NOKIA has launched the Nokia (NYSE: NOK) N95, an all-in-one multimedia computer with integrated GPS functionality, a 5 megapixel camera and support for high-speed mobile networks.

“The Nokia N95 brings a range of multimedia ingredients together, such as a fantastic display, outstanding photo and video capability and high-speed connectivity, making it the ultimate multimedia computer,” said David Watkins, Multimedia Asia Pacific, Nokia.

“This single device — which fits easily in your pocket — can replace stand-alone devices that you no longer need, whether it’s your music player, your digital camera, PDA or navigation device,” he said in a statement.

N95 owners can locate interesting points of interests and find their way using the integrated GPS feature. The maps cover more than 100 countries and 15 million points of interests.

The application lets them locate themselves in the city, plan routes and the nearest points of interests around them. They can also purchase additional features such as voice guided navigation instructions.

The N95’s Carl Zeiss optics on the 5 megapixel camera enables print quality photos and DVD-like quality video clips, which can be enjoyed on a compatible television using the device’s TV out feature.

The phone is also designed for High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) networks and with support for WLAN, EDGE and WCDMA networks.

Nokia said with HSDPA networks, browsing the Internet, reading email, streaming video and downloading large files can be carried out up to 10 times faster than with 3G.

The Nokia N95 is expected to start shipping in volumes during the first quarter of 2007 at an estimated unsubsidised retail price of €550 (RM 2,563).

Source: Business Times Online Malaysia

Whip out your credit cards and call your local importer, the
convergence device touched by Michelangelo Buonarroti himself (the last
name throws people off, he is the guy who painted the Sistine Chapel)

RM 2,563 = 724.91 American Dollars = 550.20 Euros = 369.37 British Pounds

Direct link to video

Source: Communities Dominate Brands

Info: This promotional video was shot by Russian actress Irina Apeksimova using N93 phone.

All I can say is … wtf?!

Nokia (NYSE: NOK) clearly had the early mover advantage in India. After launching its handsets over a decade ago, the Finnish major strengthened its grip on the Indian market like no other player ever did. Or, as some say, like no other player ever would.

A large number of consumers have got so used to Nokia’s interface, designs, price points and easy availability of a wide range of models that a few months ago, its market share almost touched 80%. And now, it is riding high its omnipresence, with the largest distribution reach among all other handset companies.

But then, some consumers are beginning to look for alternatives. Waits at Nokia care centres have become longer, even if the faults are not that big. Others say that incidents of software snags have gone up. Still others are keen to possess handsets that are trendier, stylish, and multi-functional.

The result: Over the past three months, Nokia’s market share has dipped. Its overall share (including CDMA handsets) has fallen to below 60% from about 65% and to about 72% in the case of GSM handsets, which not long ago at about 80%. Worldwide, Nokia commands a market share of just 36%.

Motorola (NYSE: MOT) and Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) have started to slowly eat into Nokia’s share in India, with Samsung itching to join the pack of hunters.

Source: Financial Express

Check out the full article for some more stats. What I think is occurring is the iPod phonomonem here in the USA. When a product reaches such a mass saturation point it becomes a me2 device. Example:

"I have an iPod"
"Me too!"

People like to express themselves so they get other phones just to be different. Could this be a sign of a trend in India? Frankly I don’t have first hand experience of the region, I would kill to visit tho. Forget China, India’s economy is growing so fast it’s making economists cry in hysteria due to the large number of opportunities that are presenting themselves.

We must not forget, Nokia has a manufacturing plant down there so they don’t have to pay to get their products from point A to B. That is a HUGE advantage.

"I don’t see any reason for standalone MP3 players to exist in the long-term. There’s no reason for standalone non-connected MP3 players. You have a worse experience."

That’s what Nokia (NYSE: NOK)’s Tommi Mustonen said earlier this afternoon, admittedly in answer to a direct question from a journalist on whether Nokia is predicting the death of the standalone MP3 player. Gotta love those leading questions.

He did mention Nokia’s policy of putting a standard 3.5mm headphone jack on the N-Series handsets so that people can use their normal headphones – which other manufacturers haven’t quite got round to doing yet – and also talked figures, saying that Nokia has effectively sold more than 100 million MP3 players in 2005 and 2006.

Someone did ask the question of whether all the people who buy these MP3-capable phones are actually using them to play music, and Mustonen replied that in a study of Series 60 users, 64% are using their phones to listen to music several times a week or more.

