nokia

Nokia Now Powering Bing Maps For Better Traffic Info And Geocoding

May 24, 2012 | By Pradeep

Few days ago we reported about the updated more traffic data appearing on Bing Maps for Windows Phone devices. Now, the reason behind it was revealed. Nokia today announced that Bing Maps is now powered by Nokia Mapping technologies such as the Where Platform. Bing Maps is now taking advantage of live traffic info and geocoding algorithms from Nokia.

As a result of this, you will find traffic info on Bing Maps in 24 new countries and get better routes and directions for people around the globe in many countries. Here are the 24 countries that will feature live traffic info from Nokia on Bing Maps,

Thanks to Nokia’s Where Platform, Bing Maps can now offer the same traffic information that is already available at Nokia Maps in 24 countries (Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK and US).

I’m sure many of our readers will be very happy to hear this news. Enjoy the updated Mapping experience.

Read more at Nokia Conversations and Bing Maps blog.

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Slimmer Nokia PureView handsets may be on the way

May 24, 2012 | By Surur

Engagdet reports that Vesa Jutila, Head of Product Marketing for the incoming 808 PureView has said that slimmer PureView handsets are a possibility, including ones which do not have the current 41 megapixel sensor, and that there were “multiple ways” that Nokia could run with the technology.

He however confirmed that plenty more high-spec digital imaging products in the pipeline, which would be good news for the company’s reputation, given that recent Nokia Lumia cameras have not lived up to expectations.

While Julita would not confirm these cameras will show up on Lumia handsets, this seems almost confirmed by the rapid sunsetting of the Symbian OS.

Nokia touts Smarter Apps, smokes Blackberry

May 23, 2012 | By Surur

Nokia has really taken the Smoked by Windows Phone challenge to heart (and also to the streets). In this latest instalment of their web series they demonstrate how pinnable pages of apps, a unique Windows Phone feature, means needing only two taps to check in to FourSquare, making it much faster than even a keyboard-equipped Blackberry.

Nokia is calling it Smarter Apps, and they have a list right here.

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Deal: Amazon Wireless Slashes Nokia Lumia 900 Prices

May 22, 2012 | By Pradeep

Last month we reported that Nokia Lumia 900 is available from Amazon Wireless starting from $19.99. Amazon has now further reduced the price to just $9.99 for users who are upgrading their contract on AT&T. Also if you want to add a new line to your existing AT&T account or create a new account, you can get the device for $39.99 down from $49.99. And if you want to buy the device without any contract, it now costs $449.99 down from $499.99.

Find the listing of the device here at Amazon.

Thanks to Naveen for the heads up.

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Nokia Releases Transport 2.0 App For Lumia Windows Phone Devices

May 22, 2012 | By Pradeep

Nokia today released the second version of its exclusive app Transport for Lumia Windows Phone devices. The new version features improved search, performance, etc,.

Change log:

Find nearby stations, departure times and even types of transit lines available around your location.
Improved search:
- Remember your last search query
- Change your search without leaving the journey view
Improved performance
- Faster display of upcoming journeys
- Faster journey request

This app works differently according to the region. It provides us route based on timetable and estimation.

From Nokia,

This app supports timetable-based information in certain cities & regions and estimated routing in others.

Estimated routing uses the map data to calculate a heuristic route, based on the likely frequency of lines. That means we have no exact departure and arrival times, but only know how long a journey using certain lines might take.

Download the app here from the betalabs site.

via: Nokia Beta labs

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Download The New Nature Series Wallpapers For Your Windows Phone Devices

May 21, 2012 | By Pradeep

Microsoft Windows Phone team today announced a set of wallpapers for your Windows Phone devices. They teamed up with London-based graphic designer Levi Freeman to release this new set of “Nature Series” wallpapers. Albert Shum, who runs the Windows Phone design studio first discovered him work and then they collaborated to release this set of wallpapers. These wallpapers are coming with Windows Phone design team’s official seal of approval and they are even promising that lot more stuff from many other artists are also coming soon to our Windows Phone devices.

You can download the wallpapers from his website here.

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Making Of Nokia 808 PureView (Video)

May 21, 2012 | By Pradeep

Today, Nokia released a video dedicated to nearly 400 people who were involved in the making of the revolutionary Nokia 808 PureView device for the period of over 5 years. The video shows how the idea of this device was born and the various stages that were involved in making it into a consumer product. More than the 808 PureView device, I’m excited about the PureView technology that will be coming to Lumia Windows Phone devices soon. Enjoy the video above, its worth watching.

via: Nokia Conversations

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Buy Nokia Lumia 710 From Carphone Warehouse To Get £20 Worth Of Free Apps

May 21, 2012 | By Pradeep

You can now get £20 worth of free apps when you buy a Nokia Lumia 710 device from Carphone Warehouse. The device is available for free from £15.50 per month on contract. If you order the device before 3rd July 2012, you can take advantage of this offer.

Visit http://www.nokiafreeapps.com/ to register for your free apps coupon after you complete the purchase.

