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.

Microsoft Malaysia Celebrates The Best Of MY Windows Store Apps

Window 8 and Windows Phone 8 platforms seeing solid growth and momentum
Microsoft committed to building a thriving ecosystem for local talents to achieve their aspirations

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 April 2014 — Microsoft Malaysia (“Microsoft”) continues its drive to put the local app developer community center stage, by having an awards ceremony to celebrate local developers for their innovative ideas and hard work in developing them into apps for the Windows 8/Windows Phone 8 ecosystem. Held at Media Prima Theatrette in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, the celebratory event saw more than 50 local developers receive due recognition and reward for their respectively accomplishment and participation in the various app development initiatives organized by Microsoft, namely the Discover MY Apps 2014 hackathon – a partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in conjunction with Visit Malaysia year 2014; DevSorcerer (Season 2) – a partnership with Cradle Fund’s Ideas2Invest (i2i) and Hack In The Box (HITB); and the Top Partner Awards.

Team Look, first prize winner of Discover My Apps hackathon.

Microsoft has been creating an impact in transforming education and driving innovation in Malaysia for more than 20 years, by inspiring students and software developers to take up the challenge to gear up for success – personally and professionally. According to Dinesh Nair, Director of Developer and Platform Evangelism, Microsoft Malaysia, “As the ICT sector continues to be an important driver of economic growth, youth with ICT skills will find themselves better qualified for new employment and entrepreneurial activities. Microsoft is dedicated not only to helping young Malaysians harness their talents and accelerate their progress, but equally as important is to provide an ecosystem in which they can thrive. Partnerships are key to Microsoft to achieve this; from the technology to the support system, and the infrastructure needed, Microsoft is committed to working with the Government and industry stakeholders to invest in training these talents.”

Team PaoKaLiao showcasing TONTON app for Windows 8.

Discover MY Apps – Microsoft’s annual Windows Hackathon this year – harnessed the creative power of local software developers to create innovative apps that highlight the beauty and wonders of Malaysia. Discover MY Apps is a collaborative effort between Microsoft and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, with the support from partners such as BizClub PKNS, Cradle Fund, MacroKiosk, MDeC, Media Prima Digital, MY Teksi, Netizen Testing, TM and UX Malaysia.

Rashidi Hasbullah, Deputy Secretary General (Tourism Industry), Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MoTaC) who graced the event, was delighted with how youth and technology are coming together to make a positive change, in this case for the tourism industry. He said, “The world today would be a very different place without technology. As technology is evolving faster than ever before, travelers around the world have also become much more technology-savvy than in the past. As more people are connected to each other, with access to the vast pool of information available online, an increasing number of travelers are seeking information – holiday destinations, flight reservations, hotel reviews – via the Internet prior to making any travel decisions. The biggest challenge therefore is to bridge this gap between the tourism and technology industries.”

Team Social Mapper, the overall winner for DevSorcerer 2.

He continued, “The Discover MY Apps competition for our local app developers not only supports the Ministry’s tourism efforts by creating globally accessible information about our country and culture for travelers, it also contributes to nation-building by providing a platform for local talents to embrace entrepreneurism and innovation. As Malaysians, we all have a collective responsibility to nurture and train the next leaders of the country, but this role is not exclusively the Government’s. It is also a shared responsibility with the private sector and other key stakeholders. I am glad that Microsoft shares the country’s priorities, in this case supporting the Ministry’s efforts in promoting Malaysia as a top holiday destination in the world, and at the same time empowering youth by providing them with the opportunity to unleash their creativity, hone their skills, and become change-makers.”

Media Prima Digital, Malaysia’s largest digital media group, said that the chance to host the awards ceremony was a great opportunity to show its support for the nation’s digital industry, and also the minds behind the success of it. “We are glad to extend our venue to host the celebrations to recognize our local app developers. These talents thoroughly deserve the acknowledgement for their creative ideas but more importantly, the hard work and detail they have put into it. Initiatives like Discover MY Apps exemplifies what the synergy between technology and innovation can create: an opportunity to create a brighter future for the next generation of Malaysians. Our collaboration with Microsoft and the other partners has been a fruitful experience,” said Lam Swee Kim, Group General Manager, Media Prima Digital.

