Latest Mobile Phones, News, Reviews in India : FoneArena The Mobile Blog

Mobile gaming to hit Rs 1,500 cr by 2010

Indians are spearheading the mobile gaming revolution around the world, quietly. Consider this: when a youngster in Australia plays cricket on his mobile, or another in the US weaves Spiderman?s webs or a teenager in Russia hits a Maria Sharapova forehand on her mobile set, chances are that these games have been developed in India

Indians are spearheading the mobile gaming revolution around the world, quietly. Consider this: when a youngster in Australia plays cricket on his mobile, or another in the US weaves Spiderman’s webs or a teenager in Russia hits a Maria Sharapova forehand on her mobile set, chances are that these games have been developed in India

In fact, an Indian provider has developed three of the four games included in the next month’s World Mobile Gaming Championships in Singapore.

One reason for the prominance of Indian companies might be the popularity of these games in India itself. Within a year, the market has expanded from a mere Rs 25 crore to at least Rs 80 crore in 2005.

In another five years, it is set to touch the Rs 1,500 crore mark. “This is due to the stupendous growth of mobile users — at 3 million a month. And 40 per cent of the handsets sold are JAVA-enabled (needed to download games),” says Rajiv Hiranandani, country head, Mobile2win India, a mobile games provider.

Read Full Story [Business-Standard]

TELUS and Nokia announce agreement to deliver next-generation IP broadband access network in Canada

TELUS, one of Canada’s leading telecommunications service providers, and Nokia, a global leader in network solutions, announced today that they have entered into an agreement to use Nokia broadband infrastructure to build and support TELUS’ next-generation IP broadband access network

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE November 1, 2005

TELUS and Nokia announce agreement to deliver next-generation IP broadband access network in Canada

Nokia D500 broadband solution enables fast time-to-market for advanced broadband services

Espoo, Finland – TELUS, one of Canada’s leading telecommunications service providers, and Nokia, a global leader in network solutions, announced today that they have entered into an agreement to use Nokia broadband infrastructure to build and support TELUS’ next-generation IP broadband access network. TELUS has selected the Nokia D500 IP DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) multiservice platform, equipped with ADSL2+ technology to create multi-megabit bandwidth capacity and greater reach for the operator’s services, specifically its highly anticipated broadband services.

"As we prepare to roll out our next-generation IP network, this new relationship forged with Nokia enables TELUS to bring new broadband services to market faster," said Ibrahim Gedeon, Chief Technology Officer, TELUS. "Nokia’s global leadership in technology and vision for next-generation networks supports TELUS’ mission to deliver greater bandwidth and high quality IP solutions and services to Canadians at home, in the workplace and on the move."

The Nokia D500 access node is a powerful, scalable, and flexible solution for operators like TELUS who want to provide mass market bandwidth-intensive services. "We are pleased to be working with TELUS, a respected and leading innovator of telecommunications services not only in Canada, but worldwide," said Mikko Lavanti, Vice President, Nokia Broadband Systems. "With our relationship with TELUS, Nokia maintains a strong position at the forefront of delivering broadband solutions, especially as network convergence continues to take shape in the telecommunications industry. Today’s announcement paves the way for Nokia to continue to lead in the IP DSLAM market taking shape on a global scale."

The Nokia D500 architecture can also support residential and business broadband services from either a highly dense central office or in smaller density remote outdoor sites, using Nokia’s Rapid Deployment Access Cabinet (RDAC) solution which will further help TELUS reduce its site deployments and operating costs.

"Traditionally, Nokia is recognized as a leader and innovator in mobile technologies," said Kevin Kelly, General Manager, Fixed Operator Solutions, Networks, Nokia. "Today’s announcement with TELUS demonstrates our broader networking capabilities spanning both fixed and mobile arenas, as well as a strong commitment to the Canadian telecommunications market."

About TELUS

TELUS (TSX: T, T.NV; NYSE: TU) is the largest telecommunications company in Western Canada and the second largest in the country, with $7.9 billion of annual revenue, 4.7 million network access lines and 4.1 million wireless customers. The company provides customers with a full range of telecommunications products and services including data, voice and wireless services across Canada, utilizing next generation Internet-based technologies. For more information about TELUS, please visit www.telus.com.

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.

Nokia completes UMA voice and data calls

As a significant milestone in its fixed-mobile convergence strategy, Nokia has completed both voice and data calls with Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology in a Nokia Solutions Experience Center in the United States.

