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• 09Mar

  Mobile Giant Vodafone To Cut 375 Jobs

  Mobile phone news, Phone services, Vodafone No Comments

  Mobile phone giant Vodafone is to cut 375 jobs across its business.

  

  The company said the job losses would primarily affect back office positions in a number of locations, including its headquarters in Newbury, Berkshire.

  The cuts are part of a £1bn cost-cutting programme undertaken by the group in the last year as it looks to improve its fortunes.

  But Vodafone also said it would be taking on 170 new staff in retail and call-centre roles.

  An additional 50 graduates will start work this September after more than 3,000 applied to its university leaver programme.

  Matthew Brearley, human resources director at Vodafone UK, said: “We’re committed to increasing the number of customer-facing employees which will help us simplify our business and continue to deliver outstanding communications services across the UK’s best network.”

  Full Article Business Sky News, Ed Merrison, Sky News Online

  

  Tags: Vodafone

• 01Mar

  EU moves to prevent ’shock’ mobile internet bills

  Mobile phone news, Phone news No Comments

  A new Europe-wide rule to prevent mobile phone users from building up large bills for surfing the internet via their handset has come into force.

  Customers can now require their phone firm to cut them off when their bill reaches a certain level after accessing the internet in other European nations.

  If users do not put in place a limit by 1 July, it will automatically be set at 50 euros ($65; £45).

  The phone firms will have to warn users when their bill hits 80% of the limit.

  Accessing the internet via your mobile phone while abroad is called “data roaming”.

  European Commissioner for Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, said: “Protection against data roaming bill shocks is a useful step towards building customers’ confidence to use mobile networks to surf the internet when travelling around Europe.

  “Such confidence is essential if people and businesses are to use the internet to its full potential.”

  The Commission added that if service providers did not honour people’s set spending limits, national regulators would deal with complaints and impose any necessary sanctions.

  Full article BBC Business News

  

  Tags: Mobile Internet bills

• 01Mar

  Orange and T-Mobile cleared for mobile merger by EU

  Mobile phone news, Phone news No Comments

  The European Union has ruled the merger between Orange and T-Mobile in the UK can go ahead – with some conditions.

  The tie-up between the two would create the biggest mobile network provider in the UK with 28 million customers.

  The European Commission said certain steps must be taken to protect the UK’s smallest network operator, 3.

  The group must also sell off a quarter of its spectrum on the 1,800 MHz band, one of three frequency bands currently used by UK mobile providers.

  The new telecoms giant would control 84% is this bandwidth, which is part of the radio spectrum used for web surfing on mobile phones and is crucial to the government’s plans for the country’s future technological development.

  The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) – the UK’s consumer watchdog – was concerned about both these issues and asked the Commission to investigate further.

  ‘Resolved’

  The Commission took the OFT’s view into account and said France Telecom – owner of Orange – and Deutsche Telekom – owner of T-Mobile – could merge their UK units if they agreed to amend “an existing network sharing agreement” with 3 “to ensure that there remain sufficient competitors in the market”.

  Full article BBC Business News

  

  Tags: Orange, T-Mobile

• 21Feb

  New Ovi Maps with free navigation races past 1 million downloads in a week

  General post, Mobile phone news, Phone news No Comments

  Nokia has today announced that since the 21 January 2010 launch of the new version of Ovi Maps with free walk and drive navigation, there have been over 1.4 million downloads. The one million mark was reached just one week after the launch.

  “We’re averaging a download a second, 24 hours a day,” said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Nokia. “When we announced free walk & drive navigation we knew it would be a game-changer. The number of people now using their Nokia for navigation, and as a result looking for more location-aware software, is growing faster than even we predicted.”

  The success of the new version Ovi Maps is a key part of Nokia’s strategy to lead the market in mobile maps, navigation and location-based services. By leveraging its investment in NAVTEQ, Nokia has been able to remove the costs associated with navigation for drivers and pedestrians and is quickly activating a massive user base to which it can offer new location features, content and services.

  “This is great news for our 3rd party application developers. Within a matter of days there is an installed base of more than 1 million active users all potentially hungry for new and innovative location-aware apps,” continued Anssi Vanjoki. “For the operators too there is a growing opportunity to sell more data-plans and a complete navigation package to existing and new customers.”

  As of 31 January 2010 the top five countries downloading the new version of Ovi Maps were: China, Italy, UK, Germany and Spain. The top five most popular Nokia devices installing the download were: Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia N97, Nokia 5230 and Nokia E72.

