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Tag: nokia

  • Yahoo Launches Indoor Maps In Latest Search Effort

    Yahoo announced that it is now offering indoor maps for some places. The feature comes as the result of a partnership with Nokia, utilizing its Here service.

    Yahoo has released maps for various shopping malls, train stations and airports, not unlike efforts we’ve seen from Google in the past.

    “The maps are currently available from your computer and include the layout for building levels, an interactive building directory, and contact information for many interior businesses,” Yahoo says in a blog post. “It’s one more option to help you find your way around.”

    You can find the maps at maps.yahoo.com where applicable.

    Pino Bonetti writes on the Here blog, “When you plan a trip or arrange to meet someone somewhere, a lot of the time that place will be indoors: being able to see and share a map of that location makes complete sense and can save a lot of time wandering around in circles once you’ve arrived.”

    “When you’re in a venue, being able to quickly find facilities like cash machines and toilets can make big difference to your happiness,” he adds. “Venue maps from HERE include all these and allow you to see across multiple floors.”

    It’s clear that Yahoo is getting more serious about search again under Marissa Mayer. Rumor has it that Mayer hates the company’s search deal with Microsoft, and is working on ways to make itself less dependent on it.

    With regards to local specifically, the company recently partnered with Yelp to include business listings.

    Image via Here

  • Stephen Elop To Take Over Xbox Division At Microsoft

    Stephen Elop To Take Over Xbox Division At Microsoft

    When rumors of Microsoft’s next CEO began to circulate, Stephen Elop was said to be on the shortlist of candidates. It was reported that his leadership would lead to Microsoft getting rid of numerous businesses that weren’t core to its enterprise strategy. One of those businesses was Xbox, and now he’s about to get a lot more intimate with the division he was once reportedly going to kill.

    TechCrunch got a hold of an internal memo from current Xbox boss Julie Larson-Green in which she announced her departure from the Devices and Studios group. Stephen Elop will be taking her place as head of the division once the Nokia merger is complete.

    With Elop’s move to the Devices and Studios group, he will be overseeing more than just Xbox. The division is responsible for all the hardware that Microsoft produces, including Surface and Windows Phone. With Microsoft now producing its own hardware thanks to its acquisition of Nokia, it only makes sense for Elop to head up this part of the company.

    So, what does this mean for the division? It’s a little too early to tell at this moment, but I think fans of Surface, Xbox and Windows Phone have nothing to worry about. Elop may have gotten rid of Xbox if he were CEO, but he’s not CEO. The final decision to get rid of any particular division rests with new CEO Satya Nadella and his close relationship with both Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer will probably ensure its future.

    In short, Microsoft’s Devices and Studios group will probably keep doing what it’s been doing as it changes hands. Elop will probably have his hands full dealing with Windows Phone and Nokia so the Xbox and Surface teams will likely be left to their own devices.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Nokia X Officially Unveiled, Runs Android

    Nokia X Officially Unveiled, Runs Android

    For the last month, we’ve heard rumors of a device from Nokia called Normandy. The new smartphone would reportedly run Android. Some thought the idea would be nixed as Microsoft acquired Nokia last year, but it seems that Microsoft is totally fine with it.

    Nokia announced this morning at Mobile World Congress that it plans to launch a new family of phone this year called Nokia X. The line is comprised of smartphones that run a forked version of Android with a focus on Microsoft and Nokia services. In other words, you could think of it as a Windows Phone that can run Android apps.

    Nokia X Officially Unveiled, Runs Android

    The Nokia X family is comprised of three devices – the Nokia X, Nokia X+ and Nokia XL. All three devices are targeted at “affordable smartphone market” which means they’ll be launching in emerging markets first. In fact, there are no plans to launch the devices in North American and they probably won’t make it over here.

    So, what kind of hardware can you expect if you decide to import the Nokia X? All we know is that all three devices are powered by a Qualcomm dual-core CPU which means they’re at the low-end of the hardware spectrum. The Nokia X and X+ both sport a 4-inch display with the only difference between the two being that the X+ is optimized for multimedia. As for the XL, it has a 5-inch display and a 2MP front-facing camera.

    It should be noted that the Nokia X really is a Microsoft phone despite running Android. All of Google’s services have been stripped from the experience which means users will have to get their apps either from Nokia’s own store, third-party app stores or through sideloading.

    As its codename suggested, the Nokia X line is intended to sneak Windows Phone into consumers’ lives through Android. By offering a cheap Android phone with a Windows Phone skin, Microsoft can present its case for Windows Phone with an affordable option that’s compatible with the apps they already know. If they get a taste for Microsoft’s and Nokia’s apps, it just might convince to make the switch.

    The Nokia X goes on sale today for the affordable price of €89. It’s available in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The Nokia X+ will be available at the start of Q2 and retail for €99, while the Nokia XL will be made available at the same time and retail for €109.

    Image via Nokia

  • That Nokia Android Phone Might Be Unveiled This Month

    Last month, it was revealed that Nokia may be working on an Android device. The news was surprising considering Nokia’s commitment to the Windows Phone platform as well as the company now being owned by Microsoft. According to a new report, the phone, known as Normandy, is very real and will be unveiled later this month.

