Rumor Mill: Nokia replacing Symbian with Maemo in N-Series devices
By Phil Goldstein
Nokia plans to stop using the Symbian platform by 2012 in its entire N-Series line of devices in favor of Maemo, according to a report on The Really Mobile Project blog.
The blog, citing comments from Nokia's Maemo marketing team at an event in London, said that the transition will be gradual. Nokia's first Maemo-based smartphone, the N900, has been intended as a "bridge" device aimed at developers and tech enthusiasts, the blog said, but the company will gradually release more mass-market Maemo devices in the coming years.
Nokia declined to comment on the specific claims in the report, but said it remains committed to Symbian. "While it is our policy not to disclose details of our product roadmap, we'd like to explicitly communicate that we remain firmly committed to Symbian as our smartphone platform of choice," the company said in a statement. "Any speculation on what our 2012 roadmap, including operating systems and product branding, are completely premature."
In the statement, Nokia said that it has multiple platforms to serve different purposes and address different markets. "Symbian is more successful than ever in bringing smartphones to the masses," Nokia said. "Maemo is our software of choice for devices based on technology that you'd typically find inside a desktop computer. It delivers a different user experience and enables us to widen the market we can address."
Nokia's N-Series typically denotes high-end smartphones that run the Symbian operating system, though Symbian has been trickling down into Nokia's mid-range line of phones.
The N900 went on sale in the United States today for $649, and will be sold online and in Nokia's flagship stores. Notably, the device did not attract support from any of the major U.S. carriers. Amazon.com is selling the device unlocked for $510. [FierceWireless]
Nokia Seeing Corporate Demand for First Netbook
By Phil Goldstein
Nokia said it has so far seen strong interest from corporations and enterprise users for its first netbook, the Booklet 3G, according to a company executive. The device was first unveiled in August and is set to go on sale in the United States through Best Buy.
"When we launched the Booklet 3G ... we thought it to be primarily a consumer device, but after the launch a big, growing interest is coming from companies," said Heikki Norta, head of Nokia corporate strategy, according to Reuters. "No one knows yet if a booklet kind of device is the next device that will be used by millions, or hundreds of millions, of people, but right now it looks like, if not for mass market, there is clear demand."
In October, AT&T Mobility said it would sell the Booklet 3G for $299.99 to customers who sign up for a two-year AT&T mobile data contract. The device will cost $599 for customers who do not opt to go with the AT&T plan, and will be sold exclusively at Best Buy locations as well as Best Buy Mobile stores. Nokia said the device was supposed to go on sale by mid-November, but a check of Best Buy's website shows the device is on back order.
The netbook sports HSPA and WiFi connectivity and features a 10-inch glass HD-ready screen, up to 12 hours of battery life and support for Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system with a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor. [FierceWireless]
Nokia May Recall 14 Million Chargers
By Phil Goldstein
Nokia said it may replace up to 14 million phone chargers for free. The chargers, which were made by a third-party manufacturer, can come apart and cause electric shock. The company said it is not aware of any incidents or injuries related to the chargers.
The Nokia-branded chargers are made by Chinese manufacturer BYD, which will assume the cost of the recall, according to Nokia. The handset maker said it was too early to estimate how much the recall would cost.The chargers affected are the AC-3E and AC-3U models, manufactured between June 15 and Aug. 9, 2009, and the AC-4U model, made between April 13 and Oct. 25, 2009.
Nokia said that the plastic covers on the chargers could come loose and separate, exposing the charger's internal components and potentially causing an electric shock if the components are touched while the charger is plugged into a live socket.
This is not the first time Nokia has had to deal with a large recall of components made by a third party. In 2007, Nokia recalled 46 million defective batteries made by Japanese company Matsushita that overheated because of a short circuit. [FierceWireless]
Nokia Dismisses WiMAX, Compares it to Betamax
By Phil Goldstein
Nokia again dismissed WiMAX as a 4G technology standard, and seemed to solidify its support for Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology while comparing WiMAX's future to that of Betamax, the video format that met its demise when VHS triumphed in the 1970s and 1980s."I don't see that WiMAX is taking hold anywhere in a big way," said Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's head of sales and manufacturing, at a Nokia launch event in San Francisco on Wednesday. "I don't think the future is very promising [for WiMAX]. This is a classic example of industry standards clashing, and somebody comes out as the winner and somebody has to lose. Betamax was there for a long time, but VHS dominated the market. I see exactly the same thing happening here."
