dskeeles
2006-01-31, 16:41
A favourable-sounding mention by a spokesman, implying the company may continue development. No new news as such, but an overview of Nokia's wider WiFi strategy.
Nokia to have five 3G/WiFi devices on market in H1
Finnish vendor currently selling one WiFi phone - the 9500.
Nokia said it plans to have five dual-mode 3G/WiFi devices commercially available in the first half of this year, although the Finnish vendor was not prepared to commit to an expected number by the end of 2006.
According to Kari Tuutti, spokesman for Nokia's Multimedia division, one 3G/WiFi handset is commercially available so far – the 9500. Three e-series handsets unveiled in October last year are set to be launched in Q1 this year.
Tuutti commented that wireless LAN capability will be a standard feature of all Nokia's enterprise devices in future.
Mikko Salminen, director of fixed-mobile convergence marketing at Nokia, added that Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology now works for call handover between GSM and WiFi, enabling operators to exploit the UMA potential for fixed-mobile convergence, although he said there are still some issues relating to call handover between WiFi access points.
Tuutti would not comment on Nokia's plans for BT's UMA-based Fusion service, saying only that the vendor is "talking to BT". The U.K. incumbent currently has two Motorola Bluetooth handsets in its Fusion line-up and has yet to offer any WiFi-enabled phones for the service, which enables users to make calls via a broadband connection using a GSM phone.
Nokia also sells a WiFi-only device – the 770 tablet – that currently only provides Web browsing and mobile email services. The device also supports Bluetooth so users can connect through their Bluetooth phones.
The device, which is only sold online at present, has been a surprise success for Nokia and Tuutti said the company is "looking to ramp up the volume". He added that instant messaging and voice-over-IP features would be added in the first half of this year, although he said cellular elements would not be added in the near future.
"Non-cellular is the strategy there," said Tuutti about the 770, which is also Linux based.
With regard to WiFi phones, Tuutti said some operators such as BT see them as an opportunity, while some see them as a threat.
From Nokia's point of view, the key goal is to extend mobile voice by any means possible.
"Voice is the service," commented Salminen. "VoIP is the technology."
Salminen said it's still more efficient to use circuit-switched networks for mobile voice now, but he said in two years' time it might be more efficient to use IP. He commented that it's difficult to estimate how long it will take before IP completely replaces circuit-switched for voice.
Nokia to have five 3G/WiFi devices on market in H1
Finnish vendor currently selling one WiFi phone - the 9500.
Nokia said it plans to have five dual-mode 3G/WiFi devices commercially available in the first half of this year, although the Finnish vendor was not prepared to commit to an expected number by the end of 2006.
According to Kari Tuutti, spokesman for Nokia's Multimedia division, one 3G/WiFi handset is commercially available so far – the 9500. Three e-series handsets unveiled in October last year are set to be launched in Q1 this year.
Tuutti commented that wireless LAN capability will be a standard feature of all Nokia's enterprise devices in future.
Mikko Salminen, director of fixed-mobile convergence marketing at Nokia, added that Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology now works for call handover between GSM and WiFi, enabling operators to exploit the UMA potential for fixed-mobile convergence, although he said there are still some issues relating to call handover between WiFi access points.
Tuutti would not comment on Nokia's plans for BT's UMA-based Fusion service, saying only that the vendor is "talking to BT". The U.K. incumbent currently has two Motorola Bluetooth handsets in its Fusion line-up and has yet to offer any WiFi-enabled phones for the service, which enables users to make calls via a broadband connection using a GSM phone.
Nokia also sells a WiFi-only device – the 770 tablet – that currently only provides Web browsing and mobile email services. The device also supports Bluetooth so users can connect through their Bluetooth phones.
The device, which is only sold online at present, has been a surprise success for Nokia and Tuutti said the company is "looking to ramp up the volume". He added that instant messaging and voice-over-IP features would be added in the first half of this year, although he said cellular elements would not be added in the near future.
"Non-cellular is the strategy there," said Tuutti about the 770, which is also Linux based.
With regard to WiFi phones, Tuutti said some operators such as BT see them as an opportunity, while some see them as a threat.
From Nokia's point of view, the key goal is to extend mobile voice by any means possible.
"Voice is the service," commented Salminen. "VoIP is the technology."
Salminen said it's still more efficient to use circuit-switched networks for mobile voice now, but he said in two years' time it might be more efficient to use IP. He commented that it's difficult to estimate how long it will take before IP completely replaces circuit-switched for voice.