  “There is a huge appetite for GPS navigation on mobile phones. We estimate there were already 25.9 million people actively using GPS navigation on their mobile phones at the end of 2009,” said Chris Jones, VP & Principal Analyst at research firm Canalys.

  From next month, all new Nokia GPS-enabled smartphones will include the new version of Ovi Maps, pre-loaded with local country map data, with high-end walk and drive navigation and access to Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides at no extra cost.

  Ovi Maps covers more than 180 countries with car and pedestrian navigation for 74 countries, in 46 languages, and traffic information for more than 10 countries. There are more than 6000 3D landmarks for 200 cities around the world. Lonely Planet and Michelin guides have information on more than 1,000 destinations globally.

  

  Tags: Ovi Maps

• 21Feb

  Row Over ‘Wobbling Breasts’ iPhone App

  General post, Phone news, iphone No Comments

  Apple has been urged to provide more specific guidelines on suitable content for iPhone applications after it pulled one that had apparently been downloaded by nearly a million people.

  Many apps are available for the iPhone

  The app, called Wobble iBoobs, allows users to watch breasts bounce – but it has been withdrawn from the Apple store following “numerous complaints” from customers.

  It is thought to have been on the market for several months and is said to have made more than £150,000 in sales.

  According to the developer ChilliFresh, Apple sent it an email which said the app had originally been deemed suitable for distribution.

  But Apple had now changed its guidelines, adding: “We have decided to remove any overtly sexual content from the App Store, which includes your application.”

  However, ChilliFresh suggested Apple needs to be more specific, adding: “How can it be overtly sexual, people use their own pics.”

  In a statement on its website, it also said: “They have changed their standards, but they don’t actually say what those standards are now, nor what those standards were before! No guidelines provided at all!”

  Full article Business Sky News

  

  Tags: iboobs, Wobbling Breasts

• 28Nov

  The ‘all-you-can-eat’ music powerhouse, Nokia X6, now shipping

  Mobile phone news, Nokia Mobiles No Comments

  The Nokia Comes With Music Flagship phone, the Nokia X6, is now available in selected markets. Through the ‘all-you-can-eat’ music offering the Nokia X6 pioneers new ways for the world to experience music. The Nokia X6 is expected to retail for approximately EUR 450, before taxes and subsidies.

  “The Nokia X6 Comes With Music edition is a stellar offering, that gives music fans the power to download all the music they could ever want – quickly, easily and for free,” said Ole Feddersen, vice president, smartphones, Nokia. “We are giving people a handy access to and ownership of a vast music library and a great new touchscreen device to play their music on.”

   

  In addition to the unlimited access to millions of tracks available in Nokia Music Store, Comes With Music subscribers will be able to download exclusive content directly to their device or PC from both, international superstars and favorite local artists. Fans will have access to bonus tracks, remixes and other additional content, free of charge as part of the Comes With Music subscription.

   

  The Nokia X6 is a powerful entertainment device capable of playing up to 35 hours of music, offering 32GB of on-board memory and supporting all main digital music formats, with a slick 3.2″ finger touch interface and a  5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens.

   

  The ultimate device for social butterflies, the Nokia X6 has a 16:9 widescreen optimized for photos, videos and browsing. The Nokia X6 is a hive of activity that brings friends and virtual communities, like Facebook, to the homescreen, making it easy to socialize with friends and follow all the favorite blogs and celeb gossips.

   

  The entertainment experience is completed by three embedded games, Spore by EA, Asphalt4 and DJ Mix Tour by Gameloft, and direct access from the homescreen to download more games and applications through the Ovi Store.

   

  The Nokia X6 will initially be available in Europe, Eurasia and Middle-East and Africa. It is also possible to order the device from the Nokia Online Store: http://europe.nokia.com/buy-online

   

  Photos of the Nokia X6 are available at www.nokia.com/press

  More information on the music offering by Nokia at www.nokia.com/play

  

  Tags: Nokia X6

• 28Nov

  Nokia E72 in stores now

  Mobile phone news, Nokia Mobiles No Comments

  The highly-anticipated Nokia E72, a device tailor-made for business and personal messaging is now available in stores. To coincide with the arrival of the Nokia E72, Nokia has also released research* revealing that more people rely on email than on traditional phone calls or text messaging when sending and responding to critical information.