Nokia has wavered in its support for WiMAX in the past, but this is by far the strongest condemnation the world's largest handset maker has made of the technology. Nokia still holds a seat on the board of the WiMAX Forum, yet James Harper, Nokia's senior manager of technology marketing, called WiMAX a "niche play" while speaking at a Portable Computer and Communications Association meeting held in Grapevine, Texas, in early March. Harper said WiMAX's lack of backwards compatibility and a clear roadmap were major drawbacks.
However, just days after that, Nokia denied that it was completely abandoning WiMAX as a 4G technology. The company said that its decision to end production of the N810 WiMAX tablet "does not apply to other WiMAX business development efforts that Nokia is involved in." [FierceWireless]
Skype Launching App for iPhone, BlackBerry Users
By Phil Goldstein
Skype will launch its VoIP application for Apple's iPhone on Tuesday, and will debut a similar application for some of Research In Motion's BlackBerry devices in May. The Skype for iPhone application will allow users to make calls to other Skype users for free if they are using a WiFi hotspot. Skype users can also call landline numbers for a fee, usually for around 2.1 cents per minute. The application will use numbers taken directly from the iPhone's address book, and will even display a photo of the contact (if they have uploaded one for Skype).
Skype, a unit of eBay, has made it known in the past that it planned on pushing its service more directly into the cell phone market, branching out from its traditional personal computer base. Skype currently offers its calling application to Windows Mobile smartphones and in January began offering a version of the software for use on the T-Mobile G1, the first phone in North America running on Google's Android platform. Skype recently tussled with O2 and Orange when the two carriers declined to sell Nokia's Skype-enabled N97 handset. [FierceWireless]
Nokia Launches Latest iPhone Rival, the N97
By Phil Goldstein
Nokia jumped into the touchscreen phone game by releasing the N97, a touchscreen phone with a slideout Qwerty keyboard that is similar to the T-Mobile G1.
Nokia unveiled the phone at a company event in Barcelona. The HSDPA phone has WiFi capability, A-GPS and Bluetooth. The phone also has a 5 megapixel camera, "DVD quality" video capture of up to 350 frames-per-second and 32GB of onboard memory (with a microSD slot that makes the phone capable of holding 48GB). The N97 also syncs with Nokia's Ovi web portal and runs with an updated version of Nokia maps, which includes 3D landmarks, and allows users to install widgets on the phones homescreen linking to applications.
Nokia has slated the phone to ship in the first half of 2009, and will retail at $699 before any taxes, rebates or subsidies. The handset maker has not said what U.S. wireless carrier will carry the phone.Also today, Nokia officially acquired Symbian Limited and said it was given acceptance of more than 99.9 percent of the Symbian shares it did not already own. [FierceWireless]
New Nokia Web Service Emerging Markets
By Jason Ankeny
Concurrent with the announcement that it will cut hundreds of jobs, reorganize its Nokia Research Center and shutter its Turku, Finland office, handset giant Nokia said it will introduce a range of affordable mobile devices and new web services targeting consumers in emerging markets. Citing demand based on customer feedback, Nokia said it will initially focus on email, agriculture and education: Mail on Ovi, enabled on Nokia Series 40 devices, offers users email accounts directly on the mobile phone sans PC access. Mail on Ovi trials will launch in select markets by the end of November, with a global rollout planned across all currently shipping Nokia Series 40 devices by the end of 2008.
Nokia will also introduce Nokia Life Tools, a series of agriculture information and education applications created especially for rural and small town communities in emerging markets. The services boast an icon-based, graphically rich user interface complete with tables that can display information simultaneously in two languages.