Tony Er of DagangAsia Net Sdn Bhd receiving Top Partners recognition from Dinesh Nair, Director of Developer and Platform Evangelism, Microsoft Malaysia.

The event also saw recognition for the winner of DevSorcerer (Season 2) and a special category to acknowledge top partners who have developed apps on the Windows 8 platform.

Abdullah Abbas, from the team that was the overall winner of DevSorcerer 2, was ecstatic with the achievement, saying, “Personally, this is actually the second time I have participated in the DevSorcerer series. This time round it was exciting for me and the team because the format of the competition was slightly different; we were required to solve various challenges prepared by the judges. It is not only a way for us to understand more about Microsoft technology, but it also allowed us to mingle around with other participants and discuss ideas that we can potentially do together in the future. As a developer, it was a very good opportunity for me to learn how to build better apps, and to share my experience with others.”

Discover My Apps hackathon winners with VIPs and sponsors.

Adding to that, Dinesh said, “Experiences like the one Abbas had are the kind that we hope to increasingly see through the many initiatives we have been doing for the local developer community. From the WOWZAPP hackathon and Asian Development Bank’s AppsForAsia program in the past, to the recent Microsoft Imagine Cup – and now the recognition for Discover MY App, DevSorcerer 2 and Top Partner developers – it is clear that our youth have the brilliance and the tenacity to be the world’s best. What is lacking however are opportunities for these developers to showcase their talents, both locally and globally. That is exactly what we have been doing, and will continue to do – providing opportunities.”

With over 140,000 apps now available on the Windows Store, Microsoft is on a constant drumbeat to provide an avenue for the local developer community for all things app. “Developers at today’s event will have the support of Microsoft Malaysia to further their ambition through the Mobile App Acceleration Camp (MAAC), a global Microsoft program that gives participants the technical, business, and financial support to help build a great app for the Windows platform. If selected, teams stand to receive a grant of up to 70,000 Euro (RM316,600) to develop their app. Locally, developers can look forward to //publish/, an event where they can bring existing apps and game projects to code with developers from around the world. Developers will receive onsite support from Microsoft and community experts to remove blockers and add the finishing touches to their projects,” concluded Dinesh.

To view the full list of local apps made by Malaysians, for Malaysians – please visit http://aka.ms/myapps

'VIBER OUT' COMES TO WINDOWS PHONE 8 AS VIBER CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON CROSS-PLATFORM SUPPORT

Viber 4.1 For Windows Phone 8 Brings Multiple Major Updates And Popular Viber Features To Microsoft’s Smartphone Platform

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – April 2, 2014, Viber, (www.viber.com) the leading mobile communications platform offering free messaging and HD-quality phone calls, announced today the release of Viber 4.1 for Windows Phone 8 bringing “Viber Out” calls to the platform for the first time. Now Viber users on Windows Phone 8 can make affordable calls to their friends and contacts who have landlines or phones that don’t have Viber. Additionally, the update brings several key Viber features to the mobile Microsoft platform.

Viber has pursued a consistent strategy of supporting as many platforms as possible in order to expand the potential user base its users can contact, strengthening the capability of the platform. Viber allows users to communicate with almost any of their friends or contacts regardless of which platform they use. Now, with the addition of “Viber Out,” Windows Phone 8 users will be able to call any phone number with Viber.

“Viber Out has been a game changer for our users and allows them to rely on Viber for all their communication needs. With the addition of this critical feature to our Windows Phone 8 version, we are ensuring that the complete Viber experience is available on as many platforms as possible. This focus on cross-platform support is one of our most important commitments to our users,” said Talmon Marco, CEO of Viber.

The release also includes multiple feature updates that expand the functionality of the app, including:
Sending video messages
Sending multiple photos at the same time
Hands-free Bluetooth support

‘Viber Out’ 随着 Viber 继续专注于跨平台支援而融入 Windows Phone 8

献予 Windows Phone 8 的 Viber 4.1 为微软的智能手机平台呈献多种新的更新和热门 Viber 特点

吉隆坡 4 月 2 日讯 Viber, (www.viber.com)，即呈献免费简讯和高清素质通话服务的顶尖移动通讯平台公司，今天发布献予 Windows Phone 8 的 Viber 4.1,而首次将 “Viber Out” 拨电话服务引进该平台。现在，使用 Windows Phone 8 的 Viber 用户将能以容易负担费率拨电给其固定电话号码或其他电话尚未安装 Viber 的朋友或联系人。此外，这项更新也为该移动微软平台带来多种重要的 Viber 特点。

