Varun Krish | Fone Arena

Nokia delivers EDGE network to sunrise in Switzerland

Nokia has signed an agreement to supply a nationwide EDGE radio network to Swiss operator sunrise, enabling sunrise’s customers to enjoy advanced multimedia mobile services, such as multimedia messaging and live video streaming

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE September 6, 2005

Nokia delivers EDGE network to sunrise in Switzerland

Espoo, Finland – Nokia has signed an agreement to supply a nationwide EDGE radio network to Swiss operator sunrise, enabling sunrise’s customers to enjoy advanced multimedia mobile services, such as multimedia messaging and live video streaming.

The agreement covers the delivery of Nokia’s newest generation of base stations, the UltraSite, plus relevant turnkey services for network deployment. Deliveries have already begun for the smooth rollout and build up of sunrise’s EDGE network, which is expected to be commercially launched by the end of 2005.

"sunrise, recognized as an innovator in the Swiss market, is committed to providing exciting and user-friendly high quality services, and Nokia has clearly demonstrated its support for this goal," says Bo Chamberlain, CTO, Executive Director Network. "As the most cost effective solution for greatly expanding the reach of multimedia services, EDGE is key to our aim of providing the best possible mobile service to our existing and future customers throughout Switzerland."

"For a market innovator such as sunrise, Nokia’s EDGE solution is ideal for enabling advanced mobile services," says Daniel Clauss, Head of Customer Account Team, Nokia Switzerland. "The deployment of the EDGE network will play an important role in sunrise’s continued success in the Swiss market, and we are pleased to continue our strong relationship with sunrise with this project."

About sunrise

sunrise is the leading independent telecommunications provider in Switzerland. Over 2.23 million customers enjoy the benefits of sunrise mobile, fixed network, and Internet services. The nationwide GSM dual-band network provides cutting-edge mobile services to over 99% of the population. A wide range of high-quality voice and data services are provided via a high-performance fiber optic network with a total length of more than 7000 kilometers. As a founding member of the Starmap Mobile Alliance, an association of leading European mobile communications providers, sunrise offers its customers access to first-class services even while they are abroad. sunrise is the brand name of TDC Switzerland AG. The TDC Group owns 100% of the share capital of TDC Switzerland AG.

About Nokia

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.

Hutch, Essar form new entity

Hutchison Whampoa, the owners of the Hutch brand, and the Ruia group promoted Essar Telecom have decided to consolidate their operations into a new entity christened as Hutchison Essar Ltd.

Hutchison Whampoa, the owners of the Hutch brand, and the Ruia group promoted Essar Telecom have decided to consolidate their operations into a new entity christened as Hutchison Essar Ltd. Essar Telecom will continue to have a 30 per cent stake in the merged entity. The name change comes after Essar Telecom picked up a 64 per cent stake in BPL Mobile a month ago.

source:Times of India, India

Airtel installs third switch in Mumbai

he new switch has the capacity to handle additional six lakh customers and will be able to complete additional one million calls during peak hours, the company has said.

In its bid to offer congestion-free network, Airtel has installed its third switch in Mumbai to absorb the growing voice and data traffic. The new switch has the capacity to handle additional six lakh customers and will be able to complete additional one million calls during peak hours, the company has said. Airtel is also planning to increase the number of cell sites in Mumbai from 800 to more than 1,000 by the end of the year.

Source:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/15291707.htm

PalmOne rebrands as Palm

PalmOne has formally changed its name to Palm, unveiled a new logo and moved its headquarters, the company said on Thursday.
The new logo will start appearing on products this autumn, Palm said. The company has also begun trading on the Nasdaq under a new symbol: PALM. The gadget maker’s line of handhelds includes Zire, Tungsten, Treo and the recently launched LifeDrive.

See, Palm made good PDAs. Then people from Palm made Handspring.
Then Handspring bought Palm and sold the OS so you had PalmSource and PalmOne. Then PalmOne got confused and people stopped buying PDAs so they did poorly until their recent release of the LifeDrive. Now, however, we’re back to Palm again. Got it? It’s not that big a deal, but the now-rebranded Palm might be able to dig itself out of its slump by making some nice all-in-one devices, like the LifeDrive.