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE November 1, 2005

Nokia achieves convergence milestone, completes UMA voice and data calls

Espoo, Finland – As a significant milestone in its fixed-mobile convergence strategy, Nokia has completed both voice and data calls with Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology in a Nokia Solutions Experience Center in the United States.

UMA, a 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Program) standard, is an access technology that allows seamless handover of mobile voice and data from a cellular network to a wireless local area network (WLAN/WiFi). The UMA standard defines how mobile operators can turn home, office and public WLANs into seamless extensions of their cellular networks. With UMA, operators can deliver voice and data services to subscribers over the WiFi access networks, dramatically increasing mobile service usage while decreasing costs of network deployment.

The voice calls were conducted from a live cellular network to WLAN and from WLAN to cellular. In addition, a data call was conducted from cellular to WLAN. Both voice and data calls were completed using a Nokia test phone.

"This milestone is an excellent example of Nokia’s unique ability to offer service providers with true end-to-end solutions, from our industry-leading Release 4 core architecture to our devices equipped with both cellular and WLAN connectivity," said Mark Louison, senior vice president, Networks, North America, Nokia. "UMA is poised to open up a number of new opportunities and choices for operators and their end-users. We’re one step closer to simplifying the end-user mobile experience to access voice, personal information, and multimedia services on one device irrespective of their location, whether at work, at home, or on the go."

Nokia’s UMA network solution is part of its end-to-end Fixed-Mobile Convergence solution that offers fixed, mobile and hybrid operators a smooth evolution from today’s networks to the next-generation networks of tomorrow.

About Nokia

Telefonica to Acquire O2 for $32Bln

Telefonica, Spain’s biggest telephone company, has agreed to buy British mobile phone operator O2 for ?17.7 billion ($31.5 billion) in the largest acquisition in the European phone industry in five years

MADRID — Telefonica, Spain’s biggest telephone company, has agreed to buy British mobile phone operator O2 for £17.7 billion ($31.5 billion) in the largest acquisition in the European phone industry in five years.

Telefonica offered 200 pence in cash per O2 share, the Madrid-based company said in a statement. The offer for O2 is 22 percent higher than Friday’s closing price of 164.25 pence.

Buying O2 will give Telefonica 25 million customers in Britain, Germany and Ireland, bringing its total to more than 165 million.

The deal would be the largest led by chairman Cesar Alierta, 60, who is seeking assets in Europe after spending more than $50 billion on takeovers in Latin America since the 1990s.

"Telefonica can’t push much further into Latin America," said Gary Dugan, head of equity research at Barclays Investment Services. "You have to get bigger globally and not just protect your backyard."

The stock of O2 rose as much as 26 percent to 206.75 pence, above the offer price, and traded at 204 pence in early trading in London. The shares of Telefonica and its mobile phone unit Telefonica Moviles were suspended from trading in Madrid, the exchange said.

The purchase will "immediately" add to earnings per share, according to the statement.

The deal would be the biggest takeover announced in the industry worldwide since the $41 billion acquisition of Nextel Communications proposed in December 2004.

It is the largest involving a European telecommunications company since May 2000, when France Telecom agreed to buy Orange from Vodafone for $41.7 billion, according to Bloomberg data.

The board of O2 said it considers the bid "fair and reasonable" and would recommend its shareholders accept it.

O2 "will open the group to the two largest European markets with sizeable critical mass, and it will balance our exposure across business and regions," Alierta said in the statement.

The British company is the biggest mobile phone operator in Britain by customers. Its second-biggest market is Germany, and it also offers services in Ireland.

Up to Monday, O2 shares had jumped 56 percent in the last 12 months as the company has been the focus of takeover speculation ever since it rejected a bid from Dutch-based KPN in February 2004.

Germany’s Deutsche Telekom and KPN ended talks to make a joint bid for O2 in August. Under the plan, KPN would have taken control of O2’s German business.

"It’s the European operator that better fits Telefonica’s strategy," said Alberto Espelosin, who helps manage $7 billion, including Telefonica shares, at Ibercaja Gestion in Zaragoza, Spain. "The key will be whether Deutsche Telekom wants to make a higher offer."

Alierta said in September that Telefonica "would make selective acquisitions" to add growth. In June, the former Spanish phone monopoly acquired a controlling stake in Cesky Telecom, the biggest Czech phone company, for 2.7 billion euros ($3.3 billion).

In September, it spent an additional 917 million euros to boost its stake in Cesky Telecom to 69 percent.

