Nokia reshapes the telco industry

After completing the sale of its Devices and Services business to Microsoft on 25th April 2014, Nokia is reinventing its business with a three-pronged approach: Networks, HERE, and Technologies. While it’s no longer a manufacturer of mobile devices, its expertise in mobile broadband technology remains its core business proposition; a 2.7 billion Euro business as seen in its Q1 2014 interim report.

Nokia’s restructure allows the company to reposition itself as one of the world’s largest software companies, and to meet its goals as a leader in technologies for a world where everyone and everything is connected.

Nokia’s Networks business (previously known as Nokia Solutions and Networks) still serves more than 90 of the world’s 100 largest mobile operators, and is ranked second in telecommunications services and third in mobile radio. Networks has remained profitable, with 10 consecutive quarters of positive free cash flow, and is currently ranked as a ‘Leader’ for three years in a row by Gartner for LTE Network Infrastructure in 2014.

As an early leader in virtualisation and cloud technologies, Nokia has identified 10 key global trends that it believes will shape the telecommunications industry. In Malaysia, the key trends are: New spectrum and the growth of mobile data; mixed radio technologies; network sharing and consolidation; telco cloud and virtualisation; and data analytics with cognitive networks.

Operators in Malaysia are driving tremendous mobile data growth through LTE. On average, compounded growth rate of mobile data usage in Asia Pacific over a period of five years is 32 per cent, but with LTE, this could grow to more than 80 per cent, according to ABI Research March 2014 report.

Malaysia is a country with a mixed radio environment. With operators running 3G, HSUPA and LTE, Nokia’s flexible solutions will allow telcos to cater to the whole spectrum. It is also not uncommon for Malaysian operators to share their network and consolidate their operations, either through partnerships or acquisitions. For example, the recent purchase of P1 by Telekom Malaysia provides opportunities for telcos to look into at least three or four technology areas in the country. These flexible solutions let operators make full use of the spectrum in a mixed radio environment.

For network efficiency, telcos are also paying attention to the latest cloud innovations. The recent telco cloud solution provides more flexibility in the delivery of services and in exploring new business models. These are aspects that Malaysian telcos are currently evaluating, and will be a reality in the next two years. Data from these cognitive networks will also allow operators to deliver a more customised user experience and is a way to differentiate their offerings from the other operators.

Nokia recently revisited Mobile World Congress in Kuala Lumpur, and showcased its latest innovations geared to place operators at the very top of their game. Some of these innovations are:

1. Telco Cloud: Telcos in the Cloud
Continuous traffic growth and unpredictable traffic patterns are challenges in maintaining a quality network experience. At the same time, the capacity to provide a great network experience and implement new services quickly is extremely important to drive revenue.

Nokia’s Telco Cloud is a solution that combines Network Functions Virtualisation and Operations Support System that help operators prepare, implement and run their own telco clouds, and migrate existing telco services to cloud-based networks.

Nokia’s telco cloud is considered revolutionary in the sense that operators can now manage unanticipated data growth with elastic scaling of mobile networks. This solution reduces the total cost of ownership with standardised platforms and has a high level of automation.

2. Liquid Applications: Faster Services in Real Time
Retaining profitability while delivering superior quality services has always been the two main priorities for telcos. One of the ways Nokia assists telcos with this is with Liquid Applications. It works by plugging Nokia’s Radio Applications Cloud Server (RACS) into the standard IT middleware at a base station. The server taps into the base station’s existing capabilities, and extracts real-time network insights; allowing operators to rapidly move from problem identification to precisely pinpointing the cause of service degradation.

Liquid Applications enhances the user experience through acceleration with nearby content that can be delivered faster. This improves time-to-content and cuts download time by up to 80 per cent. Nokia’s Liquid Application also collects real-time data, and allow telcos to leverage that data and insight from their own network. With the necessary information, operators can offer their customers the best context-related and location-based services.

3. Customer Experience Management: Winning with Customers
According to Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission 2013 Digital Lifestyle Malaysia report, Malaysian mobile phone penetration increased to 143.4 per cent in 2013 from 128.7 per cent in 2012. This growing customer base and its demands for quality services will require a tried and tested customer management system.

Nokia’s Customer Experience Management (CEM) Umbrella Solutions is aimed at helping operators manage their customers’ experience through a user-friendly online portal. This CEM Umbrella Solution allows operators to access and share their network information across their organisation; allowing engineers to address customer issues from consumer reports and dashboards. Whenever mobile service is affected, engineers can drill down immediately to individual customer accounts and fix the problem.

4. Voice over VoLTE: Crystal Clear Connectivity
With more mobile devices equipped with LTE capabilities, more Malaysian telcos will start offering LTE services to consumers. Despite this shift to data-centric services, 70 per cent of telco revenues still rely on existing voice and SMS services.

Nokia’s Voice over LTE (VoLTE) fulfils the vision of mobile broadband over LTE with high quality voice, video and multimedia services. VoLTE with SRVCC (Single Radio Voice Call Continuity) also provides subscribers the flexibility to roam seamlessly between LTE and 3G areas without experiencing call drops.

A full integration of existing networks with Nokia’s VoLTE solution requires no drastic changes to the mobile voice network. Full voice service continuity with faster roll-out means that operators can continue their network upgrades without any down time.

Connectivity at its Core

As the world’s specialist in mobile broadband, Nokia’s Networks business will continue to invent new capabilities valuable to telcos and be at the forefront of mobile technology. Network’s focus will continue to provide telcos with efficient solutions with the intelligence to maximise value and run seamlessly.

Nokia XL goes on sale in Malaysia

Nokia XL offers a better-designed way to enjoy a world of apps

29 May 2014, Kuala Lumpur. Nokia XL, part of the new Nokia X family of affordable smartphones that run Android™ apps, has begun selling in Malaysia. The new device is the perfect introduction to the world of Android apps, coupled with great design, an intuitive user interface, and the most popular Microsoft services.

The Nokia XL boasts of unmatched quality and design, with a fresh, tile-based user interface inspired by our Lumia family. It comes with Fastlane, a screen which lets people switch between their favorite apps more smoothly. People can access curated, quality-tested apps from Nokia Store, more than a dozen third-party app stores and by sideloading. All devices are also pre-loaded with a variety of very popular third-party apps and games.

