The attendees, we were told, were made up of a wide array or individuals grouped as analysts, reporters, bloggers, carriers, content owners, programmers, retailers and others. The event was also distributed via live webcast to countless other viewers around the Globe. The agenda for day 1 was focused on fun, innovation, and collaboration with day 2 providing a look at the vision and opportunities for the future.

1,000 new mobile users per minute!

Selby reminded us that with recent topics of interest focused on such developments as the Android open OS, the new GPS-enabled 8GB N95, and Nokia acquisitions of Navteq and more recently, Avvenu (www.avvenu.com.  Avvenu provides Internet services that allow anyone to use their mobile devices to securely access, use and share personal computer files, even if their host computer is turned off) the future is bright and is indeed mobile! The exponential growth seen in mobile is nothing short of astonishing as we approach a mobile user base of 3.2 billion expected by the end of 2007 – if you do the math that has resulted from approximately 1000 new mobile users every minute or 60,000 per hour! Interestingly, a milestone was recently reached in October where the number of mobile users has outpaced the number of fixed line users – no real surprise there! Another milestone was reached as the number of feature-rich “power” device users (aka. The S60 segment) surpassed the 200 million mark. What is a surprise (somewhat) is the type of content and media that mobile users are now consuming – user-generated content. Recent research findings by Nokia have shown that within 5 years time more than one quarter of all consumed media will be created within the mobile user community where it is then distributed, shared, edited within the user community – think collaborative, social media

Social networking with the N810

The Device Is Key

Looking beyond the user we were reminded that it’s the device that is key… this is why Nokia enjoys a 39% market share. The people that Nokia is targeting expect mobile web access, they want it on (always) and need it to be easy to use – needless to say, the topic of usability was brought up again and again throughout the 2 day event, obviously a hot topic on the minds of many.  I did observe the “I” word being used quite often when discussing usability and the need for simplicity – obviously iPhone has set the bar high for what users are expecting with regarding to simplicity and ease of use. Of note, one gentleman in crowd asked a question about the S60 touch UI and if we’d be seeing a Nokia phone with a touch screen in the near future – this drew applause. The touch UI has been referenced by the Nokia team although to my recollection there’s no firm commitment to deliver an “iPhonish” device – not in the near future anyway.

On a side-note, regarding usability, I’m a firm believer that there does not exist the elusive killer app, however, the holy grail to finding success in mobile innovations lies in simplicity and ease of use… that’s what is hot!

Nokia Services and Enabling Content Exploration and Discovery

Managing my complete digital life… integrating digital information and making it easy to manage the relationships... so what is Nokia doing to enhance the experience?
Nokia is always making it easier to access information and providing more choices to more people in more places - enter Ovi the gateway (and Nokia’s brand) to enable people to connect to their social media and social media content. The goal is to connect with and create an install base of 300 million users. Nokia expects users of Ovi to have the complete experience: web access but residing on your PC and your mobile… oh, you can communicate via PC and Mac. The company does recognize that this does indeed need to be a unified, consistent experience.

Ovi will be a complete environment and dashboard that resides on the web and serves you via your mobile device... enabling people to get the most out of web 2.0, it’s a door to your digital life. Providing context sensitive material to the user… making you feel closer.  Currently at internal Beta status, Ovi will be rolled out to more people over the next year and will grow up/mature through out 2008. Here’s what you can expect from Ovi:
One place to connect, manage, and share
Share photos videos, purchase… all in one place
Create mashups
Manage your logins in a secure environment
Manage your contacts and relationships
Search, seek, find using maps

Using the Ovi suite for PC users will manage, backup, and sync their content all in an offline environment. Ovi suite will be tightly integrated into the mobile environment. – Ovi, your personal dashboard to life. Access your services and relationships using leading web2.0 service providers like youtube, flickr, facebook, and others.

Nokia brings us the evolution of the Web from 2.0 to Web NG with Ovi

Nokia Download

Nokia is also making it easier for users to locate downloads. Openness through download – more than 5 million apps are downloaded per month via Nokia content download… apps are indeed finding their users. Download ships on most new devices and provides a simple experience where quality applications are presented to the user… download has been a huge hit to date, to say the least!

First and foremost it’s about simplicity.
- Games music video/tv contacts maps photos internet – one click access to these areas via Ovi.
- Internet radio is to be integrated into a seamless experience – with more than 1000 radio stations available to users – more on this will be coming in the near future.
- Gaming – Ngage game service... content discovery is vital.. location aware games and multi player gaming.. coming this December, so hold on to your hat!

