Nokia says talks with Microsoft on schedule

Talks between Nokia, the world's largest cellphone maker by volume, and Microsoft on a software deal are on schedule and a large number of Nokia Windows phones should be sold in 2012.

"Negotiations have progressed very well. They will be concluded well on schedule," Kai Oistamo, head of corporate development at Nokia, said on Monday.

The companies signed a non-binding agreement on Feb. 11 for Nokia to start using Microsoft software as its main platform in smartphones .

Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop said in February it would take at least a couple of months to sign a deal.

The long negotiation process has led analysts to question whether the partnership can produce quick results. Some analysts have said talks should be concluded by end-April when Nokia plans to start talks over job cuts stemming from the agreement.

Disclaimer: All information on this news has been compiled from their respective official websites or through public domain sites and leading newspapers. Although, we have taken reasonable efforts to provide you with accurate information, but we assumes no responsibility for the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the Information and would advise you to verify it from the official product provider. We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. If you would like to advertise on our site please contact us

Windows phone Nokia spell a challenge for Apple

iPhones and Android phones seem to be everywhere I look in Silicon Valley. The future is obvious, isn't it? IPhone, Android and no one else. They will form an exclusive duo in smartphones, just as Windows and Mac have in personal computers.

Make way, however, for Windows Phone. Yes, Windows Phone. Despite Microsoft's multiple, abject failures with mobile phones since 2002, many software developers and industry watchers expect Microsoft to become the second-largest smartphone player worldwide.

The evidence isn't visible today, nor will it appear anytime soon. Even at year's end, Android will have a 39.5 per cent share of smartphones worldwide, according to projections from IDC, the research firm. Symbian - used by Nokia, though it is not a major presence in the United States - would be second, at 20.9 per cent, while Apple's iOS, the software that powers the iPhone, would be third, at 15.7. Windows Phone 7 and its predecessor, Windows Mobile, would be far behind, at 5.5 per cent.

These rankings are likely to change thanks to one player, Nokia, which has seen its market share shrink in the United States. It has formed an alliance with Microsoft and will switch from Symbian to Windows Phone software on its smartphones.

As a result, according to IDC predictions for 2015, Windows Phone 7 will occupy second place, at 20.9 per cent of the market, ahead of iOS, which is projected to stay near 15 per cent. BlackBerry, then as now, would be No. 4.

Nokia files new patent violation complaint against Apple

The world's leading mobile phone maker Nokia said Tuesday it was filing a fresh complaint against Apple for patent infringement in "virtually all" of Apple's devices.

The new complaint, coupled with a simultaneous lawsuit, comes days after Nokia had a previous claim rejected.

"Nokia has filed a further complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging that Apple infringes additional Nokia patents in virtually all of its mobile phones, portable music players, tablets and computers," the company said in a statement.

The Finnish mobile giant claims Apple is using Nokia innovations in "key features" of its products.

Tuesday's complaint brings the number of Nokia patents in suit against Apple to 46.

"Apple has been building its business on the back of our innovations and has failed to recognise its obligations," Nokia spokesman Mark Durrant told AFP.

US panel says Apple did not infringe Nokia patents

Apple Inc won a round in its patent battle with Nokia on Friday as a US trade panel ruled that the US company did not violate any of five Nokia patents .

The patents were for electronic devices, including mobile phones, portable music players and computers.

A judge at the International Trade Commission, which hears many patent cases, said that Apple did not violate the Nokia patents.
Disclaimer: All information on this news has been compiled from their respective official websites or through public domain sites and leading newspapers. Although, we have taken reasonable efforts to provide you with accurate information, but we assumes no responsibility for the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the Information and would advise you to verify it from the official product provider. We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. If you would like to advertise on our site please contact us

Nokia joins mobile money transfer business in India

Handset maker Nokia is the latest to join the mobile money transfer bandwagon in India. The cellphone maker along with Union Bank of India launched a mobile-to-mobile cash transfer service called Union Bank Money on Monday, which would allow any mobile users on any network to shop, pay utility bills, top-up prepaid cards using only a mobile phone.

Both Nokia and Union Bank of India said their offers would help the Indian government address its social obligation of financial inclusion, especially in rural areas.

More than 800 million people have access to mobile phones but less than half of the country's population does not hold a bank account, a UBI executive said, leaving a lot of room for growth of such initiatives. Targeting financial inclusion, more than 2 lakh Nokia retail outlets would become business correspondents, or BC, enabling consumers to open no-frill accounts, deposit and withdraw cash up to 50,000 and conduct transactions of the same value every day.