“We believe this unique combination will resonate with consumers around the world and set a great precedent for the level of quality that can be achieved in the fast-growing, affordable smartphone segment.” said Gary Chan, Head of Marketing Microsoft Devices, Pan Asia.

Out of the box, they can enjoy quality experiences including free HERE Maps, with true offline maps and integrated turn-by-turn navigation, and MixRadio for free music streaming and downloadable playlists. The Nokia XL is also an affordable introduction to popular Microsoft services, including free cloud storage using OneDrive.

With the purchase of the Nokia XL smartphone in Malaysia, people will get one month of Skype’s Unlimited World Subscription for a limited time, ideal to make international calls to landlines in more than 60 countries and to mobile phones in 8 countries.

Nokia XL: big, bold and beautiful
The Nokia XL is the premium offering in the Nokia X family. Boasting a 5” display, 5MP rear-facing autofocus camera with flash, and 2MP front-facing camera, it is the ultimate choice for big-screen entertainment. The Nokia XL features the same performance boost as the Nokia X+ but on a larger format. People can also take advantage of the larger screen size, front- and rear-facing cameras to get the most out Skype video calls and video apps like Vine.

The Nokia XL features two screens: home, which features a fresh, tile-based design and Fastlane. Fastlane is a dynamic record of how people use their phone, day by day, moment by moment. It captures everything people love: they need only to swipe once from the homescreen to access Fastlane, see a record of recent activity, and switch between their favourite apps, smoothly. Fastlane has been completely re-imagined for the Nokia X family. People can return a missed call by calling or texting, accept or decline calendar invitations, or control the music player – all from within the Fastlane view. Fastlane is also more customizable and social-friendly than ever. People can select what appears on their Fastlane feed, read notifications from their social networks and update their status from within Fastlane, making the experience even more productive.

New LINE stickers for @NokiaMY followers
In conjunction with the sales start of Nokia XL in Malaysia, Nokia and LINE will be releasing a set of free stickers on LINE, featuring Gempak Starz’s popular comic characters in “Lawak under 18”.  To download these stickers, users will need to follow Nokia Malaysia’s LINE Official Account (ID @NokiaMY).

Product specifications and availability
The dual Sim Nokia XL is now available at all Nokia stores and authorized resellers for RM599 (RRP)

Lumia 630 Dual Sim available in Malaysia

Amazing value Lumia makes it cheaper and easier to connect with uncompromised smartphone experience

May 20, 2014 – Kuala Lumpur. The Lumia 630 Dual Sim with Windows Phone 8.1 will be available in Malaysia. The first Dual Sim Lumia smartphone delivers an unrivalled affordable smartphone experience, with quad-core processing and a ClearBlack 4.5” LCD screen at only RM549 (RRP).


The Lumia 630 Dual Sim adds award-winning design and experiences found on high end Lumia smartphones to the leading personalization brought by Windows Phone 8.1:

Seamless switching between two Sim cards helps people manage their social life, clearly separating calls and messages to make it cheaper and easier to connect on their own terms.

 A quad-core Snapdragon processor delivers fast, uncompromised social experiences with Word Flow, Internet Explorer and social apps like WhatsApp, WeChat and Instagram.

 The smartphone showcases a new matte polycarbonate design with changeable shells available in bold new colors bright orange, bright green and bright yellow, in addition to matte black and white.

 Better entertainment with Xbox games, Storyteller on the 4.5” ClearBlack screen, which offers better viewing angles and visibility in bright conditions.

 Integrated features including one swipe notifications from Action Centre, the new Microsoft Enterprise feature pack, Microsoft Office, OneDrive, Camera, and HERE Maps and Drive+, which work seamlessly to make the Nokia Lumia 630 a great tool for work and play.

 The new SensorCore also brings low power motion sensing to help people track their activity all day without using up the large 1830mAh battery – perfect for exercise and exploration using apps like Bing Health and Fitness.

 A wealth of storage is available, with memory expandable by up to 128GB using a uSD card, allowing people to save and switch locations of pictures, videos, music, maps and apps with ease.

From left to right: Gary Chan, Head of Marketing, Microsoft Devices - Pan Asia and Eda Lim, Head of Marketing, Microsoft Devices, Malaysia showcase the Nokia Lumia 630.

Gary Chan, Head of Marketing Microsoft Devices, Pan Asia says “With high-end technologies and apps, a seamless Windows Phone 8.1 experience and the first ever Dual Sim Lumia empowering people to connect on their terms, we believe the Lumia 630 Dual Sim is undoubtedly the best smartphone in its affordable price range.”

The Lumia 630 Dual Sim is currently available in Malaysia in a range of colours including bright yellow, white and black.

MSC Malaysia ICON Developers Graduate from Inaugural ICON-Nokia Windows Phone 8 Partnership

132 world class apps from 138 ICON developers to be visible on the Windows global web and mobile app market

KUALA LUMPUR, APRIL 15, 2014 – The Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), via its MSC Malaysia ICON (Integrated Content Development) programme and Nokia announced the success of their partnership yesterday, at the graduation ceremony of the pioneering class of the developers under this programme. The ceremony saw 138 developers graduate from the programme that had nurtured the development of their local mobile app content on the Windows Phone 8 platform.

Datuk Badlisham Ghazali (Chief Executive Officer of MDeC), Gary Chan (Head of Marketing, Nokia Pan Asia), Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek (Minister of Communication and Multimedia), and Dato' Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi (Chairman of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) trying a demo of the apps by the developers.

The top 10 outstanding ICON developers out of the 138 will be selected to be prominently featured in Malaysia across advertising materials, retail channels, events and roadshows. The chosen developers will also get access to the latest Nokia devices to test and develop their applications.