Viber 已落实一项尽可能支援更多平台的一致策略，以扩大其用户能够联系的潜在用户群，并强化了该平台的功能。Viber 可让用户与他们的几乎任何朋友或联系人通讯，不管他们使用哪一种平台。现在，随着添加 “Viber Out” 之后，Windows Phone 8的用户将可 通过 Viber 联系任何电话号码。

“Viber Out 不断为我们的用户而改变游戏规则，并让他们依靠 Viber 来应付他们所有的通讯需求。随着为我们的 Windows Phone 8 版本添加这个重要功能，我们可确保他们在更多平台享有完整的 Viber 经验。专注于跨平台支援乃是我们献予用户的最重要承诺之一，” Viber 的首席执行长 Talmon Marco 说道。

这项发布也包括更新多种可扩增该应用程序之功能的特点，包括:
·         传送视频讯息
·         同时传送多张照片
·         免持蓝牙支援

Viber Sticker Market 的最新发展为登陆 Windows Phone 8

Viber 发布 其Windows Phone 8应用程序的第 4.0 版
Viber Sticker Market 因此而首次登陆该平台

马来西亚吉隆坡１月29日讯–Viber今日宣布发布其适用于 Windows Phone 8 的 Viber 4.0，即一项让最新之 Viber 特点，包括备受欢迎之 Viber Sticker Market 登陆微软移动平台的最新发展。

该新版本乃是让 Windows Phone 8 版本之 Viber 与该应用程序之其他版本齐头并进的重要步骤之一:

• “Seen” 状况可让用户晓得接收方已阅读他们发出的讯息
• "Last online" 状况可让用户晓得其联络人何时在线
• 可添加图片说明
• 对话中的照片缩略图素质更佳
• Viber 通知响声可充作来电推送通知
• 能隐藏通知的内容
• 翻译 Emoji 为 emoticon 以确保跨平台相容性
• 更快的应用程序速度，让用户更快重启和上载
• 不受平台限制之下提升推送通知的传送

“在过去几个月，我们已在让用户于更多平台享受全面 Viber 体验方面取得长足进展，今天为 Windows Phone 8 而发布者则是迈向这个方向的另一步骤，” Viber 的首席执行长　Talmon Marco　说道。"这项最新发展是我们锲而不舍改革和迭代新版本 Viber 的努力之一，以提供额外的功能和使到该平台让我们的用户更享受和有用。"

该新版本的 Viber 可下载自:http://www.viber.com

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.

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.”

Mozilla, Facebook and Microsoft hunt for best developers in 24-hour hackathon at HITBSecConf2013 - Malaysia

September 26th, Kuala Lumpur: This October, developers from around the globe have an opportunity to showcase their coding skills to an international audience at the HackWEEKDAY hackathon here in Kuala Lumpur.

Supported by Mozilla, Facebook and Microsoft, HackWEEKDAY is a software development hackathon that will run alongside the 11th annual HITB Security Conference in Malaysia – Asia’s premier deep-knowledge network security event that annually brings together some of the world’s leading security experts under one roof.

Dinesh Nair, Director, Developer Platform, Microsoft Malaysia.

This year’s HackWEEKDAY participants will get to work on development projects with a focus on Facebook, Mozilla’s Firefox OS or Microsoft’s Windows 8 / Windows Phone 8 mobile OS operating systems.

Open to both professionals and students, the developer who wins ‘Most L33t Coder’ will walk away with USD1,337 courtesy of Mozilla Corporation at the end of the 24 hours. The team from Mozilla will also be onsite to guide developers and they will also be bringing Firefox OS phones for developers to work with and experience. Three of the Firefox OS phones will also be awarded to winners as prizes.

Amongst this year’s participants are also 25 battling developers from DevSorcerer, a software reality show by the Microsoft Malaysia Community. For their grand finale round, DevSorcerer’s 25 finalists will be competing at HackWEEKDAY by working on applications that will go on to vie for investment to commercialisation.