    The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Nokia and Microsoft will be unveiling its line of Normandy devices at Mobile World Congress later this month. The low-end Android devices will run a forked version of Android that emphasizes Nokia and Microsoft services while stripping out all of Google’s services.

    If you’re just joining us, the Nokia Normandy is a rumored line of low-end Android devices that Nokia was working on before being sold to Microsoft. The devices are reportedly meant to replace Nokia’s own low-end Asha devices which run the company’s own custom software. With Normandy, the company is seemingly planning to get its own, as well as Microsoft’s services, into as many hands as possible through low-end hardware running a forked version of Google’s popular Android OS.

    So, how low-end are we talking here? Will Nokia’s Normandy be able to compete with other low-end devices, like the Moto G? According to @evleaks, the Normandy will be an even lower-end phone with a dual-core Snapdragon CPU, 4-inch display, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and a 5MP rear camera. In short, the Normandy is the kind of low-end intended for emerging markets, like China or India, where price is more important specs.

    Still, it’s an interesting prospect – Microsoft may soon be selling an Android phone if these reports are accurate. While Microsoft won’t be offering any Google services on its device, it will still be using the OS that Windows Phone directly competes with. In this case, Microsoft may be taking “if you can’t beat them, join them” stance with a long-term goal of converting those Normandy users into Windows Phone users once the markets mature.

    Image via @evleaks/Twitter

  • New Nokia Phones Rumored For Mobile World Congress

    This year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was filled with a wide array of tablet, smartphone, and TV announcements and reveals. Manufacturers will get a second world stage to debut products at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, and it seems that Microsoft will be using the event to announce its new Nokia devices.

    A new DigiTimes report today states that Nokia is rumored to be preparing a line of Windows Phone 8.1 devices for announcement at MWC. According to the report’s unnamed “sources in Taiwan’s handset supply chain,” at least three different Nokia smartphones are set to debut at the event, with offerings for both the high and low end of the smartphone market. All three have the Lumia branding that Nokia has worked so hard to create over the past two years.

    One of the rumored devices is the Lumia 1820, a with a 5.2-inch display. The 1820 supposedly will have a Snapdragon 805 CPU and a 3400mAh battery.

    Another of the devices could be the Lumia 1520V, a smaller budget version of Nokia’s Lumia 1520. The 1520V is rumored to have a 4.45-inch display and a 14MP rear camera, both of which are pared down from the 1520’s 6-inch display and 20MP rear camera.

    The third device is rumored to be named the Lumia 1525. DigiTimes’ sources described the 1525 as having a 6-inch display, though nothing else about its hardware was revealed.

    Despite Windows Phone’s small chunk of the smartphone market, Nokia and Microsoft have continued to pump out Lumia devices with hardware that competes with the best smartphones available (especially when it comes to camera technology). With a software revision in Windows Phone 8.1, Nokia’s latest offerings could expand Microsoft’s mobile ecosystem and help the platform gain even more market share.

    Image via Nokia

  • Microsoft, Nokia Might Be Making An Android Device

    Last year, Microsoft acquired Nokia’s devices and services business in what appeared to be an effort to make its own Windows Phone hardware going forward. While Microsoft will still continue making Windows Phones under the Nokia brand, it looks like the two companies will be making an Android device as well.

    The always trustworthy @evleaks was on Twitter today again with screenshots of what’s being referred to as Normandy. It’s a secret project that’s intended to bring Windows Phone design and services to Android through Google’s Android Open Source Project. In other words, Microsoft has forked Android to build a Windows Phone-like experience on top of Google’s mobile OS.

    According to The Verge, Normandy is being proposed as an entry-level phone for emerging markets. The devices will reportedly feature a 4-inch display, Qualcomm S4 CPU, 3MP rear-facing camera, 4GB of onboard storage and 512MB of RAM.

    Here’s another shot of the device, courtesy of @evleaks:

    So, why is Microsoft making an Android phone with Nokia? Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet says it would be a great way to nab new Windows Phone users without having to sell them Windows Phone hardware. Even if it was a forked version of Android, it would still run all the Windows Phone 8 services that are the real money makers for Microsoft.

    As Foley points out, one of Ballmer’s last acts as CEO was to transition the company into the devices and services business. Keeping your services exclusive to a small platform like Windows Phone doesn’t make any sense. Sure, Microsoft has put some of its services on Android and iOS, but creating their own platform on inexpensive Android devices could be a recipe for success in emerging markets looking for Android’s compatibility with numerous apps combined with Microsoft’s own productivity apps.

    If Nokia and Microsoft are serious about releasing Normandy, we’ll probably hear more about it at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

    Image via @evleaksES/Twitter

  • Top Smartphones: Which Phone Rules The Roost?

    Top Smartphones: Which Phone Rules The Roost?

