution, the Carrier Services Division will also be showing Services that are specially matched to the needs of operators with heterogeneous networks. These include consulting, planning, implementation, maintenance, training and operation of all communication networks, as well as services that that safeguard against both attacks as well as bottlenecks or even outages. Siemens will be using the example of soccer stadiums to demonstrate its cost-effective Security Solutions for carriers.

Siemens Communications
The Siemens Communications Group is one of the largest players in the global telecommunications industry. The company offers a full-line portfolio of innovative solutions for voice and data communication. Its comprehensive offerings range from devices right through to complex network infrastructures and services for wireless, fixed and enterprise networks. It is the largest Group within the Siemens organization and operates in more than 160 countries around the world. In fiscal 2005 (September 30), its 54,500-strong workforce posted sales of over 13 billion euros.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 7:00 AM | Link to this Post

January 5, 2006

Nokia pioneers new multimedia retail experience, unveils first Flagship Store

Nokia Head Office, Espoo, Finland.

Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations.

Moscow, Russia - Amidst an array of multimedia effects and interactive kiosks, Nokia has announced its intention to opening several Nokia Flagship Stores in "shopping capitals of the world." In addition to generating sales, a key objective of each Nokia Flagship Store will be to showcase Nokia's complete portfolio of products and services, offering consumers an opportunity to experience the full benefits of mobility in a comfortable, cutting-edge environment.

View Photo: Nokia Mobile Users

The first Nokia Flagship store opened in the prestigious Pushkin Square district of Moscow, Russia. The Nokia Flagship Stores will be opened in high-profile locations in major shopping destinations in the next couple of years.

"Through an innovative retail experience like the new Nokia Flagship Stores, Nokia aims to inspire and educate consumers to the benefits of mobility and broaden the appeal of the Nokia brand. It is a place for discovery and entertainment," said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, President and COO of Nokia, at the official unveiling in Moscow. "Whether it is demonstrating the features and capabilities of our latest multimedia smartphone or assisting a consumer with their mobile email settings, we want to offer a relaxing, interactive environment for consumers to truly experience the power of mobility."

At a Nokia Flagship Store, consumers can test the latest Nokia mobile devices and learn about new mobile services and technologies. Well-trained and knowledgeable staff will be on hand to help consumers find a product or service that reflects their lifestyle and individual needs. Interactive, multimedia displays will engage visitors as they visit the store, encouraging them to share images or send messages to friends. and connect with invididuals around the world. Of course, consumers will also be able to set-up their new devices, review service provider options and test the range of mobile enhancements related to their new phone.

One area of the Nokia Flagship Stores will be dedicated to mobile gaming with direct access to the N-Gage Arena, Nokia's global mobile gaming network. Visitors to the store will be able to experience the excitement of connected mobile gaming by playing Asphalt: Urban GT(TM) 2 and posting their best scores to the online rankings board shown on the display monitor. As more flagship stores open around the world, visitors will be able to compete directly against scores posted by those playing at other Nokia stores.

"Consumer focus is at the heart of our strategy and the Nokia Flagship Stores enable us to increase our focus at the retail level," explains Cliff Crosbie, Director, Global Retail and Trade Marketing. "Through the Flagship Stores we want to develop a close one-to-one relationship with consumers, listen to their feedback and find valuable consumer insights. This will be crucial information and allow us to faster respond with products and services that meet consumers' needs and desires. The concept behind the Nokia Flagship Stores represents something truly special in the retail world. It will be unlike anything consumers looking for a mobile phone have ever experienced."

Like Moscow, each Nokia Flagship Store will be located in the very best retail locations in high-traffic urban settings in major markets worldwide. Customer service will be the key driver. The Nokia Flagship Stores will be owned, managed and operated by Nokia to provide the best level of experience, education and inspiration in mobile device retailing.

The Nokia Flagship Stores will form the top end of Nokia's newly revised retail strategy that includes retail and operator partners and their more than 300,000 retail outlets globally. All of these customer outlets will remain essential to Nokia's ongoing success and continue to be the main sales channels in the future. The feedback and learnings received through the Flagship stores will be shared and implemented with Nokia's retail and operator partners.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 5:08 PM | Link to this Post

October 8, 2005

Top photographers spearhead Nokia Nseries "See New" Competition

Five of the world's best photographers to lead the most ambitious mobile photography competition ever undertaken.

