Nokia to answer the future's call at Telecom Arabiya

In Telecom Arabiya, Nokia highlights the latest rich media services, such as person-to-person video sharing, advanced voice services and mobile gaming, and outlines the opportunites for growth and mutual gain across the Middle East and North Africa.

"Mobile phones today are about more than simply making calls or sending SMS messages. You can listen to the radio, take pictures and video and play games while on the move. 3G-enabled rich media services are set to be the next big thing," says Dr Walid Moneimne, Senior Vice President, EMEA, Networks, Nokia. "Consumers in the Gulf states are rapidly adopting the next generation of mobile devices, leapfrogging intermediate devices and selecting advanced smartphones. With deregulation already benefiting consumers through lower call charges, service providers now need to answer this challenge and the growing demand for rich media services."

Dr Walid Moneimne will make a presentation at the 3rd Asian IT Ministers Summit, which takes place concurrently with the Congress. He will present strategies for the roll-out of next generation networks and the benefits operators and customers will enjoy.

"Many countries, such as Bahrain, have already made the necessary investments for upgrading their networks to 3G. Now operators - and, ultimately, their customers - are about to reap the benefits," Dr Walid Moneimne continues. "In some countries, the build-out of new 3G networks still presents challenges because of the wide area to be covered and the site acquisition involved. We address this with new innovations and experienced service support that allow service providers to quickly and cost-effectively make the transition to 3G."

Nokia will also present its innovative solutions for countries with low installed network coverage, as well as solutions for challenger operators. New growth markets typically offer lower average revenue per user (ARPU) and this presents a challenge for traditional wireless solutions. Nokia's team will present its strategies and solutions which enable new business models and highly efficient end-to-end solutions that break the boundaries of traditional cost structures. As a part of these solutions, Nokia offers affordable, high-quality mobile phones like the Nokia 2600 and Nokia 2650.

"Making mobile communications affordable to consumers in the entry segment is the key to growth. Affordability requires a combination of innovative technology and business operations that together lower the total cost of ownership," Dr Walid Moneimne concludes.

Nokia is to launch around ten new 3G handsets during 2005 following the success of the company's iconic 3G product, the Nokia 6630 smartphone. In Telecom Arabiya Nokia's team will also unveil its latest 3G device, the Nokia 6680 imaging smartphone for the first time in the Middle East providing live examples of video sharing on the move.