S60 5th Edition Begins With SDK, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

Nokia today launched S60 5th Edition with an SDK and the first device based on the new platform, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.

S60 5th Edition offers developers new opportunities for their applications. For Web innovation, the new platform increases the capabilities of applications for Web Runtime (WRT) and Flash Lite applications by providing access to local device information and functionality, such as device location and landmarks, phonebook and calendar entries, and message folders. S60 5th Edition also improves the user experience with new features that include a responsive and intuitive touch UI, advanced sensor framework, and broader media support.

To support the new platform, Nokia today announced the availability of the initial release of the S60 5th Edition SDK for Symbian OS. In addition, Symbian C++ developers can quickly convert or bring new applications to market using the latest version of Carbide.c++ Codescanner. This new version of the tool, available through an Eclipse update for Carbide.C++ 1.3, provides developers with the S60 5th Edition migration rules. These rules help developers identify code changes that ensure their applications can take full advantage of S60 5th Edition's new UI features.

With the introduction of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, the S60 platform continues to enrich the smartphone portfolio from feature phones to high-end multimedia and enterprise-focused devices. Worldwide shipments of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic are set to begin in the fourth quarter. The new device introduces two innovations: Media Bar, a drop-down menu for direct access to music, videos, and photos; and Contacts Bar, which lets consumers highlight four favourite contacts on the home screen and, with a single touch, track their digital histories of recent messages, e-mails, and more. The new device also supports Flash content and features up to 8 gigabytes of user memory, a 3.2-megapixel camera, graphics equaliser, and built-in stereo speakers. Worldwide shipments of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic are set to begin in the fourth quarter, and the device will retail for 279 euros. Early next year a new version of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will include Comes With Music, the Nokia service that offers one year of unlimited access to the entire Nokia Music Store catalogue.

Nokia renews its business mobility solutions offering and strategy

Continued commitment to deliver leading mobile devices and solutions to businesses and business users

Espoo, Finland - With its sights firmly fixed on consumer internet services and with a clear vision of changing industry trends, Nokia is today announcing the renewal of its business mobility strategy. Nokia will focus on bringing best-in-class devices and solutions to market by further strengthening strategic relationships with leading enterprise technology vendors.

Nokia announced that it plans to cease developing or marketing its own behind-the-firewall business mobility solutions. The appropriate technologies and expertise will be reallocated to Nokia's new consumer push e-mail service. Going forward, Nokia plans to form its enterprise solutions offering by combining Nokia devices and applications with software solutions from industry leading enterprise vendors such as Microsoft, IBM, Cisco and others.

"We have very strong relationships with industry leading enterprise technology partners such as Cisco and Microsoft, as well as a broad range of operator and retail channel partners. Together with them, we will use our expertise in devices, as well as the combined channel footprint and customer base, to deliver a range of unbeatable end-to-end offerings for business. The initial success of the Nokia E71 with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync is a great example of the attractiveness of our new approach, " said Niklas Savander, EVP, Services & Software, Nokia. "We will also continue with our investment strategy to develop key consumer internet services in areas such as music, games, media, messaging and context based services. "

As a further step towards ensuring a clear focus on its core mobility business, Nokia is also announcing that it is in the advanced stages of discussions for the potential sale of its security appliances business to a financial investor. "If this transaction is concluded, it would be an extremely positive development for the security appliance business, which will be able to realize its full potential under new ownership. The investor is committed to continuing the development and growth of the business, to serving its current network of customers, and to retaining and motivating its employees," Niklas Savander continued. Further news about this transaction will be announced when a definitive agreement is reached with the investor.

"As recently demonstrated by the launch of Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync on over 40 Nokia S60 phones, Microsoft and Nokia are committed to working together to deliver great experiences for our customers", said Terry Myerson, Corporate Vice President, Exchange Group at Microsoft. "At Microsoft, we look forward to ongoing collaboration with Nokia to address the tremendous opportunities for both our companies in unified communications."

"We have been working closely with Nokia to deliver voice and data mobile business solutions that combine Nokia's best-in-class mobile devices with Cisco's complete range of unified communications and wireless networking offerings," said Brett Galloway, Senior Vice President of the Wireless and Security Technology Group at Cisco. "We look forward to expanding our collaboration with Nokia to provide solutions to business customers across the globe."

New launch by Nokia in Spain: the Nokia Music Store

New Nokia Music Store is committed to local content - which represents more than 70% of the music sold in Spain

Espoo, Finland - Today Nokia has announced the launch in Spain of its new digital music site, Nokia Music Store, which already has a catalogue of more than 4 million songs amongst which can be found the highest-selling records, independent record labels, and new national talent. With the launch of the store, Spanish consumers can enjoy music of all types on their mobile device or PC whenever they want and however they want, using a combination of downloads and streaming services.