Goldman Sachs and Citigroup advised Telefonica. JPMorgan Cazenove and Merrill Lynch advised O2.

via [moscow times]

Hutch getting redesigned

Hong Kong?s Hutchison has taken a strategic decision to redesign the Hutch brand, in the run-up to the Hutch-Essar IPO

Hong Kong’s Hutchison has taken a strategic decision to redesign the Hutch brand, in the run-up to the Hutch-Essar IPO.

Hutchison Essar will unveil Hutch with its new look across 13 circles by late-November. As the company’s existing Orange and Hutch brands have a common colour, “The redesigned Hutch umbrella brand will have a definite colour variation,” Hutchison officials told ET.

There’s a tight lid on the new brand design and colour specifics. But it’s understood that the world’s top brand consultancy firm, the London-based Wolff Olins, may be involved in redesigning Hutch. Wolff Olins is the original creator of Orange.

“It’s imperative that Hutchison Essar evolves a single and unique brand identity in India, instead of its twin-brand image. The entry of the world’s biggest GSM player into India is likely to expedite unveiling of the new look of Hutch and put the company’s brand unification plans on fast track,” sources said.

Significantly, Hutchison’s decision to introduce new colour and design to Hutch is in the aftermath of the recent Orange-Hutch tussle over alleged trademark and copyright violations by Hutchison. During the legal battle in Delhi High Court, the Orange Group had alleged that Hutch had created images which were based on Orange’s guidelines.

Though the Orange-Hutch legal duel is over, there’s a feeling that Hutch and Orange brands are similar, especially as both use the orange colour. “As both brands share a similar philosophy, there’s little economic sense in Hutch-Essar managing two separate brands in India,” said sources .

In fact, Hutchison Essar expects a common umbrella brand to trigger media efficiencies, in which the company won’t need separate adaptation strategies for both brands. Once DoT clears Hutch-Essar’s 100% acquisition of the BPL Mobile circles, the new- look Hutch will be unveiled in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

via [economictimes]

X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse

Nokia today announced that it has shipped X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, the sequel to the highly successful Activision title X-Men: Legends.

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE October 31, 2005

Friends and Foes Unite as X-Men(TM) Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse arrives in stores

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced that it has shipped X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, the sequel to the highly successful Activision title X-Men: Legends. The all-new action role playing game (RPG) allows N-Gage gamers to create Super Hero dream teams featuring popular X-Men and classic Brotherhood villains as they unite for the first time ever to overcome the ultimate evil – Apocalypse – and prevent one of the most devastating attacks ever against mankind.

In X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, players create, customize and control teams of four mutants from 16 all-time favorite X-Men and Brotherhood villains from the Marvel Universe. Players can switch between teammates wielding a variety of super powers and skills as they overcome obstacles, solve puzzles and defeat hordes of enemies including Lady Deathstrike and the notorious Four Horsemen of Apocalypse. If the mission is too much for one, N-Gage fans can recruit up to three friends for multiplayer adventures over Bluetooth and help unlock secret missions on N-Gage Arena.

Exclusive to N-Gage owners and X-Men fans alike, an exciting new trailer is now available for download at www.extranet.n-gage.com. Fans can also log onto http://www.n-gage.com/enR1/games/gamedata/x_men_legends_II.htm for additional information about the 16 customizable characters, and access Bluetooth capabilities for single player or multiplayer modes and unlock secret missions via N-Gage Arena.

"Fans of the original version of X-Men: Legends on N-Gage will be able to continue their journey with additional customizable characters, an unprecedented arsenal of super powers, and fierce enemies for more than 25 hours of gameplay in the single player mode alone," says Gregg Sauter, Director, Games Publishing, Nokia. "The Bluetooth and N-Gage Arena capabilities offer additional multiplayer modes that offer gamers the opportunity to show friends just what they are made of."

About Activision

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.4 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005.Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, Scandinavia, Spain and the Netherlands. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.

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 game play over Bluetooth wireless technology and GPRS. The N-Gage device also offers unique online games services as well as a comprehensive and growing games catalogue from the leading game publishers. Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Nokia and N-Gage are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nokia Corporation

Nokia introduces Cool Zone brings mobile content sales to retail

okia today introduced the Nokia Local Content Channel Solution, CoolZone, that is a Bluetooth based end-to-end solution for distributing digital content to consumers’ phones in retail locations. Local mobility solutions create new types of business possibilities to individuals, location owners and enterprises.