    With the holiday season well underway, perhaps you’re looking into buying a popular smartphone for a family member. Maybe your current phone hasn’t been so great and you’re hoping to find a new smartphone in your stocking this year. One stand out phone seems to have the most consumers buzzing this Christmas.

    The iPhone 5S is reported to be the top-selling phone for all four major U.S. wireless carriers. The running joke with Apple has long been that just when you’ve gotten good and comfortable with your new phone, another one is released. Regardless of the inevitability of an iPhone 6, many agree that this latest effort is an improvement over the former phone. One of the major features is the ability to use your fingerprint as a passcode for accessing your phone. Talk about high tech security.

    Apple’s success dethrones Samsung stateside, as the company’s Samsung Galaxy S4 was the most popular phone in late summer. But don’t count Samsung out just yet. The company’s product did outsell Apple’s last year. Though they may be edged out by Christmas, there’s a good chance that Samsung will take this as a challenge to improve on future phones.

    Nokia is still one of the most popular global options for low-end phones, though they are struggling a bit. Rumors of an android phone release make some wonder if they’ll end up with a Blackberry type situation: Too little, too late.

    As a consumer, it’s best to not only know which phones are popular, but which phones are best. There are certain top qualities a buyer should be looking for in a phone before they shell out their hard-earned money.

    It should be fast (the newest iPhone has an A7 chip), have a beautiful high definition screen (the Samsung Galaxy S4 has the best screen resolution), and give you the best bang for your buck. That last point is highly subjective. Only you or the person you’re shopping for will know whether it was money well spent after the holiday season is over.

    Image: Wikimedia Commons

  • European Commission Approves Microsoft Nokia Deal

    The European Commission announced today that it has approved Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia’s mobile device business.

    The deal was first announced in September, and gained shareholder approval last month.

    The Commission said, “The Commission concluded that the transaction would not raise any competition concerns, in particular because there are only modest overlaps between the parties’ activities and the links between Microsoft’s mobile operating systems, mobile applications and enterprise mail server software with Nokia’s smart mobile devices are unlikely to lead to competitors being shut out from the market.”

    “In 2012, almost 700 million smartphones and 162 million tablets were sold worldwide,” it added. “The Commission assessed the effects of the acquisition on competition in the field of smart mobile devices (including smartphones and tablets). The Commission found that the overlap of the two companies’ activities in this area is minimal and several strong rivals, such as Samsung and Apple will continue to compete with the merged entity.”

    Probably not many arguments there.

    Some think Microsoft’s Windows Phone could find growth in the enterprise.

    “There was a lot of excitement with the release of iOS 7, especially in the enterprise where Apple included features enterprises were longing for,” Jason McNicol, senior analyst at ABI, recently said. “Some of those features, however, were not terribly innovative when compared to the services offered by the EMM/MDM market, while other enhancements have relatively limited functionality. Despite the positive market buzz, iOS7 enterprise features are unlikely to increase its enterprise presence. Plenty of market opportunity remains, especially for a company like Microsoft.”

    The commission investigated several vertical relationships between Microsoft/Nokia and the downstream market for mobile devices, as well as Microsoft’s upstream activities in mobile operating systems, apps and enterprise mail server software. It found that the company is unlikely to restrict supply of its operating systems or apps, and wouldn’t have the ability to restrict interoperability of competing smart phones with Exchange Server because of contractual terms of current licenses.

    You can read the Commission’s full announcement here.

    Image: European Commission

  • Shareholders Reportedly Approve Microsoft Nokia Deal

    Nokia shareholders today reportedly voted to approve the company’s sale of its phones unit to Microsoft.

    “At an extraordinary general meeting in Helsinki, the chairman of the meeting said 99.7 per cent of investors to have voted before the meeting had approved the transaction,” the Financial Times reports. “Those investors held four-fifths of the shares registered for the meeting.”

    Microsoft announced the acquisition plans back in September. Part of that was that Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, a former Microsoft employee, would step aside to become Nokia Executive Vice President of Devices & Services under Microsoft. His name has commonly been tossed around as a potential replacement for Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who is stepping down.

    Ballmer gave his final shareholder speech today, in which he noted that Xbox and Bing are key components of the company, amid rumors that Elop would look to get rid of them if he becomes CEO.

    Ford CEO Alan Mulally’s name has also been tossed around as Ballmer’s replacement, and Kara Swisher is reporting that he is the “inside bet at Microsoft”.

    The Nokia sale, which includes 3.79 billion Euros ($5 billion) for th devices and services business and 1.65 billion Euros ($2.18 billion) for patents patents (a total of 5.44 billion Euros or $7.17 billion) is expected to close early next year.

  • Nokia Promotes Lumia 1520 Tweet On #AppleEvent

    Apple has kicked off its much anticipated event, and as expected, the Twitterverse is getting into it. Nokia announced its own new product with the Lumia 1520, and is taking the opportunity to get its own product in front of Apple enthusiasts.

    This is currently appearing at the top of the results page for #AppleEvent:

    Nokia had some fun last time Apple held an event (last month), making fun of the gold iPhone.

    Keep an eye on our Apple coverage throughout the event and the day here.