Source:gizmodo

http://www.palm.com

Nokia N90 voted European Media Phone of the Year

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced that its flagship imaging device, the Nokia N90, has been awarded the European Media Phone of the Year 2005-2006 by the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA), the largest editorial multimedia organization in Europe. The award is an endorsement of the Nokia N90’s industry-leading feature set, which makes it one of the most high performance devices in the marketplace.

Commenting on the award, EISA praised the Nokia N90 as a ‘true best-of-breed multimedia phone, stuffed full of advanced photo, video audio and messaging features’. EISA also highlighted the Nokia N90’s Carl Zeiss optics which ‘endows it with serious photographic ability, including capturing and editing 2 megapixel digital photos and MPEG 4 352×288 resolution video.’

EISA is the largest editorial organization in Europe, with a membership of 50 Audio, Mobile Electronics, Video and Photo magazines all drawn from 20 European countries. At the end of June, all EISA member magazines came together for the election of the European awards. The panel annually chooses the best equipment in a number of categories from products introduced during the preceding twelve months.

Announced in April, the Nokia N90 is the flagship camera product in Nokia’s newly launched Nokia Nseries range of high performance multimedia devices. The first mobile device to feature superior Carl Zeiss optics and a range of advanced camera features, the Nokia N90 meets the expectations of even the most demanding picture taker.

"The Nokia N90 has raised the bar for mobile devices and we are delighted to receive this accolade from consumer electronics magazines across Europe," said Tuula Rytilä-Uotila, Director, Imaging, EMEA, Multimedia, Nokia. "This award is also an endorsement of the strategy behind Nokia Nseries – to bring to market high performance multimedia devices which will make digital convergence a reality."

About Nokia Nseries

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.

Mobiles catch Cabir virus at world athletics

Visitors to the world athletics championships in Finland have had to brave wind and rain, and officials say they now face the possibility of catching the world’s first mobile phone virus.

Officials in mobile-mad Finland, home to the world’s largest mobile phone maker, Nokia, said there had been outbreaks of the Cabir virus at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium.

Jarmo Koski, a security official at telecoms firm TeliaSonera, said: "At most we are speaking about dozens of infections but during a short period and in one spot this is a huge number."

Cabir, first reported in June last year, uses Bluetooth short range wireless signals to jump between mobile phones.

Source:silicon

Nokia: No iTunes for next multimedia mobile

Nokia has no agreement with Apple for the iTunes music service to be included on its upcoming N91 multimedia phone, the Finnish phone giant said on Thursday.But Nokia said because of the design of the new N-series phones, software developers could readily produce programs to allow the gadgets to use services like iTunes.

Nokia has no agreement with Apple for the iTunes music service to be included on its upcoming N91 multimedia phone, the Finnish phone giant said on Thursday.

But Nokia said because of the design of the new N-series phones, software developers could readily produce programs to allow the gadgets to use services like iTunes.

A spokesman for Nokia’s multimedia division said: "There is no commercial agreement between Nokia and Apple to integrate iTunes into the N-series devices.

"But since this is based on a computer platform, anybody – including Apple, if they so wish – can very easily develop this kind of application and offer it to consumers, via the internet, for example."

Finnish daily Taloussanomat had previously reported that Nokia would bring iTunes to the N91 model.

The spokesman said Nokia had already seen such applications in research labs but had not agreed to any commercial deals: "We are not making any exclusive arrangements with any music store but believe that we want to give the consumer the choice of where they want to purchase their music."

Music phones produced by Nokia, the world’s number one handset maker, have so far been seen as competitors to Apple’s successful iPod device and iTunes service.

Source:Silicon.com – UK

Nokia introduces mobile search to its smartphones

Nokia today introduced a pioneering mobile search software solution that provides users with easy and fast access to leading search engines directly from their Nokia handset.

