Nokia smartphone sales down 39 per cent

Hurry up WP7

Nokia has just posted its Q3 sales results and things aren’t looking too great for the company. The bottom line is that Nokia has managed a $94 million net loss in its third quarter with a worrying 39 per cent drop in smartphone sales.

CEO Stephen Elop has responded to the worrying financial results stating:

“I am encouraged by our progress around the first Nokia experience with Windows Phone, and we look forward to bringing the experience to consumers in select countries later this quarter. We then intend to systematically increase the number of countries and launch partners during the course of 2012.”

Looks like all eyes within Nokia are now on Windows Phone to turn the company’s fate around.

“To position Nokia for the future, we are driving fundamental changes in how we operate. In addition to the changes announced in April, in Q3 we announced plans for structural changes in manufacturing, Location & Commerce and supporting functions. The planned changes we have initiated are difficult but necessary in order to align the company to our strategy.” said Elop.

Nokia was most likely aware that these results were going to be bad. The company has been in a serious period of transition of late, moving towards Microsoft in the hope that Windows Phone 7 can re-affirm its position in the smartphone market.

As Elop states, this takes time and does require some painful financial results on route. Ultimately Windows Phone 7 has got to be Nokia’s last shot. A 39 per cent drop in sales is huge and despite Nokia’s position in the dumbphone and affordable handset market, more and more people are now adopting things like Android as the go-to for phones, expensive or not.

Fingers crossed for next week’s Nokia Windows Phone 7 launch, it’s going to have to be a good one.

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Tags: Mobile Phones, Nokia, Smartphones, Windows Phone

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Nokia 800 Windows Phone’s Three Colors Revealed

Besides adopting much of its design language from the “boutique” N9, it now looks like the upcoming Nokia 800 Windows Phone 7 will also come in the same trio of colors as its Meego-powered linemate. New imagery, which gives us the best look yet at a phone tipped to launch next week at London’s Nokia World conference, shows the 3.7-inch handset sporting shades of black, blue, and pink.

Recent evidence suggests that the 800 (codenamed Searay) — and possibly as many as two other devices — will launch just weeks after its debut; we’ve heard that November 15th is the date to watch. Unfortunately for Nokia (and, by proxy, Microsoft), its flagship Windows Phone will likely drop into an ecosystem habitated by just-announced, and much more powerful, Android offerings in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Motorola Droid Razr. The Nexus, in particular, should probably give Redmond some second thoughts about the somewhat slow progression of its hardware requirements for the year-old platform.

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Tags: Nokia, Nokia 800, Smartphones, Windows Phone

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Nokia Essence promises 99.8 percent noise cancellation, lets you listen to Ke$ha in peace

In-ear headphones that cancel out almost all of the background noise? Yes, please. The Nokia Essence is the latest stereo Bluetooth to hit the market, and it’s poised to eliminate as much of the world around you as possible — 99.8 percent of it, at least. As many earbuds impel the user to turn up the volume level just to hear more bass, the idea with the Essence is to zap out low-frequency background noises (such as traffic) to provide a deeper bass sound without having to crank up the knob to 11. The Essence is also equipped with NFC for easy tap-to-pair functionality. Scroll down below to see a video showing a guy who’s getting the most out of his new headphones.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUrb77KQPsA

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Tags: Accessories, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Stereo Headphones, NFC, Nokia, Nokia Essence, Video

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Windows Phone 7 Nokia Maps: screenshots leaked

Nokia handset exclusive?

Pictures of Nokia’s new Windows Phone 7 Maps app have been leaked online. They show images of a Symbian-style Ovi Maps navigation app, complete with directions, photos and detailed place descriptions.

The app is rumoured to be bundled as an exclusive with Nokia’s Windows Phone 7 and should bring more detailed and accurate navigation to the operating system.

From the pictures it looks as if the Nokia Maps app is very similar to Symbian, with the same map layouts and icons. The zoom bar looks slightly different as does the Windows Phone 7 font.

The app listing itself also reveals that Nokia Maps will include public transport information and directions as well as info for walking and driving.

“Nokia Maps helps you to be a local anywhere you go. See where you are and discover places nearby in a snap. Get reviews, uncover new destinations and reach them with smart routing for public transport, walking and driving.”

