Nokia won't have Windows Phone OS on handsets until at least October

One of the biggest surprises to be unveiled so far this year was the announcement by Nokia CEO Stephen Elop that Nokia would be moving from Symbian to the Windows Phone OS. Notice I didn't say Windows Phone 7. Apparently, the current Windows Phone 7 won't be used and the move to the Microsoft mobile OS will be pushed until at least October 2011 to wait for the next update.


Guardian.co.uk reports that Elop has never once said that Nokia Would be using WinPo 7 and has steered clear from making that comment. This leads some to believe that the next version of the OS codenamed " Mango" may not be called Windows Phone 7. Elop would presumably know about the coming version and what it is called since he was a Microsoft exec until last fall.

What the Mango update will include is unknown, but speculation is that it might be dubbed Windows Phone 7.5. Another thing that stands out is the fact that never once did Elop or Ballmer mention Zune Music Service, which is rumored to replale the Nokia offering.

We have rumors now that the Zune name will be dropped and the service rebranded. Whatever the new Mango OS is called officially, Nokia workers are far from happy about the move from Symbian.



By Shane McGlaun, www.slashgear.com

Lenovo Skylight Smartbook - looks SMART!

Click Video Lenovo Skylight Smartbook at CES 2010 from Youtube

The Lenovo Skylight's ultra thin, cool designer shape that definitely makes the smartbook stick out. It appears to have a sturdy build despite it's under 2lbs frame, making it perfect for travel. Read on for specs and a spec-comparison to the Nokia booklet.

Detailed Spech + Impressions of the Lenovo Skylight Smartbook

The Lenovo Skylight Smartbook also comes with a full sized island keyboard and a touchpad that supports two finger scrolling.

- Processor - 1Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon platfrom
- OS - Based on Linux - on start, shows you apps of social networks & sites you're likely to friction (gmail, youtube etc)
- Memory - 8 GB and comes with a 4GB stick (upgradeable to 16GB)
- Storage - 20GB flash storage + 2 GB cloud storage
- Display - high res. 10.6 screen (1280 x 720)- makes 720p video look great
- Connectivity - built in 3G that runs on AT&T, WiFi
- Ports - HDMI, 1 normal USB, 1 USB stick which fits into the top of the netbook (above the keyboard), 1.3MP webcam
- Battery - claims 10 hours battery life, Gizmodo putr it at 8hours, make it 4 if you're using it full-capacity
- Weight - less than lbs
- Dimension: 10 x 7.9 x [0.7" to 0.74"]
- Colors - Lotus Blue and Earth Red

The Lenovo Skylight interface of Linux is the best I've seen so far (I've done 0 research when it comes to Linux though), and the shape & design of this netbook is actually enough to convince me to try Linux out. The size, light weight, built in 3G just make this seem like the ultimate portable device. Unfortunately, it's priced pretty high at $500 from Lenovo.com or cheaper with a 2 year contract from AT&T. Word is it'll be out Stateside in April - hopefully prices will take a dip by then.

Compared to the Nokia Booklet

Both have island-keyboards, the Nokia Booklet is 'heavier' at 2.76lbs, same dimensions though. The Nokia Booklet also comes with an Intel Atom processor - 1.6GHz Z530. Before you think this makes it automatically better than the Lenovo Skylight's 1GHz snapdron, keep in mind the Nokia Booklet needs to power a more intensive Windows 7 operating system. The Nokia Booklet comes with a 'generic' shape, but it's aluminum finish sure looks sexay. Also the Nokia Booklet has Bluetooth.

The Nokia Booklet is available at $600 without the AT&T subsidy, and for $300 with it. About a $100 more than the Lenovo Skylight. Hmm.




By Nidhi, http://netbook10.com

Nokia to halve smartphone offerings in 2010

Click Video CES 2010 Nokia N900 from Youtube


Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone maker, has announced it will be cutting its smartphone offering in half next year, despite losing market share to rivals RIM and Apple.

"We see... really fierce competition certainly in the high end, but we also see it in the mid to low end of smartphones increasing," said Jo Harlow, chief of Nokia's smartphone unit, via Reuters. "We will defend our position, but we believe we also have tools to play offense as well as defense."

Part of that "defense" will be to push smartphone prices lower while at the same time increasing margins. Recent figures showed that Nokia had lost smartphone market share for the most recent quarter, from 41 percent to 35 percent.

"Reducing the number of smartphone models makes a lot of sense... but Nokia has to be very careful in finding the right balance: its large product portfolio has been one of its strong competitive advantages in the past," concludes Bernstein analyst Pierre Ferragu.