The Top 10 Icon developers are:

Developers	Description
Chia Shaw Chyn	2014 Racing Guide app which shares latest news and info on Formula One Racing.
Aswin Chanthraksuwan	FirstBeacon, a multiuse app that pins secondary tiles to quickly SMS a user’s contacts, finds the nearest emergency stops (police stations, hospitals, fire departments, etc.) and rings a safety alarm whenever in need.
Ng Mun Keat	iPrint, an app that allows its users to create and share eCards.
Koh Chean Siong and Low Lee Tak	SekMatYeah, an app to help users select a restaurant/eatery intelligently.
JeeShen Lee	GarageFinder, an app that locates the nearest car garage at the user’s current location as well as provides the directions and phone number to the chosen garage
Leow Cheah Wei	Wave Generator, an app that allows a user’s Windows Phone 8 to select the frequency (6 predefined frequencies: 150 Hz, 100 Hz, 70 Hz, 50 Hz, 40 Hz, 30 Hz) to be generated via their smartphone.
Tan Yin See	Smart Shopper which tracks the retailers’ best prices for groceries, toiletries and even fresh products.
(Winson) Chai Wuh Shing	MyPeribahasa, an app which has a collection of 3,800 Bahasa Malaysia proverbs for easy reference.
Rokman B. Semail	Zip Zap Tiles which is an educational gaming app.
John Ingkili	Unfold, a game that unfolds new levels inspired by Nokia’s history.

Speaking at the event, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Minister of Communication and Multimedia said, “The partnership between ICON and Nokia builds an ecosystem that encourages integration and monetisation, creates awareness and facilitates efficient distribution within the local and global industry networks. Our developers are given a fighting chance by expanding their ideas whilst minimising the risks involved in developing an app-based business, including the high costs of developing the app and starting a business venture. The global app economy is projected to grow to US$143 billion in 2016 and this platform is perfect for our developers to leverage on and grab more than just a piece of the pie.”

“The ICON platform continues to play a key role in turning Malaysia into a content creator nation. Today’s graduation ceremony shows that our local developers, who have created 132 apps through this platform, have broadened the scope of apps that are developed in line with Malaysia’s aspirations of moving towards a high-income, knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy. This partnership has allowed these developers to place greater emphasis on the quality of the content and applications. This is in line with MSC Malaysia’s long-term strategy of honing local talents to create practical and creative solutions that appeal to the global market at large,” said Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, Chief Executive Officer of MDeC.

Datuk Badlisham Ghazali (Chief Executive Officer of MDeC), Gary Chan (Head of Marketing, Nokia Pan Asia), Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek (Minister of Communication and Multimedia), and Dato' Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi (Chairman of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) with the top ten ICON developers.

“As the Windows Phone ecosystem gains momentum, there is a greater desire for apps on the Windows Phone store. In the last half of 2013 alone, the Windows Phone Store saw a 62% increase in downloaded apps, and we are now growing and adding 500 apps each day,” said Gary Chan, Head of Marketing, Nokia Pan Asia.

“Our association with ICON will help us complement this demand by enabling Malaysian developers to build and sustain a profitable app business on Lumia and the Windows Phone platform. We are committed to provide them access to the most efficient tools and world-class support that will bring their ideas and hard work to life. This is an exceptional opportunity for Malaysian developers and offers a head start in building top mobile apps, while opening the doors to the fastest growing platform in the world,” Gary concluded.

Through the partnership, ICON developers were given exclusive customised training and community support, the opportunity to build their knowledge base as well as enhance their technical expertise for the Windows Phone 8 platform. Developers were also given a chance to partake in a quick-start programme that provides the necessary tools and services known as the Nokia Premium Developer Program (NPDP).

As further incentive to drive the ICON developers’ business and capabilities, Nokia introduced newer monetisation and analytics capabilities such as in-app purchase, in-app advertising and the Nokia Ad Exchange. The ICON apps will also be heavily featured across Nokia’s advertising material, retail channels, events and roadshows in Malaysia. To give these local apps an added global exposure, a dedicated ICON App collection created for all Nokia Lumia devices will be featured in the Windows Phone Marketplace.

To date, both the ICON and ICON2 programmes have upskilled and coached 448 Malaysians to create 464 mobile apps, 178 of which are on the Windows Phone platform. Cumulatively, the ICON programmes have garnered RM440,400 in revenues. Additionally, app developers from these two programmes have gone on to win nine local and international awards such as the Asean ICT Awards 2012, the Hong Kong Mobile Appsaniry Awards 2012 and the MSC Malaysia APICTA Awards 2012.

To find more details on the MSC Malaysia ICON program, kindly visit www.mscmalaysia.my/ICON.

Nokia MixRadio reaches 30 millionth track landmark

Mobile music streaming service Nokia MixRadio this week added the 30 millionth track, to its international catalogue.

The track, ‘Ma Tegi Hena’ is by Lebanese artist Nancy Ajram and is from the forthcoming album Nancy8. The thirty million tracks available on Nokia MixRadio, puts it ahead of all other radio based streaming services.

Commenting on the milestone Jyrki Rosenberg, VP Entertainment at Nokia said:

“It is very telling that the track that takes us through this significant milestone comes from an artist currently No.1 in the Middle East, with 9 million Facebook likes and over 180 million video views – yet is unknown in large parts of the world. Introducing music lovers around the world to new songs that they will love, is a truly inspiring challenge. Gathering a rich and deep catalogue of music is fundamental to being able to offer Nokia MixRadio listeners the widest choice. More importantly, Nokia MixRadio tailors this huge catalogue of songs to the unique tastes of each of our listeners, making it the world’s simplest and most personal music experience.”

Nokia MixRadio takes people straight to the music with its ‘Play Me’ button, delivering a personalised radio station that is unique to every user. The service encourages user personalisation with a simple ‘thumbs up’, ‘thumbs down’ mechanic and artist ‘favourite’ features that hone the music selections it delivers. The service also offers hundreds of expert and celebrity curated mixes free of adverts, sign ups or subscriptions. Mixes can be saved for offline listening during times without signal such as underground travel, as well as reducing data use and costs.

Nokia MixRadio is available to Nokia Lumia owners in 31 countries, making it the most global personalised streaming service in the world. It can be downloaded at www.windowsphone.com/store and non-Lumia owners can trial the service by visiting www.mixrad.io.

Nokia X launched in Malaysia

Nokia X offers a better-designed way to enjoy a world of apps

Kuala Lumpur, 5 March 2014 – Nokia today announced the launch of Nokia X, part of the new Nokia X family of affordable smartphones that run Android™ apps, in Malaysia. This new device is the perfect introduction to the world of Android apps, coupled with signature Nokia experiences, and the most popular Microsoft services.