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE October 31, 2005

CoolZone brings mobile content sales to retail

A new solution complements other digital content delivery channels with local relevancy

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today introduced the Nokia Local Content Channel Solution, CoolZone, that is a Bluetooth based end-to-end solution for distributing digital content to consumers’ phones in retail locations. Local mobility solutions create new types of business possibilities to individuals, location owners and enterprises. With CoolZone, retailers like music stores, phone shops and cinemas, can offer promotional or paid content, such as mobile games, wallpapers, videos and music, to consumers in their stores.

"For consumers, CoolZone is a new and easy way to get rich mobile content and information. Every time the consumer visits a store, which has CoolZone service, she or he can easily browse, preview and buy the latest content to his or her phone. When using the service for the first time, the consumer downloads a retailer branded application to the phone in the retail location based on instructions provided in the store. The payment for the downloaded content is done either over the counter using vouchers or using premium text messages," said Sakari Kotola, Director, Nokia Ventures Organization. "CoolZone is a truly smooth content download tool for consumers."

The service is always customized according to the retailer’s or service provider’s brand. In a way, it is a digital shelf in a physical store. The retailer can easily change both the design of the application and the content during special campaigns, and the consumers will automatically experience the new campaign the next time they use the service. But CoolZone is not just a tool to sell content and organize promotional campaigns. For the retailer, it is also an efficient tool for loyalty programs.

The Nokia Local Content Channel Solution, CoolZone is based on Bluetooth connection between a phone and a service point. The solution consists of client software for the phone (Symbian client for Series 60, Java for Nokia Series 40 and other manufacturers’ phones), a small multiradio Nokia Service Point LCP10 installed in each service location and the Nokia Service Manager LCM10 for centrally managing the service points and the content. The solution enables the delivery of any content supported by the phones, including DRM protected content. While the service is currently Bluetooth based, WLAN will be one of expected additions in the near future, as more phones will offer WLAN capability.

The Nokia Local Content Channel Solution, CoolZone will be commercially available in the 1st quarter of 2006. Nokia will optionally also provide the solution to retailers based on a hosting model where Nokia takes care of everything from content management to technical set-up.

CoolZone will be demonstrated at the Nokia Mobility Conference 2005 in Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, during November 2-3, 2005.

About Nokia

Nokia Mobile Broadcast Solution announced

Nokia today announced the world’s first commercial service management solution for DVB-H services, the Nokia Mobile Broadcast Solution 3.0. The Nokia Mobile Broadcast Solution (MBS) 3.0 supports the broadcasting of different types of digital content such as live TV, radio and video clips over DVB-H networks to mobile devices.

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE October 31, 2005

Nokia announces world’s first commercial solution for managing DVB-H broadcast services

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced the world’s first commercial service management solution for DVB-H services, the Nokia Mobile Broadcast Solution 3.0. The Nokia Mobile Broadcast Solution (MBS) 3.0 supports the broadcasting of different types of digital content such as live TV, radio and video clips over DVB-H networks to mobile devices. The key features of the MBS 3.0 include the Electronic Service Guide (ESG), a consumer interface in the mobile device for searching available services, setting alerts for upcoming programs and for the viewing selection. Additionally, the MBS 3.0 offers service protecion, flexible content pricing schemes and provides consumers with an easy way to purchase viewing rights.

The MBS 3.0 is based on open standards such as DVB-H. It fully implements the Open Air Interface (OAI) 1.0 implementation guidelines which Nokia published in August 2005 on www.nokia.com/mobiletv. The Open Air Interface specifies how mobile TV devices connect with the DVB-H network and the servers of the overall mobile TV service infrastructure. The OAI specification was published to enable multivendor interoperability in the mobile TV industry.

"Nokia has been an active participant in several mobile TV pilots over the past two years, during which the consumer response has been very encouraging. The feedback collected from mobile and broadcast network operators and media companies has proved invaluable, making it possible for Nokia to create this solution. By offering a safe, secure and future proof solution for managing mobile TV broadcasting, we are creating the momentum for the mobile TV market to take off during 2006," said Richard Sharp, Vice President, Rich Media, Nokia.

The MBS 3.0 offers mobile broadcst service providers a single platform which can serve several content providers. At the same time, it offers content providers a protected distribution channel to mobile users. Broadcasters get flexibility in defining the geographical distribution coverage and service bundles consisting of free-to-air, subscription based and pay-per-view services as well as setting pricing schemes. The MBS 3.0 supports mobile service providers in offering broadcast related e-commerce and interctive services. Furthermore, the MBS 3.0 solution provides invoicing for prepaid cellular subscribers.