Nokia adds that related SMS-based services will guarantee Life Tools services work anywhere within network range, without the complexities of additional settings or the need for GPRS coverage. Nokia plans to launch the service in the first half of 2009. In addition, Nokia announced the launch of seven new budget-priced mobile phones, including the Nokia 7100 Supernova and the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic. [FierceMobileContent]
BBC iPlayer Downloads Coming to Mac and Linux
By Jo Best
The BBC iPlayer's download function will soon be coming to Linux and Macs, thanks to a deal between Auntie and Adobe.
According to Erik Huggers, the BBC's director of future media and technology, the BBC is already working on a platform-neutral download client with a release expected before the end of the year.
Writing on the BBC Internet blog, Huggers said: "Using Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR), we intend to make BBC iPlayer download functionality available on Mac, Linux and Windows for the first time later this year."
However, the Beeb's downloadable content will come with strings attached: content for all platforms will include DRM.
The BBC has already made available over the air iPlayer downloads for the Nokia N96 and expects more mobiles to have the functionality soon.
iPlayer content can also be sideloaded from PCs to Windows Media-supporting devices following an announcement earlier this month.
However, according to Huggers, getting content on "a wide variety of devices" is still too difficult for Joe Public and depends too much on the vagaries of device makers - a problem the Beeb is already looking into.
"I have asked BBC Research to explore whether we should create/drive an open industry standard for IP-delivered Media On The Go. There is no fixed timeline for the delivery of Research's results at present," Huggers wrote. [silicon.com]
Nokia CEO Sees New Symbian Platform on Handsets in 2010
By Phil Goldstein
Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo said the company will be expanding the functions on its handsets to create better user experiences, and said the acquisition of the Symbian operating system, and the creation of the Symbian Foundation would lead to a new royalty-free, open-source platform on its handsets in 2010.
In an interview with Information Week, Kallasvuo said Nokia understands the handset industry is in the middle of a transformation, and is moving toward a more experience-oriented model. He said Nokia would be using its Ovi platform to expand more services and applications, noting that this has already started with Nokia's Comes With Music program. The program, which gives some Nokia users free music downloads for a year, has received a chilly response so far in Europe.
He also talked about how Nokia's acquisition of the Symbian OS, combined with Nokia's S60, DoCoMo's Mobile Oriented application Platform and UIQ would create a new kind of open mobile platform. Kallasvuo said the first new Symbian OS-based handsets will roll out from Nokia in 2010, and though he did not acknowledge Google's Android OS by name, said Symbian would perform better because it has a proven track record of success. [FierceDeveloper]
Nokia Releases The Tube, Now The 5800 XpressMusic
By Phil Goldstein
Nokia released a new phone at a press unveiling in London, the previously-rumored touch-screen Tube, which it now calls the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic phone.Just as the HTC Dream became the G1, the Tube now has a new name, and a whole host of features that will be run off of Nokia's latest Symbian operating system, the S60 5th edition.
The phone is the latest entrant into the arena to see which handset can become an IPK--an iPhone Killer. As with many such devices, the 5800 has some features similar to Apple's iPhone 3G, and a few that make it unique.
The phone will come in three different versions: a quad-band GSM with 850/1900 WCDMA, a quad-band GSM with 900/2100 WCDMA and Quad-band GSM with no 3G capabilities. It has both a 3.2-inch touch-screen display and a 3.2 megapixel camera, WiFi, GPS and HSDPA capabilities, stereo speakers, a touch-screen, drop down media bar menu and finger and stylus user interface controls. It has 8GB of memory, available through a microSD slot. A 16GB slot will be available next year.
The phone will retail for about $390 unlocked before taxes and subsidies, and no word has been given on a specific U.S. release date, though Nokia did indicate it would be in the fourth quarter of 2008. [FierceWireless]
Visa Expands m-payment Services via Android, Nokia
By Jason Ankeny
Electronic payment services giant Visa said it plans to make mobile payment services broadly available to U.S. consumers by year's end, announcing a series of new initiatives including efforts to develop mobile applications for Google's fledgling Android mobile platform in addition to a similar agreement with handset maker Nokia.