Nokia Comes with Music

Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia Executive VP explained that the web will be a different experience in 2008 than 2007 - There will be more and it will be closer to us. All music to everyone all the time – that is the quest of the industry. That is what Nokia is providing (along with partner, Universal Music) in Nokia Comes With Music.  This is not a streaming service but all the songs are there for users. Too good to be true!! Download as many songs as you want for a period that lasts for a year… and it’s yours to keep – this is what you can expect from the Ovi Music Service, otherwise known as Nokia Comes with Music The service is being launched with their first major partner, Universal Music. Can you see where the Nokia Express Music devices and other feature-rich devices that come with multi-gigabytes of data storage?

“We set out to create the music experience that people are telling us they are looking for – all the music they want in the form of unlimited downloads to their mobile device and PC," said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Multimedia, Nokia. “Even if you listened to music 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you would still only scratch the surface of the music that we're making available. Comes with Music fulfils our dream to give consumers all the music they want, wherever they want it, while rewarding the artists who create it."

Music on the move is what people want – more people search on Google more for music than sports, health etc... and music is only second to sex in search! Lucian Grainge, charman CEO Universal Music Group informed us that in Japan the company had it’s first full track download to sell more than one million downloads! Largest music company +largest handset company = comes with music!

Universal Music Group International Chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge was at Nokia World to launch the program with Nokia. "It's fantastic to work with Nokia on Comes With Music," said Grainge. "We feel it's an innovative way for people to discover and enjoy new artists, while at the same time having access to the amazing depth of the Universal catalog. Comes With Music allows our artists to reach new audiences in a very easy and affordable way."

Universal Music Group International Chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge on stage

The Green Nokia

I have to say that one aspect of the Nokia World event that took me a bit by surprise was the company’s vision for a greener future and their commitment to deliver eco-friendly products and sustainable solutions… very impressive in my mind! Charting a new course – expect a Nokia that will take more risks to help shape the future of mobile communications. Improving the quality of life over the Globe while also increasing awareness in sustainable living and environmental sustainability… eg. energy efficiency. The company has announced that all new devices will ship with an energy efficient charger, one that has almost no load when left plgged in while not being used – regardless, all users are reminded to unplug your chargers when not being used. The company will also deliver smaller phones and smaller packages, packaging created with recyclable materials and recaptured products. The company notes that as a small benefit, fewer trucks are needed to deliver the packaging which is saving some 100 million euros per year already!

Enter the Green device – Nokia 3110 Evolve

True testament to Nokia’s commitment to a sustainable World comes with the launch of a new, eco-friendly device – the Nokia 3110 Evolve. The device is made from  50% renewable material, and delivered in a smaller package made from recycled materials – indeed the dawn of a new era for the company. We were told that if 100 million mobile device users switched to energy efficient models, the energy savings could power some 37,000 homes! Some features of the 3110:
- sustainable and stylish
- natural tones and contrasting material finishes
- covers made from unpainted bio-sourced materials
- smaller packaging
- energy efficient charger, using 94% less energy than the standard charger.

Also supporting Nokia’s commitment to renewable and sustainable practices, the company announced PangeaDay, scheduled to take place May 10, 2008 – a day brought to the masses by film. Millions around the World will be united through film encouraging them to work to build a better future. You can get involved and submit your film at pangeaday.org

These were but some of the topics of interest hitting the main stage at Nokia World on Day 1. So why is an environmentally aware and green Nokia significant to your business? Well, in addition to doing your share by unplugging those mobile chargers when not in use, you can also attempt to adopt eco-friendly practices in your business and as a developer you might contemplate creating “green” apps and products.. perhaps an eco-educational game or a mobile tutorial or video series that educates and informs users about green practices… the possibilities are indeed endless!

The new, environmentally sound packaging

The evolve's cover is made from unpainted bio-sourced materials

Openness is a basic requirement and a big issue for the consumer... people are demanding open solutions... series 60 and maemo (linux) Os for the future – see the N810 internet tablet. Making it simple and easy for people to develop applications via Open C - more to come on that topic!

Leaving off at this point, we’re reminded that moving forward, the experience needs to be improved… this is driven via the results of consumer research of some 200 million users of Nokia devices. Some suggestions:
Make it easier and take away the confusion.
Make it easier to find apps and data
Make it simple to store media, emails, video, images…
Perhaps most important, embrace open solutions.
Openness is a basic requirement and a big issue for teh consumer... people are demanding open solutions... series 60 and maemo (linux) Os for the future – enter the internet tablet (N810)… perhaps THE breakthrough mobile device of 2008! A hint... Nokia is offering a special offer on the N810 along with Boingo wireless service - see http://mobile.boingo.com/nokia/

The PC client has long been criticized over the years but that is slowing down although it does have to get better though.  Managing my complete digital life… that’s what the mobile user needs. Nokia heading into 2008 is obviously working hard at enhancing the user experience, integrating digital information and making it easy to manage relationships.