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today introduced a pioneering mobile search software solution that provides users with easy and fast access to leading search engines directly from their Nokia handset. The search application is a simple, convenient, and fast way for Nokia smartphone users to find and connect to any website as well as local search engines, whenever, wherever. The current service and content providers incorporated in the search application include Eniro, Fonecta, Medio Systems, Yahoo!, Yell.com, as well as digital map solution provider AtlasCT and digital map data provider NAVTEQ.

"Introducing the search application together with the leading search engine providers brings one of the world’s most popular online activities – online search – to the fingertips of Nokia handset users," said Harry Santamäki, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Multimedia, Nokia. "With this extremely straightforward and easy to use application, users can now expand the use of online search services beyond their desktops. Furthermore, what better than to be able to connect directly and immediately to the business or service you were looking for. The search application is truly the next best thing to having all of the world’s directories printed inside the mobile phone!"

The mobile search application is currently being piloted in the UK, Finland and Sweden. The application will be distributed in the standard sales packs of the Nokia 6680, Nokia 6681 and Nokia 6630 smartphones. Existing owners of these devices can download the search application for free from the Nokia website at www.nokia.com/mobilesearch.

With the search engines integrated and easily accessible in just one application, users of Nokia smartphones can search for anything on the web*, including websites, images, news and weather information, as well as mobile content, such as ring tones, games and wallpapers. Once something relevant, such as a website is found, the user can then immediately connect to see that site. In addition to Yahoo! Search services, users in the UK, Finland and Sweden also have access to local business and service information providers, namely Yell.com in the UK, Eniro and Fonecta in Finland, and Eniro in Sweden. UK users will also be able to conduct content-based searches via Medio Systems.

The local search engines enable searching for local services or businesses – anything from restaurants and hotels to taxi numbers or flower shops. Results of local searches display the relevant contact data, and the user can instantly, with the push of a button, call the given telephone number or save it to contacts. Moreover, with integrated mapping solutions from www.ABmaps.com portal by AtlasCT and digital map data from NAVTEQ, the results can be shown on a map, aiding users on the go to locate their destination. Users can also save and, for example, send the map as MMS to a friend.

When traveling between countries, the search application automatically offers to change to available local search engines. Users can also change the location setting manually, enabling a user to find the contact details, for example, of a hotel in another country in order to make a reservation for a future visit.

*To check the cost of data transfer services, contact your network operator or service provider.

For more information about the mobile Search application and the incorporated search engines, please see

www.nokia.com/mobilesearch

Sony Ericsson announces another Walkman phone offering top quality music the stylish W550

August 8, 2005

Sony Ericsson today announced a new addition to its Walkman
phone family – the W550 – an affordable phone that offers great quality stereo music and integrates a 1.3 megapixel camera, full Internet browsing capability and a credible games console,

August 8, 2005

Sony Ericsson today announced a new addition to its Walkman™ phone family – the W550 – an affordable phone that offers great quality stereo music and integrates a 1.3 megapixel camera, full Internet browsing capability and a credible games console, all in a compact and stylish swivel phone design. This new Walkman phone will appeal principally to expressive fun seekers who enjoy life to the full and want to take their music with them everywhere they go.

W550 – Features at a glance:

Imaging and messaging

QuickShare™
1.3 MegaPixel camera
Horizontal camera user interface
4 x digital zoom
Picture light
176 x 220 pixel TFT display
262K colour display
Video recording and fullscreen playback
SMS and MMS
Wireless village
Adobe picture PC software

Entertainment

2 stereo speakers
Style-Up™ covers
PlayNow™ ringtones and 2D games
Horizontal fullscreen games and video
RDS FM radio
Walkman® player (MP3/AAC)
Media player (MP3/AAC)
256MB user memory
Stereo headset
40 polyphonic ringtones
Java MIDP 2.0
3D games
MusicDJ™ and VideoDJ™
OMA DRM phase 1
MegaBass™
Stereo widening

Connectivity

Triple-band 900/1800/1900 MHz
GPRS class 10
Access NetFront HTML browser
BluetoothTM and Infrared
PC software
External antenna connector
USB system connector and cable