The Nokia Mobile Broadcast Solution 3.0 will be available in the first quarter of 2006. In 2006 Nokia will bring the first mobile TV device to the market with in-built DVB-H capabilities. The MBS 3.0 is the third implementation of a DVB-H service management solution which has been piloted globally already with several customers since 2003.

About Nokia

Mobile wireless technology companies call on European Commission to investigate Qualcomm’s anti-competitive conduct

Broadcom, Ericsson, NEC, Nokia, Panasonic Mobile Communications and Texas Instruments have each filed Complaints to the European Commission requesting that it investigate and stop Qualcomm’s anti-competitive conduct in the licensing of essential patents for 3G mobile technolog

The companies state that Qualcomm is violating EU competition law and failing to meet the commitments Qualcomm made to international standard bodies around the world that it would license its technology on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. Absent these commitments, the WCDMA 3G standard would not have been adopted. Qualcomm is infringing these rules by:

– trying to exclude competing manufacturers of chipsets for mobile phones from the market and preventing others from entering. To this end, Qualcomm has committed a number of abuses, ranging from the refusal to licence essential patents to potential chipset competitors on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms to offering lower royalty rates to handset customers who buy chipsets exclusively from Qualcomm.

– charging royalties for its WCDMA essential patents that are excessive and disproportionate; in particular by imposing the same royalty rate on WCDMA 3G handsets as it does for CDMA2000 3G handsets despite the fact that Qualcomm has contributed far less technology to the WCDMA 3G standard than it has to the CDMA2000 standard.

The companies believe that Qualcomm’s anti-competitive behaviour has harmful effects for the mobile telecommunications sector in Europe, as well as elsewhere, because carriers and consumers are facing higher prices and fewer choices.

Company Statements

"Major telecommunications equipment companies on three continents are standing up and saying that Qualcomm’s business practices are unfair, anticompetitive and ultimately illegal. Qualcomm’s illegal practices stifle competition and ultimately hurt the consumer." David A. Dull, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs; General Counsel; and Secretary, Broadcom Corporation

"Qualcomm committed to standard setting organisations that it would license its technology on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. In spite of this and in breach of competition law, Qualcomm is charging excessive and disproportionate royalties. This means ultimately that consumers may have to pay more than they should for their mobile handsets."

Kasim Alfalahi, Vice President IPR Licensing and Patents, Ericsson AB

"Qualcomm’s anti-competitive licensing practices and excessive royalties are restricting innovation and the development of 3G mobile telephony to the detriment of consumer choice."

Botaro Hirosaki, Senior Vice President, NEC Corporation

"Intellectual property rights have an increasing role in business. There are rules of law that apply to the licensing business, and patentees and other intellectual property rights owners cannot ignore them."

Ilkka Rahnasto, Vice President, Intellectual Property Rights, Nokia Corporation

"Panasonic Mobile Communications believes that Qualcomm is charging excessive and disproportional royalty rates in breach of EU competition law and industry requirements to offer licenses for essential patents on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms."

Haruo Suzuki, Director,Member of the Board, Panasonic Mobile Communications Co. Ltd.

"Standards are established to guide the industry’s technology development and provide a healthy environment for innovation and competition. We believe Qualcomm has abused its licensing position in certain standards and has inhibited legitimate competition. If this conduct goes unchecked, the risk is that consumers in Europe and around the world will pay higher prices for mobile phones and services and have less access to innovative products."

Joe Hubach, General Counsel, Texas Instruments Incorporated

Vodafone buys stake in Bharti Tele-Ventures

Vodafone Group Plc, the world’s No.1 cellular service provider, has picked up a 10% stake in Bharti Tele-Ventures Ltd. for Rs67bn or US$1.2bn. Vodafone Mauritius Ltd. has purchased shares in Bharti Enterprise Pvt. Ltd. (the unlisted holding company), which gives the British cellular service major a beneficial stake of 4.4% in Bharti Tele-Ventures.

The investment from India’s leading GSM-based telecom operator by the British cellular major comes more than a week after the Cabinet cleared the proposed hike in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in telecom, from 49% to 74%.

In addition, Vodafone, through Vodafone International Holdings BV, has also picked up 5.65% stake from Warburg Pincus, thereby taking the total beneficial interest in Bharti Tele-Ventures to around 10%.