  • Nokia Announces the Lumia 1520, a Lumia Tablet, and More

    After months of rumors Nokia has officially unveiled its first six-inch Windows Phone 8 smartphone, the Lumia 1520. Along with the smartphone, Nokia also announced five other mobile devices, including a 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet, the Lumia 2520.

    The Lumia 1520 is precisely what consumers might have expected – a high-end Lumia smartphone with a larger screen. The device comes with a full HD six-inch screen, a 2.2GHz quad-core processor, and 2GB of RAM. It also touts a 20MP rear camera, which is higher-end than most smartphones, excepting Nokia’s own Lumia 1020 that was just announced back in July. Nokia has priced the 1520 on the high end of the smartphone market, retailing for $749. The device is expected to launch sometime during the fourth quarter of this year.

    In addition to the 1520, Nokia announced another six-inch smartphone, the Lumia 1320. The 1320 is a lower-end version of the 1520, with an identical look but coming in different colors (orange, yellow, white, and black). It has only a 720p display and will retail for the relatively lower price of $339. According to Nokia the 1320 will launch sometime during the first quarter of 2014.

    The Lumia 2520 (the tablet) will be one of only tablets besides Microsoft’s Surface 2 to come running Windows RT 8.1. The device is Nokia’s first Windows tablet, sporting a 10.1-inch 1080p display. Running the software will be a 2.2GHz processor and the tablet also has a 6.1MP front-facing camera. Nokia will be launching the tablet with a variety of accessories, including a keyboard and a cover, sometime during the fourth quarter of 2013. The device will retail for $499.

    “Now more than ever, mobile devices are at the center of consumers’ lives as they look to capture, curate and share experiences on the go,” said Stephen Elop, former CEO and current EVP of Devices & Services at Nokia. “Today we’re inviting people around the world to switch to Nokia.

    (Image courtesy Nokia)

  • Microsoft Will Be Back At CES In 2014 [Report]

    At CES 2012, Microsoft announced that it would be their last year at the technology trade show. The news came as somewhat of a shock considering that Microsoft traditionally presented a keynote at the show. Now it appears that Microsoft’s departure from CES was only a year-long hiatus.

    The BBC is reporting that Microsoft is returning to CES in 2014. It doesn’t look like the company will be presenting a keynote, but CEA president Gary Shapiro confirmed that Microsoft is buying a lot of space at the show.

    “Microsoft is officially back in the International CES,” said Shapiro. “They are taking out significant space in meeting rooms – it’s actually a larger presence than I believe they have ever had.”

    Microsoft may be coming back to CES, but it appears that the company will only be in meeting rooms. That could possibly mean that Microsoft will only be talking to other companies at the show while not meeting with journalists. Shapiro doesn’t think that will be the case, however, as he expects Microsoft to be “very open to the press.”

    Either way, a return to CES can only be a good thing for Microsoft as it restructures itself into a devices and services company. It’s already announced two new Surface tablets, but CES could be the venue for Microsoft to show off smaller Surface tablets. It could also be an important vehicle to show off what it’s working on with its recent purchase – Nokia.

    We won’t know any of Microsoft’s plans for sure until CES in January, but it is sure to meet some heavy competition from the many Android handset makers that are expected to show off their wares at the trade event. Windows Phone 8 has always been in the shadow of Android, and you can expect Android handset manufacturers will work to keep it that way.

    [Image: Microsoft]

  • Nokia Lumia 1520 Rumored For October Release

    Back in July, Nokia followed in the steps of Android smartphone manufacturers by announcing the Lumia 625, a Windows Phone 8 smartphone with a 4.7-inch screen. Now, with Samsung marketing its 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 3 and other Android makers selling smartphones with screens over 6-inches, Nokia is rumored to be preparing its own “phablet” device.

    DigiTimes today is reporting that Nokia is set to release a 6-inch Windows Phone 8 smartphone sometime next month. The report’s unnamed “industry sources” are cited as saying the new Lumia 1520 will be announced during October. The device is also rumored to the first from Nokia to come running the latest version of Windows Phone 8.

    Oddly, the DigiTimes report also speculates that Nokia’s move toward larger smartphones will “accelerate” Apple’s transition to larger devices as well. Though the iPhone 5 and IPhone 5S have slightly larger screens than previous iPhone models, Apple has appeared reluctant to raise screen sizes significantly for its new iPhone models.

    It was recently announced that Microsoft will acquire Nokia’s hardware division for a bit over $7 billion. The deal ensures that Nokia’s current strategy of focusing on being the top player in the Windows Phone market will not be changing. It also brings Nokia CEO Stephen Elop back to Microsoft, where he once headed-up the business division. Elop is now a top contender to take the place of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who recently announced his impending retirement.

  • Microsoft Phone: Nokia Purchase May Save Phone

    Steve Ballmer is retiring as CEO of Microsoft. He readily admits his company reacted too slowly to developments in the mobile and smartphone markets. He also stated that Microsoft phone sales were disappointing. He was addressing a group of Wall Street investors and analysts, and told them that, with hindsight, he realized that the company had placed too much emphasis on its operating system and missed out on mobile phone opportunities.