The Nokia X features Nokia’s renowned quality and design, with a fresh, tile-based user interface inspired by our Lumia family. It comes with Fastlane, a screen which lets people switch between their favorite apps more smoothly. People can access curated, quality-tested apps from Nokia Store, more than a dozen third-party app stores and by sideloading. All devices are also pre-loaded with a variety of very popular third-party apps and games.

“We believe this unique combination will resonate with consumers around the world and set a great precedent for the level of quality that can be achieved in the fast-growing, affordable smartphone segment.” said Gary Chan, Head of Marketing, Pan Asia, Nokia.

“We are happy to be one of the first countries to launch the much anticipated Nokia X”, said Dick Yoong, Country Manager Malaysia and Brunei, Nokia. “The Nokia X would be a great device for Malaysians with Fastlane, signature Nokia experiences and a number of third party apps, in addition to a sturdy and attractive build at an affordable price.”

Out of the box, users can enjoy signature Nokia experiences including free* HERE Maps, with true offline maps and integrated turn-by-turn navigation, and Nokia MixRadio for free music streaming and downloadable playlists. The Nokia X is also an affordable introduction to popular Microsoft services, including free cloud storage using OneDrive.

With the purchase of Nokia X smartphone, people will get one month of Skype’s Unlimited World Subscription for a limited time, ideal to make international calls to landlines in more than 60 countries and to mobile phones in 8 countries.

Nokia X: an affordable introduction to the X family 
The Nokia X, a beautifully crafted smartphone with Nokia’s signature design approach and bold, bright colours. At only 10.4mm thin, the slim, durable monobody design features a 4” scratch-proof IPS display and exchangeable back covers that come in a variety of statement colours. Inside, the device runs on the Nokia X Software Platform and is powered by a1Ghz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

The Nokia X features two screens: home, which features a fresh, tile-based design and Fastlane. Fastlane is a dynamic record of how people use their phone, day by day, moment by moment. It captures everything people love: they need only to swipe once from the homescreen to access Fastlane, see a record of recent activity, and switch between their favourite apps, smoothly. Fastlane has been completely re-imagined for the Nokia X family. People can return a missed call by calling or texting, accept or decline calendar invitations, or control the music player – all from within the Fastlane view. Fastlane is also more customizable and socialfriendly than ever. People can select what appears on their Fastlane feed, read notifications from their social networks and update their status from within Fastlane, making the experience even more productive.

Product specifications and availability
The Nokia X will be available next week in the Klang Valley and a week later for the rest of Malaysia at a RRP of RM399. The Nokia X will be available in bright green, bright red, black and white.

The Nokia X device can be pre-ordered starting today at all Nokia Stores and on StoreKini. Devices preordered from Storekini from now till 31st March will be entitled to a free gift worth over RM50.

Nokia debuts on LINE
Nokia Malaysia’s official account on the LINE platform, NokiaMY, will go live today. In conjunction with the launch of Nokia X and Nokia Malaysia’s official account on LINE, 50 units of the Nokia X will be given away as prizes. Consumers can participate in this contest and win these devices by downloading the LINE app from the Nokia Store and following NokiaMY on LINE to get the clues for the tasks through the app itself.

“As one of the country’s leading mobile messaging app, we are pleased to partner with one of the industry’s pioneer brands in the mobile space. Our partnership with Nokia will enable rapid expansion for LINE in South East Asia and strengthen our user base within Malaysia and the region. We are excited to be a part of this launch, introducing the brand new Nokia X, continuing the cutting edge legacy of its predecessors. We are confident that our association with Nokia will reinforce LINE’s position as the preferred multiplatform instant messaging service among consumers” said Wind Koh, Advisor to LINE Malaysia.

Nokia Malaysia and LINE will also organize a campus outreach program across 10 campuses in Malaysia. Through this program, students will be able to experience the Nokia X, and LINE apps and characters.

Students can also experience Microsoft services such as Outlook.com, Skype, as well as Nokia Services such as MixRadio and HERE. Line and Nokia will also offer exclusive “stickers” for fans on the Nokia account.

Additional specifications for the Nokia X:
 4’’ capacitive touchscreen
 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Dual Core Processor
 512MB RAM
 3MP camera
 Dual SIM
 Up to 32GB expandable memory
 1500 mAH battery
 Satellite GPS
 Accelerometer
 Available colours: Bright Green, Bright Red, Black and White

Nokia MixRadio partners with The BRIT Awards 2014 to help music fans around the world discover the best of British music

Nokia MixRadio, the official online partner for the BRIT Awards 2014 will be helping music fans around the World discover the best of British music, by hosting the BRIT Awards Social Wall with a live YouTube feed of the awards for the first time.

The BRIT Awards will take place at The O2, London on Wednesday 19th February 2014. Nokia MixRadio will be sharing the legendary event with the World for first time, live online via the social wall. The BRIT Awards social wall which is live on the official BRIT Awards website will share the biggest night in British music, plus exclusive backstage content and red carpet action on the night.

International superstar Bruno Mars, winner of 2012’s International Male Solo Artist and this year’s biggest selling US male artist, will join the likes of Arctic Monkeys and Katy Perry to perform at this years awards show, which is expected to be truly spectacular. Bruno has sold over 10 million albums globally as well as breaking chart records along the way.

Flying the flag for new British music, Rudimental and Bastille will also both perform at The BRITs for the first time. Both acts have enjoyed incredible success in 2013 with their debut albums charting at No. 1 (Rudimental with ‘Home’ and Bastille with ‘Bad Blood’).  Bastille’s ‘Bad Blood’ is the biggest selling debut album of this year. Nokia MixRadio musicologists have curated 12 BRIT Award themed mixes, which are available to listen to on all Nokia Lumia devices and by visiting www.mixrad.io/
   
Speaking in advance of the event, VP of Nokia Entertainment, Jyrki Rosenberg, said:

“British music has blazed a trail across the globe for decades, so we are thrilled to be sharing the best of the current British music scene with music lovers all over the world. We look forward to helping Nokia MixRadio listeners across 5 continents discover more great British music through this partnership.”