The bank plans to add disbursement of micro-loans, ticketing facilities and other government services in the near future.

Samsung eyes Nokia engineers to beef up bada operating system

Samsung Electronics Co appears to be looking to lure engineers from Nokia , as the Finnish firm plans to abandon its own Symbian platform in a bold move to revive its struggling smartphone business.

Nokia, the world's largest handset maker, said last month that it would replace Symbian with Microsoft's Windows Phone over the coming two years to challenge fast growing smartphone vendors such as Apple and Google's Android phones.

It said on Wednesday it would start talks with Finnish employees over its new strategy, which unions fear could cost more than 5,000 jobs in the Nordic country.

"If you are a Symbian developer unhappy about Nokia's recent announcements, and are hence looking for a new platform to showcase your talents, we say "Hello!" and "welcome to bada (operating system)," said a newsletter posted by a Samsung developer on the Internet and quoted in online media.

"If you're new to the bada development, or are moving your app from Symbian, we'd like to welcome you."

Samsung, the world's No.2 handset maker, confirmed the newsletter but said it was not an official company statement.

Nokia CFO sees long Symbian sales ahead

Nokia Oyj reinforced its commitment to its legacy Symbian smartphone platform on Wednesday, sending its shares higher.

Nokia said in February it would replace its Symbian platform with Microsoft's Windows Phone over the coming two years, creating uncertainty among investors over the future of its Symbian workhorse.

"We will of course utilise the long-tail of Symbian as long as it gives us profitable margin," Nokia's Chief Financial Officer Timo Ihamuotila told a UBS Technology Conference.

"So the transition period 2011-2012 relates to product creation transition, not sales transition as such," he said.

Ihamuotila said sales of products have often lasted longer than expected in the mobile industry.

Shares in Nokia rose more than 3 percent on Ihamuotila comments, dragging STOXX 600 European Technology Index 0.1 percent into the black.

Post-Windows alliance, Nokia may show the door to many Indian techies

For hundreds of engineers at Nokia's Bangalore research centre, the smartphone alliance with Microsoft means uncertainty about future roles and immediate anxiety on job prospects, as the companies prepare to align their operations across the globe.

While Nokia's decision to make Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 its primary platform for smartphones is aimed at reviving its flagging handset business and compete better with aggressive rivals such as Samsung and Apple, it also means loss of job for many engineers working on the Symbian platform.

In India too, some Nokia engineers could lose jobs as part of a global restructuring. The handset-maker employs around 2,500 engineers in its Bangalore centre.

"Many Symbian projects are shifting back to Finland from Bangalore. The company might give us some new projects," said a Symbian engineer in Bangalore, concerned about the uncertainty. He requested anonymity.

Globally, the company has said it is looking for alternative employment for workers who will lose their jobs at the Finnish mobile manufacturer due to its strategic shift.

The company is already facing backlash from Symbian developer community worldwide, on forums, blogs, tweets. Symbian is one of the most used mobile phone operating system in the world, having an installed base of over 200 million phones.

At Nokia's own forum, developers feel cheated, due to the shifting strategy of Nokia - first from Symbian, to Meego, a Linux based operating system for phones, to Maemo, and now Windows Phone 7.

"We want MeeGo and Qt," says a developer on blogs.forum.nokia. Other said: "Farewell to freedom and openness." Qt is an open source framework for developing mobile phone apps across platforms, largely used by Symbian developers.

Nokia partners with Reliance Communications to provide Ovi Store content

Mobile handset manufacturer Nokia today entered into a partnership with telecom service provider Reliance Communications to provide the exclusive excess to Nokia's Ovi Store.

Reliance Communications consumers can now exclusively access the plethora of 'paid-for' content available on the Ovi Store, through integrated operator billing, for a three month period, the company said in a statement.

The amount will be either included in their monthly mobile phone bills or deducted from the pre-paid balance, as per their data plans.

The Ovi Store supports the widest range of content and file types including applications, games, videos, podcasts, productivity tools, web and location-based services and much more.
Disclaimer: All information on this news has been compiled from their respective official websites or through public domain sites and leading newspapers. Although, we have taken reasonable efforts to provide you with accurate information, but we assumes no responsibility for the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the Information and would advise you to verify it from the official product provider. We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. If you would like to advertise on our site please contact us

Nokia CEO says final Microsoft deal in couple of months

Nokia and Microsoft will sign a final software deal in a couple months time, chief executive of the Finnish firm said on Friday.

The deal would be signed "in a couple of months (or) it might take a bit longer," Chief Executive Stephen Elop said in a meeting with Finnish journalists.