    Ballmer said, “I regret that there was a period in the early 2000s when we were so focused on what we had to do around Windows that we weren’t able to redeploy talent to the new device called the phone… That is the thing I regret the most. It would have been better for Windows and our success in other foreign factors.”

    However, reports are surfacing that trying to view the situation from a “glass half full” stance, Mr. Ballmer said that for Microsoft mobile the only way to go is up and went on to say that the company has significant opportunities in the market now, due to its recent acquisition of the mobile phone unit of Nokia. He thinks this will allow Microsoft to speed up development on its Windows Phone platform.

    Microsoft will reveal the second generation of its Surface tablet on Monday. The first Surface, released in October 2012, did not do well. Last July the company admitted that it had written off $900 milion in unsold Surface stocks. There is widespread speculation that this was what accelerated Mr. Ballmer’s departure from the company. A successor has not yet been announced. Whoever the successor may be that takes his place in 12 months, he or she will have the unenviable task of trying to ensure that the words “Microsoft phone” do not become synonymous for failure in the cutthroat mobile market.

    Image via microsoft.com

  • Blackberry Z30: 5 must know details and future predictions

    Blackberry Z30: 5 must know details and future predictions

    Blackberry Ltd, formerly Research In Motion (RIM), launched its flagship phone Blackberry Z30 on Wednesday, in a desperate do or die bid to survive the Darwinian competition from East Asia.

    It is no secret how ruthless the smartphone world has become. In this globalized marketplace, customers are extremely picky. They want the best design, best hardware, best software, best Apps and best audio-visual experience.

    So is the Z30 up to the task in stemming the hemorrhaging Blackberry has suffered in its market share, profits and stock price? Let us find out.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQVKISYQ31s

    1. Display

    The Z30 sports an all new 5-inch AMOLED touch-screen with 1280 x 720 resolution and 295 ppi. This may be news to Blackberry fans, but ancient history for Samsung, the reigning king of smartphones. Samsung, Sony, and even the upstart Huawei from mainland China have introduced sharp, clear, stunningly beautiful screens as large as 6-inches.

    Sony is a particularly apt example since it has been at the losing end of the smartphone wars for many years. So how did Sony use its manufacturing prowess to grab the limelight? Introduce a smartphone with the world’s largest screen. At 6.4 inches of full-HD display, potential customers will certainly take note.

    Not so for poor Blackberry with its puny little 5-inch screen, dependent on the mercy of its off-shore manufacturing suppliers in East-Asia.

    2. Hardware

    The Z30 has a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro dual-core processor, Adreno 320 graphics, 2GB of RAM and 16GB storage. You can expand the 16GB to 64GB using a microSD.

    Along comes a 2-megapixel front-facing camera and an uninspiring 8-megapixel rear camera with f/2.2 lens and 1080p HD video recording capability. The non-removable 2880 mAh battery is a welcome addition and is estimated to run 12-hours of video playback. In addition, the Z30 includes the obligatory wireless functionality including 4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, NFC and Bluetooth.

    The hardware is certainly no push-over, but not class leading either. This means potential customers will have a hard time figuring out the vow factor and rush to their nearest wireless provider to try out the Z30.

    3. Blackberry 10 operating system

    Let me ask you this. When was the last time you used your friend’s (or your dad’s) Blackberry and said, “Amazing, its one of the coolest OS I have used!” Nevertheless, here is what Carlo Chiarello, Executive Vice President for Products at BlackBerry had to say,

    “The… Z30 smartphone builds on the…BlackBerry 10 platform with features like the powerful BlackBerry Hub, its exceptional touchscreen keyboard and industry leading browser…The smartphone rounds out the BlackBerry 10 portfolio and is designed for people looking for a smartphone that excels at communications, messaging and productivity. Having apps like the full Documents To Go suite that comes pre-installed…Z30 smartphone gives you a best in class productivity experience on the go.”

    With 80% of the operating system market-share cornered by Android in less than 5 years, Blackberry has been caught flat-footed. It would be a miracle of the 21st century, if the market-share of Blackberry 10 v10.2 crosses even 5%, let alone trounce the Android-iOS duopoly.

    4. Blackberry Stock

    If there was any doubt that Z30 was a game changer, it would have immediately reflected in Blackberry’s stock price. But the almighty market offered a tepid response to the release. In coming days, as more fans and potential customers use the new OS, things might change for the better. But don’t hold your breadth. Nokia learned the hard way and ended up latching on to Microsoft’s teat, so the clock is definitely ticking for the boys from Waterloo. Blackberry Stock

    5. Waterloo at Kuala Lumpur?

    Blackberry unveiled the Z30 at an event in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur? What is that? For the curious, but geographically challenged, it is the capital city of Malaysia, a newly industrialized country in the heart of South-East Asia, and close to Bangkok, the popular tourism destination for Westerners. Now I have nothing against Kuala Lumpur. It is a beautiful city, famous for spicy Malaysian cuisine and the architecturally dazzling Petronas twin-towers.

