My Nokia Blog

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• Marko Ahtisaari (@moia) plans to step down from Nokia effective November 30th?
• NokConv: The Next Chapter: Open letter from Ballmer & Elop
• Microsoft to acquire Nokia’s devices & services business, license Nokia’s patents and mapping services
• Apple joins Nokia #TeamYellow with new colourful (Lumia 620 looking) iPhone 5C (#Ramble)
• Red Lumia 928 Shell Shows Up in Nokia Labs
• TheTelegraph: Windows Phone and iOS surge as Android (and BlackBerry) shrinks in Europe
• Upcoming Game Teaser Swag: Andromeda Blue, Multiplayer Team Strategy Game
• Nokia One-Ups Samsung, They Never Saw It Coming #ZoomReinvented
• Video: How to Remove Back Cover and Insert Sim/Micro SD into the Lumia 625
• Gallery: Nokia Coloud Boom, Knock & Pop Unboxing and First Impressions #NokiaMusic

Marko Ahtisaari (@moia) plans to step down from Nokia effective November 30th? Posted: 02 Sep 2013 08:56 PM PDT Marko Ahtisaari, the EVP of Design at Nokia will be stepping down following today’s announcement, according to Engadget. Marko will be moving on to entrepreneurial efforts. He was my favourite Nokian. The presentations he gave were so unique. He had a deep love for the products, more than he was required to by job description. Myself, the team at MNB, and our readers wish you the best in your future endeavors Marko. All the best! Source: Engadget

NokConv: The Next Chapter: Open letter from Ballmer & Elop Posted: 02 Sep 2013 08:24 PM PDT Nokia Conversations have posted up an “open letter” from Ballmer and Elop about today’s announcement. Nokia and Microsoft have always dreamed big – we dreamed of putting a computer on every desk, and a mobile phone in every pocket, and we've come a long way toward realizing those dreams.   Today marks a moment of reinvention. Nokia has an identity spanning 150 years of heritage, innovation, excellence, and change which began and will continue in Finland, as well as around the world. From humble beginnings as a paper mill, to manufacturing rubber boots and car tires, and then to mobile phones, reinvention is in Nokia's blood. Now Nokia will write its next chapter, focused on enabling mobility through its leadership in networking, mapping & location, and advanced technologies. For Microsoft as well, today is a bold step into the future, a huge leap forward on our journey of creating a family of devices and services that delight people and empower businesses of all sizes. Our partnership over the past two and a half years, which combined our respective strengths to build a new global mobile ecosystem, has created incredible results: award-winning phones and amazing services that have made Nokia Windows Phones the fastest-growing smartphones in the world. Building on this successful partnership, we announced some important news today: an agreement for Microsoft to purchase Nokia's Devices & Services business, to deliver more choices, faster innovation, and even more exciting devices and services to our customers. Today's agreement will accelerate the momentum of Nokia's devices and services, bringing the world's most innovative smartphones to more people, while continuing to connect the next billion people with Nokia's mobile phone portfolio. With the commitment and resources of Microsoft to take Nokia's devices and services forward, we can now realize the full potential of the Windows ecosystem, providing the most compelling experiences for people at home, at work and everywhere in between. We will continue to build the mobile phones you've come to love, while investing in the future – new phones and services that combine the best of Microsoft and the best of Nokia. Nokia and Microsoft are committed to the next chapter. Together, we will redefine the boundaries of mobility. Steve & Stephen Source: NokConv