The above transactions do not make any change in the direct shareholding of Bharti Tele-Ventures. Bharti Enterprises maintains a controlling interest of 45.9% in Bharti Tele-Ventures through its subsidiary, Bharti Telecom Ltd. With the final sale of its stake, Warburg Pincus has now completely exited its position in Bharti Tele-Ventures. Bharti Enterprises owns 68% in Bharti Telecom, which in turn holds 45% stake in the listed Bharti Tele-Ventures.

Commenting on the occasion, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman & Group Managing Director, Bharti Enterprises, said, "We are delighted that Vodafone has made a call on the Indian telecom sector and has chosen Bharti Tele-Ventures Ltd. to be the vehicle to develop its continued interest in the Asian region. Today, when Bharti stands on the threshold of being an Asian telecom powerhouse, it has tied up with Vodafone to take the company to the next level and to support Bharti in achieving its vision of making Airtel the most admired brand in India".

At 12:58 p.m., shares of Bharti Tele-Ventures were trading at Rs327, up Rs15 or 4.8%, over the previous close. Earlier, the stock had touched a high of Rs330.5 and a low of Rs311. Around 1.62mn shares of Bharti Tele-Ventures have changed hands on BSE.

Watch your favourite STAR programmes on your Hutch mobile

Mobisodes of this show will offer Indian audiences, next generation interactive and personalised viewing on their Hutch phones, at their own convenience.

Now you can watch your favourite STAR programmes on your mobile

Media Release, October 7
Mumbai

Star India, India’s number one network, today announced that it becomes the first Indian television network to launch ‘mobisodes’ in the country. ‘Mobisodes’ are one-minute video clips specifically designed to be watched on mobile phones. Star India has specially created mobisodes of Star One’s highest rated comedy show—‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’ (TGILC). The show that has become a national phenomena is currently among the top 50 shows week-on-week in India. Mobisodes of this show will offer Indian audiences, next generation interactive and personalised viewing on their Hutch phones, at their own convenience.

“We are proud to offer Indian viewers high quality entertainment on the latest that technology has to offer,” said Viren Popli, Senior Vice President, Interactive Services, Star India. “With convergence, next generation distribution platforms are evolving thereby allowing wider viewing choices with flexibility and convenience. This will pave the way for creating new television viewing patterns as well as revolutionise mobile entertainment.”

Leveraging content of its highest rated comedy show, mobisodes of TGILC will be available to Hutch subscribers across the country from Monday, October 10th, 2005. Users will have access to downloadable video clips of the best moments of the programme through HutchWorld on their GPRS enabled Hutch phones.

Speaking on this innovation, Naveen Chopra, Corporate Vice President – Group Marketing, Hutchison Essar, said, “ Today a mobile phone is not only a means of communication but also a personalized mode of entertainment. We are committed towards consistently enhancing the service experience for our customers and

‘mobisodes’ will provide Hutch users with their favourite entertainment, on their mobile phones, that can be enjoyed at their convenience.”

About STAR
STAR is a leading media and entertainment company in Asia. STAR broadcasts over 50 television services in eight languages to more than 300 million viewers across 53 Asian countries. STAR channels cover all genres including general entertainment (Star Plus, Xing Kong, Star Chinese Channel, Star One, Star Utsav, Star World, Vijay, Phoenix Chinese), sports (ESPN, Star Sports), movies (Star Chinese Movies, Star Gold, Star Movies), music (Channel [V]), and news and current affairs (Star News, Star Ananda, Phoenix InfoNews Channel). STAR controls over 20,000 hours of Indian and Chinese programming and also owns the world’s largest contemporary Chinese film library, with more than 600 titles, featuring superstars including Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat and Bruce Lee. In partnership with leading companies in Asia, STAR businesses extend to filmed entertainment, television production, cable systems and wireless and digital services. STAR is a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation. www.startv.com

About Hutchison Essar
Hutchison Essar, with over 9.2 million* mobile users under the Hutch and Orange brands, is one of the most reputable telecom companies in India. Over the years, it has been named the ‘Most Respected Telecom Company’, the ‘Best Mobile Service in the country’ and the ‘Most Creative and Most Effective Advertiser of the Year’.

*Figures from Cellular Operators Association of India, as of August 2005.

MIT and Nokia setup joint laboratory for research

Finland – The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and Nokia Research Center today announced a research collaboration to advance the state of the art in mobile computing and communications technologies.

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE October 27, 2005

Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Nokia establish joint laboratory for high-impact research

Cambridge, MA, USA and Espoo, Finland – The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and Nokia Research Center today announced a research collaboration to advance the state of the art in mobile computing and communications technologies.