Nokia will adopt Windows Phone software across its smartphones, replacing its home-grown platform, the firms said last week.

Nokia shares dropped more than 20 percent after the strategy turnaround, but industry executives have lauded the new alliance as good for competition and innovation.

Elop said he had sold all his Microsoft shares on Feb. 17 and bought 150,000 shares in Nokia.

Elop started at the helm of Nokia last September and the Canadian is the first non-Finn to head the firm.

Disclaimer: All information on this news has been compiled from their respective official websites or through public domain sites and leading newspapers. Although, we have taken reasonable efforts to provide you with accurate information, but we assumes no responsibility for the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the Information and would advise you to verify it from the official product provider. We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. If you would like to advertise on our site please contact us

Microsoft, Nokia join hands

In a smartphone world dominated by Apple's iPhone and Google's Android, Nokia's partnership with Microsoft is being seen by many as a last ditch effort to woo consumers.

Nokia's aging Symbian platform has done little to combat the might of the iPhone and Android in the high-end smartphone market, while Microsoft's Windows Phone 7, though visually stunning, is not picking up pace as expected.

However, come 2012, and we'll start to see Nokia phones powered by Windows Phone 7. The phones will leverage Nokia's expertise at designing hardware while the Ovi app store will merge with Microsoft's.

Since Microsoft has very specific hardware requirements for devices that run Windows Phone 7, the new Nokia phones are expected to have 1Ghz processors.

Incidentally, Stephen Elop, Nokia's pragmatic new CEO who spearheaded the partnership, is new at Nokia and their first non-Finnish CEO. He is also a former Microsoft executive. He's been famously in the news for the leaked Nokia internal memo which calls it's employees to action, describing the company's current situation as a 'burning platform'.

Although not 'official' yet, pictured here is the first concept rendering of a hybrid Nokia-Microsoft phone. While the first Nokia-Windows devices are slated for the beginning of 2012, if Stephen Elop has his way, they'll probably be launched closer to the end of 2011.

Disclaimer: All information on this news has been compiled from their respective official websites or through public domain sites and leading newspapers. Although, we have taken reasonable efforts to provide you with accurate information, but we assumes no responsibility for the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the Information and would advise you to verify it from the official product provider. We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. If you would like to advertise on our site please contact us

Tie-up with Microsoft to act as swing factor: Nokia CEO

Nokia expects its recent tie-up with Microsoft to be the ‘swing factor’ that will help the world’s largest handset maker catch up with Apple and Google in the smart phone market , particularly in emerging economies such as India. “We are creating a swing factor,” Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said about the Finnish firm’s decision to use Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system on its mobile phones, talking to reporters at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Sunday.

Nokia on Friday announced it will use Windows Phone as the main platform for its smart phones to compete better with Apple iPhone and Google Android. The deal upset many Nokia investors who thought it benefited the US software giant much more than the handset maker. Elop, who left Microsoft to take the helm of Nokia in September, defended the deal, saying it will bring monetary benefits to the tune of billions of dollars to Nokia.

“For all of the unique elements Nokia is contributing, including the swing factor...to make Windows Phone a challenger, Microsoft is contributing to Nokia substantial monetary value,” he said. Elop confirmed market buzz that Google was also in the race to partner it, but rubbished allegations that he was a ‘Trojan Horse’ Microsoft sent to Nokia and other conspiracy theories. The entire Nokia management was involved in the negotiations, said the first non-Finn CEO of the mobile phone maker who is under pressure to reverse its recent losses in market share.

Elop also said that Nokia will make significant savings in software development costs. But the company has not given up the MeeGo platform it is developing jointly with chipmaker Intel and will release its first device on this system this year.

Disclaimer: All information on this news has been compiled from their respective official websites or through public domain sites and leading newspapers. Although, we have taken reasonable efforts to provide you with accurate information, but we assumes no responsibility for the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the Information and would advise you to verify it from the official product provider. We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. If you would like to advertise on our site please contact us

Nokia CEO sees billions from Microsoft deal

Nokia's CEO on Sunday touted its recent alliance with Microsoft, saying it would be worth billions to the Finnish cellphone maker, which is seeking to catch up in the fiercely competitive smartphone market.

Nokia announced on Friday that it was teaming up with Microsoft to take on Google and Apple in the smartphone market.

"Microsoft is contributing to Nokia substantial monetary value," Stephen Elop said on Sunday in a presentation ahead of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

"Some people interpret that to be in the millions or tens of millions," said Elop, who left Microsoft to take the helm of Nokia in September.