Microsoft to acquire Nokia’s devices & services business, license Nokia’s patents and mapping services Posted: 02 Sep 2013 08:13 PM PDT The title says it all! Microsoft and Nokia today announced that the “Boards of Directors for both companies have decided to enter into a transaction whereby Microsoft will purchase substantially all of Nokia's Devices & Services business, license Nokia's patents, and license and use Nokia's mapping services”. The transaction will cost EUR5.44 Billion (3.79 billion for Devices & Services business, 1.65 Billion for patents). Stephen Elop is “stepping aside as Nokia President and CEO to become Nokia Executive Vice President of Devices & Services”.  Nokia expects that Jo Harlow, Juha Putkiranta, Timo Toikkanen, and Chris Weber would transfer to Microsoft at the anticipated closing of the transaction. Nokia has outlined these changes in more detail in a separate release issued today. REDMOND, Washington and ESPOO, Finland – Sept. 2, 2013 – Microsoft Corporation and Nokia Corporation today announced that the Boards of Directors for both companies have decided to enter into a transaction whereby Microsoft will purchase substantially all of Nokia's Devices & Services business, license Nokia's patents, and license and use Nokia's mapping services. Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will pay EUR 3.79 billion to purchase substantially all of Nokia's Devices & Services business, and EUR 1.65 billion to license Nokia's patents, for a total transaction price of EUR 5.44 billion in cash. Microsoft will draw upon its overseas cash resources to fund the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, subject to approval by Nokia's shareholders, regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. Building on the partnership with Nokia announced in February 2011 and the increasing success of Nokia's Lumia smartphones, Microsoft aims to accelerate the growth of its share and profit in mobile devices through faster innovation, increased synergies, and unified branding and marketing. For Nokia, this transaction is expected to be significantly accretive to earnings, strengthen its financial position, and provide a solid basis for future investment in its continuing businesses. "It's a bold step into the future – a win-win for employees, shareholders and consumers of both companies. Bringing these great teams together will accelerate Microsoft's share and profits in phones, and strengthen the overall opportunities for both Microsoft and our partners across our entire family of devices and services," said Steve Ballmer, Microsoft chief executive officer. "In addition to their innovation and strength in phones at all price points, Nokia brings proven capability and talent in critical areas such as hardware design and engineering, supply chain and manufacturing management, and hardware sales, marketing and distribution." "We are excited and honored to be bringing Nokia's incredible people, technologies and assets into our Microsoft family. Given our long partnership with Nokia and the many key Nokia leaders that are joining Microsoft, we anticipate a smooth transition and great execution," Ballmer said. "With ongoing share growth and the synergies across marketing, branding and advertising, we expect this acquisition to be accretive to our adjusted earnings per share starting in FY15, and we see significant long-term revenue and profit opportunities for our shareholders." "For Nokia, this is an important moment of reinvention and from a position of financial strength, we can build our next chapter," said Risto Siilasmaa, Chairman of the Nokia Board of Directors and, following today's announcement, Nokia Interim CEO. "After a thorough assessment of how to maximize shareholder value, including consideration of a variety of alternatives, we believe this transaction is the best path forward for Nokia and its shareholders. Additionally, the deal offers future opportunities for many Nokia employees as part of a company with the strategy, financial resources and determination to succeed in the mobile space." "Building on our successful partnership, we can now bring together the best of Microsoft's software engineering with the best of Nokia's product engineering, award-winning design, and global sales, marketing and manufacturing," said Stephen Elop, who following today's announcement is stepping aside as Nokia President and CEO to become Nokia Executive Vice President of Devices & Services. "With this combination of talented people, we have the opportunity to accelerate the current momentum and cutting-edge innovation of both our smart devices and mobile phone products." Nokia has outlined its expected focus upon the closing of the transaction in a separate press release published today. TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will acquire substantially all of Nokia's Devices and Services business, including the Mobile Phones and Smart Devices business units as well as an industry-leading design team, operations including all Nokia Devices & Services-related production facilities, Devices & Services-related sales and marketing activities, and related support functions. At closing, approximately 32,000 people are expected to transfer to Microsoft, including 4,700 people in Finland and 18,300 employees directly involved in manufacturing, assembly and packaging of products worldwide. The operations that are planned to be transferred to Microsoft generated an estimated EUR 14.9 billion, or almost 50 percent of Nokia's net sales for the full year 2012. Microsoft is acquiring Nokia's Smart Devices business unit, including the Lumia brand and products. Lumia handsets have won numerous awards and have grown in sales in each of the last three quarters, with sales reaching 7.4 million units in the second quarter of 2013. As part of the transaction, Nokia is assigning to Microsoft its long-term patent licensing agreement with Qualcomm, as well as other licensing agreements. Microsoft is also acquiring Nokia's Mobile Phones business unit, which serves hundreds of millions of customers worldwide, and had sales of 53.7 million units in the second quarter of 2013. Microsoft will acquire the Asha brand and will license the Nokia brand for use with current Nokia mobile phone products. Nokia will continue to own and manage the Nokia brand. This element provides Microsoft with the opportunity to extend its service offerings to a far wider group around the world while allowing Nokia's mobile phones to serve as an on-ramp to Windows Phone. Nokia will retain its patent portfolio and will grant Microsoft a 10-year license to its patents at the time of the closing. Microsoft will grant Nokia reciprocal rights to use Microsoft patents in its HERE services. In addition, Nokia will grant Microsoft an option to extend this mutual patent agreement in perpetuity. In addition, Microsoft will become a strategic licensee of the HERE platform, and will separately pay Nokia for a four-year license. Microsoft will also immediately make available to Nokia EUR 1.5 billion of financing in the form of three EUR 500 million tranches of convertible notes that Microsoft would fund from overseas resources. If Nokia decides to draw down on this financing option, Nokia would pay back these notes to Microsoft from the proceeds of the deal upon closing. The financing is not conditional on the transaction closing. Microsoft also announced that it has selected Finland as the home for a new data center that will serve Microsoft consumers in Europe. The company said it would invest more than a quarter-billion dollars in capital and operation of the new data center over the next few years, with the potential for further expansion over time. NOKIA LEADERSHIP CHANGES Nokia expects that Stephen Elop, Jo Harlow, Juha Putkiranta, Timo Toikkanen, and Chris Weber would transfer to Microsoft at the anticipated closing of the transaction. Nokia has outlined these changes in more detail in a separate release issued today. EXTRAORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS MEETING Nokia plans to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on November 19, 2013. The notice of the meeting and more information on the transaction and its background are planned to be published later this month. Source: Microsoft