Source: SonyEricsson Press Release

The top 10 selling PDAs/Smart phones in July 2005

The Swedish manufacturer of carrying cases for portable electronics, Krusell, has released their “Top 10”-list for July 2005. The list is based upon the number of pieces of model specific PDA- and Smartphone cases that has been ordered from Krusell during July 2005

The Swedish manufacturer of carrying cases for portable electronics, Krusell, has released their "Top 10"-list for July 2005. The list is based upon the number of pieces of model specific PDA- and Smartphone cases that has been ordered from Krusell during July 2005. Krusell’s list is unique due to the fact that their sales of cases reflect the sales of PDAs and Smartphones on six continents and in more than 50 countries around the globe.

1. (1) PalmOne Treo 600/650
2. (2) Qtek 9090/02 XDA III
3. (3) Qtek S100/I-mate JAM
4. (4) HP iPAQ HW6500
5. (8) Hp Ipaq hx2100/2400/2700
6. (7) Hp Ipaq hx4700
7. (5) Mio Mitac 168/Yakumo 300 GPS/Navman PiN
8. (6) Blackberry RIM 6200/7200/7230
9. (-) Qtek 8010/I-mate SP3
10. (-) Blackberry RIM 62X0/72X0
( )= last months position.

The summer month of July offered no changes at the top of this months list. PalmOne Treo 600/650 is number one for the second consecutive month. The only two new entries are Qtek 8010/I-mate SP3 and Blackberry RIM 6200.

Top 10 cell phones in July 2005

Krusell – a Swedish carrying case maker publishes Top Ten Cell Phones each month which are calculated by trading volumes in over 50 countires

The Swedish manufacturer of carrying cases for portable electronics, Krusell, has released their "Top 10"-list for July 2005. The list is based upon the number of pieces of model specific mobile phone cases that has been ordered from Krusell during July 2005. Krusell’s list is unique due to the fact that it reflects the sales of mobile phones on six continents and in more than 50 countries around the globe.

The top ten phones for july 2005 are

(1) Sony Ericsson K750i/K750c
2. (2) Motorola Razr V3
3. (3) Nokia 6230/6230i
4. (4) PalmOne Treo 600/650
5. (7) Nokia 6680/6681/6682
6. (5) Qtek 9090/O2 XDA III
7. (9) Nokia 5140
8. (6) Sony Ericsson K700i
9. (10) Qtek S100/I-mate JAM
10. (-) Nokia 6020/6021

( )= last months position.

No changes at the top of this months list. Sony Ericsson K750i is keeping its number one position, followed by Motorola Razr V3 and Nokia 6230. The only new entry is Nokia 6020. – The lack of changes to this months top list reflects that not many new models were released in July, comments Ulf Sandberg, CEO at Krusell International. – Dramatic changes can be expected during the forthcoming high season when many new models like Sony Ericsson W800 and K600, are launched.

Source

Nokia Releases N-Gage QD Silver Edition To European, Middle Eastern and African Markets

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced that it will be releasing an N-Gage QD Silver Edition to the European, Middle Eastern and African markets. Nokia continues to support the N-Gage platform with the best games line up to date, with titles such as ONE, System Rush, Pathway to Glory Ikusa Islands and High Seize

"We have had a lot of requests from both consumers and trade to provide an N-Gage QD variant. This is very much in line with our fall consumer activities,"said Jukka Hosio, Director, Global Sales, Games Business Program, Nokia. "We chose silver as it’s one of the season’s most fashionable colors."

The new N-Gage QD Silver Edition game deck has all the smartphone functionalities and connectivity features as the original N-Gage QD game deck has, including calendar, contacts, e-mail, web browsing, Bluetooth connectivity and GPRS.

The new N-Gage QD Silver Edition game deck is expected to be available, September 1st, in the European, Middle Eastern and African markets.