   

  Speaking about the research results, Nokia vice president Ukko Lappalainen said, “The research shows that people are spending an average of five full days per year – equivalent to a full work week – responding to emails. Half of us (46 percent) choose email over voice or text to send and receive important information. The Nokia E72 was designed exactly with this kind of person in mind – it allows the owner to be more responsive and communicate how they want, whenever they want and wherever they are.”

   

  The Nokia E72 builds on the formula from Nokia’s most successful full QWERTY keyboard device, the Nokia E71, and adds important new functionality such as desktop-like email and chat experiences. Morevoer, the latest version of Ovi Maps with A-GPS navigation and compass, an optical navi key and 5 megapixel camera are all packed into the sleek, beautifully-designed handset.

   

  The Nokia E72 also comes with Nokia’s push consumer email service, Nokia Messaging, and now for the first time people can set up instant messaging (IM) directly from the homescreen, accessing communities such as Windows Live(TM) Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk and Ovi Chat. Just like chatting via the desktop, people can respond to friends and colleagues across multiple communities in real-time.

   

  The Nokia E72 can also accommodate multiple work and personal email accounts and, with separate profiles for work and play, allows people to be flexible when it comes to choosing how, when, where and who to respond to. While work emails rank as the most important messages to receive, they are not necessarily the most urgent messages to respond to. According to Nokia’s research, half of respondents (49 percent) prioritise their partners ahead of their bosses or managers (29 percent), colleagues (23 percent) and even customers (31 percent).

   

  The Nokia responsiveness research was commissioned to examine the various factors that influence how people respond to various issues and situations. In addition to the research, an online campaign at http://www.nokia.com/responsiveness invites people around the world to respond to various issues and comments from TED Fellows.

  

  Tags: Nokia E72

• 28Nov

  Watch this space: Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition launched

  Mobile phone news, Nokia Mobiles, Phone news 1 Comment

  

  Nokia today announced the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition, an entertainment hub that combines mobile broadcast TV (DVB-H), social networking, music and gaming in one compact 3G device. With mobile broadcast TV consumption on the rise – by 2012 there will be over 300 million people worldwide watching TV on their mobile phones – this handset offers easy access to anyone wanting to enjoy an exceptional live, on-the-move TV experience.

  Nokia vice president Mark Selby said, “The introduction of the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition responds to the arrival of DVB-H broadcast mobile TV networks in new markets and offers an affordable device for new and existing customers alike. Customers are increasingly watching a variety of programmes on their mobiles, such as drama programs, news and sport, for a longer period of time. The Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition has the sound and image quality to hold audiences captive.”

  Watch TV. Anywhere.
  Thanks to the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition’s DVB-H technology, programs burst through the QVGA 2.4″ screen in full-colour, crystal clear, sharp images. Plug in 3.5mm headphones for personal viewing or use the loudspeaker option to share the experience with friends and family.

  With one-click access to live broadcasts, the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition can pick up the best channels around. Set reminders for favorite shows to make sure key episodes aren’t missed and create personal channel lists with Nokia’s innovative Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for a truly tailored mobile broadcast TV experience.

  The Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition provides broadcast picture quality while the headset acts as an antenna for outstanding reception, so no blank screens or interference during those all important moments. Long battery life gives up to six hours of DVB-H usage; enough time to watch three football matches – or six episodes of a soap opera – before recharging. The Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition will retail for 155 Euros before taxes and subsidies.

  Franklin Selgert, Chairman, Broadcast Mobile Convergence Forum said, “It is essential for DVB-H service providers to have a variety of devices capable of serving the mass market. Having a complete portfolio of handsets is pivotal for the commercial success of mobile TV. The new Nokia DVB-H enabled mobile phone, the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition, is a great addition to the current portfolio of broadcast TV-capable handsets.”

  Catch up with friends. Anytime.
  The Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition comes with all the latest social networking software, making it simple to stay in touch with friends via Ovi Contacts, Facebook, MySpace and YouTube. Post status updates for friends and family to follow or instant message (IM) them via Windows Live(TM) Messenger, Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger, ICQ, AOL and many others.

  Capture photos and video clips, day or night, using the 3.2 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom and LED flash before uploading and sharing favourite shots via sites such as OviShare and Flickr. Alternatively, email them via Ovi Mail, Nokia Messaging, Windows Live Messenger, Gmail, or Yahoo! Mail.

