 At the Nokia Mobility Conference this week in Barcelona, attendees were invited
to discover and discuss all the latest innovations from Nokia. Jorma Ollila, Chairman
and CEO, Nokia welcomed the attendees and led off with a statement… "mobility…
it’s all about transformation." Read on for more from NMC and an introduction
to the N series and the connected lifestyle.
The transformation of course is in reference to Nokia now turning a new page.
Just several weeks ago the company was boasting of the E series of devices. Officially
launched this week (as we have all heard by now) is the N Series – a lineup of
products that is breaking new ground.
So why the N Series? Putting the product announcements into context, Ollila described
the company’s direction and how mobility is increasingly shaping our social interactions.
Communication is now much easier and more affordable. A greater choice of devices
and services are available and user experiences are being transformed by TV, video,
and game playing which is enabled on mobile devices. Business too is increasingly
mobilized with the enterprise user ever more dependant on access to email and
corporate information. When you listen to Ollila you become increasingly more
aware of how mobility is bringing us all closer. How mobile are we? Numbers tossed
out in the welcome session indicate that we are well on our way to seeing some
3 billion mobile device users by the end of the decade. That number is expanding
so fast that Nokia’s sales volumes are rising… this year, sales will be up 20%
over last year to some 780 million units. For the consumer he boasts how ease
of use and cost are still the main consideration and are responsible for driving
uptake.
Mobility is Viral
Using mobile phones increasingly benefits business and personal users… the experience
is viral. Orilla uses as an example the effect of sending a txt message to someone
for the first time. Perhaps it’s their first message received. Chances are they
will respond and then likely use the service again and again. Given the viral
nature of mobile services it becomes clear how the benefits of fixed mobile convergence
systems is an exciting area for the company, as pointed out in the session.
 Transforming the experience
Mobility is enabling users to take the experience with them. By 2009, camera
phones will account for 74% of cellular sales volume. Nokia expects to ship 100
million camera enabled devices this year. Mobile music is also an exciting growth
area for the company. Phones with integrated players are becoming common and half
of all existing Nokia devices have music functionality.
Growth Segments
Mobile games are continuing to grow with rich multi-media gaming experiences.
3G is driving the growth in this area and half of all new Nokia devices next year
will support 3G.
Mobile TV is continuing to grow and many pilots have hit the air. Expect to be
watching the 2008 Olympics on a Nokia device!
Mobility is also transforming the home entertainment system as device integration
continues.
Sharing videos, songs, TV, images… Nokia is meeting the challenge by enabling
users to share their mobile experiences… at work and at play.
Mobility is revitalizing businesses as the work we do is changing so too do the
tools being used. People view the mobile phone as a tool to get the job done.
With geographically diverse business users communication can be a problem. There
is still a large, untapped market that needs to be mobilized for their business
processes.
Enter the new E series – the E60, E61, and E70. These devices offer advanced
features for voice, email make them best of class devices for business mobility
needs. More productivity and ease of use will be the big benefit of the business
user while simple to use software and devices are going to be a big benefit. Constant
communication and access while on the move are also driving the uptake. These
devices are Nokia’s response. According to Ollila, the small businesses will lead
the adaptation of the business practices. Keep this segment in mind when developing
your applications. And for developers of mobile apps… Java is still the big story
here. It was pointed out that Nokia expects developer revenues from Java applications
to be some 340 million Euro. According to Nokia, more than 180 operators are now
deploying Java services. Consider also these numbers:
- 708 million mobile Java devices had shipped as of June.
- 635 models of mobile Java devices are offered.
- 32 mobile device vendors use Java technology.
- More than 45,000 Java applications are on the market.
 With the stage being turned over to Anssi Vanjoki - EVP & General Manager,
Multimedia, Nokia, the two executives recalled the last time they were together
on the Barcelona stage. It was back in 2001 when the Nokia 7650 was introduced.
As it turns out, that day was a very significant day for the two and for Nokia.
Vanjoki then looks at the new industry and the “connected life”
Voice is at the center of everything… the way it is produced today is now very
different… now produced over IP… enter voice communication over IP… VoIP. The
telecom network is no longer serving just one application. Voice is at the center
piece of many new applications and services. This transformation will be disruptive
as the industry changes to support the advent of these services. At the heart
will be a device that was first introduced in 2001… a multi-media computer. A
device that is programmable, a central CPU, a smartphone – The Nokia 7650. As
it turns out now, the pre-cursor and most important enabler for a connected lifestyle.
