News | Fone Arena - Part 3215

Nokia to trial Fixed Mobile Convergence solutions with Telemar Oi in Brazil

Nokia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Brazilian telecommunications giant Telemar Oi to begin trials of Nokia’s Fixed Mobile Convergence solutions. The Nokia Fixed Mobile Convergence solutions can leverage Telemar’s current fixed network to create a converged packet based domain for fixed and mobile services. Telemar operates the largest fixed network in South America, with around 15 million subscribers, as well as the Oi branded mobile network, which currently caters to around 8 million subscribers.

Nokia to trial Fixed Mobile Convergence solutions with Telemar Oi in Brazil

Espoo, Finland – Nokia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Brazilian telecommunications giant Telemar Oi to begin trials of Nokia’s Fixed Mobile Convergence solutions. The Nokia Fixed Mobile Convergence solutions can leverage Telemar’s current fixed network to create a converged packet based domain for fixed and mobile services. Telemar operates the largest fixed network in South America, with around 15 million subscribers, as well as the Oi branded mobile network, which currently caters to around 8 million subscribers.

The trial employs a comprehensive Nokia end-to-end solution for unified core and converged access networks, as well as Nokia terminals providing multimedia and VoIP services for both mobile and fixed customers. The Nokia unified core includes the Nokia IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), for voice calls and multimedia services, the Nokia VoIP Server, and the Nokia MSC Server System (MSS). The agreement also includes testing of the Nokia Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) solution for extending the potential of fixed broadband networks.

"At Telemar Oi, we have been a pioneer in GSM in Brazil and have already successfully launched integrated service packages for our fixed and mobile residential customers," says Alberto Blanco, marketing director of Telemar Group. "This convergence trial is a natural extension of that and is an important part in our vision for the future in driving growth in our businesses."

"We are delighted to be working with Telemar Oi on this end-to-end convergence trial to address emerging opportunities for combining fixed and mobile services in Brazil," says Olli Oittinen, Vice President, Networks, Nokia. "Nokia is trialing its converged solutions with many leading operators worldwide, providing powerful solutions for consumer and corporate, fixed and mobile networks, in what is shaping up to be a new chapter in this industry."

The Nokia IMS solution provides the service machinery for enriching communications in converging fixed and mobile networks. It enables SIP-based multimedia services, such as video sharing and push to talk, in addition to voice services for fixed, cellular and multiradio terminals, as well as for PCs.

The Nokia VoIP Server, a key part of the Nokia IMS solution, supports the convergence of legacy voice and VoIP communications by allowing Telemar Oi to offer mobile telephony services, such as Caller ID and SMS, to VoIP customers.

The Nokia MSC Server, the world leading 3GPP Release 4 based voice solution, is currently deployed in Telemar Oi’s commercial mobile network, as part of an earlier contract. Nokia has been the main GSM network supplier to Oi since 2001.

About Telemar Group

The Telemar Group is the biggest private company in the country. It’s focused on the offering of integrated solutions; Telemar offers local calling services, long distance, wireless, data communication, a helpline and the Internet.

The company holds the concession to operate the local fixed telecommunication network and the authority to offers wireless services with Oi in Region I, which includes 16 northern, northeastern and southeastern states.

Besides this, the company acts in all national territory and provides data communication and long distance services since June 2002, when it anticipated the universal standards and received authorization to act throughout Brazil with code 31, which was launched regionally in 1999.

The Telemar Group has established a single brand in Internet and mobile segments with its own ISP Oi Internet, launched in February 2005.

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.

Airtel to invest Rs 400 Cr in Karnataka

Airtel, a leading mobile services provider in the country, would invest Rs 400 crores during the year 2005-06 as part of its expansion plan in Karnataka, Company Executive Director (Southern Region-Mobility) Atul Bindal said today

Bangalore: Airtel, a leading mobile services provider in the country, would invest Rs 400 crores during the year 2005-06 as part of its expansion plan in Karnataka, Company Executive Director (Southern Region-Mobility) Atul Bindal said today.