Not much else is known about Nokia’s Windows Phone 7 efforts, short of staff at the company regularly informing us how amazing it looks.

The early video of Nokia’s Sea Ray Windows Phone 7 handset in action doesn’t appear to include the Nokia Maps icon, instead it features conventional WP7 maps. This suggests the Nokia Maps app is a later addition to the companies’ Windows Phone 7 handsets.

Given how well Ovi Maps runs on Symbian, we expect Nokia will be pushing the mapping function quite a bit when its WP7 handset does eventually arrive.

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Tags: Apps, Navigation, Nokia, Nokia Maps, Windows Phone, Windows Phone 7

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Nokia slashes 3,500 more jobs, shutters factory

Nokia has announced it is slashing its workforce by 3,500, shutting its Romanian production facility by the end of the year while also shuttering the Location & Commerce sites in Bonn, Germany and Malvern, US. The reductions – which are expected to be completed by the end of 2012 – are described by Nokia CEO Stephen Elop as “painful, yet necessary, steps to align our workforce and operations with our path forward,” and come before the company has even officially unveiled its first Windows Phone handset.

The company suggests that the Romanian manufacturing plant was unable to keep up with the high-volume production from its Asian plants, hence the marching orders for the staff there. Meanwhile, Nokia will be reviewing its Salo, Finland, Komarom, Hungary, and Reynosa, Mexico plants, with the expectation that they will “shift their focus to customer and market-specific software and sales package customization.” That will likely result in more staff cuts next year, it’s warned.

As for the Location & Commerce business, which pulls together Nokia’s various NAVTEQ, social location services and other developments and acquisitions, it seems that just as in the industrial revolution, staff are being replaced by machines. Nokia has supposedly spotted ways to “increase effectiveness through automation” though doesn’t specify what, exactly, they are.

Consultations with Sales, Marketing and Corporate Functions are beginning now, with regards to the job trimming announced back in April. Still, there’s at least one place Nokia is taking on new staff – or one new staff member, anyway. Jesper Ovesen has been brought on as new Executive Chairman for Nokia Siemens Networks, with Oli-Pekka Kallasvuo stepping down as non-Executive Chairman, and Nokia and Siemens announcing they will each be investing €500m in capital to help the company find its feet as an “independent entity.”

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Tags: Mobile Phones, Nokia, Smartphones, Windows Phone

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Nokia pitches cheapest voicephones yet

Fancy a two-Simmer for £22?

Voice-centric handset for 17 quid, anyone? That’s what Nokia’s offering in the form of the 100, a €20 handset pitched as its cheapest yet.

The Nokia 100…

It’s a basic voicephone, of course, with texting and an FM radio as its only other key features.

It’ll be accompanied by the 101, which adds a second Sim slot to the package for an extra €5. Like the 100, it’s a dual-band GSM device.

…and the 101

Both phones are aimed at developing nations, but we’re sure they’ll tip up here from the usual online retailers. Both should make handy secondary handsets for travellers who don’t want to take their pricey smartphones to ‘forn parts’.

The 101 is out later this quarter, the 100 in Q4.

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Tags: Budget Phones, Mobile Phones, Nokia, Nokia 100, Nokia 101

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Nokia 600 is loud and rockin’

Nokia claims that their Nokia 600 is the loudest smartphone to date – making this all-in-one entertainment hub something worth looking into if you are currently shopping for a new handset that will keep you entertained on the go as well. Sporting a super loud speaker within (which has been rated at 106 phon), there is a FM receiver inside alongside an FM transmitter, letting you enjoy your music over the nearest available radio if you so desire – after running out of MP3s, of course.

Not only that, wireless payment systems will support the Nokia 600 since this handset has NFC capability, in addition to letting you use it with compatible accessories including the Nokia Play 360° speakers. Want to share images through a tap? That’s simple, as long as the right NFC app is available. Heck, free, NFC-enabled versions of Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja are also thrown into the mix for an added dose of fun.

Symbian Belle will be the operating system of choice for the Nokia 600, while a 1GHz processor runs proceedings from within. A 3.2″ nHD capacitive touchscreen display at a respectable 640 x 360 resolution makes it a snap to control things with your fingers, while connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. If you want to augment the 2GB of internal memory, you can always do so with a microSD memory card.