CSAIL and Nokia will establish a new research facility – the Nokia Research Center Cambridge – near the MIT campus, where researchers from MIT and Nokia will work closely together on a new vision for mobile computing.

"Information and communication technologies are becoming ever more critical in all aspects of our personal and professional lives," said MIT President Susan Hockfield. "By carrying out long-term research in these fields, including novel uses of hand-held devices, MIT and Nokia will make new communication opportunities and services available for people around the globe."

"For Nokia, this is a fresh approach to our research collaboration with universities," said Dr. Bob Iannucci, head of Nokia Research Center. "Bringing together the collective expertise of MIT and Nokia in mobile computing and communications provides a vehicle for rapidly generating new concepts and bringing innovations to the marketplace on a large scale."

The collaborative work of the Nokia Research Center Cambridge will center on a view of the future where small handheld devices such as mobile phones will become parts of an "ecosystem" of information, services, peripherals, sensors and other devices. Research will address new user interfaces that incorporate speech and other modalities, new mobile computing platforms – including low power hardware platforms and wireless communication, as well as new software architectures. Researchers will also address new ways of managing information: The use of Semantic Web technologies – an extension of the current Web developed in part at CSAIL and at the Nokia Research Center – will enable devices to more intuitively and automatically understand interconnected terms, information and services.

Approximately twenty researchers from MIT and twenty researchers from Nokia will participate in joint projects under the direction of a joint steering committee. Dr. James Hicks from Nokia Research Center has been named director of the Nokia Research Center Cambridge. Professor Arvind, Johnson Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, will be the program manager.

"This is a totally unique kind of collaboration for both MIT and Nokia," said Professor Rodney Brooks, director of CSAIL. "Unlike most university-industry alliances, where researchers work at their own pace – often at opposite ends of the globe – the joint laboratory with Nokia will bring a dynamic group of scientists into close physical proximity in an open, creative and dynamic environment."

This new collaboration builds on the foundation of a strong relationship formed during past collaborations between MIT and Nokia. Most recently, Nokia was a founding partner in the MIT Oxygen Alliance, a major research project involving more than 150 researchers at CSAIL with the goal of creating a new breed computers devoted to serving people’s needs.

The Nokia Research Center Cambridge will be located in the Kendall Square area of Cambridge, Massachusetts, a five-minute walk from CSAIL’s main headquarters. It will begin operations on January 1, 2006. Five initial research projects have already been planned.

About MIT/CSAIL

The MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) was formed on July 1st, 2003 by the merger of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (AI Lab) and the Laboratory for Computer Science (LCS). It is an interdepartmental laboratory that includes faculty from Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mathematics, Brain and Cognitive Science, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Ocean Engineering, Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, the Biological Engineering Division and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. CSAIL is also the home of the World Wide Web Consortium. With more than 90 Principal Investigators and 800 members, CSAIL is the largest laboratory on the MIT campus.

The primary mission of CSAIL is research in many aspects of computation and artificial intelligence. It is organized into four broad research directorates: 1) Architecture, systems, and networks, 2) Theory, 3) Language, learning, vision, and graphics, and 4) Physical, biological, and computational systems.

Over the past four decades, members of CSAIL and its predecessors have been responsible for many of the innovations in computer science and information technology, including time sharing, public key encryption, bit-mapped displays, TCP/IP, personal workstations, Web standards, computer vision, speech, and robotics. CSAIL members have distinguished themselves as members of the U.S. Academy of Sciences and Engineering (17), recipients of the MacArthur Foundation Genius Award (6), Turing Award (4), Japan Prize (2), and Millennium Technology Award. Technology transfer from CSAIL is often accomplished through startups; some of them include Akamai, Cognex, iRobot, OpenMarket, RSA Data Security, Silicon Spice and SpeechWorks.

For more information about CSAIL, please visit http://www.csail.mit.edu

About Nokia Research Center

Interacting closely with all Nokia business groups, Nokia Research Center is responsible for the strategic and long-term research in Nokia. Nokia Research Center participates in the standardization work and various international R&D projects in cooperation with universities and research institutes. Looking beyond current product development, the Research Center drives Nokia’s renewal through long-term technology exploration. Nokia Research Center employs 1,200 people and has activities in Finland, USA, Germany, Hungary, China and Japan.

About Nokia

Rifts promise of power-news RPG for NGage

Nokia today announced that it has shipped Rifts Promise of Power, heralding a new era in tactical role playing as this renowned pen-and-paper RPG meets video gamers for the first time.

