Nokia unveiled a number of devices with solutions that can be personalized to connect people in new and better ways.

“Nokia envisions a world where people will be empowered to share and connect with what matters most to them through highly personalized and contextually relevant solutions,” said Nokia’s EVP and chief development officer Mary McDowell in a keynote at the opening ceremony of the event.

“The Asia-Pacific market has been an extremely important region for Nokia over the years and remains hugely important to Nokia. Asian consumers’ eagerness to use technology makes this region a great place to introduce new devices and services,” she added.

“Singapore and many of its Southeast Asian neighbors represented here today will be among the first to take advantage of the future solutions Nokia intends to bring as we connect the planet so that everyone can participate,” McDowell said.

Chris Carr, vice president for sales in the SEAP region, commented: “We are witnessing exciting developments in our industry driven by the rapid convergence of the Internet and mobile. This is not only happening in advanced markets but also for everyone.”

“According to industry estimates, we have already reached the milestone of four billion mobile connections globally early this year. The next phase of growth will be very much driven by the emerging markets, including Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Vietnam,” he added.

“Many of the (people) from these markets are accessing the Internet, information, education, and entertainment on their first mobile. Nokia is playing a pivotal role in this transformation,” Carr said.

Taking the spotlight at the event was Nokia’s new flagship handset, the N97, a touch-screen and slide-out full-QWERTY keypad multimedia powerhouse boasting a whopping 32GB storage capacity, fast WLAN and HSDPA connectivity, Carl Zeiss lens with five-megapixel resolution, 3.5-inch 16:9 widescreen LCD with Flash support for Internet videos, mapping capabilities, and A-GPS with voice-guided navigation, among many others.

Another multimedia overachiever seen at Nokia Connection 2009 was the N86, a dual-slider handset featuring a stunning eight-megapixel, wide-angle Carl Zeiss camera with a powerful dual-LED flash, 2.6-inch OLED screen made of hardened glass, and 8GB of storage capacity. Its GPS receiver allows it to have full voice and pedestrian navigation and even geotagging of photos.

On the enterprise handset side, Nokia unveiled the E72, its latest full-QWERTY smartphone which brings a rich mobile e-mail and instant messaging experience right out of the box.

Hot on the heels of the hugely successful Nokia E71, this Eseries addition maintains the essential elements of its predecessor while improving its capabilities in a number of areas.

Now boasting a five-megapixel camera, the E72 lets users set up instant messaging (IM) accounts provided by Nokia Messaging direct from the home-screen. In just a few steps, device owners will be able to connect to their favorite IM accounts such as Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk and Ovi, among many others.

The Nokia E72 is expected to begin shipping late in the third quarter.

For music lovers, Nokia showed off its new 5530 XpressMusic, a compact XpressMusic device that uses a touch interface for accessing people and content on the brilliantly clear home-screen.

The scrolling Contacts Bar provides direct access to 20 people and their latest conversations and media updates. The home-screen also features one-touch shortcuts to content and popular social networks like Facebook and MySpace.

The Nokia 5530 XpressMusic follows in the footsteps of the popular Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, expanding the touch XpressMusic phone range with a youthful device that has a solid stainless steel frame finish and comes in five vivid colors.

The Nokia 5530 XpressMusic is expected to begin shipping in the third quarter.

Nokia also unveiled the 3710 fold, a handset that balances eye-catching design with the latest in mobile functionality.

The compact Nokia 3710 fold adds a personal touch with an artistic pattern on the cover and comes with an appealing array of features in a familiar user interface. It is expected to be available in the fourth quarter.

Sharing the spotlight with the new handsets at Nokia Connection 2009 was Ovi Store and Forum Nokia, Nokia’s means of building a sound business ecosystem with content providers and third-party developers and making it reach millions of Nokia users. Forum Nokia works closely with more than four million developers from around the world to develop applications for Nokia devices.

Representatives of content providers and developers like Gambit, Singapore Press Holdings and tenCube were present at the Nokia Connection 2009 to demonstrate to the media and analysts their innovative applications developed for Nokia and Ovi Store.

With Ovi Store, content providers and developers have the opportunity to distribute their media and applications to millions of Nokia consumers across more than 75 Nokia devices.

Nokia’s latest flagship device, the N97, which is just hitting the region’s store shelves as you read this, is the first device to ship with Ovi Store, offering consumers easy access to applications, games, videos, and much more.

Article Source:www.philstar.com

First, the Nokia 2323 classic, which is priced at 2,600 and features a FM Radio, Bluetooth connectivity and GPRS. However, it doesn’t a camera or an MP3 player. It will be out to the market next month. Next is the Nokia 2330 classic which is almost similar to the looks of the Nokia 2323. The only difference is that this model comes with a VGA camera and will cost at around 3, 600. Last but not the least is the Nokia 2700 classic which includes a 2MP camera and CIF@15fps video recording, an FM radio and MP3 player plus a 3.5 mm headphone jack. It is also capable of Bluetooth and USB connectivity and do have a memory card slot. However, it will be released at the third quarter of this year and the price is yet to be determined. The good thing in here is that all these three new models are internet-ready and Ovi Mail-enabled handsets which are the answer to Nokia’s goal to give first-time email users the opportunity to set up and start their own email account through their mobile phones. Ovi Mail gives people coming from the emerging markets the chance to have their first digital identity in world of the web.

Nokia is continuing to prove its reputation when it comes to the production and manufacture of gadgets such as cell phones. With these latest innovations in the industry of cellular phones, I believe that other companies will try to make their own move to gain the lead in the market.