Talking to newsmen here, he said that with 1.5 million customers in the state, Karnataka was the second largest Circle in Bharti Televentures’ network which is playing a pioneering role in increasing mobile penetration in the country.

Mr Bindal said that with the projected expansion plan, the company by end of the year planning to reach out to approximately 45 per cent of the population in the state with a robust network that will span about 730 towns. It was intended to set up 600 additional cell sites across the state taking the total number to 1800 to ensure better reach than competitors.

The idea was to expand mobile network in rural areas and drive segmented applications and value added services in urban and semi urban markets, he said and added that the Company see lot of potential for development in Northern Districts like Gulbarga and Hubli.

Bharati Televentures COO Deepak Mehrotra said that the Company has adopted a three prong strategy–innovation, quality and outsourcing, to achieve its planned development. Bharati has recently signed agreements to outsource its call center operations to some of the best international BPOs. The agreement with Hinduja TMT, IBM Daksh, Mphasis and TeleTech services would enhance quality of customer service delivery to its customers across the country, he added.

Mr Mehrotra said that Airtel has moved towards setting up of a Future Factory in Bangalore fully dedicated to explore innovation and development of path-breaking applications for mobile customers across the country. Customers in cities like Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai were looking towards mobile commerce and the Future Factory here would take up development of drive applications that use mobile phone as a payment instrument for ticketing, money transfer and other commerce transactions.

He said under rural programme the company would focus on developing applications to make mobile telephone more relevant to the segment.

Be Very Careful About Nokia Phones Lying Around

Next time you hold a sensitive meeting, you might want to see if anybody around you has a Nokia telephone. And don’t be so sure the phone is turned off.

AGLAYA, a small Indian company is offer for just $250 software that can convert any Nokia 6600 model telephone into a spyphone.

"When someone calls the phone, it rings and operates as a normal telephone but when the phone is called using the pre-defined number, it automatically answers without any ringing, lights, change in the phones screen display or creating logs," the company’s website brags, adding "The phone works like a normal mobile phone and so shows nothing suspicious or unusual to the user."

AGLAYA says "you can access the phone from anywhere in the world with no range limitations, just dial in and listen."

The solution to all this? Ban telephones – or at least take out the batteries – that is if you can find them.

Via [Spero Forum Weblog]

Nokia announces a VoIP server

Nokia has announced a VoIP server designed for fixed and mobile operators to offer VoIP and other services, such as caller ID and SMS text messaging.

The VoIP server is compliant with the standardization work done by 3GPP and ETSI TISPAN, which means operators can converge legacy voice and SIP-driven VoIP.

The VoIP server can be implemented as a stand-alone device in fixed networks or it can be deployed as an application server within the IMS framework.

The Nokia VoIP Server currently is being trialed by "a number of key operators," according to the company, and will be available for deployment in the first half of 2006.

Top photographers spearhead Nokia Nseries See New Competition

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 which is launched today.

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE October 4, 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

Espoo, Finland – 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 which is launched today.

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. 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.

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.

About Nokia

Super Series to be live on mobiles

More than 30 million cell phone users in the country can watch the Johnnie Walker Super series cricket live when the tournament starts on October 5

New Delhi, Oct 4.(PTI): More than 30 million cell phone users in the country can watch the Johnnie Walker Super series cricket live when the tournament starts on October 5.

Reliance, BSNL, IDEA, Aircel, Tata Indicom, BPL, Spice, MTNL subscribers can watch the cricket series on their GPRS-enabled cell phones thanks to IMImobiles.

ICC has given the rights to three service providers in India — Airtel, Hutch and IMImobile.

Memory Stick Micro (M2) format

SanDisk and Sony announce the Memory Stick Micro format to address the high storage and smaller size form factor requirements of enhanced multimedia mobile phones

Sunnyvale, CA — SanDisk and Sony Corporation today announced the development of the "Memory Stick Micro" format, an ultra-small IC recording media designed to meet the growing storage needs of highly compact, multifunctional mobile phones. Licensing for the development of "Memory Stick Micro" compatible hardware will begin October 3, 2005.