It was, however, a much better deal than that for Nokia, Elop said because it "is measured in the B's not M's."

While Nokia was clearly dependent on Microsoft's Windows phone, Elop said Microsoft was also putting a "very significant bet on Nokia delivering location-based services."

Disclaimer: All information on this news has been compiled from their respective official websites or through public domain sites and leading newspapers. Although, we have taken reasonable efforts to provide you with accurate information, but we assumes no responsibility for the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the Information and would advise you to verify it from the official product provider. We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. If you would like to advertise on our site please contact us

Mobile Fair-Linux group hopes to gain from Nokia-Microsoft pact

Wireless Linux group LiMo hopes to benefit from a tie-up between Microsoft and Nokia as this should push smaller phone makers to seek alternative software platforms, its head said on Monday.

Computer operating system Linux has started to win traction in mobile with Google Inc's Android rising to the No. 1 spot in global smartphone rankings last quarter, helped by a wide array of models from many vendors.

"With Microsoft and Nokia now in lockstep and the Android arena rapidly becoming commoditised, other handset vendors must look elsewhere to avoid the irreversible margin collapse that befell PC manufacturers," Morgan Gillis, head of LiMo, told Reuters.

LiMo, a non-profit foundation, hopes to benefit from its focus on giving greater say over software development to telecoms operators, but it has struggled to win wider adoption outside Japan.

The market for software platforms on cellphones was led by Nokia's Symbian operating system for a decade, but its position has weakened since Apple Inc's 2007 introduction of iPhone, culminating to last week's announcement on adopting Microsoft's Windows Phone as its primary platform.

"The new tie-up has great upside for Microsoft although there is also a major risk that the existing Windows Phone vendors will now feel alienated," Gillis said.

Nokia drops new Meego phone, bemoans plight

Nokia has ditched plans for a new smartphone and compared the company's plight to an oil platform on fire just days ahead of a key strategy presentation, according to industry sources.

The sources said the Finnish firm had dropped its plan to launch a phone based on the MeeGo operating system, increasing the possibility it might switch systems. Such a switch is seem by some investors as the best option for troubled Nokia.

In a leaked internal memo, Chief Executive Stephen Elop hinted at the move, writing: "We thought MeeGo would be a platform for winning high-end smartphones. However, at this rate, by the end of 2011, we might have only one MeeGo product in the market."

In the same memo posted on Nokia's internal website this week, Elop comparing its position to a man on a burning oil platform, wondering whether he dares to jump. Industry sources said the memo, published in full in the Financial Times on Wednesday, was genuine.

A spokesman for Nokia declined to comment. MeeGo, seen key to Nokia's battle in the high-end smartphone market, was created last year by the merger of Nokia and Intel's

Linux-based platforms Maemo and Moblin. Nokia, the largest handset maker by volume, has seen industry newcomers Apple and Google sweep up most of the profits in the wireless industry in just few years after their entrance to the sector.

Nokia starts shipping delayed E7 smartphone

Nokia's E7 phone will make its delayed debut this week, as the world's largest phone maker by volume tries to recover ground lost to Apple and Google in the smartphone market.

Nokia had postponed the rollout of the top-of-the-range E7 in December "to ensure the best possible user experience".

The E7 is similar to its N8 model but has a full slideout keyboard. The N8 was also delayed and, after launch, Nokia admitted some of the phones had power problems.

The N8 and E7 are flagship models for the new version of Nokia's Symbian software.

Nokia said they had already started deliveries of the E7 and it would go on sale from this week.

A weak offering of smartphones and software problems were seen as the main reasons for Nokia replacing chief executive Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo with Stephen Elop from Microsoft last September.

Elop is due to unveil his plan to revamp the strategy of the company later this week.

Nokia shares were 2.9 percent higher at 8.36 euros by 1121 GMT, boosted by a magazine report saying Nokia was likely to sack several executive board members in a management shake-up.

Disclaimer: All information on this news has been compiled from their respective official websites or through public domain sites and leading newspapers. Although, we have taken reasonable efforts to provide you with accurate information, but we assumes no responsibility for the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the Information and would advise you to verify it from the official product provider. We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. If you would like to advertise on our site please contact us

Nokia CEO Considers Big Shake-Up

Several senior officials on Nokia Corp.'s group executive board are expected to leave soon as part of a major shake-up being considered by the Finnish cellphone giant's new chief executive, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Exactly who will leave the company remained unclear. Stephen Elop, a Microsoft Corp. veteran who was hired in September to help revive Nokia, is finalizing his plan to revamp the company, which has been losing ground in the lucrative market for smartphones. Mr. Elop is expected to present the plan Friday at an analysts' meeting in London.