About N-Gage

The N-Gage game deck is an innovative mobile device that is creating an entirely new market for the games industry. Built for active gamers, the N-Gage platform is the first mobile and connected game deck to feature online high-quality 3D multiplayer gameplay over Bluetooth wireless technology and GPRS. The N-Gage device also offers unique online games services through N-Gage Arena, as well as a comprehensive and growing games catalogue from the leading game publishers. Nokia, the owner of the N-Gage brand, is the world leader in mobile communications

Nokia PC suite 6.6 released

Nokia PC suite 6.6 released. One of the major improvements is support for text messaging in smartphones and better support for newer bluetooth stacks such as bluesoleil

Nokia PC suite 6.6 released. One of the major improvements is support for text messaging in smartphones and better support for newer bluetooth stacks such as IVT Bluesoleil and Microsoft Windows XP Bluetooth,Toshibha Bluetooth 3.0x and WIDCOMM Bluetooth 1.4

links

Nokia – Support PC Suite

Nokia – Nokia PC Suite Download

Mobile video is a tough sell – report

With the emerging availability of mobile video, a recent In-Stat U.S. mobile phone subscriber survey revealed that one in eight respondents indicated they were interested in purchasing mobile video services from their wireless carrier. However, two-thirds of mobile phone subscribers are not yet ready for video services on their handsets, a number that is nearly unchanged from the previous year’s survey, the high-tech market research firm says.

"Though mobile video does not yet appear to have widespread appeal, In-Stat believes that there is enough interest for it to generate some significant revenue for carriers in the near term," said David Chamberlain, In-Stat senior analyst. The number of subscribers purchasing mobile video content in the United States will increase from an estimated 1.1 million in 2005 to more than 30 million in 2010, In-Stat forecasts.

A recent report by In-Stat found the following:

— The most desirable customers (long-term loyal customers who are satisfied with their service and unlikely to churn to other carriers) are the least interested in purchasing mobile video.

— In-Stat’s analysis of the consumer survey provides some pricing guidelines that maximize carrier revenue.

— Between now and 2010, the greatest year-on-year growth will come in the 2005-2006 period as deployment of high-bandwidth networks become more widespread in the United States. It will also be a period of expanded carrier marketing of video services increases and broader availability of video-capable handsets.

Source:cellular-news

Vodafone Trials 3G Service In Sydney

Vodafone has recently started external 3G trials in Sydney, Australia. They are giving 180 customers the ability to use and test drive the 3G network for three weeks. The testers will be given 3G enabled phones, and data cards for usage with their notebooks, and etc. In the last week, they�re gonna have to report to Vodafone stores to talk about their experiences, usage problems

Vodafone has recently started external 3G trials in Sydney, Australia. They are giving 180 customers the ability to use and test drive the 3G network for three weeks. The testers will be given 3G enabled phones, and data cards for usage with their notebooks, and etc. In the last week, they’re gonna have to report to Vodafone stores to talk about their experiences, usage problems, etc…

During this task, they’ll be assigned tasks such as downloading MP3 tracks, videos, and 3D games – why? To see how well the 3G network operates and stands up. These results in the stores are going to be used to properly train Vodafone staff for the full network launch later on.

Vodafone has assigned sets of tasks for users to complete during the trial. Mobile handset users will be asked to download specific Vodafone live! content, such as the latest music tracks, sports action and 3D games. Business customers will use the VMC with 3G data cards to test mobile email with attachments, internet access and wireless working using various enterprise applications.

“We want to evaluate the customer experience across all areas of content and delivery so we’ve deliberately set objectives for users, but beyond that it’s up to them to decide how and what they want to explore,” said John Casey, Chief Marketing Officer at Vodafone Australia. “We’ll use feedback from the trial to give future 3G customers an unbeatable mobile experience.”

“At Vodafone, an unbeatable experience means much more than how the technology performs; it’s about how successfully we meet and exceed customer expectations on service and support and how effectively our products and content fires imagination, “ added Casey.

The external trial follows a three-month internal test programme, which evaluated the functionality of the Vodafone 3G network, handset and data card provisioning and support systems. The internal trial involved more than 100 Vodafone employees in Sydney.

“Our Australian customers will benefit from everything that Vodafone has learned in rolling out new 3G networks in 14 other countries around the world,” said Casey.

source:Cellular-News