Apple joins Nokia #TeamYellow with new colourful (Lumia 620 looking) iPhone 5C (#Ramble) Posted: 02 Sep 2013 02:58 PM PDT When Apple was fighting Samsung over Sammy’s CopyPasta activities, Apple had used Nokia’s fabula designs as an example where other manufacturers could create great design without copying Apple. i.e. Apple recognising Nokia’s unique design. http://mynokiablog.com/2012/08/22/apple-uses-lumia-as-an-example-to-samsung-that-not-every-phone-has-to-look-like-iphone/ Isn’t it strange to see that after years of simple black/white and some metal/greys, iPhone has succumb to Nokia’s push at reintroducing colour back into phones? Nokias have always been super colourful. Way back before Lumia, way back before Nseries, all the way to their roots. To be fair, Apple has had some splashes of colour too with their iPod nanos (which some say look like Lumias or vice versa but Apple themselves have said that Lumia essentially is its own unique design, NOT copying Apple). I don’t think I posted about the iPhone 5C before, when some folks commented that it looked like a 620? Well at the time all we saw were the white ones (though it was expected they’d come out colourful). Even the engadget article comments that it looks like a 620. Check out the picture above which shows the iPhone 5C in new colours, the front closest being #TeamYellow. For a long time, folks have expected Apple to break away from their one phone/year strategy and look towards claiming the cheaper segments to attack Android and now Nokia’s comeback. Clearly, the mid-range and first time buyers have been helping Nokia with their rainbow entry level lumias that provide high end experiences. Apple wants some of the same. Is this something to fear or have Apple fallen into a trap? i.e. Apple is luxury. It’s about that separation in terms of monetary value. It’s that perceived lifestyle that you’re somehow ‘better’. Would people still buy the new iPhone when they can get the cheaper one? Or is it? iPod nanos are relatively ‘cheap’. Perhaps it just means folks who want a new iPhone may be able to afford one (and not just go for the old model or a non iPhone). How much cheaper? Some say not that much? At what price of the user experience? (Apple is not Android, and they might be more worried about sacrificing user experience for marketshare) Nokia Cyan Blue? Also Matte, but the gloss packaging hides it. Last year, Marko Ahtisaari said he wanted to outdesign Apple. Some were doubtful, but what we’re seeing speak for themselves. http://mynokiablog.com/2012/09/06/marko-ahtisaari-wants-to-out-design-apple/ Instead of sticking to the norm of boring slabs, Nokia went a different route and brought back their history of colour to their lineup. When making disruptions, you want to break the rules, change how the game works so that everyone follows you and your rules. Now everyone’s trying the whole colourful phones thing again (as well as OIS, wireless charging, super sensitive screens). Apple going with colourful phones only reinforces that Nokia were right to be colourful and that this is the design choice to go. In the same way that other manufacturers are scrambling over imaging technology with their fanciful (but not hype matching) camera technames, because they see Nokia constantly soaring to the top, they all serve to reinforce the importance of imaging in mobile devices. When you follow, you reinforce the trendsetter. As long as the trendsetter is the best at doing it, they can make immense gains. (Such is what happened with Nintendo initially, and then Apple with the touch screen, though we’re now seeing the latter parts of their cycles). We’re seeing some growth for Nokia/WP, slow, but steady growth. Let’s hope Nokia can continue to capitalise on their innovations (and that MS can let Nokia loose by improving WP/removing restrictions) and that the competition doesn’t take full credit. Source: iapps.im via Engadget

