Nokia expands the scope of mobility

3GSM World Congress Barcelona, Spain/Espoo, Finland - Today, at the 3GSM World Congress, Nokia unveiled three new devices; introduced its first UMA network solution; launched additional frequency variants for the Nokia Flexi WCDMA Base Station; and announced a new cooperation agreement on DVB-H interoperability.

Nokia unveiled the Nokia 6131 and Nokia 6070 mid-range GSM camera phones, as well as the Nokia 6136 Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) device. The Nokia 6131 comes in a folding design and offers a 1.3 megapixel camera, while the Nokia 6070 comes in a classical form and offers basic camera phone capabilities at an affordable price point.

The Nokia 6136 UMA device, which can switch seamlessly between GSM and WLAN networks, offers users more reliable connectivity in homes or office with poor cellular coverage. Nokia also launched a UMA network solution that enables operators to deliver cellular and data services to subscribers over WLAN access networks, thereby increasing mobile service availability. With both UMA network equipment and a UMA capable handset, Nokia is able to provide a complete end-to-end UMA offering.

In his keynote address at the event, Nokia Chairman and CEO Jorma Ollila spoke about how multiradio technologies are enhancing mobile communications. “We strongly believe that the technological developments announced here today will provide the basis for a future of faster, easier and more cost-effective mobile telephony services,” he said. “Complemented by emerging multiradio technologies, our devices and network solutions continue to offer an excellent user experience.”

Ollila also delivered some forecasts on Nokia’s device volumes in 2006. “We estimate that Nokia will sell approximately 40 million 3G/WCDMA devices this year,” he said. “We expect to ship close to 80 million devices with integrated music players, and more than 150 million devices with an integrated FM radio.”

In 3G/WCDMA networks, Nokia announced new frequency variants for its small and modular Nokia Flexi WCDMA Base Station. In the second half of 2006, the Nokia Flexi WCDMA Base Station will be available for the IMT-2000 frequencies 2100 MHz, 1700 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1700/2100 MHz. In the first half of 2007, more frequencies will be available, including 850 MHz, 900 MHz and 1900 MHz, with additional frequencies to be added later based on market need.

In the mobile TV domain, Nokia and Sony Ericsson announced their intention to cooperate on achieving interoperability in DVB-H enabled devices, and in multivendor mobile TV services and pilots from 2006 onwards. Both companies recognize DVB-H as the preferred technology for terrestrial digital broadcast mobile TV and are active in ongoing standardization and technology development.