Photo taken with Nokia N70 by Juergen Teller

Internationally renowned photographer, Juergen Teller; leading American photographer, Philip-Lorca DiCorcia; award winning London-based photographer, Nick Waplington; Raghu Rai, one of India's most respected documentary photographers and Jiancheng Dong, a prominent landscape and documentary photographer from China are heading up the Nokia Nseries 'See New' Competition.

Photo taken with Nokia Mobile. Photographer: Raghu Rai


The competition lays down the challenge to aspiring photographers around the world to 'shoot new' - capturing something from a different angle or something never previously photographed - using a megapixel camera phone.

View Nokia Mobile Photo: Photographer: Raghu Rai

View Nokia Mobile Photo: Photographer: Juergen Teller

View Nokia Mobile Photo: Photographer: Jiancheng Dong

View Nokia Mobile Photo: Photographer: Philip-Lorca DiCorcia

View Nokia Mobile Photo: Photographer: Nick Waplington

To inspire people to enter, the stellar line-up of professional photographers have themselves been shooting new using the Nokia N90 advanced imaging device. More than 60 brand new images from these photographers can be viewed at www.seenew.com, Nokia Nseries' online community for mobile photography enthusiasts.

And the five photographers aren't just inspiring entrants with their images, they'll also be judging entries and offering a money can't buy prize: the chance to spend a day with them assisting on photoshoot.

"After pioneering the concept of mobile photography, we're now pioneering an exciting new photography challenge," said Pekka Rantala, Senior Vice President, Multimedia Marketing, Nokia. "The See New Competition is designed to encourage people to explore the possibilities of camera phone photography and uncover new photography talent from around the world. It's a unique competition both in terms of the caliber of professional photographers involved and by its global scale."

Commenting, Nick Waplington said: "Photography as a medium has developed to the point where it's around us, in all manners, at all times. Camera phones have played a big part in this, pushing the boundaries of when and how so there are many more opportunities to shoot new."

The competition is open to anyone over the age of 18 with a megapixel camera phone. Deadline for entries is 16 December 2005. Full terms and conditions can be found at www.seenew.com.

The Nokia N90 is the flagship camera product in the Nokia Nseries range of high performance multimedia devices. Packed with advanced camera features to capture great quality photos, the Nokia N90 is the first mobile device in the world to feature superior Carl Zeiss optics plus there's a two megapixel camera with autofocus and 20x digital zoom, integrated flash, macro mode for sharp close-ups and high quality video capture with on-device editing capabilities.


Nokia Nseries is a range of high performance multimedia devices that delivers unparalleled mobile multimedia experiences by combining the latest technologies with stylish design and ease of use. With Nokia Nseries products, consumers can use a single device to enjoy entertainment, access information and to capture and share pictures and videos, whenever and wherever they want.


Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations. www.nokia.com

Edited & Posted by Editor | 5:38 AM | Link to this Post

September 30, 2005

Nokia Introduces Nokia 2652, fold design for new growth markets

Major milestone reached - one billionth Nokia mobile phone sold this summer

Expanding its wide range of elegant and affordable phones for consumers in emerging markets, Nokia today unveiled the Nokia 2652 phone. The stylish and functional Nokia 2652 fold model builds on the success of the award-winning Nokia 2650, adding two new design motifs, ‘Cell’ and ‘Fleur’ with dark gray and pearl white key mats for consumers to choose from. It is expected to be commercially available in October 2005 with an estimated retail price of 100 EUR before subsidies or taxes. The Nokia 2652 will be available in Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Greater China region.

Mobile subscriptions hit 2 billion

While the global mobile subscription base has now reached the significant milestone of two billion mobile subscriptions worldwide, Nokia sees plenty of untapped opportunities and is committed to drive growth in new growth markets, like Brazil, Russia, India, China and countries in Africa. In these markets, affordability of mobile communications for subscribers is the key factor.

“We are working with operators to offer affordable phones and solutions that reduce the total cost of ownership of the handset and mobile services,” says Kai Öistämö, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia. “Nokia was the first vendor to focus on an extensive range of products and network solutions in fast growing markets, and we remain committed to introducing affordable, attractive phones with well-considered features and innovative network solutions to meet the communication needs of consumers in these markets.”