Source: www.afterdawn.com

Why Nokia Needs New Symbian OS in 2010

Nokia today offered a rosy outlook for the mobile handset market in 2010, saying it expects industry volumes to grow by roughly 10 percent over 2009. The forecast the Finnish manufacturer gave for itself, on the other hand, wasn't quite so optimistic. The company said at its Nokia Capital Markets Day in Helsinki that it expects its market share to be flat next year compared to 2009, although the average selling price of its devices may erode less in 2010 "compared to recent years."

Nokia also said it plans to re-engineer its Symbian user interface - which has long been a serious vulnerability - and deliver two "major product milestones" in both the first and second half of next year. Nokia also said it plans to launch its first Maemo 6-powered mobile computer in the second half of 2009 and vowed to provide third-party developers with better tools for building apps for the company's Ovi service. And, as EVP Tero Ojanpera told Om earlier this week, Nokia will continue to expand its services business and offer affordable, localized services to consumers in emerging markets.

While Nokia's long-term prospects appear to hinge on its Maemo operating system, vast improvements to Symbian would go a long way toward boosting in the smartphone market over the next two year, according to a research note from RBC Capital Markets.

"Nokia is focused on improving the mobile device user experience and its dual approach on feature phones and smartphones," RBC Managing Director Mark Sue noted. "A major revamped version of Symbian may accelerate Nokia's competitiveness in the smartphone market, a market which has only become more competitive in recent years... Brand, volume and scale still remain Nokia's strong points."

Indeed, Nokia's global footprint remainr impressive, and the company seems to be learning from its many missteps over the last couple of years. If in 2010 it can bring an upgraded Symbian OS to as it continues to develop its Maemo platform, the guys from Espoo could find themselves back in the smartphone game in Europe and North America.



Source: http://gigaom.com

2009 Netbook Shipments to Double 2008 Numbers, Says Report

Netbook shipments for 2009 are expected to be double those of 2009, according to a new report. Going forward, however, netbook shipments are expected to slow while competition increases, thanks, in part, to Apple and Nokia.

Netbook shipments in 2009 are expected to fully double over 2008 shipmentnumbers, according to a Nov. 26 report from research firm Research and Markets. Going forward, however, the firm anticipates that netbook PC growth momentumwill slow. Additionally, as the prices of netbooks continue to fall, "netbookPC maker's profit margins are expected to be affected," states the report.

Thefindings echo those of Gartner, which in a Nov. 23 report stated that whileoverall PC shipments rose in the fourth quarter-thanks to demand for mobile PCs-marketvalue fell, due to an unprecedented declind in PC average selling prices. Research and Markets pointed to the pursuit of new opportunities as necessaryroutes toward continued growth.

"In order to expand netbook PC market coverage, other than increasing productdifferentiation to stimulate demand in the existing mature consumer markets," states the report, "PC companies also aim to seek new market opportunities inthe education, commercial and emerging market segments, as well as newdistribution channels and new offerings."

PCmaker Dell, for example, has shown itself to be on this path, with theintroduction this year of PCs geared toward specific enterprise verticals. The Latitude XT2 XFR is a rugged convertible tablet for military, fiedservice, factory-fulfillment and other physically demanding environments, whileDell'sLatitude 2100 netbook is geared toward student users in K-12 classrooms
The Research and Markets study added, "The entrance of new competitors such asNokia and Apple is expected to intensify competition."

On Oct. 13, Nokia introduced theBooklet 3G, the first true PC for the phone maker, which is slated toarrive in time for the holidays.

Apple is said to have a tablet PC in the works, though it has yet to confirmthis. Therumor was given new legs in October, when an editor at The New York Timescasually mentioned an "Apple slate" during a talk at TheTimesCenter.
The Gartner repor likewise concluded that netbook growth is expected to slowgoing forward, as netbooks face increased competition from other low-cost PCs,as well as other from factors.


By: Michelle Maisto, http://mobile.eweek.com

Nokia Plans One Linux Phone Next Year: Source

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia plans to install Linux software on just one new smartphone next year, a source told Reuters on Monday, dampening prospects of a quick makeover of the Finnish group's struggling product line-up.

The Finnish firm has started to invest more Internet services in recent years, seeking to counter falling handset prices and increased competition in smartphones from the likes of Apple and Blackberry-maker RIM.

The Linux Maemo operating system is seen as key for Nokia in its rivalry with Apple Inc's iPhone, and many analyst and industry players have been expecting the firm to roll out numerous Linux models already next year.

"This is not necessarily worrying, but they need a hit product. It has to be a winning one and Nokia needs to continue to work on Symbian in the meantime," said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi.

Nokia started to sell its first Linux phone, the top-of-the-range N900 model, this month.