The partnership also sees Nokia MixRadio partner with Roc Nation and Three Six Zero to host an exclusive invite only after-party, taking place at upscale restaurant Hakkasan.

Nokia introduces the Nokia Lumia 1320

See and do more of what you love with an affordable large screen Lumia smartphone

Kuala Lumpur, 13 January 2014 - Nokia introduces the Nokia Lumia 1320 which brings many of the high-end Lumia innovations into a 6-inch screen smartphone at a lower price point. The latest imaging features, like Nokia Camera and Nokia Storyteller, the most loved Lumia experiences like the global mapping and location services from HERE and unlimited streaming of ad-free music with Nokia Mix Radio all come together to offer consumers a compelling choice in the large screen smartphones.

“Building on the success of the Lumia 1520, we looked to further expand our innovation offering by bringing the best Lumia experiences from Nokia and the latest from Windows Phone to a large screen smartphone, at a more affordable price,” said Dick Yoong, Country Manager Malaysia and Brunei, Nokia. “With its large screen, warm and playful design and our rich imaging experience, the Nokia Lumia 1320 is an integral addition to our Windows Phone portfolio.”

Entertainment and gaming made better
With the latest apps, the best from Nokia, and the best from Microsoft supported by LTE connections people can make the most out of the screen of Lumia 1320. With Xbox the latest games are easily accessed, Zinio brings an ultimate magazine experience to a large screen smartphone, and Moli Player series or films are more of an enjoyment on the six inch screen. A wealth of content can be stored in the 7GB free SkyDrive storage or on the micro SD card. And when getting back to the home screen, the third column allows people to see more of the important content at a glance.

A rich and fun imaging experience
Nokia Lumia 1320 allows people to take advantage of Nokia’s rich and powerful imaging experiences to have more fun with pictures. The new Nokia Camera integrates the most popular imaging modes – Pro, Smart, and video – into one seamless picture-taking experience on the Nokia Lumia 1320. Nokia Storyteller makes stories come to life on the six inch screen of the Nokia Lumia 1320 by automatically integrating images with HERE location information into a chronological picture journey on a map. Creative Studio allows editing pictures easily into photo collages and making the images come to life with different filters or color popping effects.

Get a rich package of the most loved Lumia experiences
Nokia Lumia 1320 features a number of high-end Lumia exclusive experiences, including streaming unlimited music for free with Nokia MixRadio without ads or subscription and downloading your favourite playlists for offline enjoyment.

Offering the world’s best navigation and mapping services and featuring augmented reality view through the suite, HERE Drive, and HERE Maps preloaded on the phone and HERE Transit available in the Store help people discover everything around them in an even more intuitive way. On a larger screen, finding places and navigating to destinations are even easier.

The supersensitive screen on Nokia Lumia 1320 allows people to do more, faster, even with gloves on. Furthermore, an update to the Nokia Glance screen allows people to see more on the standby screen with notifications for missed calls and new emails.

Nokia 1320 is available beginning 17January 2014 onwards in the Klang Valley and a week later for the rest of Malaysia and is priced at RM1199.

ONLINE PERSONALITIES BATTLE IT OUT TO BE ‘THE INFLUENCER’

PersonEdge Partners with Nokia in Search for the Most Influential Online Personality in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 November 2013 – PersonEdge Sdn Bhd, a partner of Lowyat MSC, in collaboration with Nokia Malaysia, today launched ‘The Influencer’, an online reality show in search for the most influential online personality in Malaysia. The show will be streamed online to Lowyat.NET’s 1 million unique visitors, beginning Friday, 6 December 2013.

The competition will feature online personalities from the lifestyle, fashion, beauty, food, dance and technology industries, and will be hosted on Lowyat.TV. Launched by the co-founder and managing director of PersonEdge Sdn Bhd, Choo Mei Sze, founder and CEO of Lowyat MSC Sdn Bhd, Vijandren Ramadass, and head of marketing for Nokia Pan-Asia, Gary Chan, the show will feature 10 renowned online personalities battling for the ultimate title – “The Influencer”.

 (L-R) Ben Ashaari; Karen Kho; Jacklyn Gan; Rebecca Saw; Chriz Ooi; Choo Mei Sze, co-founder and managing director of PersonEdge Sdn Bhd; Eda Lim, Marketing Manager of Nokia Malaysia; Vijandren Ramadass, founder and CEO of Lowyat MSC Sdn Bhd; Kelly Chin; Ah Bok; and Vernon Chan, with their Nokia Lumia 1520 during the launch of 'The Influencer'.

“Everyone wants to be a part of ’new media’ but do not have the right strategy to operate and promote their brands through the medium. The only method was to promote through online advertisements, which has created clutter within the medium, causing its effectiveness to decline. But many do not understand the alternatives – creating contents through digital and social media experts, which includes online personalities,” said Choo.

She added that the strategic collaboration with Nokia will further boost the digital and social media industry. “Contestants will be trained to be an all-rounded online personality as most of them are too comfortable with their own platform. Thus, this competition allows them to discover their hidden talents beyond their comfort zone, in both online and offline platform, which will build the credibility and importance of online personalities in Malaysia.”

(L-R) Choo Mei Sze, co-founder and managing director of PersonEdge Sdn Bhd; Eda Lim, marketing manager of Nokia Malaysia; and Vijandren Ramadass, founder and CEO of Lowyat MSC Sdn Bhd, launched the online reality show 'The Influencer'.

The contestants include Cheeserland, Vernon Chan, Ben Ashaari, Kelly Chin, Rebecca Saw, Ami Schaheera, Karen Kho, Jacklyn Gan, Ah Bok and dancer Chriz Ooi, who will all be using the Nokia Lumia 1520 to empower themselves through six different challenges: technology, beauty, food, fitness, fashion and travel.

“Today customers realize the potential of mobile devices beyond voice and increasingly use their devices for various tasks in their daily life,” said Gary. “We are excited to partner with Personedge and Lowyat.TV to showcase the power and the multi-tasking capability of the new Nokia Lumia 1520 through various tasks. These influencers will also have the privilege to be the first Malaysians to experience this fantastic device and put them to test in real-life scenarios. We believe this thin, sleek designed, 6-inch stunning device with an amazing 20-megapixel camera will enable the Influencers to excel in their weekly challenge with ease.”