“Microsoft is thrilled to be a key partner in HackWEEKDAY as it is part of our vision to transform Malaysia together through technology. As we transition into the App Economy, the Developer Ecosystem in Malaysia needs guidance, mentoring, training and a commercialization push to get these Apps out into the marketplace. Together, we hope to inspire these Developers and help them create an impact on this landscape. The time of the code warrior is here!” says Dinesh Nair, Director, Developer Platform, Microsoft Malaysia.

This year, HITB is also encouraging developers to work on community service applications such as an open data SOS/Emergency alert application. Facebook is supporting this cause with their developer and security teams who will be at HackWEEKDAY to engage and help developers get into integrating Facebook Social aspects into their applications.

"Applications for social good and community service are growing in popularity, and they're something we're very passionate about at Facebook. Kuala Lumpur has one of the largest developer communities in Asia, so we're looking forward to seeing how the community uses Facebook and Parse to build out innovative new ideas." said Bear Douglas, Developer Advocate at Facebook

“Every developer has a personal dream app idea at the back of their minds which they never find time to work on. HackWEEKDAY is a great platform to finally work on this, and in doing so, also vie for USD1,337 while showcasing one’s coding kung-f00 to industry bigwigs,” said Hafez Kamal, lead organizer for HackWEEKDAY.

This year’s entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges from Microsoft, Facebook and Mozilla. Previous years’ HackWEEKDAY highlight projects have included an Android RFID reader for Malaysia’s Touch N’ Go system, an open source DICOM image viewer utilizing Microsoft’s Kinect controller,  a DNSSEC management tool and also TALEB - a unique social communication and collaboration platform made for students by students.

“Mozilla is proud to be once again sponsoring HackWEEKDAY at the Hack In The Box security conference in Malaysia in October. The event is a chance for developers - both students and professional - to come together and prototype new apps and features for Firefox OS - security-related or otherwise. We want to build on the already strong community in the region and encourage the open-source community to support the future of the mobile web!” says Paul Theriault, Firefox OS Security Lead

HackWEEKDAY Hackathon will be held at Intercontinental Hotel Kuala Lumpur starting on Wednesday, 16th October and will end 24 hours later.  For more information and to sign up, please visit http://conference.hitb.org/hitbsecconf2013kul/event/hackweekday/

Nokia Lumia 1020 arrives in Malaysia

Get closer than ever before with the smartphone camera that reinvents zoom

Kuala Lumpur, 19 September 2013 – Nokia today unveiled the Nokia Lumia 1020 in Malaysia, the smartphone that sets a new benchmark in smartphone imaging.

The Lumia 1020 is able to produce some of the sharpest images possible by any digital camera thanks to Nokia’s innovative PureView technology, including a second generation 41 megapixel sensor, ZEISS optics with six lenses and optical image stabilization – allowing people to capture, edit and share photos and videos of professional quality.

Using a new application called Nokia Pro Camera, the Nokia Lumia 1020 reinvents zoom, enabling people to shoot first and then zoom later to discover and re-discover stories that contain more detail than the eye can see. With a beautiful interface that visually demonstrates how settings will affect the final photo or video, Nokia Pro Camera simplifies features usually reserved for professional cameras and teaches people how to take better photos.

“Consumers want to capture and share memorable experiences with their smartphone. We want to take people on a journey from capturing pictures to recording and sharing their lives. The Nokia Lumia 1020 brings new meaning to pictures and continues to strengthen Nokia’s leadership in imaging. The Nokia Lumia 1020 is the first smartphone to exceed many standalone digital cameras in terms of image quality capture ensuring users always have that perfect photo – day or night,” said Gary Chan, Head of Marketing, Pan Asia at Nokia.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 is the most versatile digital camera in the market today. Its unique dual capture feature simultaneously takes a high resolution 38 megapixel image for endless editing opportunities, and creates a 5 megapixel picture that is easy to share on social networks with Windows Phone 8.

Delivering crystal clear pictures even in low light conditions, the Nokia Lumia 1020 also captures blur-free videos with stereo sound even at the loudest concerts thanks to Nokia Rich Recording, which handles sound pressure levels six times louder than conventional smartphone microphones.

With over 175,000 apps, the personal nature of Windows Phone makes it the perfect platform for the Nokia Lumia 1020, showcasing live images on the Start screen with the Photos tile, quick sharing to social networks, and easy access to files across a number of devices with SkyDrive. With the dedicated camera button, Windows Phone is designed with imaging in mind.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 also features leading Nokia services. There’s also the leading HERE suite of integrated location services, including HERE Maps with augmented reality featuring LiveSight, which makes it quick and easy to find new places to take photos.