"Memory Stick Micro" media is approximately one-quarter the size of "Memory Stick PRO Duo" media, yet only about 1.2 mm thick. The media’s edges are slotted lengthwise to allow for more slim-line designed connectors to reduce space in host devices. As dual-voltage media, Memory Stick Micro supports devices operating at 3.3 volts and 1.8 volts.

Memory Stick Micro is designed as an externally removable media with a controlled eject function to prevent users losing the media. Users will be able to insert Memory Stick Micro into an adapter for exchanging data to a Memory Stick PRO compatible product.

Dr. Eli Harari, president and chief executive officer of SanDisk Corporation, said, "Sony and SanDisk recognize the rapidly growing market opportunity for memory cards with multimedia mobile phones, and are joining forces to develop the ultra-small Memory Stick Micro format to foster development of extremely compact multimedia mobile phones."

Akira Kubota, President of Micro Systems Network Company, Sony Corporation, said, "Sony’s collaboration with SanDisk Corporation has continued to develop since our initial announcement of the joint Memory Stick PRO format development in 2003. Today’s joint announcement of the Memory Stick Micro format provides a new, versatile IC recording media for mobile products such as mobile phones for sharing entertainment and data."

The Memory Stick Micro media will be made available in the first half of 2006.

Airtel records over 75,000 customers in NE

eading mobile service provider Airtel has more than 75,000 customers today in Assam and North east, a company spokesman said.

Guwahati: Leading mobile service provider Airtel has more than 75,000 customers today in Assam and North east, a company spokesman said.

Airtel now connects all the important towns in Assam on its state-of-art Ero network and is being managed by Ericsson.

The towns covered included Tezpur, Nagaon, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Duliajan, Sivsagar, Barpeta town, Barpeta Road, Nalbari, Rangiya and Bongaigaon.

Airtel is also spreading its network to connect highways and key rail routes as well as the smaller towns along the highways, the spokesman said.

"We are committed to provide our customers unparalleled service experience on a congestion free network," the spokesman said in a release here today

Nokia N70 starts shipping

Finnish handset maker Nokia has started deliveries of the Nokia N70, a 3G smart-phone. Incorporating a smart-phone feature set, a 2 mega-pixel camera, flash and front camera for video calling, the Nokia N70 comes equipped with a digital music player and stereo audio.

The camera incorporates an integrated flash, 20x digital zoom capability and capture scene settings. The photos or video clips can be shared via e-mail or Bluetooth wireless technology.

With the Nokia XpressTransfer storing solution, photos and video clips on the Nokia N70 can either be manually or automatically copied to compatible PCs. The standard Nokia N70 sales package includes Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition 3.0 software.

The smart-phone features of the Nokia N70 include e-mail attachment support, internet browser, video streaming and 3G features, such as two-way video calling and video sharing. An embedded e-mail configuration tool helps users to set up their preferred mobile e-mail settings. The Nokia N70 supports Symantec Mobile Security, an integrated anti-virus and firewall solution.

Equipped with a digital music player and FM radio with support for Visual Radio, the Nokia N70 also doubles as a music device.

Airtel sets up 1000th cell site

Cellular service provider, Airtel on Friday installed 1000th cell site in Maharashtra and Goa circle at Katol, 40 km from Nagpur, and claimed to have become first private player to do so

Cellular service provider, Airtel on Friday installed 1000th cell site in Maharashtra and Goa circle at Katol, 40 km from Nagpur, and claimed to have become first private player to do so.

"The total number of base stations will touch 1500 by March next year and Airtel will enter over 300 new towns across Maharashtra and Goa thus spanning the coverage to a total 550 towns and 33 districts," Chief Operating Officer, Bharti Televentures, Christopher Tobit told reporters.

Airtel will offer superior quality network in key tourist and pilgrimage destinations including Shirdi, Trimbakshwar, Mahabaleshwar, Shanishingnaapur, Nanded, Pandharpur, Lonavala and Khandala with an investment to the tune of Rs 250 crore for network expansion, capacity enhancement and other infrastructure, he said.