Source: Carphone Warehouse

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Custom Painted Nokia Lumia Devices Coming Soon

May 21, 2012 | By Pradeep

Even though Nokia is selling their Lumia devices in different colors, some people may prefer to have their unique, custom designs on their devices. Many people use custom skins, cases, etc, to have a unique look. Now, a tatoo artist company called “I Ain’t No Saint” is looking to sell custom paint jobs on Nokia Lumia devices. They already have custom Lumia 710 battery covers on sale and they are even testing Lumia 800 & Lumia 900 with same kind of treatment as you can see in the image above.

Find another paint job on Nokia Lumia 900 after the break. Do you find these designs interesting ?

via: Nokialumiablog Source: I Ain’t No Saint

Continue reading →

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Lumia overtakes Droid as Google Search term

May 20, 2012 | By Surur

Its a lazy Sunday without much news, which does leave the mind to wander a bit to odd questions, such as whether the Lumia brand has overtaken the seemingly rapidly out-dating (despite Verizon’s efforts) Droid marketing term.

A quick look at Google Trends show that this is indeed the case – worldwide more people search for the Lumia than Droid keyword, showing that Nokia’s Windows Phone range is rapidly gaining mind share if not market share yet.

No wonder Verizon is buying Lumia as a twitter keyword to market themselves. Of course actually releasing a Lumia handset would probably be even better…

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Bankers expect Nokia to sell 20 million Lumias this year, go bankrupt next year

May 18, 2012 | By Surur

Reuters polled 30 bankers and analysts and found great concern for the health of the company, with some even saying Nokia may not be able to repay their debts in 2 years.

"In our opinion, the company’s ability to repay even its shorter-term 2014 bond could be an issue," said Societe General credit analyst Juliano Torii.

Analysts on average expect the company will burn through almost 2 billion euros more in just three quarters, while the most bearish see the company wiping out its 4.9 billion euros net cash buffer completely next year.

The company, which had more than 10 billion euros in cash on hand in 2007, and has spent over $2.7 billion over the past five quarters, has two bond issues outstanding, 1.25 billion euros of 5.5 percent bonds maturing in 2014 and 500 million of 6.75 percent notes due in 2019.

"I would not rule out the possibility of Nokia being downgraded further," Utterback said. "The company is in a negative spiral that will be hard to reverse."

Societe Generale analysts this week downgraded Nokia stock to a to "sell" and warned that the company’s operating losses and restructuring costs could accelerate a decline in sales.

"Such an additional fall could be enough to burn through most of Nokia’s existing cash pile and even bring into question Nokia’s very survival," SocGen analyst Andy Perkins said in a note.

A Nokia spokesman said improving cash flow was an important goal.

"Nokia is implementing a decisive action plan to position our company for future growth and success," spokesman James Etheridge said. "The main focus of these actions is on lowering the company’s costs, improving cash flow and maintaining a strong financial position."

All is not doom and gloom however.

Analysts on average expect Nokia to sell 46 million of the phones next year, compared with 20 million expected this year.

If Nokia fails to improve its fortunes, some bankers say Microsoft could become a white knight.

Microsoft is already paying Nokia $1 billion a year to use its software on Lumia smartphones. And some investment bankers familiar with the technology sector said the support could extend well beyond that amount, if Nokia’s problems intensify. Instead of Nokia borrowing money from the now expensive open market Microsoft could easily guarantee them cheap loans during the transition.

Nokia is however facing extreme risk in transitioning from a business model of selling several hundred million phones to tens of millions of Windows Phones, and with the collapse of their Symbian business there is little doubt of the peril it is in.

Nokia giving hundreds of MVPs free Nokia WP7 handsets, will follow up with WP8 handsets for the select few

May 17, 2012 | By Surur

Sometimes we get some pretty interesting news dropping into our mailbox. If you are a Microsoft MVP with a Windows Phone related competency and have not checked your own mailbox yet, you may be pleased to discover Microsoft and Nokia is sending you a Nokia Lumia 800, 800c or 900 (depending on locale) and you don’t even have to be in the USA to qualify.

Of course in return they want some of that MVP goodness, such as coming to do meet and greets and talks at Windows Phone 7 events, but I am sure for an MVP that’s just par for the course.

More interesting however is that besides WP7 handsets, Nokia will also be handing out Windows Phone 8 handsets when these became available, but only to those who prove they are deserving.

See the letter MVPs will be receiving below.

While Nokia is giving away Windows Phones, they might as well think of sending one my way. Isn’t it a bit of the shame the editor in chief of the largest independent Windows Phone website is still using (a much loved) HTC Trophy?

Thanks to our anonymous tipster.

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Results From Smoked By Windows Phone Campaign In Korea(Video)

May 15, 2012 | By Pradeep

Microsoft Korea organized Smoked by Windows Phone campaign in their country and the results of the challenges are out now. As usual, Windows Phone dominated the challenge. Totally 923 people participated, and Windows Phone won against 909 people. That leads to a winning percentage of whopping 98.48%. The defeated other platform devices includes iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, Galaxy Note HD LTE, Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy S, Galaxy SII, etc,. I think Microsoft should further expand this program to some new countries to spread the message about Windows Phone platform.

Thanks to Ben for the heads up.

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