Nokia Camera Grip
To ensure fun and easy taking of photos, Nokia created the Nokia Camera Grip, an accessory designed to perfectly fit the Nokia Lumia 1020 and make it easier to get the shot you want, especially single-handed. The Camera Grip includes a built-in, rechargeable 1020 mAh battery to capture up to 285 more photos. The versatile Nokia Camera Grip can attach to any standard camera tripod for those moments when you need to take self-portraits or set up the perfect long-exposure shot. Colours are subject to stock availability.

Price and availability
The Nokia Lumia 1020 will be available in Malaysia at the end of September in the Klang Valley and in the beginning of October for the rest of the country. The Nokia Lumia 1020 would also be bundled together with the camera grip accessory and is priced at RM2,499.

Nokia has also organized a Nokia Lumia 1020 roadshow in Malaysia from 9th to 13th of October at the North Court, Mid Valley Megamall. Early bird customers at this roadshow will be entitled to take home special goodies upon purchase of the device. In addition to Nokia Stores, the Nokia Lumia 1020 will also be available at Celcom outlets.

Capture movement like no other – Nokia Lumia 925 comes to Malaysia

Nokia’s strength in smartphone imaging is heightened with introduction of Nokia Smart Camera

Kuala Lumpur, 24 July 2013 – Nokia today announces the arrival of the Nokia Lumia 925 in Malaysia. The device includes the most advanced lens technology and next generation imaging software to capture clearer, sharper pictures and video, including the best low light images. The Nokia Lumia 925 will be sold at a RRP of RM 1,799, and is set to reach the stores in the Klang Valley early August and mid-August for the rest of Malaysia.

Imagine a smartphone that captures all of life’s amazing moments, even the ones you wished you hadn’t missed! Nokia Lumia 925 introduces the new Nokia Smart Camera mode, coming as an update to all Lumia Windows Phone 8 smartphones. Nokia Smart Camera offers an easy way to capture ten images at once and edit the pictures with options like Best Shot, Action Shot, and Motion Focus for creating the perfect high quality image.

With the Lumia 920, we introduced to the world innovations such as the low-light Pureview camera with Optical Image Stabilization, the Puremotion HD+ display which you could use with gloves on and wireless charging based on the Qi-standard,” said Gary Chan, Head of Marketing, Nokia Pan Asia.

“The Lumia 925 takes the world’s most innovative smartphone and advances innovation in not just hardware, design and use of materials, but as well as the experiences that are brought to life using Nokia Smart Camera and HERE Maps with Livesight enabled by the latest update of the Windows Phone 8 platform.”

Speaking at the Launch of Nokia’s Lumia 925 in Malaysia,  Danny Ong, Chief Marketing and Operations Officer, Microsoft Malaysia said, “We’re delighted that Nokia has continued to collaborate with Microsoft to complement its latest mobile device  – the Lumia 925, with the Windows Phone 8 platform. We’re always striving to provide a more seamless experience across multiple devices to our partners and customers.

Moving forward, we have renewed our strategy to have an even stronger focus on empowering a family of devices and services for individuals and businesses alike. No technology company has yet delivered a definitive family of devices useful all day for work and for play, connected with every bit of a person’s information available through one cloud. At Microsoft, this is now our vision of the future, a vision which we feel is reflected in the Lumia 925.

Smooth Operator
This  latest addition to the Lumia family in Malaysia is poised to get your adrenaline pumping!  The beautiful  Nokia Lumia 925’s signature-Nokia polycarbonate body is encased in stylish aluminium, a combination of pristine craftsmanship and intelligent design that fits right in your palm. At just 8.5mm and weighing 139g, it is as sleek as they come. A super-sensitive 4.5” AMOLED, Gorilla glass, PureMotion HD+ display – with ClearBlack technology and Sunlight Readability  - promises clear, bright  images and text, and the best navigation, even under harsh glare from the sun.

On the Nokia Lumia 925, Nokia’s innovative PureView Camera allows you to capture stunning images and record full HD video, even when the lights are low. The integrated features in Nokia Smart Camera ensure you’ll always have a picture-perfect shot. Powered by Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8, you also get Microsoft Office right out of the box, and excellent cloud storage with SkyDrive, so you can work on-the-go without a hitch.