"The potential of Linux computer operating system is in the high-end, and we have not yet fully harnessed that," Ari Jaaksi, head of Maemo at Nokia, told Reuters.

Nokia has used open source Linux Maemo since 2005 in its niche range of internet tablets-sleek phone-like devices without connection to mobile networks.

"They key lesson we have had-almost everyone asked for a phone: ain't there a cellular connection?", Jaaksi said.

The Maemo operating system will be updated in 2010, with full integration of Qt technology, which enables software developers to created one application for different operating systems, iPhone-like capacitive touchscreen support and a tighter integration of Nokia's services.

'FULLY COMMITTED' TO SYMBIAN

"Launching just one Maemo model in the whole of 2010 need not be a problem if Nokia can develop an iPhone killer with standout design and superior usability," said analyst Neil Mawston from Strategy Analytics.

"The Symbian operating system will receive some upgrades over the next 6 to 18 months, so Nokia could well choose so focur on that critical task," he said.

The plan for one Linux phone also dampens rumors the firm would replace the Symbian operating system in its line-up.

"We remain firmly committed to Symbian as our smartphone platform of choice," said another Nokia spokesman, adding the company does not comment on future product plans.

Nokia will hold its capital markets day on Wednesday, an event at which the firm traditionally has outlined or updated its strategy for the coming one-to-two years.

Nokia's closest rival Samsung Electronics gave an upbeat forecast for 2009 mobile phone sales on Monday due to sharp growth in toucscreen models, but analysts warned surging volumes may not guarantee higher margins.

NO PLANS TO CLOSE PLANTS

Nokia marketing head Anssi Vanjoki said the world's biggest handset maker had no plans to sell its manufacturing plants, dismissing speculation sparked by his interview in the run-up to the company's strategy updatd on Wednesday.

"Our logistics and manufacturing are an important competitive advantage, and a core part of Nokia's business ... We have no plans to change this business model," Vanjoki said on Monday in a statement.

German magazine Wirtschaffswoche quoted Vanjoki as saying one should "never say never" should a sale of handset manufacturing at some point be warranted as part of Nokia's transformation into a services provider.

Following the Wirtschaftswoce report, the Chinese-language, Taipei-based Economic Daily on Monday cited unidentified institutional investors as saying Hon Hai, Taiwan's biggest electronics parts maker, would be the most likely candidate for Nokia's handset plants.

Nokia's shares closed 1.1 percent lower at 8.77 euros in Helsinki, slightly ouperforming a 1.6 percent weaker Dow Jones Stoxx European Technology Index.


By Tarmo Virki, http://us.mobile.reuters.com

Analyst: Nokia to Offer an Android Netbook in 2010

Nokia plans to launch an ARM-based netbook that relies on the Google-pioneered Android mobile operating system in 2010, writes lazard Capital Markets analyst Daniel Amir in a research note issued this morning. In the same note, he predicts that the total number of netbooks sold worldwide will reach 25 million in 2009 vs. 10 million in 2008, with the majority of them being Intel-based machines running Windows.

Amir said he expects the Nokia notebook to be sold through carriers, which fits with Nokia's distribution system for mobile phones. From the note:

"In our conversations with ODMs, we have confirmed that Nokia is planning to enter the netbook market with a Google Android, ARM-based netbook that would be sold at carriers. Considering this market is dominated by the PC players, we believe Nokia could face an uphill battle to succeed in this market."

The market is dominated by PC players, but Nokia has teamed up with Intel, which means that if an ARM-based netbook fails, it has an alternative design in the works. Also its decision to sell through the carriers will help Nokia reach an audience that may be looking for the characteristics of a larger smartphone rather that a smaller PC.

Most netbook buyers (60 percent) use their netbooks inside the home as a cheap PC, according to a recent survey published by NPD. However, folks looking for a larger smartphond may accept the netbook compromises in exchange for instant-on, all-day access to the web without having to charge a battery. So a NokRMoid device may sell, despite having a terrible-sounding mash-up of names. Readers, any better ideas?


By Stacey Higginbotham, http://gigaom.com

Nokia X-6 Touchscreen Phone Launched

Nokia X-6 and X-3, two phones in the new Nokia X series were launched at the NokiaWorld event in Stuttgart today. The two X series take over from the Nokia Xpress Music line of phones. The Xpress Music range is currently the largest selling range of phones from Nokia.

The Nokia X-6 is the higher version, which comes with a touchscreen, which is similiar to most of the touchscreen phones in the market. The Nokia X-6 is a "Comes-With-Music" device, which means for some time after buying the mobile phones, you will be able to download the songs you like for free.