    But if you are a smartphone company struggling to survive in the intensive care unit, why choose a venue that lacks the demographic heft or the gravitational pull within the design, fashion and tech-world? London, Paris, Shanghai, San-Francisco, Singapore, New York, even Tokyo would have been far savvier destinations for unveiling the Z30. Huawei, Lenovo and ZTE should send a thank you note to the individual in-charge of choosing Kuala Lumpur.

    Finally, I do not want to hurt the feelings of Blackberry faithful, but unless the “free” trade policies that have destroyed the American manufacturing are abolished, sell your Blackberry stock and phone as soon as you can. Apple remains the last great Western-origin consumer electronics giant standing, and Sony, Samsung, LG, Huawei, ZTE and Lenovo are not going to raise the white-flag anytime soon.

    East Asians – the Japanese, Koreans, Chinese – are not as naive when it comes to manufacturing and trade policies.

    [images from youtube and yahoo finance]

  • Nokia Mocks Apple’s Gold iPhone with Odd Breaking Bad Reference

    When Microsoft purchased Nokia’s Devices and Services business a few weeks ago, Steve Ballmer sent an email to Microsoft employees that split the rationale for the purchase into four areas – accelerate phone share, strengthen overall opportunity, smart acquisition and strong execution plan. Not featured on the list? A strong Twitter snark initiative.

    As you may have heard, Apple just unveiled their new iPhone 5s and there’s a gold one! Just like we all knew there would be!

    Nokia UK took the gold phone announcement as an opportunity to make fun of Apple. Yes, Nokia is making fun of Apple – on Twitter.

    The first tweet suggests some sort of…well…design coincidences when it comes to Apple’s new lower-cost device, the iPhone 5c (which happens to come in 5 new colors).

    And the next tweet attempts to capitalize on the Breaking Bad craze by suggesting that Heisenberg would never use a gold phone. Except they call him a real gangster. I dunno about that, guys.

    Anyway, shots fired I guess? As you might expect, the strategy has kind of backfired:

    Read more about today’s Apple Event here.

    Image via Apple.com

  • Windows Phone Sales Rising in Europe

    Windows Phone Sales Rising in Europe

    Though the announcement that Microsoft will be buying Nokia’s devices and services unit was not surprising, the move is now placing pressure on other smartphone manufacturers. It is expected that Windows Phone will become an exclusive Microsoft platform, changing little in the Windows Phone market, but perhaps creating demand for other smartphone operating systems.

    While Nokia has taken much criticism for its strategy of being number one in the smaller Windows Phone market while ignoring the crowded Android sector, the strategy seems to have paid off for the company. In addition to its acquisition, Nokia’s Lumia smartphones seem to have attracted a growing number of smartphone users.

    Kantar Worldpanel this weekend revealed sales numbers showing that Windows Phone sales are actually rising throughout Europe. Numbers for the U.K., Germany, France, Spain, and Italy show that Windows Phone market share has risen to a full 8.2% of the smartphone market. Windows Phone is also making waves in Mexico, where Kantar says it captured 11.6% of smartphone sales during the past three months.

    The Kantar report states that most of the growth in Windows Phone sales is coming from first-time smartphone buyers. Also, low-priced handsets from Nokia are predicted to go over well in emerging markets, where other analysts have predicted major smartphone growth in the coming years.

    “Windows Phone’s success has been in convincing first time smartphone buyers to choose one of its devices with 42% of sales over the past year coming from existing featurephone owners,” said Dominic Sunnebo, a strategic insight director at Kantar. “This is a much higher proportion than Android and iOS. The Lumia 520 is hitting a sweet spot, offering the price and quality that new smartphone buyers are looking for.

    “Feature phone owners present a huge opportunity, representing more than half of all mobile users globally and this will be the new battleground over the next year. With the iPhone 4 and lower-end or older Samsung Galaxy models selling well among first time smartphone owners, there is plenty of competition for these customers. The brands that win in this segment will be those that understand and address the needs of consumers in terms of price, content, and quality.”

  • Microsoft Explains The Rationale Behind Its Nokia Purchase

    By now, it’s no secret that Microsoft is purchasing Nokia’s Devices and Services business. With the purchase, Microsoft will integrate Nokia’s hardware business into its own to help push Windows Phone 8 forward. The market isn’t being too kind on the news this morning, but Microsoft assures its investors that the purchase will benefit them in the end.

    As part of Steve Ballmer’s email to Microsoft employees this morning, he shared a slideshow that details his company’s rationale for purchasing Nokia’s Devices and Services business. The rationale is split into four areas – accelerate phone share, strengthen overall opportunity, smart acquisition and strong execution plan.

    Starting with the first – accelerate phone share – Microsoft says that its Nokia partnership on the Lumia line of Windows Phones has already seen massive success. Since Q3 2012, the number of Windows Phone units shipped has steadily increased each quarter with over 7 million Nokia Windows Phones being shipped in Q2 2013. Microsoft also notes that it has more than 10 percent of the marketshare in nine markets, and is outselling Blackberry in 34 markets.