The catalogue of the Nokia Music Store is focused on the local market, strongly associated with the consumer, as more than 70% of the music that is sold in Spain is local. To achieve this, there is a team in each country to determine more closely the tastes of each region, something completely innovative and distinctive from other digital music stores. Its search engine enables the differentiation between genres such as Flamenco, Latin music, Alternative or Electronic, to name a few.

La Oreja de Van Gogh, Pereza, Melendi, Amaral, Deluxe, Krakovia, Coti, Ismael Serrano, Extromoduro and Miguel Bosé are some of the artists that can already be downloaded from the Nokia Music Store. Nokia has reached agreements with companies such as Universal Music, Warner Music (amongst others), with aggregators such as The Orchard, and with local record labels such as Blanco y Negro, Subterfuge and Pias, with the objective of offering a broad range of genres and artists.

"With the launch of the Nokia Music Store, Nokia aims to make available to all Spanish users of all ages the music that they want at any moment they want, with all the facilities that mobility permits nowadays," states Manuel Reverte, Head of Services and Software at Nokia Spain.

How to buy the music
From the palm of their hand, music lovers will be able to access a whole new world of possibilities and recommendations, or look for favourite singers. Browsing, downloading, playing and synchronising with the compatible PC or directly from the compatible mobile device will now be possible with a simple click. The Nokia Music Store also offers the first on-demand music streaming service focused on local Spanish artists. For a monthly fee consumers can listen to as much music as they want on their PCs. It also has a pre-listening application of 30 seconds which allows the user to sample and identify each theme. Furthermore, the consumer will be able to select any songs they are interested in directly from their mobile device, to make their purchase at that very moment or later on.

Tracks cost EUR 1.50 each (incl. VAT), whilst whole albums are EUR 10 (incl. VAT). The streaming service, based on monthly subscription and which enables the user to listen to any music desired without limit, costs EUR 10. All songs and albums are paid for by credit card.

How to manage the music
The Nokia Music for PC application allows consumers to seamlessly move music from their PCs to their Nokia device. People can quickly create their music library, make playlists, buy songs through the Nokia Music Store, and then easily transfer the content to their Nokia device.

"We are aiming to satisfy the needs of users with a simple service that is easily accessible, offering the most comprehensive catalogue of artists, thought of by and for Spanish enthusiasts," claims Manuel Reverte.

Anyone registering at the store will receive all the latest happenings in the sector with updates and weekly newsletters.

To access the Nokia Music Store: www.music.nokia.es

Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks enter into patent license agreement with Huawei

Espoo, Finland - Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks announced today a patent license agreement with Huawei and its affiliates for standards essential patents. The comprehensive agreement covers the worldwide use of all standards essential patents of all parties, including GSM, WCDMA, CDMA2000, optical networking, datacom and WiMAX in mobile devices, infrastructure and services.

"We are very pleased to have entered into this agreement with Huawei" said Ilkka Rahnasto, Vice President, Intellectual Property Rights, Nokia. "Huawei is the thirty-fifth company to license Nokia patents related to cellular standards and this agreement demonstrates how companies can license intellectual property in a way that encourages industry innovation and fosters a healthy IPR environment."

"As a newer player in the telecoms IPR environment, Nokia Siemens Networks see this as our most significant licensing agreement to date", said Gottfried Weidel, Head of Intellectual Property Rights, Nokia Siemens Networks. "It will help to create a more predictable business environment and further supports our goal of industry innovation."

"This agreement is of great significance and benefit to Huawei, Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks" said Song Liuping, Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Huawei. "It underscores our commitment to create a harmonious environment for the benefit and development of the telecom industry."

Nokia is the industry leader in wireless innovation and the development of GSM and WCDMA technologies. Nokia has built one of the strongest and broadest IPR portfolios in the wireless industry and since the early 1990's has invested close to EUR 35 billion in research and development. Nokia's patent portfolio includes approximately 300 GSM, 370 WCDMA and 170 CDMA2000 declared essential patent families.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, new model with latest technology

The first preview of the highly anticipated Nokia 5800 XpressMusic appeared today. The handset isn't expected to make its first official public appearance before October 2nd but its specs are now almost completely revealed.

Formerly known as Nokia Tube, the first S60 handset to feature touchscreen technology will run on the new edition of the OS - Symbian S60 Taco 5.0. Despite packing a generous 3.2-inch screen with the exciting widescreen resolution of 640 x 360 pixels Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will be more of an upper midrange than a high-end device. It will come complete with a 3.2 megapixel autofocus shooter, and will be able to capture videos at up to VGA resolution at 30 fps.

The Nokia 5800 will measure 111 x 52 x 15.5mm and will come with quad-band GSM support and 3G with HSDPA. The weight is also quite acceptable, standing at 109 grams. Some of the other extras include: GPS, 3.5mm standard audio jack, TV-out and a microSD card slot. According to the reviewer the handset will also have an 8GB card included in the retail package, just like Nokia N85.

