Additionally, the concept of convergence is likely THE underlying theme present in many of the sessions and demonstrations last week. We’re taking about Terminal convergence, Service to application convergence, and Network convergence. This is the first in a series of articles that looks at the latest devices and technology enablers discussed recently at NMC.

Each fall, Nokia hosts this event, generally with a goal of introducing developers, content publishers, and carrier representatives to a suite of new devices, enabling technologies, and applications. NMC 2004 delivered in all of the above and continued with Nokia's vision of mobility and convergence. Setting this year's event in context was the introduction of several new devices - The Nokia 3230, 6020, and the 7710 - Expect to see and hear lots more about these units in 2005.

First, some facts, figures, and numbers of interest

• Camera enabled devices - the fastest growing segment of the smart phone market
• More than 200 million camera enabled devices will be sold in 2004
• Look for some 20 new camera-enabled mobile devices from Nokia in 2005
• Video sharing & streaming, mobile TV, visual radio - all are a reality today!
• Look for 2 GB MMC cards in the very near future
• Series 60 is the leading smart phone platform responsible for powering 50%+ of smart phones
• 15 million Series 60 smart phones have shipped globally thanks to the 7 licensees of the technology
• 18 devices now run Series 60 and some 100 operators are distributing them to users
• Smart phones are expected to account for 25% of the total mobile device market by 2008

The devices

Nokia 3230 - Adding to the already impressive array of camera phones, this device boasts a mega-pixel camera, video recording and editing, tri-band communication support. Expect to see this device in the hands of users in Q1 2005.

Additional features include:
1.3 mega pixel camera
Movie director application
Bluetooth
Visual radio client
32 MB MMC card
MP3 player
Push-to-talk
4 hours talk / 9 days standby time
Series 60 UIQ

Nokia 6020 - Yet another camera phone, this tri-band device is designed to both personal and business users. Priced at the lower end of the spectrum, this device will also likely ship in Q1 2005. Based on Series 40 form factor, the 6020 should be a very affordable option for users looking for the following features in a phone:
MMS, email, IM support
Triband (incl. EGSM, GSM)
VGA camera
IR
OTA sync w/Sync ML

Nokia 7710 - The "cream of the crop" in the latest device announcements has to be the 7710 - I'd even go as far as saying that word of this device had to be the flagship product announcement from NMC 2004. Best described as a wide-screen, mobile multi-media device, the 7710 has been optimized for full Internet browsing. music, video, and mobile entertainment; most notable, the 7710 is a touch-screen enabled device optimized for pen input (how cool is that?). Once again, look for the 7710 sometime later in 2005 with the following supported features:

push email
mega-pixel camera
90 MB Memory
128 MB MMC card
handwriting recognition
USB
Bluetooth
MP3 music player
FM/Visual radio client
Symbian OS (Series 90 - soon to be rolled into Series 60)
Widescreen display (640x320)
Moblogging client
Extensive PIM

Inside the 7710

Fully optimized for full html browsing, we see SymbianOne.com on the "widescreen" Nokia 7710

Developers will be pleased to hear about the immediate availability of SDKs for building on the 7710 platform. Given the attention that this device garnered last week it is highly likely that these tools and SDKs will be a popular download from Forum.Nokia