“It is equally important for us to work closely with government bodies to overcome possible barriers that are preventing forward momentum. With the right combination of mobile phones, network solutions, services and a regulated environment, we envision a mobile landscape where operators can profitably offer mobile services to a broader range of consumers for as little as USD 5 per month. When the cost of mobile services becomes this affordable, we foresee the growth curve in growth markets accelerating sharply,” adds Öistämö.

Nokia sells one billionth mobile phone

“The continued rapid growth in mobile subscriptions has exceeded even the mobile industry’s own estimates. Since the early 1990’s we have seen voice go truly wireless and mobile phones evolve from voice centric to feature driven devices. Earlier this summer, Nokia sold our one billionth mobile phone - a Nokia 1100 sold in Nigeria,” says Öistämö. “It will be new growth markets like Nigeria that will fuel the growth towards three billion subscribers by 2010.”

As the industry leader in mobile devices, Nokia has introduced hundreds of innovative mobile phone models since the early 1980’s. The company has manufactured mobile phones in high volumes since the beginning of 1990’s, when the first digital networks were introduced. In 1998, Nokia announced it had manufactured its 100 millionth mobile phone, and became the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer. In 2004, Nokia was the clear market leader in mobile devices with volumes of 207 million units.

Photo caption: “New growth markets like Nigeria will fuel the growth that will result in half the world’s population being connected.” — Kai Öistämö, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones at Nokia. (photo can be found on www.nokia.com/press)

Nokia Facts / “Did you know?”

• Since Mobira Senator car phone introduction in 1982 to the Nokia 2652 introduction today, Nokia has introduced around 400 phone models to all major analogue and digital standards.

• Nokia’s first iconic product, the Nokia 2100 series that was introduced in 1994, sold nearly 20 million units in its time.

• The world’s best-selling phone, the Nokia 3310 / 3330 sold 126 million units from its launch in 2000 until its “retirement” earlier this year. For comparison, the combined total of all Nokia phones sold between 1991 and 1998 is 100 million.

• If all the Nokia 3310/3330 phones sold were laid end-to-end, the line would stretch from Helsinki, Finland to Santiago, Chile - over 13,500 kilometers.

• In 1991 Nokia sold 800 000 phones. In 2004, it manufactured 207.7 million phones, which equals 6.5 phones per second.

• Nokia consumes 100 billion components on annual level. On average, one phone includes up to 400 components.

Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations. www.nokia.com

Edited & Posted by Editor | 2:00 PM | Link to this Post

July 26, 2005

SAMSUNG Unveils 'Bluetooth Voice Recognition Phone'

Combines the bluetooth and the voice recognition technologies.

Using the Bluetooth headset, users can make and receive calls without touching the phone.

Samsung Electronics is launching a cutting-edge mobile phone that has combined the Bluetooth with the Voice Recognition technology.

Samsung Electronics announced that it has released the 'Bluetooth Voice Recognition Phone (Model: SGH-E620)' into the European market, which can make calls using one’s voice via a bluetooth headset.

This product exhibits a state-of-the-art technology of placing a call to the person whose name has been called out into the bluetooth headset, by automatically searching the phone book of the mobile phone that is placed at a distance away from the user.

Bluetooth headset has been used in the past to allow wireless call reception, however this 'Bluetooth Voice Recognition Phone' has become more advanced and allows to even make a wireless call via a bluetooth headset.

Samsung Electronics’ 'Bluetooth Voice Recognition Phone' is, as compared to the existing gadget which needs to be placed close to one’s mouth, much easier to use, and its voice recognition capacity has also been greatly enhanced.

Furthermore, since the calls can be made with the mobile phones left untouched inside one’s bag or pocket, it has become much more convenient.

In the past, even when using the voice recognition functionality, the mobile phone had to be switched over to stand-by mode first before a call was placed. However, with the bluetooth voice recognition technology, there is no need to lay hands on the mobile phone. As such, calls can be placed safely even when one is driving a car. For this reason, this technology is expected to be much welcomed by the users.

A ‘speaker independent voice recognition’ technology has been adopted to SGH-E620 so that voice recognition won’t be limited to the voice type. E620 supports 5 languages, namely English, French, Spanish, German and Italian.

In addition to the bluetooth functionality, SGH-E620 has a refined intenna design and comes equipped with 1-megapixel camera, video wallpaper, silver nano anti-bacteria functionality, speaker phone and 64 polyphonic ringtones among others.

Particularly eye-catching features are the video wallpaper functionality, which displays moving pictures for 10~30 seconds every time the mobile phone is switched over to standby mode, and the silver nano health coating. This is the first product released in the European market that has adopted silver nano health coating.