    The second – strengthen overall opportunity – is all about using Windows Phone to improve the health of the entire Windows ecosystem. Microsoft believes that the traditional role of Windows in enterprise software will help elevate Windows Phone into the workplace as well as the home through what it calls the “consumerization of IT” through programs like BYOD. Furthermore, it believes that increased smartphone sales will lead to increased tablet sales and increased tablet sales will lead to increased PC sales.

    Interestingly enough, Microsoft notes in this section that it needs to create viable alternatives to services offered by Apple and Google. Microsoft’s current spat with Google over YouTube on Windows Phone is already well known, but it sounds like Microsoft wants to recreate every Google and Apple service for Windows Phone. The more cynical among us will note that Microsoft just wants users to remain in their world, but the company notes that it needs “a first-rate Microsoft phone experience for its users.” Creating its own apps will hopefully accomplish just that.

    The third – smart acquisition – assures investors that the purchase of Nokia’s Devices and Services business was a sound decision. The company notes that the purchase used offshore cash so as not to have any impact on investors. It also notes its Windows Phone business will break even through services once it’s able to sell through 50 million devices, and the Nokia purchase will help them reach this threshold faster.

    The fourth and final – strong execution plan – is pretty much a repeat of the organizational email Ballmer sent this morning. It notes that Nokia will continue operating as it has been with minimal interference coming from the merger. The Nokia executive team will join Microsoft, but actual phone development will continue unabated in Finland.

    On a final note, Microsoft says that it will seek approval for its acquisition from all major international regulatory bodies. If everything goes smoothly, it expects approval by early 2014. By that point, most of the integration should be complete and Microsoft may even have a new CEO.

    [Image: Microsoft]

  • Microsoft’s Nokia Purchase Is Causing Another Organizational Shuffle

    Early this morning, Microsoft announced its intention to purchase Nokia’s Devices and Services business for $5 billion. It also paid $2.18 billion to license Nokia’s patents. It’s a deal that many are surprised didn’t come sooner, but Microsoft may have been waiting until it announced its reorganization before making the purchase.

    In an email sent to all Microsoft employees by outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer, he lays out the rationale behind the Nokia purchase. More importantly, however, he announces some additional organizational restructuring that will take place once the Nokia purchase is finalized.

    As already announced, Stephen Elop will be returning to Microsoft from Nokia as the head of the company’s Devices team. He will oversee the creation of new Windows Phones while also working alongside current Devices and Studios head Julie Larson-Green on the Xbox One and Surface tablets.

    Alongside Elop, some key engineering talent at Nokia will be joining Microsoft as well. Jo Harlow will be lead the Smart Devices team, Timo Toikkaken will lead the Mobile Phones team, Stefan Pannebecker will lead the Design team, and Juha Putkiranta will lead the integration of Nokia’s Devices and Services business into Microsoft.

    The Windows Phone 8 operating system team will remain unchanged throughout the transaction. Terry Myerson will lead the team, and the goal is to have the Nokia acquisition cause little to no disruption to their work.

    Sales, Finance, Legal, HR, Communications, Customer Care, Business Development and other functions will be merged across both companies. Ballmer notes that Microsoft’s number one priority at the moment is to merge his company’s and Nokia’s global marketing team. He says that it’s very important for the two companies to “pursue a unified brand and advertising strategy as soon as possible.”

    On a final note, Microsoft says that it has no plans to relocate any of its new employees acquired through the Nokia purchase. In other words, the Nokia team will remain in Finland and Microsoft will coordinate with them as they work together towards improving the Windows Phone 8 ecosystem.

    [Image: I, -Majestic-/Wikimedia Commons]

  • Microsoft Buys Nokia’s Phones Unit, Brings Elop Back

    Microsoft Buys Nokia’s Phones Unit, Brings Elop Back

    Microsoft and Nokia announced that the former will acquire the latter’s devices and services business for 3.79 billion Euros ($5 billion), and will pay 1.65 billion Euros ($2.18 billion) to license Nokia’s patents, bringing the total transaction price to 5.44 billion Euros ($7.17 billion) in cash.

    The deal will also bring Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, a former Microsoft employee, back to the company at a time when his name is being thrown in as one possible replacement for outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer. Elop is stepping aside as President and CEO to become Nokia Executive Vice President of Devices & Services.

    “Building on our successful partnership, we can now bring together the best of Microsoft’s software engineering with the best of Nokia’s product engineering, award-winning design, and global sales, marketing and manufacturing,” he said. “With this combination of talented people, we have the opportunity to accelerate the current momentum and cutting-edge innovation of both our smart devices and mobile phone products.”

    “It’s a bold step into the future – a win-win for employees, shareholders and consumers of both companies. Bringing these great teams together will accelerate Microsoft’s share and profits in phones, and strengthen the overall opportunities for both Microsoft and our partners across our entire family of devices and services,” said Ballmer. “In addition to their innovation and strength in phones at all price points, Nokia brings proven capability and talent in critical areas such as hardware design and engineering, supply chain and manufacturing management, and hardware sales, marketing and distribution.”