HERE Maps and Livesight give you reason to explore the world around you in augmented reality. Yes, navigation never looked this good! And for those who hate the sight of messy wires, a clever snap-on cover turns the Nokia Lumia 925 into a wireless-charging enabled device, so you can pair it with a Nokia wireless charging stand or plate for wire-free charging days!

It’s got the “moves”
You’ll be amazed with the Nokia Lumia 925’s ability to capture images you just never thought possible. Here’s where the Nokia Lumia 925 shines - its 8.7MP PureView camera, with Optical Image Stabilization and Carl Zeiss optics, delivers sharp, blur-free images. Better yet, it captures up to 10 images at once with Nokia Smart Camera, so you can edit the images taken with options like Best Shot, Action Shot and Change Faces.

Did someone just “photo bomb” your best picture? No problem! You’ll never have to worry about another person or object cramping your style with the Nokia Lumia 925 – you can “chop out” moving objects or people from your images, or select the best facial expressions in pictures to reminisce priceless moments with friends and family.

Amber software update
Amber is the latest software update introduced with the Lumia 925 and will be made available for all existing Lumia Windows 8 devices – Lumia 920, Lumia 820, Lumia 720, Lumia 620 and Lumia 520. The Amber update will enable support for Data Sense app, Glance Screen, and provide longer battery life for the whole range of WP8 Lumia devices. It will also bring Bluetooth 4.0 support for Lumia 720, 620 and 520.

Additonally, FM Radio support will also be available on all the Lumia devices except the Lumia 620. One of the most exciting features of this update is the Smart Camera which gives users the power to create high-quality photos and is available as a download from the Windows store. All in all, Amber provides Nokia’s most competitive, seamless and intuitive Windows experience so far.

Nokia and MDeC
Last year, Nokia and MDeC announced collaboration on Windows Phone 8 apps development targeted at local developers in Malaysia. As a result of this collaboration, Nokia today recognized and honoured three talented Malaysian developers.  Mr Tan Yin See creator of Smart Shopper, Mr Alexander Wong and Mr Masoud Haghi creators of Phaze app, and Mr Chia Shaw Chyn creator of the 2013 FIA Formula One app were among the chosen developers.  The apps developed through this initiative will be specially featured in the “Nokia Apps highlights” under a dedicated collection “MDEC ICON Applications”. The applications, themed across diverse genres, will be available for Malaysian consumers starting August to the end of the year across Nokia Windows devices to boost app downloads.

Mr.Wan Murdani Wan Mohamad, Director of the Digital Enablement Division at Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) said, “The Mobile apps industry is considered one of the fastest growing sectors in the world and we have noticed some of the most talented developers coming from Malaysia.

We are very pleased with the applications developed here and will continue to support the Malaysian developer community through the MSC Malaysia Integrated Content Development (ICON) program. We hope that the Malaysian developers make the most of this collaboration with Nokia, and continue to bring great apps to our consumers in Malaysia and worldwide.”

Ovum comment: Nokia Lumia 1020 sets new smartphone benchmark but pricing will be key

Nokia’s latest Lumia 1020 finally marries Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 software with the 41MP over-sampling camera technology the company previously marketed in the Symbian PureView 808.

Tony Cripps, Principal device analyst at Ovum believes “The combination sets a new benchmark for high-end smartphone engineering – and a timely reminder of Nokia’s R&D capabilities – but the company must still overcome incumbent rivals, slow adoption of Windows Phone and a modest marketing budget if it is to finally help the company turn a financial corner after its recent time in the doldrums.”

Cripps continues:

 “At a time when macro-level innovation has seemed to be lacking in smartphones – due to the homogeneity of smartphone operating systems and the drive to appeal to the mass market – Nokia’s Lumia 1020 demonstrates that there is still considerable scope to drive forward the user experience in core smartphone capabilities. This is evidenced not only in the Lumia 1020’s imaging prowess but also in its audio abilities, the company’s Rich Recording technology similarly transforms the Lumia 1020’s audio recording.