Nokia executives won't know their fate until they are briefed on Mr. Elop's blueprint the day before the meeting, the person familiar with the matter added.

The shake-up will likely extend beyond Nokia's group executive board, which is made up of its top 10 executives. Nokia has retained executive recruiters to find a new head of operating systems, as well as a new head of research and development with strong software talent, the person said.

In conducting these searches, Mr. Elop is trying to decide "how much he wants to keep Finnish talent in the leadership team" and how to revamp Nokia's various business units, the person said.

Nokia Cancels U.S. Launch of X7 Phone

In another setback for Nokia Corp., the Finnish mobile-phone giant has canceled the U.S. release of a smartphone that was slated to launch exclusively this year with AT&T Inc., people familiar with the situation said.

Nokia had intended to debut the touchscreen phone, dubbed the X7, in conjunction with AT&T ahead of the Mobile World Congress trade show next month in Barcelona, Spain, these people said.

The X7 would have been the first Nokia smartphone launched exclusively with a U.S. carrier since former Microsoft Corp. executive Stephen Elop took over as Nokia's CEO last September. The unexpected cancellation leaves Nokia further behind in its effort to correct a major strategic weakness—its poor showing in the lucrative U.S. market, where it lags Apple Inc., BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd. and phones powered by Google Inc.'s Android software.

"In the U.S. market, the Nokia platform is at the back of the line behind all these other guys," says Roger Kay, president of tech consultancy Endpoint Technologies Associates Inc. "This is a very fast moving market. You don't want to be sitting around."

Nokia decided to pull the phone because it believed the X7 wasn't going to receive enough marketing and subsidies support from AT&T, said one person close to the company. Nokia still plans to launch the X7 in other markets, this person said.

In the U.S. market, phone companies typically subsidize much of the cost of a smartphone to keep the price down as long as a customer signs up for a two-year contract. Operators also help to pick winners by putting their marketing muscle behind certain devices.

Nokia pulls plug on free music in most markets

The world's top cellphone maker, Nokia, is ending its bundling of free music downloads with cellphones in 27 countries, where it has gained little traction since its 2008 launch.

Nokia will continue to sell phones with 12-month subscription to free music downloads in China, India and Indonesia and with 6-month subscriptions in Brazil, Turkey and South Africa.

All four major labels -- Vivendi's Universal Music , EMI, Warner Music Group and the music arm of Sony -- signed up for the service, which was seen at the start as a major challenger for Apple's iTunes .

Nokia unveiled the service in late 2008 in Britain -- seen as a test market for new mobile services in Europe -- but has lacked operator support and failed to attract many customers.

Reasons behind the lacklustre performance include use of older supporting handsets for the product at its launch, digital rights management (DRM) software that tied downloaded music to the device and a difficult to understand product offering.

"The markets clearly want a DRM-free music service," said a spokesman for Nokia, adding the firm continues to offer DRM-free tracks through its music store in 38 countries.

DRM software limits sharing of songs between different devices.

Consumers with the free music bundle in the 27 countries where the sale of the service have stopped will continue to have access until their subscriptions run out.
Disclaimer: All information on this news has been compiled from their respective official websites or through public domain sites and leading newspapers. Although, we have taken reasonable efforts to provide you with accurate information, but we assumes no responsibility for the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the Information and would advise you to verify it from the official product provider. We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. If you would like to advertise on our site please contact us

Nokia files 13 patent infringement suits against Apple

Nokia, the world's top cellphone maker by volume, has filed 13 new patent infringement suits in Europe against US rival Apple, accusing it of using Nokia technology in its iPhones and iPads .

The fresh complaints in Great Britain, Germany and the Netherlands are part of an escalating battle between the two rivals in the smartphone arena that started more than a year ago when Nokia filed its first suits in the United States.

Apple has also sued Nokia over patents. The two have repeatedly denied each other's claims.

""These actions add 13 further Nokia patents to the 24 already asserted against Apple in the US International Trade Commission and the Delaware and Wisconsin Federal courts," Paul Melin, Nokia Vice President for Intellectual Property, said in a statement.

The new filings accuse Apple of breaching Nokia's patents related to several technologies, including the touch user interface, on-device app stores signal noise suppression and modular structure, Nokia said.

Disclaimer: All information on this news has been compiled from their respective official websites or through public domain sites and leading newspapers. Although, we have taken reasonable efforts to provide you with accurate information, but we assumes no responsibility for the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the Information and would advise you to verify it from the official product provider. We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. If you would like to advertise on our site please contact us