The company will also commission its third mobile switch centre (MSC) in second capital by end of March 2006, he said, adding during the current fiscal, Airtel will be covering additional highways like Bhusawal-Shegaon, Dhule-Nashik and Mumbai-Goa besides rail and road network on Mumbai-Goa and Vasai-Ahmedabad by next March.

Tobit said they will be launching 62 additional new towns and three new districts of Washim, Gadchiroli and Hingoli by March end.

It is also introducing network on wheels (NOW) and would be deploying five such NOWs in Maharashtra and Goa, he added.

Source:PTI

Hutch unveils voice response in Kannada

Hutch, one of the leading cellular service providers, on Tuesday announced the launch of content on the voice response platform in three more languages namely Kannada, Telugu and Tamil in addition to the already available English and Hindi languages

Samuel Selvakumar, director (operations), Hutch, told reporters here that this innovative voice enabled service will enable customers to access a range of offerings in the language of their choice and will be in tune with the Hutch philosophy of facilitating communication in a manner that is convenient.

Hutch rolls out Rs 10 recharge coupons

Hutchison Essar has launched a new recharge voucher that enables subscribers to top-up pre-paid connections with denominations as low as Rs 10

Hutchison Essar has launched a new recharge voucher that enables subscribers to top-up pre-paid connections with denominations as low as Rs 10.

“The new coupon will help make pre-paid usage even more affordable to both ‘Hutch’ and ‘Orange’ users, and offers more talktime at the same cost, therefore more value for money,” said Naveen Chopra, corporate vice-present, group marketing of Hutchison Essar at a press conference.

Earlier, the voucher could be used only as an ‘add-on card’. This meant that the card can be used to make calls when the recharged value of a coupon expires, but the validity period continues.

The customer can then recharge using a Chota Recharge again after buying a Rs 199 card within the 30-day validity period. Even though, the customer gets additional talktime for the amount recharged, it does not extend his validity period.

A user can recharge any number of times within the validity period without paying any extra fee. This will bring in a significant change in the pre-paid industry and going mobile will become more affordable, he said.

With this launch, Chota Recharge becomes the lowest recharge voucher available in the country.

Prior to this launch, the add-on recharge card available with the Rs 199 voucher was of Rs 55 and Rs 60. These cards also had access fees. Earlier, Airtel had also rolled out recharge vouchers in low denominations of Rs 60 and Rs 120.

Source:business-standard

MTV Loveline On Mobile Phones

Coruscant Tec, a leading mobile solutions company that specialises in mobile content and commerce, today announced the launch of a new mobile social software called MTV Loveline in association with MTV India. The MTV Loveline will be available to subscribers on the Airtel, Hutch, RPG Cellular, BSNL, BPL and Tata Tele networks

Mumbai : Coruscant Tec, a leading mobile solutions company that specialises in mobile content and commerce, today announced the launch of a new mobile social software called MTV Loveline in association with MTV India. The MTV Loveline will be available to subscribers on the Airtel, Hutch, RPG Cellular, BSNL, BPL and Tata Tele networks.

The MTV Loveline platform is currently available over SMS and as a JAVA download over GPRS. All users need to do is SMS "love" to 6882 to access the MTV Loveline. The JAVA download version also allows the user to create and choose between different mobile chatrooms along with several other interactive features.

The company has ensured that elaborate security filters which include up to four levels of auto-monitoring and keyword searches filtering objectionable content are available.

In the words of Ajay Adiseshann, managing director, Coruscant Tec, "Social Software is the next killer enabler that everyone has been waiting for. MTV Loveline will set a trend in itself and Coruscant is proud to be a pioneer in this space".

On the future on mobile data applications, he added, "With voice being commoditised, the need for newer data applications is being increasingly felt. Coruscant’s vision is to identify these areas and empower users by empowering their mobiles." (See: Shop till your cell drops!)