A Samsung official explained, “Samsung Electronics is planning to expand the range of languages supported by the bluetooth voice recognition technology, that is, to cover Chinese and Russian, and certainly Korean for release into the Korean market.” He further added, “Samsung will eventually lead the global bluetooth market by further strengthening the bluetooth technology so that Samsung mobile phones become even more competitive.”

Samsung Electronics has sparked the bluetooth craze in the domestic market by releasing bluetooth phone with stereo headset, ‘Bluetooth Blue Black Phone (SPH-V6900)’, in April this year, and subsequently releasing the ‘Bluetooth Super Slim Phone (Model: SCH-V740)’

Bluetooth functinonality is gaining great popularity because it is easy to use and allows for fast, short-distance wireless telecommunication. Using a wireless headset, one can listen to the music or exchange files amongst notebooks and mobile phones. With Bluetooth, one can enjoy game or print out pictures stored on the phone in a wireless environment.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2004 parent company sales of US$55.2 billion and net income of US$10.3 billion. Employing approximately 113,000 people in over 90 offices in 48 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing brands, Samsung Electronics is the world's largest producer of color monitors, color TVs, memory chips and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com .

Edited & Posted by Editor | 10:36 AM | Link to this Post

July 3, 2005

Siemens S75 –The business mobile to unwind with

Whether you are on a business trip or traveling in a private capacity – the Siemens S75 takes care of musical entertainment while you are on the move. There is music in abundance in this fully equipped business mobile that combines an organizer, Bluetooth and a megapixel camera. All newly received calls, messages and appointments can be seen at a glance and the unified inbox – the shared incoming communication system – ensures that you are always well informed. The clearly designed address book, which shows which of your friends is currently online, is a practical feature for instant messaging. Spice up your working day with the integrated music player. You can play music with one single push of a button – whether you are calling up your emails or writing a text message at the time. Furthermore, you can use EDGE/GPRS technology to download the latest hits onto your mobile at high speed.

As a mobile office and music system in one, the S75 amalgamates a number of different talents. With the built-in organizer, you always have all your appointments and tasks fully under control – both in your hectic working life and during diverse leisure activities. Important data can be saved quickly and simply onto your PC either by USB or wirelessly via Bluetooth. The newly designed address book has a particularly clear layout displaying all contacts stored on both your SIM card and in the telephone. It also shows immediately whether your calling partner is currently available for instant messaging online. Do you have large numbers of messages, appointments and calls? Now you can always keep track of them on the large, resplendent telephone display (262,000 colors) in the unified inbox. Apart from emails, text messages and such like, it also contains the numbers of incoming calls and notifies you of important appointments.

Mobile musical appreciation for discriminating listeners: While on the move, you always have an excellent music center in your pocket with the S75. At the touch of a button, the multimedia mobile plays not only MP3 music, but also music in the particularly spacesaving AAC formats. As you are listening to your favorite songs, you can update your appointments diary, access emails, write an MMS or chat via instant messaging.

Finding your way around even the largest music collection is child’s play – all your music is automatically sorted by artist, album and style. Up to 10 hours of CD-quality music fit on the 128 MB RS multimedia card that comes with the S75, as well as in the 20 MB phone memory. Whether you want to stream or download music or video clips – you can do any of these simply and quickly with the mobile using an EDGE/GPRS cellular connection. Rich sound is guaranteed by the stereo headphones supplied with the S75.

The Headset Bluetooth Stereo HHB-750 (original accessories) with integrated display is the ideal complement to the S75. As well as allowing you to enjoy music in superb sound quality, it also enables you to talk comfortably handsfree without any cable connection to the telephone a nd operate the telephone’s music functions by remote control. Together with the folding active hi-fi speakers of the Mobile Music Set IMS-700 (original accessories), the S75 turns into a mobile stereo system guaranteed to get every party swinging.

You can capture the most beautiful moments with the built-in 1.3 megapixel digital camera with digital zoom and photolight. Then you can send off the photographs directly to a photo printer via Bluetooth without cumbersome wires. And if you wish, you can also take your own video clips when the mood takes you.