According to Visa, the Android apps will enable Chase Visa cardholders to receive mobile notifications following transaction activity on their accounts, obtain offers from merchants and employ Android's built-in LBS technology to pinpoint nearby merchants where they may redeem Visa offers and locate ATMs that accept Visa. The company will also develop a payment application to enable cardholders to make mobile payments in retail locations nationwide or on the go.
Visa also said it will deliver services including contactless payments, remote payments, money transfer, alerts and notifications for Nokia handsets, beginning with the Nokia 6212 Classic. During the scheduled trial, consumers with Nokia 6212 classic and a relationship with a participating Visa issuing bank may use their phone to pay for goods and services, initiate mobile money transfers to fellow Visa account holders, receive near real-time alerts of account activity and opt in to receive merchant offers and discounts.
In addition, Visa will partner with U.S. Bank to introduce a mobile money transfer pilot program allowing cardholders in the U.S. to send funds directly to another registered Visa customer account. The pilot, which is intended to begin by the end of 2008, represents the first U.S.-based trial testing mobile money transfers between Visa accounts. [FierceMobileContent]
Nokia to Launch Its First Touch Screen Phone
By Phil Goldstein
Come one, come all to the touch screen phone market.
A day after the launch of T-Mobile's G1, photos of Nokia's touch screen phone, the Tube, were leaked and several reports say its launch is imminent--possibly as soon as Oct. 2.
The Tube will be launched into an increasingly crowded smartphone market. The most visible new entrants in that space include the iPhone 3G and the Google G1. Plus, Research In Motion's BlackBerry Storm is expected to launch in the coming months.
The Tube mimics some of the iPhone's features, including an accelerometer to determine if the device should display photos in landscape or portrait mode. It also is expected to have GPS, built-in WiFi, be HSDPA-capable and have a TV out signal. [FierceWireless]
Nokia Launches Three N-Series Smartphones
By Sue Marek
Nokia launched three new N-Series smartphones--the video-centric N96, the N85, and the N79, a candy bar-styled phone with changeable covers. Although the manufacturer doesn't have a U.S. carrier deal for the phones, they will be available through Nokia stores and online.
All three HSDPA phones have WiFi connectivity and use the Symbian Series 60 Version 3operating system. They come with a microSD memory card slot, GPS and a 5-megapixel camera. The N85, which has an OLED screen, will be available for $600 to $650. The N96, which supports DVB-H (a mobile TV standard not available in the U.S.) will cost $750 to $800. The N79, which has removable covers, will be available for $500 to $550. All phones will be available before yearend.
For more:
- See this PC Magazine article
Nokia Unveils Fancy Carbon Fiber Phone
By Sue Marek
Nokia unveiled a new high-end mobile phone, the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte that is made of carbon fiber, titanium, polished glass and stainless steel. The phone has a unique tap-for-time feature that lets consumers tap the steel surface below the display and a clock appears on the screen. The 3G phone has a 3.2 megapixel camera and 4GB of memory.
But all these special features come with a special price. The phone retails for about $1,620 and will be available in Europe in the third quarter.
Nokia isn't the only OEM using carbon fiber for its handsets. LG introduced the "Secret" handset earlier this year which is made of carbon fiber and tempered glass. [FierceWireless]
Nokia, Microsoft at Work on Zune Integration?
By Jason Ankeny
While Microsoft recently refuted speculation it is at work on a converged Zune/Windows Mobile device, a new rumor circulating across the blogosphere suggests Nokia is currently working with the Zune team on integrating Zune Marketplace content. Citing "a well placed source within Microsoft," ZuneScene reports the software goliath and handset giant are collaborating on content delivery, not a Zune-based device--of course, the wrinkle here is that Nokia does not presently support Microsoft's Windows Mobile OS.