The Nokia X-6 has 32 GB of storage space, which cane be used to save music, movies and pictures. The memory on the Nokia X-6 can be expanded with an SD card as well. Nokia says that the memory is enough to store 35 hours of music. The touchscreen on the Nokia X-6 has a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is good for watching widescreen movies.

The Nokia X-6 will be available in the US in the fourth quarter, before the December holiday season. The company said that the Nokia X-6 price will be 459 euros in Europe.

The Nokia X-6 has touchscreen with the resolution of 320x640 pixels with 16 million colours. Nokia said it will have an accelerometer which is sensitive to movements and a proximity sensor. The company has not made it clear whether the touchscreen will be resistive or capacitative.

However, we are not too impressed with the 434MHz processor and 128MB RAM. One just needs to compare it with the 600 MHz processor on the Apple iPhone to see the difference in processing power. The same 434 MHz processor is used in the Nokia N-97 as well as the new N97 Mini.

The Nokia X-Series comes with Assisted GPS (A-GPS), whicg means you can use it for navigation with Nokia Maps. Nokia did not say whether the new X-series phones come with Maps preinstalled - we hope so. Even if it doesn't have, one can opt to download and install the free Google Maps, or choose to buy a map and assorted software from various map vendors. The GPS also ensures that you can the related software for geotagging photos and videos as and when you shoot them on the Nokia X-6.

Nokia has not released many tech specs on the Nokia X-6. However, it will come with Symbian operating system, Nokia's flagship operating system for mobile phones and handled devices. The version will be the series 60 5th edition of Symbian. The browser, said Nokia, is a full-fledged one with Flash Lite support. The Nokia X-6 comes with a TV-out cable.

Entertainment seems to be the driving factor behind the Nokia X-6. The X-6 smartphone has a 5 megapixel (5 MP) camera with Carl Zeiss Lens (Nokia has always stuck to the trustworthy Carl Zeiss optics for dual LED flash to back it up. Photo editing can be done on-screen without the need for a computer connection, said Nokia.

However, don't expect photo-editing on a mobile phone of the same quality as editing on a computer, just the same way that you cant expect photography on a mobile to be as food as photography on a digital camera. Apart from still photos, the X-6 Nokia can also record video at 16 frames per second, the company said.

The new Nokia X-6 is also social media enabled, which means you can use sociak networking sites like Facebook, Orkut and witter on the X-6. Nokia has not mentioned all the social networking applications preloaded with the Nokia X-6 smartphones, but we guess Facebook is a clear choice.

Nokia said that the Nokia X-6 mobile phone will have connectivity via 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The X-6 Nokia mobile phone battery can stay for as long as 8 and half hours of talk-time and 35 hours of musib playback. It can also play 4 hours of video playback and has a standby time of over 400 hours, Nokia said.


Source: www.dancewithshadows.com

Nokia 2220 Slider Phone Perfect Gift For 2010

Nokia's yet to be announced entry-level slide phone Nokia 2220 will hit the market before the advent of New Year.

The mobile giant, Nokia's stylish Nokia 2220 slider phone will not only be the perfect gift for the girlfriend but being a low cost phone it will be a perfect gift from Nokia to all the budget oriented customers.

The pictures of Nokia 2220 slide are already exposed onto the net shows that this sleek stylish phone will be the choice of youths.

Assumptions are that Nokia 2220 slider phone will be available in the market with a price tag of $100. The phone is expected to hit the market before the advent of New Year.

Nokia 2220 is based on S40 and supports dual band GSM connectivity (900/1800 MHz). Nokia handset features 128 x 160 TFT display. Just with 10MB of internal memory, Nokia 2220 slider does not seem to offer a comprehensive multimedia experience.

Its specifications include 3.5 mm audio jack with FM radio, Opera Mini browser, 8 hours in standby time, OS: Nokia S40 and a very basic VGA camera. The handset will be made available in black, white, blue, green and violet colors during launch.

Nokia 2220 is the right choice for the person who wishes just to stay in touch, interested making some calls few text messages.

By Hema Manchanda, http://ub-news.com

Nokia to kill N-Gage in Late 2010 No new N-Gage games will come to the Market

Nokia's plans for the popular N-Gage gaming platform are rather bad news for users and fans. No more games will be published for the platform, and all titles will be moved to the Ovi Store, while the currently availabe N-Gage games will remain available for purchase only until September. Moreaver, the N-Gage website and Arena service will remain active throughout 2010, but not afterwards.

According to a blog post on the N-Gage website, those who already purchased N-Gage Games will be able to enjoy them on their compatible devices even after the social services become unavailable.

