Nokia outlines plans to connect next billion people

Nokia today unveiled a strategy to connect the ‘next billion’ people to the internet by equipping emerging markets with mobile phones Ovi services.

Nokia's vision of connecting users beyond telephony was a highlight at the final day of the annual Nokia World event, which was recently held in London.

Mary McDowell, Nokia's executive vice president for Mobile Phones, said in her keynote the company is ideally placed to capture much of the projected growth in the global marketplace and that the company intends to maintain its leadership in voice and data for the masses.

"More people will join the information age using a mobile phone than a PC," McDowell said. "With approximately 80 percent of the world's population in reach of a cell tower, it is the mobile phone that will offer the first PC-like experience for many of the next billion people who will come online."

She added that Nokia will leverage its local knowledge of consumers, distribution strength and scale to innovate and deliver what consumers deem is valuable at prices they can afford.

New handsets

Following the recent launch of the Nokia X3 Touch and Type, Nokia unveiled its second touch and type phone; the Nokia C3 Touch and Type, which combines of a touch-screen and traditional phone keypad.

This Symbian Series 40 phone also features a full stainless steel chassis, 3G, WLAN, a 5 megapixel camera with flash, a music player, FM radio and it supports up to a 32 GB memory card. The phone has access to messaging and email plus applications and games from the Ovi Store.

Although Symbian Series 40 is severely outdated, the C3 has been specifically designed for emerging markets.

McDowell also emphasised that in addition to well-made, well-priced devices, consumers everywhere crave apps that deliver globally and locally relevant content. And they want it quickly, easily and affordably.

"New kinds of services and powerful software typically associated with smartphones are becoming more important in the traditional mobile phone space," she explained. "We are rolling-out targeted services to meet consumer demand for connectivity, access to information and affordability."

This comes on the back of Nokia’s recent implementation of its updated operating system - Symbian S^3, which made its first appearance in the Nokia N8.

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