The winner of ‘The Influencer’ will be rewarded cash prizes as well as products. Other sponsors include Konji International, Love Bonito, Lansi, Storekini.com and Kenanga Wholesale City.

Lowyat.TV, a streaming portal established in 2013, is by Malaysia’s largest online community, Lowyat.NET. Various types of videos such as tutorials, reviews and accompanying featured articles are made available to Lowyat.NET’s online community.

Nokia introduces the Nokia Lumia 1520 in Malaysia

The first 6” Lumia smartphone running on Windows Phone featuring a 20MP cameraand the latest imaging innovations from Nokia Enhanced productivity with built in Microsoft Office for easy sharing and editingKuala Lumpur, 26 November 2013 – Nokia today announced its first 6-inch Lumia smartphone in Malaysia, the Nokia Lumia 1520.

The Nokia Lumia 1520 comes with a 1080p full HD screen with an enhanced start screen featuring an additional 3rd column of live tiles, allowing people to get to their favourite apps faster with less scrolling. Together with the 20MP PureView camera with optical image stabilization, users can capture and tell better stories, and do more of what they want on the go. Nokia Lumia 1520 brings personal stories to life with Nokia’s latest imaging innovations, including Nokia Storyteller and Nokia Camera. The device is also aimed at enhancing productivity with built in Microsoft Office for easy editing and sharing of documents.

“The Lumia 1520 brings industry leading design, hardware and imaging innovation to a bigger screen,” said Gary Chan, Head of Marketing, Nokia Pan Asia. “With our first 6-inch Lumia smartphone, users will be able to enjoy a unique Lumia experience and make the most of the new apps like the Storyteller, Instagram and Vine. Nokia Lumia 1520 also proves to be an excellent device for professionals due to its large screen size and Microsoft Office solutions.”

Telling stories better on a large screen
The Lumia 1520 offers a 6-inch screen and a vivid 1080p full HD display for outstanding outdoor readability. The Lumia 1520 offers the latest imaging innovation from Nokia – a 20MP PureView camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) enabling sharp images even in the dark as well as oversampling and zooming technology similar to the Lumia 1020.

Building on the experiences introduced with Lumia 1020 and now optimized for a larger screen, the Lumia 1520 comes with the new Nokia Camera. Nokia Camera integrates the most popular imaging modes – Pro, Smart and video – into one seamless picture-taking experience. As with the Lumia 1020, the images can tell several stories with the camera’s zooming, reframing and cropping capabilities, and dual capture of low and high resolution pictures.

For outstanding video experience, the Nokia Lumia 1520 camera captures full HD video with crystal-clear audio. It also includes Nokia Rich Recording with four microphones, providing directional stereo recording capability to capture distortion free audio from the preferred direction for accurate and clear sound.

For the first time, PureView imaging meets HERE maps with the launch of Nokia Storyteller merging the two signature Lumia experiences together seamlessly. Re-live memories in a new, dynamic, and interactive way with Nokia Storyteller that automatically integrates pictures with HERE location information into a chronological picture journey on a map. Zooming out of a picture reveals points of interest tagged to the map with contact info, user reviews and even driving directions. Viewing the images on the map makes memories truly come alive with auto playback of video, animated images and sequential movement in a still picture.

Getting more productive
With Microsoft Office built in, the Nokia Lumia 1520 allows people to do what they want, when they want. Viewing and editing Word, Excel and PowerPoint files on the move, while keeping the original formatting becomes even more powerful on a 6-inch screen powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. Backing up documents to 7GB of free and secure cloud storage via SkyDrive or to the micro SD card with up to 64GB more space ensures every edit is stored, also on the go.

The Lumia 1520 also features integrated wireless charging (Qi compatible) that enables people to easily log a whole day of work and enjoy entertainment like movies without worrying about finding a place to charge up.

Enhanced start screen for seeing more
A third column of the Windows Phone live tiles on the Nokia Lumia 1520 allows people to bring more of their important content to the start screen and see more of their calendar, email, notes and music at a glance. Also, an update to the Nokia Glance screen brings notifications on missed calls and new emails to the standby screen.

Price and availability
The Nokia Lumia 1520 will be available in the first week of December in the Klang Valley and in mid-December for the rest of Malaysia at a suggested retail price of RM2,159.

Pre-orders registered on the Nokia Malaysia Facebook page from the 26th of November till 4th December will be entitled to an additional Nokia Coloud Boom headset and a RM160 discount voucher.

Pre-orders for the Nokia Lumia 1520 will also be available on the 26th of November on the Digi Online Store and StoreKini. Pre-orders from StoreKini will be packaged with a free powerbank, 32GB MicroSD card, and a stylus. More information regarding pre-orders from the Digi Online Store can be obtained from their official website. The Lumia 1520 will be available in four colours – yellow, white, red and black.

New payment channel for apps exclusively for DiGi customers
The new Nokia Lumia 1520 comes with an operator billing feature that enables DiGi customers to pay for their app purchases on the Windows Phone Store by deducting the amount spent from their prepaid balance or by adding it to their postpaid bill.

DiGi’s Head of Products – Internet & Services, Praveen Rajan Nadarajan said, “We are pleased to partner Microsoft and Nokia to introduce an alternative payment channel on Nokia Windows Phone devices. DiGi is always innovating ways to improve our customer’s usage experience as we connect more Malaysians to the Internet. This new feature allows customers to leverage on the many possibilities of the mobile phone for added convenience and ease of use.”

Nokia Launches MixRadio with Play Me – the World’s Simplest Music Service

New global service offers personalised radio station with one touch

21st November 2013 - New York, Nokia today launched Nokia MixRadio with Play Me in 31 countries around the World. The free music streaming service learns from listening habits to deliver people a personalised radio station, at the single touch of a button.

Nokia MixRadio builds on the acclaimed Nokia Music streaming service launched in 2011 to streamline the experience of discovering music on the go. It takes people straight to the music with a new ‘Play Me’ button, which delivers a personalised radio station that is unique to every user.

