Nokia unveils new devices, rural Internet services

The Nokia 5000, Nokia 2680 Slide, Nokia 7070 Prism and Nokia 1680 Classic were all unveiled yesterday, Wednesday, 2 April 2008, at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, by Alex Lambeek, VP of Nokia's entry category devices.

“People in emerging markets like Africa are increasingly demanding more from their mobile phone – their expectations and demands in terms of functionality and designs are similar to people in any other part of the world. They simply have less income at their disposal,” Lambeek said.

“These phones support email and will be affordable for the ordinary citizen living in any emerging market.

“From the introduction of Nokia's most affordable megapixel camera phone to a localised email solution in South Africa, we believe that today's announcements demonstrate Nokia's firm commitment to bringing products and services that serve the valued needs and tastes of people in emerging markets,” Lambeek, who joined Nokia in 1994 and resides in Denmark, added.

Connecting African people

According to statistics, more than one billion people worldwide currently use a Nokia device and there were at least 35 million new Nokia users in 2007 across Africa, with SA being listed among the top three countries on the continent.

“Africa is part of the global trend and is evolving quickly. Connecting African people has transformed the lives of millions and enabled them to stay in touch with their families, friends and business associates in the most affordable way,” Lambeek emphasised.

But while the number of first-time buyers continues to increase, a new and significant shift is fast emerging. The number of ‘replacement buyers' – consumers seeking to replace their current mobile phone with a newer, more advanced model – is also growing in emerging markets. The company projects that in 2008 the ‘replacement purchases' will for the first time exceed those of first-time buyers.

Nokia boasts 500 customer care service points in 34 African countries to ensure that they receive enough support in their drive to be part of the mobile revolution.

‘Village Connection'

Furthermore, Nokia Siemens Networks announced its ‘Village Connection' with Internet Kiosk – a new online service that will enable people in remote villages to access the Internet.

The new service, which will be available in all rural areas across the globe, will help villagers gain access to online information such as healthcare, education and commodity prices.

With the demand for mobile email on the rise, Nokia and Webmobile International yesterday also launched yesterday a locally-hosted mobile email solution exclusively for South Africa.

10 factories globally

Nokia boasts 10 factories globally – Finland, Romania, Hungary, Mexico, Brazil, China and India – and employs 112 000 people worldwide, 4500 of which across Africa and the Middle East, Loren Shuster, VP of Nokia Sales Sub-Saharan Africa, told Bizcommunity.com.

Asked by an Egyptian journalist whether the company has plans to open a factory in Africa, Shuster replied: “We do not have such plans at the moment as we believe that Africa and the Middle East are being well serviced by these 10 factories.”

Bryanston in Johannesburg is the home of Nokia Sub-Saharan Africa, but Shuster told Bizcommunity.com that the organisation will move to a new home in Sunninghill, which will both house Nokia Sub-Saharan Africa and Nokia SA.

“The fact that Africa, in particular South Africa, has been chosen to host such an important event demonstrates the irreversible and incredible economic dynamism of the continent and its fast-changing and socio-demographics,” Elizabeth Tanguy, internal communications manager for Nokia Middle East and North Africa, told Bizcommunity.com

For additional product information, including product photography and specifications, go to www.nokia.com/press/entry and www.nokia.com/press/photos.