“Both imaging and audio are key areas of investment for Nokia and crucial to its long-term strategy of rebuilding market differentiation. This is true not only at the high end, where the Lumia 1020 will be something of a beacon, but also further down the range as the fruits of Nokia’s labours begin to trickle down through the midrange towards the value end of the smartphone spectrum.

The previous PureView 808 gave a tantalizing view of what was possible in terms of phone imaging but felt squandered in the context of its geriatric operating system and aesthetically compromised by a cumbersome – if impressive – camera module.

“The Lumia 1020 addresses both issues. While the new camera module contributes to a device that is noticeably thicker than the existing flagship, the Lumia 925, it is small enough to avoid the chunky and top-heavy design of its PureView 808 forebear. The PureView user experience is similarly upgraded through its integration with Microsoft’s elegant Windows Phone 8 platform, which itself benefits from a flagship device featuring category-leading imaging technology.

Supermodel must show its class not become a cheap date

“Nonetheless, while the Lumia 1020 looks to be the new belle at the smartphone ball, its debut will not necessarily attract a mass of suitors. Most obviously, the device will be expensive. Pricing has yet to be revealed but engineering of the kind on offer in the Lumia 1020 does not come cheap. Aggressive operator subsidies would no doubt help in that regard, but might detract from the device’s premium engineering and user experience.

“Furthermore, Nokia, and Windows Phone more generally, still suffers from a lack of consumer awareness and marketing dollars compared with their key rivals, Apple and Samsung-plus-Android. While this situation is undoubtedly improving, these factors continue to put off many prospective consumers due a greater chance of favorite applications being unavailable.

As such, when lined up against rival devices such as Apple’s iPhone 5 and Samsung’s Galaxy S4, which now effectively sell themselves, the case for selecting the Lumia 1020 is less clear cut.

Nokia may still have work to do to convince prospective buyers to sacrifice favourite apps for superior imaging. But for those who are less concerned about specific third-party apps or in need of something different, the Lumia 1020’s pictures provide a thousand reasons to look again to Espoo.”

Social video app, Vyclone now available on Nokia Lumia smartphones

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 29 May, 2013 –Nokia today announced the availability of the much sought after social video app called Vyclone on their Nokia Lumia smartphones running on Windows 8. Vyclone, a free app,  allows users to combine videos taken on their smartphones using footage created by other people filming the same event.

Vyclone allows users to instantly create and edit multi-camera movies intuitively without the need for expensive video recorders or editing software. This app also allows users to create a single video, shot by multiple people at the same event. So users can now create a video clip with all the footage captured by anyone using the Vyclone app and also share the content via social networks. Vyclone also enables users to record HD video using Nokia PureView camera optics for crisper imagery and superior audio. Whether it’s displaying the latest skateboarding tricks or showing off musical talents, the Vyclone app is sure to inspire the director in all of us.

“At the heart of providing great experiences on our smartphone range is the new imaging technologies and image processing apps that allow users to make the most of their device.”  said Bryan Biniak, VP & GM, Global Partner and Application Development at Nokia. “Vyclone makes it possible for Nokia Lumia users to not only create exciting videos from multiple angles, but also view and share them on their social network.

Vyclone joins a long list of popular apps available on Nokia Lumia smartphones, which now comprises over 90 per cent of the top 50 apps, including: Temple Run, Burton, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, ESPN Hub, LinkedIn, TripAdvisor, WhatsApp, World of Red Bull and The Sims Medieval. There are more than 145,000 apps available for the Windows Phone platform.

Users can down load the app at  http://bit.ly/10325Jk.

Enhance your Windows Phone 8 experience with Samsung ATIV S

Samsung affirms its intentions in Windows Phone 8 market with stylish 4.8” display smartphone

Kuala Lumpur – 8 April 2013 – Samsung Malaysia Electronics has introduced the much-awaited Windows Phone 8-powered Samsung ATIV S to Malaysian consumers. Boasting a stunning 4.8” HD Super AMOLED display and a stylish design that is deceptively light, the Samsung ATIV S sets to reassert the brand’s presence in the ever-popular Windows Phone market.

“The concept behind the Samsung ATIV S showcases the brand’s passion to continuously deliver products and designs that surprise and delight consumers. There is an opportunity for Samsung in the Windows Phone 8 market to reach out to people with distinct tastes and unique needs. Borne of this observation, the Samsung ATIV S is designed to give consumers an immersive Windows Phone 8 experience that is tailored to their varied contemporary lifestyles,” said Kwon Jae Hoon, Managing Director, Samsung Malaysia Electronics Sdn. Bhd.  