The post also says that handsets featuring the N-Gage applications will continue to be sold on the market for a period of time, yet no new devices will be pre-loaded with the application.

The Ovi Store will be the gaming center from now on, it seems. The application portal will come pre-loaded on a wide range of mobile phones, and users will have this way the opportunity to access new titles there. The Ovi Store is already supported on a number of 100 Nokia phones, and will also come with new compatible Symbian S60 and Series 40 handsets.

Most of you might already know what the Ovi Stores is all about. According to the Nokia Games team, if you access the software solutions portal, "not only will you be able to get a wide variety of games like Pac-Man, The Sims 3 and Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile in the Ovi Store, but you will have access to hundreds of new ones like Sky Force Reload and EA SPORTS FIFA 10 from a wide range of publishers from 65 countries."

Nokia was expected for some time now to bring all of its services together under the Ovi name, and the inclusion of games with the Ovi Store was something that was somehow seen to happen, especially since it was quite different from the Ovi approach. More details on what it will happen with the N-Gage services and with the currently available games can be found here.

Source: http://news.softpedia.com

Nokia Takes Apple To Court Over iPhones

Nokia is pursing legal action against Apple on the grounds that technology employed in iPhones infringes its copyrights.

According to the filing to a Federal District Court in Delaware, Nokia claims that iPhones infringe ten of its patents, covering wireless data, speech coding, security and encription-all of which have been features of Apple handsets since 2007.

The decision to sue comes after the two firms failed to reach agreement for Apple to pay a license fee allowing them to employ technology developed by Nokia's research and development departments.

Ilkka Rahnasto, Vice President of Legal & Intellectual Property at Nokia, said: "The basic principle in the mobile industry is that those companies who contribute in technology development to establish standards create intellectual property, which others then need to compensate for.

"Apple is also expected to follow this principle. By refusing to agree approriate terms for Nokia's intellectual property, Apple is attempting to get a free ride on the back of Nokia' innovation."

The case, which is believed to have been prompted in part by Nokia losing a significant proportion of its market share to Apple, is expected to come to court at the end of 2011.


By Jonathan Leggett,www.top10.co.uk

Nokia Smartphones N900

Nokia launched mobile Smartphone, the Nokia N900 will come with concepts such as a PC. With keybad QWERTY and other features such as GPS.

The N900 has just leapt out of the depths and is primed to make a splash as Nokia's debut Maemo device (sorry, couldn't resist the fishy metaphor). In terms of where the N900 sits on Nokia's newly broadened produck spectrum - courtesy of this week's introduction of the Booklet 3G - it bridges that wilderness between smartphone and compack laptop.
The concept behind the N900 simply being that it enables you to experience a proper desktop-like experience in a pocket-size device.


We've gathered all the must-know details and snaps of Nokia's first Linux-based Maemo handset. Click through to find out more and to see the N900 up close in our photo gallery.

We're not ones to typically dwell on the numbers, but this is one of those devices where the hardware paints a true picture of its potential. The N900's pocket computer credentials are validated when you peek in its engine room, which comprises of a powerful ARM Cortex-A8 processor,

with up to 1GB of application memory and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration.

Combine all that horsepower with the new Linux-based Maemo 5 software, and the N900 enables you to multi-task as you would on a PC (the Maemo platfrom was first designed for computers) this set-up means you can quickly flit between stacks of apps running simultaneously and smoothly.

This fusion of the Maemo 5 platfrom and significant processing power is brought to life through the now familiar combo of a high-res WVGA touchscreen and full physical slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

It also stomachs 32GB of storage, expandable up to 48GB with a microSD card leg-up, and is home to a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics. Plus, other features include A-GPS, an FM transmitter, and up to 9 hours of talk time.

The N900 is geared up to let you browse the web as you would on a PC, with a browser based on Mozilla technology, meaning websites look exactly as they would appear on your desktop. Watching online video and enjoying online
apps is also made possible thanks to full Adobe Flash 9.4 support. Couple this with speedy internet access, realized via HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity, and the N900 promises to deliver the best pocket-friendly online experience to date.


Anssi Vanjoki is the Executive Vice President of Markets at Nokia, and had this to say about the new N900:

"With Linux software, Mozilla-based browses technology and now also with cellular connectivity, the Nokia N900 delivers a powerful mobile experience. The Nokia N900 shows where we are going with Maemo and we'll continue to work with the community to push the software forward.
What we have with Maemo is something that is fusing the power of the computer, the internet and the mobile phone, and it is great to see that it is evelving in exciting ways."


The Nokia N900 is inked in the diary to go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2009 in selected markets, and will cost around 500 Euros, excluding the usual regional taxes and subsidies.