Other stuff from this session: Nokia is keen to get USB 2.0 into its music handsets, especially the ones with larger hard drives inside, to make transferring a stack of tunes across quicker.

Source: Tech Digest

Agreed, one less device to carry in my pocket is always a good thing. We have to see what Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) does however when it chooses to integrate phone capabilities into it’s products.

Flextronics’ GM and director (India operations) A Gururaj, said: “This area, housing Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and Flextronics SEZ, will soon become a telecom hub. Besides, we will soon have over 5,000 employees. We will have to push the government harder for better roads and railways”. Flextronics, developing the 101.2 hectare SEZ, is also waiting for experts to handle their social infrastructure.

Source: The Financial Express

Well maybe instead of embezzling to the executives at Siemens, you should have tried to gain the respect of the Indian government (via embezzling, please don’t get caught again, bad PR).

This has got to be the best opening quote to a review:

If this device was a girl, I would love to date her. That was my first comment when I started reviewing this pre production unit of the N95.

We have to admit, the N95 has grabbed our attention very much, although we have tested a pre production unit. Forget about all the details we mentioned above, the N95 gives you the feeling of being in control of what you want to do. I look at it from this angle and ask myself: how many gadgets I’ll quit from now on.

Although we think there are some things that would make the N95 even better, such as the joystick, its current offering is really great. We are not going to ‘rate’ it based on this early beta unit, but if we were going to do that, we don’t think it would score anything less 95%. Just imagine how would the final product be rated.

If some people still misunderstand Nokia (NYSE: NOK)’s concept of ‘multimedia computers’, I believe this device is Nokia’s definite reply.

Source: The Nokia List

You better watch your back Jihad Abdullah Soaileek, I might to things outside the boundaries of the law to get that phone I can’t emphasize enough that this is a preproduction phone, the wifi module wasn’t even built in to the unit!

There’s a strange kind of addiction to building the
colonies, it’s something innate about this type of game where you build
something up that can feel almost alive, and it shows that there’s
great potential for the concept behind 4 Elements. And as stated above,
the graphics and sound are brilliant, with wonderful attention to
detail. There’s no problems in the audio-visual department.

If
there was a sequel or an update released which included proper
instructions, fixed the bugs and featured a proper user interface
(status screens, jump to active area, perhaps turn-based instead of
real time) then 4 Elements might turn into an excellent game.

As a finished game 4 Elements isn’t up to scratch, it’s far too difficult to know what you’re supposed to be doing.

But
as a work in progress 4 Elements is looking very good! Let’s hope it IS
a work in progress, and that we’ll see a sequel that fixes the problems
of this game. The developers just need to finish what they’ve started,
perhaps doing an extended beta testing session with strategy fans, so
they come up with the game that 4 Elements deserves to be but sadly
isn’t yet. I’ll certainly take a look at any sequels or updates that
PocketTorch comes up with.

Source: All About Symbian

I don’t understand why people just don’t buy a Nintendo DS
or a PSP?! Hand held gaming on mobile phones isn’t going to take off any time
soon. The control scheme, the various hardware configurations, not to mention
the Series 60 OS is already up to its third revision! I urge Nokia (NYSE: NOK) to give up
this battle and move resources to improving user experience even more. Use all
the graphics horsepower in upcoming phones to design a user interface that
blows people away.

The thought and commitment that Nokia (NYSE: NOK) has put into developing its
Business Solutions Portfolio has been recognized by a respected
marketing body, the IT Services Marketing Association (ITSMA), which
has selected Nokia as the Diamond winner of a 2006 Marketing Excellence
Award in the category of Sharpening Competitive Differentiation. The
Diamond award is granted to the best in class for the industry, as
measured by innovation, execution, and business results.

“I am extremely pleased to congratulate Nokia on winning a Diamond
Award for Marketing Excellence in the category of Sharpening
Competitive Differentiation,” says Dave Munn, President and CEO, ITSMA.
“The Nokia Services Business Solutions Portfolio represents a
tremendous effort, one that has allowed Nokia to raise the level of its
conversations with customers and offer new value in an industry where
technology alone is no longer enough to sustain long-term
profitability.”

Source: PR Release Database

Congradulations on the award Nokia! You still have a lot of challenges in front of you however, in America people buy their phones from carriers. They aren’t aware of this concept of a SIM card and unlocked phones. You need to educate them.