Red Lumia 928 Shell Shows Up in Nokia Labs Posted: 02 Sep 2013 01:10 PM PDT Earlier we saw signs of a red Lumia 1020 via a navifirm software version, well todays leak has a bit more of a concrete plastic basis. Nokia US just uploaded some pictures of their torture tests at the Nokia San Diego facility, and among the phones being tested by household chemicals… A red Lumia 928 shell. Chemical testing. The results applied to many Lumias. Seen here is the shell of Lumia 928, Lumia 822 and others. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=557107411003575&set=a.557107127670270.1073741828.100686616645659&type=1&theater The Lumia 928 is currently only available in black and white, but a red one would match the Verizon logo, plus we’ve already established that it looks awesome thanks to some amazing render work: Of course playing as a devil’s advocate, it’s logical for them to have tested out a red shell before, that doesn’t mean it’s coming, they could just have it lying around the labs. But I’m all for #TeamRed, so I want to believe.

TheTelegraph: Windows Phone and iOS surge as Android (and BlackBerry) shrinks in Europe Posted: 02 Sep 2013 12:36 PM PDT TheTelegraph reports on KantarWorldPanel’s findings that Windows Phone seems to be making more gains in Europe. In the “big 5″ WP thanks to Nokia’s dedication hits 8.2%, “emerging as a key player in the smartphone race”. Constant, steady growth is always welcome to see. Windows Phone’s growth apparently comes mainly from convincing first time buyers to make that switch. Kudos then to Nokia for seeing the need to push the 520/620/720 (and now 625) to bring affordable high end experiences to the public, whilst at the same time working to the current limitations of MS’s timetable regarding the specifications Nokia can push on WP Lumias. The Lumia 520 is apparently hitting the sweet spot. Nokia’s bread and butter was feature phones, reaching heights of over 100m in one quarter alone. But that market is collapsing in favour of smartphones. With featurephones as the new battleground, Nokia needs to capture these first time buyers and retain them with the user experience and ecosystem that WP provides. It’s nice to hear that the news of the Lumia 520 doing well in the markets is being reflected in some way by these numbers. http://www.kantarworldpanel.com/global/News/Record-share-for-Windows-phone BlackBerry is now only 2.4% of the big 5 in Europe and 1.2% in US. From the previous month of June 2013, Germany 5.9% to 8.8% GB: 8.6% to 9.2% France: 9% to 11% Italy: 7.8% to 7.8% Spain: 1.4% to 1.8% Australia: 5.3% to 7.0% Mexico: 7% to 12.5% EU5: 6.9% to 8.2% USA: 4% to 3.5% China: 4.9% to 2.4% When was Windows 4.6% of China in 2012? Perhaps inclusion of WM? I always remembered it barely scraping just 1% in China. Cheers Matthijs for the tip!

Upcoming Game Teaser Swag: Andromeda Blue, Multiplayer Team Strategy Game Posted: 02 Sep 2013 10:19 AM PDT A while back the folks from Tuliotus studios in Finland got in touch with us about an upcoming game (you might remember them from their pretty sweet game “Haunted”); the game called  ”Andromeda Blue” is a “strategic multiplayer team game”. The folks behind it wanted to send us a little teaser package of the game (including the posters below as well as some keychains etc.); unfortunately the Jordanian post decided to play hide and seek with the package, moving it from postal office to postal office and in the meantime swiping the contents of the package short of the posters (I guess they didn’t find them interesting). Regardless we still got 3 really awesome posters showing art from the upcoming game, and we thought we’d share them with you, the art really is pretty beautiful and I’ve hung one of them up right on my desk. Andromeda Blue is still under development, but you can check out their facebook page HERE, or see their website (where you can apply to be a beta tester once it’s ready) below: http://andromeda-blue.com/ What do you guys think of the poster art? I really love the third one (the one I hung up), the colors in it are amazing!