Siemens’ extensive range of matching original accessories for the S75 includes the newly designed Car Kit Bluetooth SIM HKW-720, providing wireless operation in premium audio quality in your car while making only minimal energy demands on your mobile’s battery resources. Its multi-function display permits the S75 to be controlled remotely and the address book entries of the phone are automatically transferred to the car kit.
The S75 will be available in the colors "Piano Black" and "Zirconia" from October 2005.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 10:07 AM | Link to this Post

June 17, 2005

Simple Pleasures: Nokia introduces seven new mobile phones

Nokia at Cannes, France.

Easy-to-use menus, stylish designs at the heart of new handsets for WCDMA, GSM and CDMA markets

Today, at the Nokia Connection events in Helsinki and Singapore, Nokia introduced seven new handsets under the heading "Simple Pleasures." Four new slide phones were revealed, including the 3G-enabled Nokia 6280 for WCDMA markets, and the Nokia 6265, Nokia's most feature-filled CDMA model to date. Additionally, Nokia introduced two folding designs and a traditional monoblock design. All seven models are expected to begin shipping in the second half of 2005.

"Today's launches showcase Nokia's commitment to offer consumers easy-to-use mobile phones in a variety of desirable designs - regardless of cellular technology," explains Kai Öistämö, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "Whether it features WCDMA, GSM or CDMA internal circuitry, or whether it offers mobile music, mobile photography or 3G services, a handset must be easy to use in order to bring tangible benefits to consumers. Simplicity is the key for technology to enrich peoples' lives."

Nokia 6280: Bringing video sharing and video calls to life

The compact Nokia 6280 3G slide phone (WCDMA 2100 and GSM 900/1800/1900) comes with a range of features that enable consumers to take full advantage of 3G multimedia opportunities. Equipped with both a 2-megapixel and a VGA camera, the compact Nokia 6280 provides an ideal platform for 3G services such as real time video sharing and two way video calls. Taking personalization a step further, the Nokia 6280 can announce incoming calls with video ring tones. The Nokia 6280 is expected to begin shipping in the fourth quarter of 2005, at an estimated retail price of 375 EUR before subsidies or taxes.

The bright QVGA, 262,144 color display (320x240 pixels) of the Nokia 6280 highlights the phone's excellent photography capabilities. With dedicated camera and zoom buttons, the Nokia 6280 creates a natural, user-friendly conventional camera experience by operating the photography function in a horizontal landscape mode. Photos and videos taken with the Nokia 6280 can be viewed directly on the screen and then shared with others via MMS, email or directly printed to compatible printers. Pictures and videos can be conveniently stored on the Nokia 6280's miniSD memory card. Bluetooth wireless technology provides easy linkage to printers, PCs and enhancements like the Nokia 616 car kit and the Wireless Boom Headset HS-4W, also introduced today.

Nokia 6270: Quadband slide phone offers music and megapixels

The versatile Nokia 6270 slide phone features a 2-megapixel camera with flash and landscape mode. With a modern and refined design, the Nokia 6270 merges state of the art photography capabilities and user-friendliness into an enjoyable imaging experience for consumers.
The spacious QVGA, 262,144 color display (320x240 pixels) of the Nokia 6270 helps to manage daily life while a broad set of messaging capabilities enables consumers to easily keep in touch with others. Mobile email is conveniently at hand as the Nokia 6270 phone comes with an integrated email client that supports attachments.

In addition, the Nokia 6270's built-in music player supports a variety of digital sound formats such as MP3 and AAC, making music-on-the-go easily accessible. With stereo speakers supporting 3D sound effects, the Nokia 6270 provides a brilliant sound experience that can be shared with others. A visual radio client rounds out the audio capabilities of the Nokia 6270 phone. A world travel-friendly quadband GSM 850/900/1800/1900 handset, the Nokia 6270 has an estimated retail price of 300 EUR before subsidies or taxes. The Nokia 6270 is expected to begin shipping in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Nokia 6111: Sophisticated GSM slide phone

For those who seek sophistication in small size, Nokia presents the Nokia 6111 phone. Featuring a stylish classic design, the soft slide mechanism of the Nokia 6111 smoothly reveals its keypad. Blending technology with a sophisticated look and feel, the Nokia 6111 comes with a 1-megapixel camera and flash, and a 6x digital zoom. The screen (128x160 pixels) supports up to 262,144 colors and displays pictures in either portrait or landscape mode. The GSM 900/1800/1900 Nokia 6111 has an estimated retail price of 270 EUR before subsidies or taxes, and is expected to begin shipping in the fourth quarter of 2005.