Nokia MixRadio encourages user personalisation with simple ‘thumbs up’, ‘thumbs down’ and artist ‘favourite’ features that hone the music selections it delivers. The service also offers hundreds of expert and celebrity curated mixes free of adverts, sign ups or subscriptions. Mixes can be saved for offline listening during times without signal such as underground travel, as well as reducing data use and costs.

Jyrki Rosenberg, VP and Head of Nokia Entertainment, said: “Today we are making our mission clear, to provide the most simple, personal radio streaming service available. Nokia MixRadio marries simplicity with an incredible level of personalization, for a mobile first approach that will help everybody, not just the avid music fan, enjoy and discover new music for free.”

He adds “It’s as easy as turning on the radio, but you’re in control - just one touch of Play Me provides people with their own personal radio station, free of adverts, sign ups and sign-ins. You can even skip songs you don’t like, as well as build your station around your likes and dislikes with the unique thumbs up and down feature.”

Music legend and producer behind Chic and Daft Punk’s global hit Get Lucky, Nile Rodgers, joined Nokia MixRadio for the launch event in New York, where he announced a series of exclusive mixes he has created and shared through the new MixSharing feature. It allows people to share three full tracks of a mix with their friends through social media or SMS, which can be listened to online at www.mixrad.io, free of charge.

Nile said of the service: “Radio has always been the way most people discover new music, but the format hasn’t really changed since the 50’s. I love MixRadio because it’s radio for the digital generation, simple, immediate and unique. And the MixSharing feature means people can create and transmit their own radio station! More people discovering great music is always a good thing.”

Nokia MixRadio with Play Me is now available to Nokia Lumia owners in 31 countries, making it the most global personalized streaming service in the world. Featuring a new logo and look for the service, it can be downloaded today at www.windowsphone.com/store

Nokia introduces the clearly beautiful Nokia Asha 502 in Malaysia

Combines unique design with 5MP camera and a more social Fastlane

Kuala Lumpur, 22 November 2013 – Nokia today announced that the new Nokia Asha 502 Dual SIM, a new addition to the Asha Platform family of smartphones, is now available for purchase in Malaysia. The new phone pushes the boundaries of affordable smartphone innovation with a unique layered design, a five megapixel camera with LED flash, and the Fastlane home screen that is more deeply integrated with social networks. Built with the Nokia hallmarks of manufacturing quality and outstanding battery life, the new phone offers compelling new experiences for just RM319.

“The Nokia Asha 501, launched mid year, was very well received in the market due to its striking design, durability, affordability, and accessibility with Fastlane,” said Dick Yoong, Country Manager Malaysia and Brunei, Nokia. “The latest addition to the Asha family, the Asha 502, pushes the boundaries of a budget smartphone even further with a stunning design, great social apps, and new imaging experiences  which offers consumers more for less. The budget-friendly Nokia Asha 502 will place smartphone technology within reach of millions of consumers.”

Standout design at an affordable price
The new Nokia Asha 502 features a layered design, achieved using the ‘dual shot’ technique which is unique to Nokia. It combines an inner layer of bold, bright colour surrounded by an outer layer of crystal-clear  transparency. The combination adds a distinctive look to the phone’s monobody design, as well as durability. The high-end design brought to the Nokia Asha 502’s price point is a clear differentiator, as are the craftsmanship and attention to detail.  

Smarter imaging: one swipe to capture, one touch to share
The Nokia Asha 502 is one of the first Asha Platform devices with a built-in five megapixel camera with LED flash and features a full-touch display and fully redesigned user interface. Swipe is the main gesture for navigating the phone – whether answering a call, viewing notifications or closing an app. Swipe also activates the built-in camera: just swipe up from the lock screen to start the camera and touch anywhere on-screen to take a photo. The camera experience is also more social, with the option to post an image to Facebook or Twitter with just one touch.

The Nokia Asha 502 features Easy Swap Dual SIM, a unique-to-Nokia innovation that allows people to switch between SIM cards on the go, to get better tariffs or alternate between SIM cards for SMS, voice and data, without having to turn off the device. It also comes with a 4GB micro SD memory card in-box, and can be expanded to accommodate up to 32GB of external memory.

An even more social Asha with live updates and WhatsApp
Fastlane is the unique, second screen that acts as a shortcut to the phone’s recently accessed apps, features and content, as well as future activity, such as calendar appointments. It’s the fastest way to access an app in its last state, as well as being the social hub of the new Nokia Asha 502. Deeper integration with social networks now enables live updates, which alert people to likes and comments through notifications on Fastlane. By clicking on the Fastlane item with new notifications, people will be directed to the relevant post, so they never miss an important update. Fastlane can be further personalised and made more private by selecting what content can appear on-screen, and by deleting unwanted Fastlane items, on the go.

For the first time, WhatsApp will also be available to Asha Platform devices, starting with the Nokia Asha 501 in the fourth quarter 2013, with support for new devices like the Nokia Asha 502 coming later. WhatsApp joins other popular chat and messaging apps already available for Asha Platform devices, such as WeChat, Line, eBuddy and Nimbuzz. Thousands more free apps, games and content items are available on Nokia Store.

Additional product information for Nokia Asha 502
• Display: 3” QVGA screen
• Weight: 100g (including battery)
• Standby time: up to 24 days
• Network: 2G
• Camera: 5MP camera with flash
• Other: Bluetooth 3.0 with SLAM
• Suggested retail price: RM 319
• Available colours: bright red, yellow and black

Gartner Says Smartphone Sales Accounted for 55 Percent of Overall Mobile Phone Sales in Third Quarter of 2013

Asia/Pacific led the growth in both markets - the smartphone segment with 77.3 percent increase and the mobile phone segment with 11.9 percent growth

Kuala Lumpur, 21 November 2013 — Worldwide mobile phone sales to end users totaled 455.6 million units in the third quarter of 2013, an increase of 5.7 percent from the same period last year, according to Gartner, Inc. Sales of smartphones accounted for 55 percent of overall mobile phone sales in the third quarter of 2013, and reached their highest share to date.

Worldwide smartphone sales to end users reached 250.2 million units, up 45.8 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Asia/Pacific led the growth in both markets - the smartphone segment with 77.3 percent increase and the mobile phone segment with 11.9 percent growth. The other regions to show an increase in the overall mobile phone market were Western Europe, which returned to growth for the first time this year, and the Americas.