  Play music. Whenever.
  Accessing music and other apps is easy with dedicated music keys and links to the Nokia Music store (where available). The Nokia 5330 Mobile TV edition is also compatible with Nokia’s innovative Comes with Music service – providing free, unlimited access to millions of tracks. Download free music anytime, anywhere – and keep all the music forever.

  Keep up-to-date. Wherever.
  Check out the choice of personalized media and applications in the Ovi Store. A one-stop-shop for thousands of applications, games, videos, podcasts, productivity tools, web and location-based services and more, means personalizing the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition is just the touch of a button away.

  Mobile TV. Roll-out.
  Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks work with more than 30 operators worldwide on Mobile TV implementations. Commercial launches with Mobile TV services based on DVB-H and OMA BCAST standards include Austria, Finland, Ghana, Kenya, India, Italy, Namibia, Nigeria, Netherland, Philippines and Switzerland. Additional commercial launches can be expected during the next 12-18 month in more than 20 countries.

  Stefan Schneiders, Head of Mobile TV solutions at Nokia Siemens Networks said, “It is great that Nokia has affirmed its commitment to DVB-H by launching the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition. 2010 brings a series of high-profile global sporting events and this is a good opportunity for operators to create, drive and bundle innovative mobile TV services based on DVB-H. In fact, during the 2006 World Cup, Italy saw the launch of the most successful mobile TV Broadcasting service in Europe.”

  Francois Theron, CEO at DStv Mobile comments: “DStv Mobile has rolled out DVB-H networks in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Namibia and we are currently rolling out a number of new networks in other African countries. Our success has been built around offering innovative and premium television content at an affordable price while facilitating access to inexpensive handsets which suit the requirements of consumers in Africa. The introduction of the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition is a welcome development as Nokia is a trusted brand in Africa and will further encourage television viewers to access entertainment, sport and news on the DStv Mobile platforms.”

  Vincent Grivet, Vice President, Mobile TV TDF, France said “We are very excited by the launch of the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition. It is a highly seducing and compelling device and will be the perfect platform for introducing both European mobile users and operators to a high quality and constraint free mobile TV experience. This is exactly what the industry has been waiting for to accelerate the broadcast mobile TV roll out, and we look forward to the successful and fast distribution of this innovative device in our key European markets such as Finland, Austria, Germany and France.

  Vincenzo Novari, CEO at Hutch 3G, Italy, said: “As the largest handset producer in the world, Nokia’s announcement is real evidence of their commitment to the development of the broadcast mobile TV market. Networks, content and handsets made for mass consumer consumption are the key ingredients for fuelling the market’s growth”.

  Erik Sylvestersson, Vice President Sales & Marketing at DNA Finland said: “Live digital TV broadcasts over DVB-H networks is becoming more accessible to more people. In Finland, we have found that sport and news are the key drivers for broadcast mobile TV consumption among consumers. People want to be able to watch the action as it happens – rather than settle for highlight shows once they get home. Consumers expect an exceptional on-the-move TV experience at an affordable price, something the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition is fully equipped to deliver.”

  Notes to editors:

  Compatibility with the aforementioned services may be limited to certain countries.

  Nokia’s first commercial DVB-H device was the Nokia N92, launched in November 2005. Nokia’s DVB-H device range includes the Nokia N92, Nokia N77, and the Nokia N96. In addition Nokia enables DVB-H reception on multiple devices including the Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia N86 8MP, Nokia E75, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and Nokia X6 by using the Nokia Mobile TV Receiver SU-33W.

  

  Tags: Nokia 5330, TV Edition

• 28Nov

  Nokia weighs in with 3 new CDMA devices – Nokia 6316s, Nokia 3806 and Nokia 1506

  Mobile phone news, Nokia Mobiles, Phone news No Comments

  Nokia is today strengthening its CDMA portfolio with the announcement of three new CDMA mobile devices: Nokia 6316s, Nokia 3806 and Nokia 1506. Together this new line-up highlights Nokia’s continued commitment to CDMA as a major standard in key markets around the world.

  The Nokia 1506 is expected to become available in China at the end of 2009, while the Nokia 6316s and the Nokia 3806 are expected to become available during the first quarter of 2010.

  “Nokia is boosting its leadership in the CDMA market by updating an already strong line-up with products that appeal to a wide range of customer needs,” said David Tang, Vice President of Nokia China.