Whyte says, “The amazing response we have seen to the Nokia E71, which has very quickly become the best selling model in its category, lets us know that we are heading in the right direction. People want a rich experience when using messaging, social networks and the Internet. With the Nokia E63 you can enjoy the Web, update your status and work meaningfully with multiple e-mail accounts.”

The Nokia E63 runs on Symbian OS 9.2 S60 version 3.2.

The Finnish company has come out with another winner in the E63. With the holidays already here, Nokia seems to want to be part of the smartphone segment with lots of options available for more cellphone-crazy Pinoys like me.

Nokia always has several cellphone options to choose from in each segment of the cellphone market. It seems that the winning formula of the Finnish company is to make as many choices as there are users. It is because of this that it continues to stay on top of the cellphone game.

The standard features of the Eseries cellphones are what the E63 has. It offers 3G, GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, A2DP Bluetooth and infrared as connectivity options. A standard 2MP camera with Flash and sleeker design makes it ideal.

The phone measures 113 x 59 x 13 mm, making it shorter by 1 mm, 2 mm wider and thinner by 3 mm compared to its E71 brother. It weighs less than two grams.

The Nokia E63 also includes Files on Ovi, a service where people can get remote access to their PC files even when their computer is offline. Those who purchase the phone will be pleased to know that it comes with a 365-day subscription to Files on Ovi.

You can record and view images and videos with the digital camera and bright landscape display, listen to music downloaded from a number of other sources, via the standard 3.5-mm audio jack or customize the device through the thousands of applications available for download.

The standards that Nokia is known for are readily present in the E63. Texting, sending MMS, updating music and keeping the contacts updated are one-key touch away.

As is the case with Nokia, if the system isn’t broke why change it? But with the E63, Nokia has put a few nice touches, making the cellphone one to be desired from Santa.

And for the younger folk out there, whose busy lives need them to be connected 24/7, why not give the P14,200 Nokia E63 a spin. It would be a perfect fit for students.

Nokia recently connected with CgeNa.com, a website developed by Rakso CT, to sell its various mobile devices on their online store.

In the website, visitors are able to choose the kind of mobile phone fit for their lifestyle in a safe, easy and convenient environment.

“We are proud to partner with Rakso CT in this online endeavor,” says William Hamilton-Whyte, general manager of Nokia Philippines.

“We hope that this online store provides our customers an additional avenue for selecting and purchasing our products,” he adds.

“The dream of being able to make a clever mobile phone purchase without ever leaving the comfort of one’s own home is now made a reality. All you need is an Internet connection and cellphone shopping is made available to you,” says Allen Vasquez, sales and marketing manager of Rakso CT.

CgeNa.com is a free gadget website custom-built for Filipinos, featuring gadget reviews, shop names and locations, the latest news and relevant information on the current technological trends and products, and an online store where gadget aficionados can purchase items.

For its mobile phone category, the customer can view mobile phone specifications and detailed images that better equip them in making a decision in purchasing a mobile phone that’s right for them. Relevant item details as well as phone reviews are also accessible with just a click of a button.

Only brand new Nokia mobile phones are sold in the online store. Customers can choose from three different modes of payment – bank deposit, credit card through PayPal, or pay 50 percent through affiliated banks and the balance upon pick-up of product at the Rakso CT office.

Purchasing perks include nationwide free delivery through the partner courier DHL, 12-month Nokia Care Warranty, and a free cellphone lens cleaner.

Nokia said at an analyst and media event in London it would start selling the phone shortly, pricing it at 279 euros ($395) excluding subsidies and taxes, which it said was roughly half the price of the other main touch-screen phones on the market.

“The price and positioning of the product may result in substantial demand and will undoubtedly put some pressure on Apple,” said Ben Wood, research head at CCS Insight.

The price means consumers in large markets will get the phone for free from operators when agreeing to sign a contract. The company also will be able to make a dent in emerging markets.

“We expect it to be listed with most of the (mobile phone) operators,” Jo Harlow, head of music phones, told Reuters in an interview.

Nokia said all major music labels and most independent labels will offer their tracks as part of Nokia’s ‘free’ music bundle “Comes with Music,” raising the total number of tracks to around 5 million.

“Apple’s days of dominant digital music retailer outside the United States are numbered, if they don’t do anything radical,” said Rob Wells, head of Universal’s digital music business.

Apple controls slightly more than half of global digital music sales through its iTunes store.

Nokia said it aims to offer the music service next year on Apple’s home ground in the United States, the world’s largest music market.

“In a market where price and selection are so much more important than brand to consumers, Apple cannot count on retaining users when competing with an offering which seems free to the end user,” said Strategy Analytics’ David MacQueen.

“Comes with Music” and similar products from other hardware vendors could help the music industry make up for falling CD sales and cut illegal downloads.

The battle for mobile music is increasingly crowded. Sony Ericsson launched its music package this month in Sweden, and South Korea’s LG Electronics plans a service similar to Nokia’s.

Nokia’s package will differ from others on the market since users can keep all the music they have downloaded during the subscription period of 12 or 18 months. There are no charges for tracks downloaded as the cost is bundled to the phone price.

Analysts and music industry players said Nokia’s offering could bring free music to millions of consumers and change the music industry significantly.

“The introduction of mobile handsets featuring unlimited music downloads out-of-the-box will bring about a fundamental change in the way the mass-market consumes digital music,” said Rob Lewis, chief executive officer of British digital music firm Omnifone.