“Sales of feature phones continued to decline and the decrease was more pronounced in markets where the average selling price (ASP) for feature phones was much closer to the ASP affordable smartphones,” said Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst at Gartner. “In markets such as China and Latin America, demand for feature phones fell significantly as users rushed to replace their old models with smartphones.”

Gartner analysts said global mobile phone sales are on pace to reach 1.81 billion units in 2013, a 3.4 percent increase from 2012. “We will see several new tablets enter the market for the holiday season, and we expect consumers in mature markets will favor the purchase of smaller-sized tablets over the replacement of their older smartphones” said Mr. Gupta.

While Samsung’s share was flat in the third quarter of 2013, Samsung increased its lead over Apple in the global smartphone market (see Table 1). The launch of the Samsung Note 3 helped reaffirm Samsung as the clear leader in the large display smartphone market, which it pioneered.

Lenovo’s sales of smartphones grew to 12.9 million units, up 84.5 percent year-on-year. It constantly raised share in the Chinese smartphone market.

Apple’s smartphone sales reached 30.3 million units in the third quarter of 2013, up 23.2 percent from a year ago. “While the arrival of the new iPhones 5s and 5c had a positive impact on overall sales, such impact could have been greater had they not started shipping late in the quarter. While we saw some inventory built up for the iPhone 5c, there was good demand for iPhone 5s with stock out in many markets,” said Mr. Gupta.

Table 1

Worldwide Smartphone Sales to End Users by Vendor in 3Q13 (Thousands of Units)

Company	3Q13 Units	3Q13 Market Share (%)	3Q12 Units	3Q12 Market Share (%)
Samsung	80,356.8	32.1	55,054.2	32.1
Apple	30,330.0	12.1	24,620.3	14.3
Lenovo	12,882.0	5.1	6,981.0	4.1
LG Electronics	12,055.4	4.8	6,986.1	4.1
Huawei	11665.7	4.7	7,804.3	4.5
Others	102941.8	41.1	70206.8	40.9
Total	250,231.7	100.0	171,652.7	100.0

Source: Gartner (November 2013)

In the smartphone operating system (OS) market (see Table 2), Android surpassed 80 percent market share in the third quarter of 2013, which helped extend its leading position. “However, the winner of this quarter is Microsoft which grew 123 percent. Microsoft announced the intent to acquire Nokia’s devices and services business, which we believe will unify effort and help drive appeal of Windows ecosystem,” said Mr. Gupta. Forty-one per cent of all Android sales were in mainland China, compared to 34 percent a year ago. Samsung is the only non-Chinese vendor in the top 10 Android players ranking in China. Whitebox Yulong is the third largest Android vendor in China with a 9.7 percent market share in the third quarter of 2013. Xiaomi represented 4.3 percent of Android sales in the third quarter of 2013, up from 1.4 percent a year ago.

Table 2

Worldwide Smartphone Sales to End Users by Operating System in 3Q13 (Thousands of Units)

Operating System	3Q13  Units	3Q13 Market Share (%)	3Q12  Units	3Q12 Market Share (%)
Android	205,022.7	81.9	124,552.3	72.6
iOS	30,330.0	12.1	24,620.3	14.3
Microsoft	8,912.3	3.6	3,993.6	2.3
BlackBerry	4,400.7	1.8	8,946.8	5.2
Bada	633.3	0.3	4,454.7	2.6
Symbian	457.5	0.2	4,401.3	2.6
Others	475.2	0.2	683.7	0.4
Total	250,231.7	100.0	171,652.7	100.0

Source: Gartner (November 2013)

Mobile Phone Vendor Perspective

Samsung: Samsung extended its lead in the overall mobile phone market, as its market share totaled 25.7 percent in the third quarter of 2013 (see Table 3). “While Samsung has started to address its user experience, better design is another area where Samsung needs to focus,” said Mr. Gupta. “Samsung's recent joint venture with carbon fiber company SGL Group could bring improvements in this area in future products.”

Nokia: Nokia did better than anticipated in the third quarter of 2013, reaching 63 million mobile phones, thanks to sales of both Lumia and Asha series devices. Increased smartphone sales supported by an expanded Lumia portfolio, helped Nokia move up to the No. 8 spot in the global smartphone market. But regional and Chinese Android device manufacturers continued to beat market demand, taking larger share and creating a tough competitive environment for Lumia devices.

Apple:  Gartner believes the price difference between the iPhone 5c and 5s is not enough in mature markets, where prices are skewed by operator subsidies, to drive users away from the top of the line model. In emerging markets, the iPhone 4S will continue to be the volume driver at the low end as the lack of subsidy in most markets leaves the iPhone 5c too highly priced to help drive further penetration.

Lenovo: Lenovo moved to the No. 7 spot in the global mobile phone market, with sales reaching approximately 13 million units in the third quarter of 2013. “Lenovo continues to rely heavily on its home market, which represents more than 95 per cent of its overall mobile phone sales. This could limit its growth after 2014, when the Chinese market is expected to decelerate,” said Mr. Gupta.

Table 3

Worldwide Mobile Phone Sales to End Users by Vendor in 3Q13 (Thousands of Units)

Company	3Q13 Units	3Q13 Market Share (%)	3Q12 Units	3Q12 Market Share (%)
Samsung	117,053.8	25.7	97,956.8	22.7
Nokia	63,048.4	13.8	82,300.6	19.1
Apple	30,330.0	6.7	24,620.3	5.7
LG Electronics	18,030.7	4.0	13,968.8	3.2
ZTE	13,696.4	3.0	16,605.9	3.9
Huawei	13,574.4	3.0	11,918.9	2.8
Lenovo	12,999.8	2.9	7,203.7	1.7
TCL Communication	12,345.6	2.7	9,326.7	2.2
Sony Mobile Communications	9,757.5	2.1	8,202.4	1.9
Yulong	8,801.0	1.9	5,218.5	1.2
Others	156,004.7	34.2	153,701.20	35.7
Total	455,642.3	100.0	431,023.8	100.0

Source: Gartner (November 2013)