The multi-media computer supports:
Email & IM
Voice on demand
Video sharing
Music
TV
Presence
Games
Photos
The computer with telephony features is central – At NMC the new era of smartphones
was introduced in the N series of devices.
A new member to the N-Series multi-media family of computing devices… the N71
offers a large, bright screen, wireless broadband, 3G and EDGE support, and according
to Vanjoki, a browser that will truly make this device an Internet device. The
open browser offers a completely new way to browse the web… mini-map technology
allows a semi-transparent view to the actual webpage. It also supports RSS feeds
allowing true connectivity to the web. The N71 device supports up to 2 GB of memory
accessible from mobile operators, the Internet, and the PC. To make it easy for
the user, file transfer via USB Mass Storage is supported and one-click access
to multi-media functionality is provided. A simple UI for music services, one
click multi-media key access, and large memory support make this device very suitable
as a music device.
Consider also the DLNA – digital living network alliance which is supporting
the joint development of how devices discover and inter-operate with each other.
Think of universal plug and play… this is a set of standards for discovery of
devices and interoperability – the N80 is the first UPnP supported device. Allows
consumers to take all the electronic devices that utilize these standards… e.g.
TV, video recorder, etc… with them in a connected and mobile environment. Imagine
walking into a home and discoveries are made automatically. The TV says “I am
a TV”… streams the video from the mobile device to the TV. Imagine accessing all
the video from the mobile device. The source of the material is personal. Imagine
sharing music from the device with the stereo… or connect to the computer and
use the music from the device on the PC or access the music on your PC from your
N80. All your music is available to you and usable to you from your personal mobile
multi-media computer… WOW! But wait, there’s even more… Roam the World with 4
GSM bands, WCDMA, EDGE, and integrated Wi-Fi. This enables users to use some of
the 150,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots that are out there. This device is a true universal
product… and according to Ansi, “it’s a real deal”, at less than $500 unsubsidized
I think I’m going to have to agree.
Continuing on with his vision of a connected lifestyle, Vanjoki then discussed
how it is now Prime time for mobile TV. TV is an important part of most people’s
lives; however, to date we’ve been limited in that we need to go where the TV
is located in order to enjoy the service. DVBH is now taking off and numerous
trials are under way. Investors are eager to invest in mobile TV and interactive
TV. Enter the N92, the World’s first integrated device with DVBH and with all
the features of the most sophisticated multi-media computer… in your pocket. The
N92 enables simple access to mobile TV while users can also switch channels, replay
video, organize channels, watch and browse… very simple. Something Vanjoki made
a point of bringing up is a feature that is very unique… the cellular connection
and wireless LAN make it a truly interactive device. Everything you have on N71
and everything from the N80 is found on the N92. We’re told to expect the device
to be commercially available next year… provided regulations are sorted out.
More about the N92 - The Nokia N92 has four different modes for simple and easy
usage. The new view mode is especially designed for watching TV and video. To
start watching mobile TV*, users simply need to open the Nokia N92 in view mode
and press the Multimedia key. The Electronic Service Guide (ESG) contains information
about the available TV channels, programs and services. Other mobile TV features
include watching time of up to four hours, recording and 30 seconds replay.
Rounding out the session, Vanjoki describes how it’s not about telephones; it’s
about the new digital industry that was started in 2001 with the introduction
of the Nokia 7650 - the first multi-media computer. As it turns out, these devices
are now part of the fastest growing sector of all computer electronics. Think
about it… “My connected life and the multi-media computer”.
Some closing points to ponder:
- A new era in mobility is emerging as categories are being re-defined
- Convergence is key
- Versatility will be seen.
For Nokia, the market for converged devices will double by 2006 with the bulk
being seen in the uptake of the new E series of devices, allowing people to do
what they want, where they want. Vanjoki tells us that we can expect 7 new smartphones
based on S60 3rd edition to start shipping in 2006.
some of the Series 60 3rd edition devices.. coming soon!
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