  “Of these devices, the Nokia 6316s is bringing exciting 3G services to life for users in China,” added Mr Tang. “Building on previous collaboration over the Nokia 8208, this is yet another success story resulting from our close relationship with China Telecom.”

  Nokia 6316s: A 3G device to stay both connected and entertained

  

  A Multimedia device with web browsing, music, imaging and GPS, the Nokia 6316s brings elegant design and powerful functionality together in a compact sliding device. The stainless-steel Nokia 6316s achieves both style and ease of use with a 2.2″ QVGA display, a 2-megapixel camera and Bluetooth 2.1.

  The Nokia 6316s offers a full range of features in support of China Telecom services and preloaded applications such as QQ, Email, web browser, as well as try-and-buy applications mobile navigation and mobile stock. With fast 3G connectivity, the Nokia 6316s makes it easier than ever for people to stay in touch and share the things that matter the most to them.

  There are three colour schemes available: Black, gold and red.

  Nokia 3806: A compact companion

  Inheriting the successful Nokia design ‘DNA’, the Nokia 3806 combines elegant design, all-in-one functionality, affordability and powerful information sharing features.

  

  With a 2.2″ QVGA display, a 2-megapixel camera with video recorder, Bluetooth 2.1 and a card slot which can support an external memory card up to 4GB, the Nokia 3806 is an exciting mobile phone that allows users to easily capture and share every important moment.

  The classic monoblock design of the Nokia 3806 is lined with silver trim and is available in three colour schemes: piano black, pure white and rose gold.

  Offering more than sleek and stylish design, the Nokia 3806 offers Health Assistant, a companion that helps manage the stresses of daily life, allowing you to stay healthy, which ultimately, allows you to stay happy.

  Nokia 1506: A simpler way to stay connected

  

  Designed to simplify the lives of its users, the Nokia 1506 is Nokia’s most affordable CDMA device to date. The easy-to-use Nokia 1506 stands out from other entry-level mobiles with a slender monoblock design with high-gloss colors, a Navi key in metallic finish, a voice recorder, an integrated handsfree speaker and long battery performance.

  There are two colour schemes available: Black and plum.

  

  Tags: Nokia 1506, Nokia 3806, Nokia 6316

• 28Nov

  The Nokia N900 shipments have started

  Mobile phone news, Nokia Mobiles No Comments

  The shipments of the Nokia N900, Nokia’s latest mobile computer based on open source Maemo 5 software, have now started. The Nokia N900 will be available in retail stores in November with an estimated retail price of EUR 500, excluding sales taxes and subsidies.

   

  “The Nokia N900 has generated a lot of interest since its public launch in August, which has been reflected in the device preorders,” says José-Luis Martinez, Vice President, Nseries, Nokia. “What’s exciting is the Maemo software, which takes its cues from the desktop computer and offers a full browsing experience like no other handset. We believe the Nokia N900 will be a very compelling device for people who are passionate about technology.”

   

  

   

  At the heart of the Nokia N900 is its powerful ARM Cortex-A8 processor and up to 1GB of total application memory.  Users can browse the internet the way they would on any computer and keep dozens of application windows open simultaneously on the dashboard. The panoramic desktops in the Nokia N900 can be personalized with widgets, contacts and shortcuts. Pictures and videos taken with the 5Mpx Carl Zeiss camera automatically show where they were taken, and users can add their own description tags to make searching the photos even easier. SMS and instant messages are organized as chat flow and people can convenienty switch between the multiple conversation windows. The built-in 32 GB storage is big enough to store up to 7,000 songs or 40 hours of DVD-quality video, and it can be expanded up to 48GB with an external microSD card.

   

  Nokia works closely with the developer community and has recently seen significant innovation happening with Maemo. As a result, people will be able to discover a wide range of games, utilities, themes, panoramic wallpapers and service plug-ins for photo-sharing and messaging for the Nokia N900 through Ovi Store and Maemo Select, starting later in the year. In October Nokia announced official Qt port to Maemo 5. This means developers can use Qt software to target the Nokia N900 and that applications can be easily ported to all Qt’s supported platforms including the next Maemo 6 release as well as Symbian.

   

  The Nokia N900 will initially be available in Europe, Middle-East, Russia and North America. It is also possible to order the device from the Nokia Online Store: http://europe.nokia.com/buy-online

  

  Tags: Nokia N900

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