In addition to its ergonomic design, the Nokia 6111 offers a number of new messaging options. Push to talk functionality connects to groups or individuals at a push of a button while Nokia Xpress audio messaging enables sharing of voice clips and greetings with friends and family. Pictures can be conveniently shared via MMS, Bluetooth or email.

Nokia 6060: Familiar technologies, folding design

The Nokia 6060 offers consumers all they need for basic voice communications. Featuring an attractive fold concept, the Nokia 6060 shows that beautiful design is not confined to high-end devices. A pulsating light allows owners to check on the status of the phone and adds a contemporary note to the appearance of the Nokia 6060. The dualband GSM 900/1800 or GSM 850/1900 has an estimated retail price of 140 EUR before subsidies or taxes and is expected to begin shipping in the third quarter of 2005.

Highlighting easy to use and familiar technologies, the Nokia 6060 features a range of contemporary messaging functionalities. The large screen of the Nokia 6060 (128x160 pixels) supports up to 64K colors and large fonts and the Expense Manager application helps consumers to keep track of their spending while on the go.

Nokia 6265: A winning combination of technology and design

Nokia's most feature-rich CDMA phone to date, the Nokia 6265 packs an extra-large 240 x 320 pixel display, 2 megapixel camera with LED flash (effective resolution 1.92 megapixels), digital music player, Bluetooth wireless technology and miniSD card support into a compact sliding design that measures a mere 22 mm thin. When operated in camera mode, the Nokia 6265 is designed to be used horizontally, resulting in a more conventional photography experience. The Nokia 6265 includes 24MB of on board memory, and supports all available sizes of widely available miniSD cards, including 512MB and 1GB versions that can store hundreds of 2 megapixel images or digital music files

Music fans will enjoy the built in FM radio and digital music player which supports MP3, AAC and eAAC+ files, especially when paired with the optional wireless stereo headset. Integrated Bluetooth technology also allows the Nokia 6265 to be used with a long and growing list of compatible devices, including a wide selection of wireless headsets and car kits. The Nokia 6265 supports other forms of entertainment content, including 15 frame per second streaming video and downloadable BREW 3.1 or Java 3D applications - both of which are crisply rendered on the 262K color QVGA display.

The Nokia 6265 is expected to begin shipping in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Nokia 2255: Compact fold at a compact price

Nokia's latest fold-style CDMA model phone, the Nokia 2255 is engineered to deliver reliable wireless performance at an entry-level price point while not forgetting the importance of a compelling design and a strong feature set. The very compact Nokia 2255 includes a bright 128 x 128 pixel 64K color display with user selectable 'themes', downloadable MIDI ringtones and even an integrated FM radio.

For maximum productivity, the Nokia 2255 features business applications including a spreadsheet, calculator and currency converter and a handsfree speakerphone perfect for impromptu conference calls. Outside of work, three included games help to pass the time, while a built in flashlight can help to brighten up the dark of night.

The Nokia 2255 is expected to begin shipping in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Nokia 2125: Classic style for the entry category

The entry-level Nokia 2125 features a compact design with metallic trim to accentuate its classically designed form. Only 21.5 mm thick and weighing in at 85 grams, the Nokia 2125 features a 64K color screen, handsfree speakerphone and an integrated flashlight -- an attractive balance of size, price and feature set.

The easy-to-use interface makes the Nokia 2125 perfect for first-time and prepaid users, who will also appreciate the three built-in games, user-changeable Xpress-on color covers and downloadable MIDI ring tone support. The Nokia 2125 also boasts a number of features unexpected on an entry level product such as voice dialing, voice commands and voice recording, calculator, calendar, alarm clock, and an extensive phonebook supporting multiple entries.

The Nokia 2125 is expected to begin shipping in the third quarter of 2005.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 8:48 AM | Link to this Post

June 11, 2005

Philips announces EUR 40 million investment in innovative LCD backlighting technology

Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Royal Philips Electronics today announced to invest EUR 40 million in LCD backlighting technology that is used to improve LCD picture quality of widescreen televisions while at the same time energy consumption will be lower.

Especially, the Philips Lighting factory in Roosendaal, the Netherlands, will benefit from this investment as it will positively impact high-skilled employment. The lighting factory in Roosendaal is the global competence centre for high-end fluorescent lighting products and technologies from Philips.