With only 8 days to go until the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic official annoncement you can bet we are just excited as you are to take a look at it. However we can't help ourselves but wonder why Nokia didn't come up with a high-end device as a pioneer for its new OS as it would have demonstrated its capabilities that much better.

source: www.gsmarena.com /mobil.idnes.cz

Nokia launches mobile software to help organizations deliver critical social services

Amazonas State Health Department in Brazil to use the software to monitor and treat outbreaks of dengue fever

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced Nokia Data Gathering, a new software solution to help public sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) quickly and accurately collect data on critical issues such as disease outbreaks or disaster relief via mobile devices. The Amazonas State Health Department in Brazil will be the first to use the solution as part of its fight against dengue fever in the city of Manaus in Northern Brazil.

The Nokia Data Gathering software will be available to public sector organizations and NGOs free of charge. It can be used to create tailored questionnaires and distribute them to multiple mobile phones using a normal mobile network. Field personnel surveying local conditions can quickly complete the questionnaires and immediately transmit their findings to a central database. The system also allows organizations to geo-tag data with GPS location information to build a more detailed picture of very local conditions.


"Sound decisions are based on the analysis of fresh, accurate data. However, for organizations with a remote or mobile workforce, this is easier said than done. Information related to health, agriculture and environmental conditions is often recorded on paper, transported, and transcribed, in a process that can take months and result in errors. Nokia Data Gathering aims to improve accuracy and deliver information in near real-time, helping decision-makers to improve the delivery of social services," said Gregory Elphinston, Director of Community Involvement at Nokia.

Accurate and timely information is essential when monitoring the effectiveness of disease prevention measures and preventing further outbreaks. This is the basis for the deployment of Nokia Data Gathering in Brazil by the Amazonas State Health Department, SUSAM (Secretaria de Estado de Saúde do Amazonas), which will be using the solution to monitor outbreaks of disease and the effectiveness of prevention programs in the city of Manaus. Commencing in October 2008, 50 SUSAM field personnel equipped with Nokia E61 and Nokia E71 devices will take to the street in the metropolitan region of Manaus focusing initially on dengue fever. The program will then be expanded in 2009 to cover the whole State of Amazonas, with SUSAM's 600 field agents gathering data on the fight against dengue fever, malaria and yellow fever.


"The Secretaria de Saúde do Amazonas has a series of programs dealing with endemic diseases in the region, and Nokia's technology will help us to more rapidly identify and investigate the results and symptoms of the surveyed population," said Agnaldo Costa, State Health Secretary of Amazonas State. "The transmission of information immediately after the interviews gives us improved agility, increases public safety, and avoids the manual filling-in of forms which is usually a difficult and time-consuming process."


"This solution demonstrates the real potential of mobile communications to deliver social benefits," Greg Elphinston of Nokia continued. "The more time-critical the information, and the more remote the location, the more organizations have to gain from a mobile phone based solution. We expect Nokia Data Gathering to be especially beneficial in collecting information in the health, agriculture, emergency services, censuses and environmental conservation sectors."

The software was developed by Nokia and Instituto Nokia de Tecnologia (INdT), a non-profit research and development center in Brazil. Nokia will be donating licenses for the Nokia Data Gathering software to public sector organizations and NGOs. More information can be found by visiting www.nokia.com/datagathering.

Metadata Working Group introduces first specification for interoperability and preservation of metadata in digital photography

Cologne, Germany - At Photokina 2008, industry-leading companies announced the Metadata Working Group, an organization formed in 2007 dedicated to solving key interoperability issues that make finding, organizing and searching for digital photos a challenge. Today, the Metadata Working Group has also introduced its first specification, which provides guidelines designed to increase interoperability and preservation of metadata in digital photographs.

The company with join in Metadata Working Group are Adobe, Apple, Canon, Microsoft, Nokia and Sony.

"Lack of metadata interoperability has led to significant frustration for both consumer and pro photographers, and our companies have spent considerable resources trying to deal with the problem, " said Josh Weisberg, chairman and founder of the Metadata Working Group and director of Microsoft's Rich Media Group. "Getting these industry leaders together to rally around metadata interoperability is a real turning point, one that we believe will result in technology that's easier for photographers to use. We've been working very hard to produce guidelines that are compatible across all applications, devices and services and that provide best practices for how, when and where metadata should be changed in popular file formats. "

Metadata, sometimes referred to as "data about data," is important to digital photography because it allows photographers to tag their digital photos with information such as where and when they were taken. For both professional photographers and consumers, this enables basic activities such as being able to find and share photos. Although the digital photography industry has several metadata standards, these existing standards often overlap in purpose and lack interoperability guidance. The result is that many interoperability scenarios between devices, applications and services are not possible because no clearly defined rules and standards exist to ensure consistent use. The Metadata Working Group's initial guidelines target still photo metadata, with a focus on common consumer uses. The guidelines also identify overlapping content between existing standards and schemas.

"We've chosen to address the most common issues photographers face as we feel this will make the biggest impact for the average photographer, " Weisberg said. "Down the road, we will expand our work to include other metadata issues relevant to photographers."