The source adds the deal between the two firms is not exclusive, meaning Zune content and services may also surface across other device portfolios. If anything, it seems more credible to believe Microsoft is at work on a Zune integration effort with any handset maker other than Nokia, if only because the company has invested so much effort into its own Comes With Music service. [FierceDeveloper]
Nokia Gains Patent Victory Over Qualcomm in Germany
By Lynnette Luna
As a key trial between Qualcomm and Nokia begins today over WCDMA patents, Nokia gained some ammunition in Germany. The German Federal Patent Court ruled that a Qualcomm patent pertaining to GSM phones was invalid and threw out Qualcomm's case against Nokia. The lawsuit was filed back in 2006, but delayed at Qualcomm's request.
"Nokia believes that this case is illustrative of the ongoing patent debate around open standardization. As an increasing number of technologies are integrated into new products some patent owners try to claim high compensation for patents that lack merit," Nokia said in a statement.
A U.K. court and the International Trade Commission have also ruled in Nokia's favor, saying Qualcomm's GSM patents are invalid. The GSM patent lawsuits between the two companies primarily stem from the impasse the two have over a patent agreement that expired in April 2007 pertaining to royalties Qualcomm charges for WCDMA chips. Both companies have filed a flurry of patent lawsuits against each other for both GSM and WCDMA in various U.S. states and across Europe. [FierceWireless]
Smartphones: 8 Killer iPhone 3G Alternatives
Apple's iPhone 3G may be hogging the headlines, but there is a slew of other smartphones from HTC, Samsung, RIM, Nokia, LG, and GPS-maker Garmin, that can offer the same, if not better features.
By Marin Perez InformationWeek
While the iPhone 3G has undoubtedly been a hit -- with over 1 million sold in three days -- it's not for everyone. Gripes are piling up about the mandatory AT&T (NYSE: T) service, the camera, the lack of a physical keyboard, and some of the decisions made behind the Apple App Store.
Fortunately, there are multiple handsets that can provide similar, if not better experiences than Apple's latest smartphone.
While the iPhone 3G's enterprise capabilities are a highly-touted, some IT departments may still be nervous about it. But, those departments are likely to have experience with BlackBerrys, and Research in Motion is readying its next generation of smartphones.
1. BlackBerry Bold
The BlackBerry Bold is generating much pre-launch buzz due to its snazzy redesign, integrated Wi-Fi, 3G-network capabilities, and assisted GPS. Fitting for a RIM (NSDQ: RIMM) device, the handset will have a full, physical QWERTY keyboard that will make shooting off e-mails a breeze. The Bold, reviewed here, is expected to be released in August or September.
2. HTC Touch Pro
If you're a fan of touch-screen interface but still need a physical keyboard, the HTC Touch Pro may be your next smartphone. The Windows Mobile handset uses the TouchFlo interface to navigate programs, browse through the Web, and flip through photos and contacts. It also packs a slide-out, five-row QWERTY keyboard for composing e-mails, and editing documents.
The Touch Pro also has Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth support, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and 3G-network capabilities. HTC's Touch Diamond also packs in all these features, but it ditches the physical keyboard.
3. LG Voyager
If a physical keyboard is your desire, reach for the LG Voyager, which also has a touch interface. While not necessarily a "smartphone," -- it's not able to add independent apps -- the Voyager does have a 3G data connection, an HTML Web browser, a digital player for music and videos, and a microSD memory slot that holds up to 8 GB of storage. Corporate e-mail capability is not native to the device, but can be achieved using the Voyager's RemoSync application.
4. LG Dare
Another option for Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless subscribers is the LG Dare, which is clearly aimed at the casual market, but has features and a design that may make mobile professionals look twice. This small touch-screen phone has a large screen with haptic (touch) feedback, and the handset sports a stylish finish.
It also packs a full HTML browser that uses Verizon's EVDO Rev. A network, a microSD slot, and Bluetooth capabilities. The phone also bests the iPhone with a 3.2-megapixel Shneider-Kreuznach certified lens, face-detecting technology, and video-recording capabilities.
Read more - InformationWeek
Nokia Welcomes Warner Music Group to Comes With Music
Nokia today announced that Warner Music Group will make its diverse catalog of new stars and legendary artists available through Nokia Music Stores around the world as well as through Comes With Music, a revolutionary way for people to discover and enjoy music offered uniquely by Nokia.