Nokia One-Ups Samsung, They Never Saw It Coming #ZoomReinvented Posted: 02 Sep 2013 05:20 AM PDT In the past Nokia have hinted and joked about other companies products, they’ve sent I <3 Nokia busses to a Motorola event, and now they’ve taken it up a notch. Publicly calling out the Galaxy S4 on its bulkiness claiming it never saw the 102o coming Still it didn’t see this coming, the lumia 1020 exceptional zoom without the exceptional bulk. #ZoomReinvented What do you guys think? pretty cheeky huh? Source UKMR

Video: How to Remove Back Cover and Insert Sim/Micro SD into the Lumia 625 Posted: 02 Sep 2013 02:27 AM PDT As is usual with phones with user removable backs (such as the 625), some people have trouble figuring out how to remove the back cover, or where to insert the Sim/Micro SD. So here’s a quick video showing how to do just that; hopefully it’ll be useful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98aHb9A7Pfc *Note: the Lumia 625 can support up to 64Gbs of expandable memory.

Gallery: Nokia Coloud Boom, Knock & Pop Unboxing and First Impressions #NokiaMusic Posted: 02 Sep 2013 01:59 AM PDT As mentioned in the Nokia 625 Unboxing post, I also got my hands on the complete range of Coloud headsets courtesy of Nokia Music and Dean. So here’re a bunch of unboxing images and glamour shots (nothing worthy of a video to be honest, since the box is just plastic packaging). The Coloud are Nokia’s new range of low priced headsets, that carry the same Lumia colors (from the first gen = Cyan, Yellow, Magenta) with a polycarbonate body on the Boom and Knock (and the ear-piece of the Pops). The whole range of Coloud headsets use the tangle free Zound Lasso, which allows the 3.5mm jack to double as a sort of twist tie to keep the cable from getting tangled (super awesome). The Boom are the highest end of the Coloud spectrum, with the highest price tag, which is still extremely affordable at around €27. The Boom are also the largest set of the group, being of the “over ear” variety, meaning they “cup” your ears rather than rest on them. The Boom has a metal bracing running through the headband and extending into the cups, so you get a sort of metal clicking noise when enlarging/shrinking them. Comfort wise, they’re pretty good and are nice to wear; definitely giving off a vibe that they’re worth more than  27 Euros. Although admittedly the cups do look a bit “large” when sitting on your head, not the hottest piece audio gear but it depends on your taste I assume. *I love the little details, such as the writing of the “Coloud headphones” on the wire The Knock comes halfway in the Nokia Coloud line, between The Boom and The Pop; they’re the On-ear variety, made completely out of polycarbonate/plastic, with soft spongy cups on the ear. Once again I loved the small details in the design, such as the Coloud logo where the two wires from each of the headphones cup wire’s meet; making it feel like a premium product. The headband is made out of the same polycarbonate material as the cups, making the junction between them almost seamless, and the extension looks pretty smooth Similar to the Boom The Knocks also have an inline mic with a single button (used for play/pause, skip forward, and skip back); unfortunately there is no volume rocker (unlike the Purity line of Nokia music gear). The Knocks retail at €22. Finally The Pops, which are the cheapest of the three priced at €18 and are of the in-ear variety. They have a nice durable wire running all the way down, which is actually quire heavy (heavier than the Purity In-ears in fact); with the same Coloud logo at the junction of the two wires (like the knocks). The color of the Pops isn’t exactly red (at least not the same exact red as the 920) it has a bit of magenta in it, depending on the angle the light hits it. The Pops come with two pairs of replacement buds, to get the right fit for your ears, as well as the pair that are already on the headset once you take them out of the box. Once again the little details are present, such as the Coloud logo only on the right earpiece, to help you orient them quickly. Note: You’ll notice that I didn’t mention anything about sound quality/clarity in this quick preview, that’s mainly because I honestly haven’t had a chance to try them out yet, plus I’m not the best judge of sound quality (not really an audiophile).

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