Industry insiders predict that by 2008 there will be 16.3 million users of mobile chat and entertainment services, with a cumulative annual growth rate to 76.3 percent. Social software on mobiles is set to become one of the pillars in the mobile entertainment space alongside ringtones, wall papers etc.

Source:http://www.domain-b.com/infotech/itnews/2005/20050928_launches.html

Sony Ericsson Introduces Bluetooth Auto-Pairing Devices

Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications today announced the introduction of Auto pairing, a unique proprietary solution, that makes it quicker and easier to connect Bluetooth equipped headsets to Sony Ericsson mobile phones. The company demonstrated this new functionality at a press event arranged by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group in Stockholm today.

When the phone and headset are in close proximity and the Bluetooth function is turned on, the Auto pairing equipped Bluetooth headset automatically searches and finds the user’s Bluetooth enabled Sony Ericsson mobile phone. The user only has to confirm the connection for the device pairing to be initiated and doesn’t have to use a PIN code to authorize the connection.

The new feature has been developed through close cooperation within Sony Ericsson between the design and development of mobile phones and headsets in order to create a more integrated and seamless user experience that eliminates the necessity of physical PIN in-put. Auto pairing will be implemented first in an updated version of the Bluetooth Headset HBH-610, called HBH-610a.

"Sony Ericsson continually strives to enhance the user experience, making it easy and intuitive so the technology platform supporting the device fades into the background and the user just enjoys the benefits and convenience of well designed products. Auto pairing is a great example of how we as a company continue to enhance consumer benefits by making our products easy to use straight out of the box." says Rikard Nilsson, Global Marketing Manager, Product Business Unit Accessories.

Auto pairing will only be available in Sony Ericsson mobile phones and headsets. However, Sony Ericsson Bluetooth headsets will continue to be compatible with Bluetooth-equipped mobile phones from other phone brands by following the regular procedure for device pairing when Auto pairing is not available.

The first Sony Ericsson Bluetooth headset with Auto pairing device connectivity, the HBH-610a, will be available in Q4, 2005.

Source:http://www.mobiledia.com/news/37112.html

LG launches car style phone M4410 in india

The extremely smart looking handset has two superb dual color displays (internal one is TFT of 256,000 colors while the external one is 65,000 colors

LG M4410

Features

1.3 Mega Pixel Camera
MP3 Player & Ring Tones
3D Surround Sound
Blue Tooth
External mini SD Card
Smart External Controls
262K TFT Colour Display
EDGE Enabled

New Delhi, SEP_, 2005: Reiterating its commitment to introduce the latest cutting-edge technology products in the Indian market, LG Electronics India Pvt. Limited (LGEIL), a Leading Consumer Electronic, Home Appliance & Mobile Handset co. in India and fifth largest Handset manufacturer in the world, today announced the launch of its new exclusive EDGE enabled M4410 GSM handset in India.

M4410 with its sleek sports car look design and powerful function is all set to enchant and fascinate one’s senses. Its innovative design resembles the chic designs of super cars together with its harmonious matching of high glossy two-tone colour in black and silver, dynamic and sleek side line and dual speakers that looks like headlight. A true bonanza for music lovers it comes with MP3 Player and 3D surround sound.

Its special feature the Mini SD card provided can be used for the storage of MP3 files, high-resolution photos or moving images. Embedded with 1.3 mega pixel digital camera it enables one to capture precious moments perfectly with crystal clear details. Its built-in flash allows to take more vivid images regardless of time and place.

M4410 is EDGE enabled and will redefine the use of multimedia services such as MMS, music download, e-mail management and Internet. Equipped with Bluetooth it also allows wireless transmission of data between the phones and PCs within 50 meters.

The handset is priced at RS 17,990/-

Announcing the launch of the M4410, Mr. H.S. Bhatia, Product Group Head, GSM said, "We are constantly striving towards developing the market with innovative and cutting edge products which come with state of the art technology and exquisite aesthetics. M4410 with its sleek sports car look design is real feast to one’s eyes. With facilities like Bluetooth, Mega pixel digital camera and EDGE enabled this handset is truly a technology marvel."