"Warner Music Group has been a pioneer in developing new digital music business models and we are very pleased to have them supporting both the Nokia Music Store and Comes With Music," said Tero Ojanpera, executive vice president and head of the Nokia Entertainment and Communities business. "Comes With Music enables people to access great content, provides artists to wider exposure with new and existing fans, and creates new revenue for all stakeholders."
"Nokia's Comes With Music service will be a significant step forward in the evolution of digital music. It's the first global initiative to fundamentally align the interests of music companies with telecommunications companies," said Edgar Bronfman, Jr., Warner Music Group's Chairman and CEO. "Through this innovative service and business model, all parties are equally driven to create the best and most comprehensive music offering designed to meet the ever-expanding consumer appetite for music and music-enabled devices."
Comes With Music is expected to launch in the second half of 2008 on a range of Nokia devices in selected territories. With a single purchase, consumers will have access to a year of exploring and downloading the music that they love, and be able to keep all their selections in their permanent library.
Warner Music Group content will also now be available through the Nokia Music Store. With millions of tracks from major artists and independent labels, the Nokia Music Store lets people enjoy music directly on their Nokia device or personal computer. The Nokia store, with its compelling combination of download and streaming services, empowers fans to connect to music they want, in the way they want.
Consumers can browse for new music, get recommendations or search for favorite artists, songs or albums all from the palm of their hand. Songs can be added to a wish list for future purchase or purchased immediately and downloaded directly to the mobile device. Purchased songs can also be transferred between a PC and a compatible Nokia device, regardless of which device was used to buy them.
The Nokia Music Store is available in Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden and the United Kingdom and is expanding to additional countries. /PR
Nokia to Acquire Symbian and Go "Open"
By Stuart Carlaw, Vice President and Research Director, Mobile Wireless
Big news broke today when Nokia announced that it will purchase the remaining stock it doesn't own in Symbian and then migrate the solution to an "Open" platform. Anyone that has followed the Symbian environment for long enough would see that there has been financial pressure on Nokia to move in this direction at some point.
The sheer economics of the number of devices it ships with the OS versus the value it gets out of its historic shareholding clearly indicated that such a purchase was inevitable at some point.The real added spice in this announcement is that Nokia is openly stating that it will offer the OS in a more "open" way. As the press release from Nokia stated, "A full platform will be available for all Foundation members under a royalty-free license, from the Foundation's first day of operations.
Contributions from Foundation members through open collaboration will be integrated to further enhance the platform. The Foundation will make selected components available as open source at launch. It will then work to establish the most complete mobile software offering available in open source. This will be made available over the next two years and is intended to be released under Eclipse Public License (EPL) 1.0.
"Perhaps this is an open admission that the pressure from the Linux industry is really forcing Nokia and Symbian to change their game. Questions remain as to whether the solution will be truly open and what the cost of a foundation membership will be, but one things is for sure, it is refreshing to see Nokia showing real agility and vision, and it will change the landscape significantly. [ABI Research]
Verizon, Nokia Team Up for Batman Handset
By Jason Ankeny
While the Caped Crusader himself still relies on the Bat-Signal as his primary means of communication, Verizon Wireless and Nokia will partner to release a special Batman-themed edition of the Nokia 6025 handset in advance of the July 18 theatrical release of the feature film The Dark Knight. Debuting exclusively at Verizon's online retail storefront on June 15, the Nokia 6205 The Dark Knight edition is a black flip-phone embellished with a Batman emblem, and arrives pre-loaded with wallpapers, voice tones, animated screensavers inspired by the film and a movie trailer.
In addition, the device includes a 1.3 megapixel camera with flash and 4x digital zoom, 58 MB internal memory expandable up to an additional 4 GB with an optional microSD memory card, messaging support, Get It Now content capabilities and the VZ Navigator location service. A Joker playing card included with the phone includes links to contests, games and exclusive The Dark Knight downloads available via Verizon's V CAST service. [FierceMobileContent]
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