The Samsung ATIV S sports a high performance mobile experience with a range of content-sharing and productivity options. Its impressive Dual Krait 1.5 GHz processor enables powerful browsing performance and high responsiveness. In addition, the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chipset is capable of handling even the most demanding gaming or work applications.

ATIV, the reverse order of the word VITA, meaning “Life” in Latin, is a pledge by Samsung to make everyone’s life extraordinary with excitement. In line with that promise, the Samsung ATIV S comes with a generous 2,300 mAh battery that gives users extended hours of usage.

The Samsung ATIV S comes with HD Video Chat capabilities for users to always stay connected to their close ones. The device is also integrated with the Near Field Communications (NFC) function to Tap & Send, giving users ease in transferring files from one smart phone to another.

Equipped with an 8 megapixel rear camera, the Samsung ATIV S is no slouch in the photography department either. It comes available with an autofocus feature and LED flash to ensure high-quality images.

The Samsung ATIV S is available in Metallic Silver at a recommended retail price of RM1,699 in all Samsung Brand Shops and authorised dealers in Malaysia.

For multimedia content and more information about the Samsung ATIV S, please visit www.samsung.com/my or visit Samsung Mobile Malaysia Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/samsungmobilemalaysia.

MAYBANK TO BOOST REGIONAL CASH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH WINDOWS PHONE 8

First ASEAN bank to launch a Windows Phone 8 corporate mobile banking application 

Maybank is the first ASEAN bank to adopt Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 platform for its corporate mobile banking application, Maybank2E-Regional Cash. The move opens up an additional channel as corporate clients can now access Maybank2E-Regional Cash on more mobile platforms.

Prior to this, the Maybank2E-Regional Cash was only available for mobile users on the iOS and Android platforms.

Maybank Deputy President & Head, Global Banking, Datuk Abdul Farid Alias said the addition of the Windows Phone 8 platform to Maybank2E-Regional Cash greatly increased the ability of Maybank’s regional clients to manage their cash flow on-the-go. Customer experience was also expected to be enhanced with the touch-optimized and tiles-based user interface of the new platform.

(L-R): Datuk Abdul Farid Alias (Deputy President & Head of Global Banking, Maybank), Mr John Wong (Managing Director & Group Head of Transaction Banking, Maybank), Mr Carlos Lacerda (Managing Director, Microsoft Malaysia)

“Given that an increasing importance of global business, Maybank2E-Regional Cash was expanded to provide greater accessibility for better convenience to our corporate clients,” he said.

Datuk Farid added that following the launch of Maybank2E-Regional Cash in Singapore last November, customer feedback has been positive with refinements made along the way to ensure maximum compatibility to our corporate clients’ needs.

“Maybank2E-Regional Cash offers corporate clients new capabilities, helps enhance their efficiency and reduces operational risks and costs,” he explained. “We want to ensure we remain relevant to our corporate clients using any mobile platforms and we aim to cover other dominant operating systems as well. This will soon include the Blackberry 10 for mobile platform.”

With the adoption of Windows Phone 8, Maybank is expected to onboard more than 10,000 corporate clients across the region with an estimated more than RM1.88 trillion in transaction value by 2015.

Meanwhile, Carlos Lacerda, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia lauded the collaboration with Maybank as well as the Bank’s efforts in adopting the latest technological advancements for the convenience of its corporate clients.

“We are proud to collaborate with Maybank as the preferred technology partner to bring enterprise banking services to their corporate customers on the latest, robust and most reliable mobile operating system today – Windows Phone 8,” he said. “Our Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 platforms continue to gather momentum since the respective launches just several months ago, and this is testament to the thought leadership of Maybank as one of the most progressive banks in the region.” On the Windows 8 front, Carlos announced that the new platform is off to a great start with more than 60 million Windows 8 licenses and 1.5 million Surface tablets sold worldwide.

Maybank2E-Regional Cash caters to the diverse needs of corporate clients and is available in six major languages, namely English, Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Japanese. Maybank2E-Regional Cash is already available in Singapore and Malaysia since 2012 and will be enabled in Philippines, Greater China and Indonesia by end 2013.