Rifts®: Promise of Power(TM) enters a brave new world as the pen-and-paper RPG ships on the N-Gage platform

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced that it has shipped Rifts®: Promise of Power (TM), heralding a new era in tactical role playing as this renowned pen-and-paper RPG meets video gamers for the first time.

Developed exclusively for the N-Gage platform, this adaptation of the Palladium Books® franchise combines the detail and imagination of the original with the accessibility of the video game world and is set to deliver Rifts: Promise of Power straight to the pockets of a brand new audience.

Rifts: Promise of Power allows players to explore the Rifts universe in real time as they venture through the post apocalyptic remains of Germany, North America, Scotland, China and Quebec. During their quests gamers will have the chance to engage in turn based combat against 50 + fearsome enemies using over 100 weapons, spells and psionics.

Fans of the pen and paper version will find their current RIFTS® Megaverse® has expanded with the introduction of a new character class. The Elemental Fusionist a group of rugged individuals who possess the elemental forces of earth, fire, air and water within their bodies’ leaving them perfectly placed to unleash these elemental forces against their foes.

Enjoy over 40 hours of gameplay on the single player version or for marathon playtime take on up to three players from anywhere in the world using Turn Notification over N-Gage Arena or for a more intimate challenge battle three of your friends over Bluetooth instead.

If you want to try before you buy – go to www.rifts-promiseofpower.com where the 6-hour demo featuring character creation, adventuring and party based combat is ready for download.

"We are privileged to be the first video game platform to feature Rifts: Promise of Power as part of our game catalogue." says Gregg Sauter, Director of Games Publishing, Nokia. "The Rifts pen-and-paper franchise has already brought pleasure to millions of RPG fans and its presence on the N-Gage platform with its endless hours of multiplayer action can only serve to make the Rift brand even more popular."

About N-Gage

FoneArena featured on ChennaiOnline

Today FoneArena was featured on Chennai Online- the no.1 website for residents for chennai

We at FoneArena.com would like to thank all at ChennaiOnline www.chennaionline.com for featuring FoneArena is the Technology section of their website.

Website on mobile phones A website dedicated to Indian mobile phones has been launched.

The number of mobile users in India and Chennai is increasing at a rapid pace. The price of mobile phones keep changing and there is no way a customer can to know of the brands, features and prices other than through mobile dealers.

At such a point, FoneArena.com comes to your rescue. The site offers mobile buyers the latest information about mobile phones with an eye on the Indian subcontinent.

Nokia Mile High Pinball coming soon for N-Gage

ow did you spend International Pinball Week? Well, the Mile High Pinball team here at Nokia was super busy putting the finishing touches on a brand new trailer, snatching some brand new exclusive screenshots, and working furiously on a demo you can download from the N-Gage Arena the week of November 7th

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE October 26, 2005

How Did You Celebrate International Pinball Week?

Mile High Pinball Takes the Classic Game Above and Beyond with New Trailer, Screenshots, and an Upcoming Demo

Espoo, Finland – How did you spend International Pinball Week? Well, the Mile High Pinball team here at Nokia was super busy putting the finishing touches on a brand new trailer, snatching some brand new exclusive screenshots, and working furiously on a demo you can download from the N-Gage Arena the week of November 7th.

Here’s your chancel to watch the brand new trailer with a sneak peek at fiendish robots and demonic gargoyles determined to flush your pinball down the drain. Terrified yet? The brand new screens for this exciting title feature many power-ups available in the game, including the never-before-seen wing ball, ghost ball, and feather ball.

Players can soon get a taste of Mile High Pinball with the release of a five-level demo of the game. Users can head over to Arena.n-gage.com the week of November 7th and once they log on, users can download the demo to play on their game deck.

Mile High Pinball takes the game far above its humble origins, with N-Gage Arena connectivity, customizable maps and multiplayer tournaments. Players soar above the traditional arcade experience with more than 80 stages, new power-up items and boss levels. The release of Mile High Pinball this fall will give players more of what they have been enjoying for the past 70 years, and put the fun in the palm of their hands!

Fans can find out more details about the development of Mile High Pinball by taking part in an interactive N-Gage Arena chat session with Mile High Pinball producer Steven Patterson and the game developers on Thursday, November 3, 2005 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am (Pacific Standard Time). Log onto http://forums.arena.n-gage.com and jump into the discussion!

More information about Mile High Pinball is available on the official website at www.MileHighPinball.com.

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 as well as a comprehensive and growing games catalogue from the leading game publishers. Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Nokia and N-Gage are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nokia Corporation