    “We are excited and honored to be bringing Nokia’s incredible people, technologies and assets into our Microsoft family. Given our long partnership with Nokia and the many key Nokia leaders that are joining Microsoft, we anticipate a smooth transition and great execution,” Ballmer added. “With ongoing share growth and the synergies across marketing, branding and advertising, we expect this acquisition to be accretive to our adjusted earnings per share starting in FY15, and we see significant long-term revenue and profit opportunities for our shareholders.”

    Risto Siilasmaa, Chairman of the Nokia Board, is taking over as interim CEO.

    “For Nokia, this is an important moment of reinvention and from a position of financial strength, we can build our next chapter,” said Siilasmaa. “After a thorough assessment of how to maximize shareholder value, including consideration of a variety of alternatives, we believe this transaction is the best path forward for Nokia and its shareholders. Additionally, the deal offers future opportunities for many Nokia employees as part of a company with the strategy, financial resources and determination to succeed in the mobile space.”

    Following are the exact terms of the deal as outlined in the companies’ announcement:

    Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will acquire substantially all of Nokia’s Devices and Services business, including the Mobile Phones and Smart Devices business units as well as an industry-leading design team, operations including all Nokia Devices & Services-related production facilities, Devices & Services-related sales and marketing activities, and related support functions. At closing, approximately 32,000 people are expected to transfer to Microsoft, including 4,700 people in Finland and 18,300 employees directly involved in manufacturing, assembly and packaging of products worldwide. The operations that are planned to be transferred to Microsoft generated an estimated EUR 14.9 billion, or almost 50 percent of Nokia’s net sales for the full year 2012.

    Microsoft is acquiring Nokia’s Smart Devices business unit, including the Lumia brand and products. Lumia handsets have won numerous awards and have grown in sales in each of the last three quarters, with sales reaching 7.4 million units in the second quarter of 2013.

    As part of the transaction, Nokia is assigning to Microsoft its long-term patent licensing agreement with Qualcomm, as well as other licensing agreements.

    Microsoft is also acquiring Nokia’s Mobile Phones business unit, which serves hundreds of millions of customers worldwide, and had sales of 53.7 million units in the second quarter of 2013. Microsoft will acquire the Asha brand and will license the Nokia brand for use with current Nokia mobile phone products. Nokia will continue to own and manage the Nokia brand. This element provides Microsoft with the opportunity to extend its service offerings to a far wider group around the world while allowing Nokia’s mobile phones to serve as an on-ramp to Windows Phone.

    Nokia will retain its patent portfolio and will grant Microsoft a 10-year non-exclusive license to its patents at the time of the closing. Microsoft will grant Nokia reciprocal rights to use Microsoft patents in its HERE services. In addition, Nokia will grant Microsoft an option to extend this mutual patent agreement in perpetuity.

    In addition, Microsoft will become a strategic licensee of the HERE platform, and will separately pay Nokia for a four-year license.

    Microsoft will also immediately make available to Nokia EUR 1.5 billion of financing in the form of three EUR 500 million tranches of convertible notes that Microsoft would fund from overseas resources. If Nokia decides to draw down on this financing option, Nokia would pay back these notes to Microsoft from the proceeds of the deal upon closing. The financing is not conditional on the transaction closing.

    Microsoft also announced that it has selected Finland as the home for a new data center that will serve Microsoft consumers in Europe. The company said it would invest more than a quarter-billion dollars in capital and operation of the new data center over the next few years, with the potential for further expansion over time.

    Clearly, the two companies see this deal as the best way for both of their brands to combat the major players in the mobile and tablet space – Apple and Google – building off their existing relationship, which has seen Windows Phone on Nokia device for the past couple years.

    Image: Flickr (Wikimedia Commons)

  • BlackBerry, Nokia to Release Larger Smartphones [RUMOR]

    As Samsung proved with its Galaxy Note smartphones, there is a market for extra-large smartphones, sometimes dubbed “phablets.” Other smartphones manufacturers, including Motorola, LG, and HTC have jumped into the product category, releasing devices with screens larger that 5-inches. Now it appears that BlackBerry and Nokia are also looking to release phones with extra-large screens.

    Digitimes today reported that BlackBerry and Nokia could release large smartphones at the end of 2013 or during the first half of 2014, but no before. The report’s unnamed “industry sources” also name-dropped Apple as not releasing a larger smartphone until that time, though the chances of the company releasing one at all are “slim.”

    Nokia in particular is expected to release an extra-large Windows Phone 8 smartphone (likely with Lumia branding) during the fourth quarter of 2013. Nokia just last week announced the new Lumia 625, its largest Windows Phone 8 smartphone to date with a 4.7-inch screen.

    BlackBerry is rumored to be working on a device called the A10. The device is reportedly one of the manufacturer’s next-generation BlackBerry 10 smartphones, and is expected to have a 5-inch display.

    (via DigiTimes)