Theo van Deursen, CEO of Philips Lighting: "This investment shows our continuous ambition to set the pace in the lighting industry combined with a systematic approach to seeking out new and fast growing market opportunities. Our Aptura™ LCD backlighting technology is a major innovation in picture quality that fully meets the needs and desires of the consumer."

Philips is number one in the global lighting market, a position supported by leadership in innovation. Philips' lighting products are found all around the world: not only everywhere in the home, but also in a multitude of professional applications such as offices, airports, hospitals, cars and major stadiums.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 2:55 PM | Link to this Post

June 2, 2005

Nokia outlines strategy to reduce total cost of mobile phone ownership for consumers in new growth markets

Unveils Nokia 1110 and Nokia 1600, affordable, easy-to-use mobile phones, and Nokia Prepaid Tracker

Nairobi, Kenya - At a press conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, Nokia outlined its strategy to bring the benefits of mobility to new growth markets. Today, Nokia also introduced the Nokia 1110 and Nokia 1600 - two new mobile phones aimed at first time users and consumers in growth markets like Africa. At the same time, Nokia unveiled the Nokia Prepaid Tracker, the world's first completely networks-based solution that enables prepaid users to monitor their account balance on the handset display after each call. The Nokia 1110 and Nokia 1600 join Nokia's range of entry level phones which emphasize ease-of-use, reliability and affordability, and contain technological features which reduce the total cost of mobile ownership for consumers. Both models are expected to be commercially available during the third quarter 2005.

"The number of new mobile users in fast growing markets continues to rise dramatically and nowhere is the rate of growth more evident than in Africa. By the end of this year, Nokia anticipates Africa will be home to 100 million subscribers and expects the African subscriber base to double to 200 million by 2009. Nokia has been instrumental in propelling the industry towards the goal of 3 billion people connected globally by 2010 because mobility offers so many benefits, such as creating employment, opening new channels of communication for social services and even helping to stimulate economies," said Juha Pinomaa, Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia.

Nokia 1110 and Nokia 1600

Nokia handsets are renowned for their ease of use. The Nokia 1110 and Nokia 1600 phones continue this tradition with a new, highly intuitive user interface that makes full use of graphical icons and large font sizes. The Nokia 1110 has an inverted black and white display (ideal for sunny conditions) whereas the Nokia 1600 has a 65,536 color display. With the new menu structure, basic features, such as managing calls and contacts, are made easier to access. Other new features include a Speaking Clock with Alarm, which announces the time in the user's local language, as well as large fonts to allow greater readability.

Nokia 1110 and Nokia 1600 phones have excellent voice quality and coverage based on state-of-the-art radio software with AMR and SAIC. The AMR (Adaptive Multi Rate) technology enables operators to add voice capacity within their networks smoothly and cost-efficiently. SAIC (Single Antenna Interference Cancellation) is a network independent capacity enhancing feature in the handset, improving network capacity and call quality.

Both the Nokia 1110 and Nokia 1600 also feature a "Demo Mode," an on-screen visual guide of primary phone functions for first-time mobile phone users. The demo guide also allows consumers to play the pre-installed games or hear the Speaking Clock without a SIM card inserted into the phone.
In addition to polyphonic ring tones with MP3-grade sounds, the Nokia 1110 and Nokia 1600 also feature a number of cost management features, such as Nokia Prepaid Tracker support to help users monitor their phone usage.

Weighing 80 grams, the Nokia 1110 has a talk time of up to over 5 hours and a standby time of up to 380 hours. The available colors for the standard sales packages will be White, Blue, Painted Silver, Light Grey, Mid Grey and Dark Brown. The estimated retail price, before subsidies or taxes, is expected to be 65 euros.

Weighing 85 grams, the Nokia 1600 has a talk time of up to 5, 5 hours and a standby time of up to 450 hours. The available colors for the standard sales packages will be Black, White, Light Silver, Bluish Silver. The estimated retail price, before subsidies or taxes, is expected to be 85 euros.

Nokia Prepaid Tracker
The majority of mobile subscribers in new growth markets tend to opt for prepaid services. Nokia Prepaid Tracker's up-to-the-minute account information eliminates the need - and expense - of contacting the operator for basic balance inquiries, a common cost in new growth markets. Both the Nokia 1110 and Nokia 1600 are the first to offer built-in support for Nokia Prepaid Tracker, which automatically notifies prepaid users of their account balance after each call or message.

Nokia Prepaid Tracker is available to operators now.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 11:39 AM | Link to this Post