Images are snapped using its 5-megapixel full-focus camera located at the back alongside an LED flash, and you can also shoot 720p video if you so desire.

You can pick up the Nokia 600 in black, white, pink and lime colors sometime in Q3 2011 for around 180 Euros. [Press Release]

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Tags: 3G, NFC, Nokia, Nokia 600, Smartphones, Symbian, WiFi

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Nokia 701 intends to be graphical powerhouse

I never really thought that phones would have evolved to being this smart today – and the color screen on ordinary cellphones at the turn of the century was just a start. The Nokia 701 shows just how far the humble phone has come, where we will look at the specifications in greater detail first.

Running on a 1GHz processor, the Nokia 701 is also accompanied by HSUPA 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, NFC support, GPS navigation and an integrated FM radio. The Symbian Belle operating system (the latest, which succeeds Symbian Anna by the way) will run in tandem with a 1GHz processor.

What makes the Nokia 701 outstanding would be its 3.5″ IPS LCD touchscreen display with ClearBlack technology, where your eyes will be greeted by a combination of excellent brightness and contrast. In fact, it is touted to be the brightest smartphone display to date where Nits are concerned, and you need not worry about its toughness as it will boast Corning’s Gorilla Glass.

Underneath that would be a new graphics co-processor that churns out better looking visuals than before, as this graphics co-processor has a speedier clock and four times the graphics memory of previous Symbian smartphones.

Capable of shooting 8-megapixel images with its full focus camera with a dual-LED flash at the back, you can also carry out video calls thanks to a front-facing camera. Q3 2011 is when you can pick up the Nokia 701 for around 290 Euros in steel dark, silver light, amethyst violet, and white shades. [Press Release]

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Tags: 3G, 8 Megapixel Camera, Bluetooth, NFC, Nokia, Nokia 701, Smartphones, Symbian, WiFi

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Nokia 700, smallest touch monoblock smartphone ever

The Nokia 700 is yet another smartphone that will run on the latest Symbian Belle operating system, where it also holds the (proud) distinction of being the most compact touch monoblock smartphone that is being sold at the moment. Don’t be fooled by its size however – despite being this small, it is still more than capable of punching above its weight, as you will find out when you continue reading below.

Tipping the scales at just 96 grams while measuring a mere 110mm x 50.7mm x 9.7mm, the Nokia 700 does not sacrifice performance for size – in fact, it also has a 1GHz processor to keep up with the times, coupled with GPS navigation ability, an integrated FM radio, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, a 5-megapixel full focus camera with an LED flash, 2GB of internal memory and a microSD memory card slot for expansion purposes.

As for the display, you get a 3.2″ ClearBlack AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass adorning the top for added toughness, while built-in NFC lets you simply share images via touch – or use the smartphone in conjunction with other NFC-enabled accessories including the Nokia Play 360° amongst others.

Have a heart for the environment? The Nokia 700 won’t disappoint you, being Nokia’s greenest smartphone to date, being free of pollutants like PVC, RFR and BFR. Not only that, it goes further by relying on materials such as bio-plastics, recycled plastics and recycled metals in its construction. Once you’re done, the Nokia 700 is fully recyclable – now how about that? The only problem is, I don’t know whether to dump this inside the glass, paper or plastic can.

Expect the Nokia 700 to retail for around 270 Euros as it hits the market in Q3 2011. [Press Release]

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Tags: AMOLED, NFC, Nokia, Nokia 700, Smartphones, Symbian

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Microsoft, Nokia holding Windows Phone event August 17

We all know that Nokia is planning to release a Windows Phone Mango handset as soon as it can and a new event invitation indicates we may get a glimpse at this device as soon as August 17.

According to The Unwired, there will be a Microsoft and Nokia party August 17 to celebrate the GamesCom convention in Cologne, Germany. The invite doesn’t say anything specific about a new handset but it does say that there will be “exciting actions and surprises.”

This doesn’t necessarily mean that we’ll see the much-talked about Nokia “Sea Ray” Windows Phone Mango device that many of us have been craving but it’s only a matter of time before we get an official announcement. We do know that Microsoft and Nokia will want game makers to brings their wares to this platform, so it will be exciting to see what the surprise turns out to be.

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Tags: Mango, Microsoft, Nokia, Windows Phone, Windows Phone 7

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