Orange Gives Team Night Out a Credit Crunch Makeover

Orange Gives Team Night Out a Credit Crunch Makeover
As recession doom and gloom hits the workplace, Orange is helping save the traditional team night out by giving its business customers an extra way of keeping up team morale and rewarding staff.

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the famous Orange Wednesdays 2-for-1 cinema tickets offer, the deal has been expanded to include a 2-for-1 offer at any PizzaExpress restaurant, any Wednesday, nationwide, making it the perfect package for a great ‘credit crunch’ team night out.

Martin Lyne, Director of small and medium business, Orange UK said, „If ever there was a time to recognise and reward the hard work of employees it’s now. Everybody is working hard, everybody is feeling the pinch and everybody deserves a little thank you now and again. Combine the Orange Wednesdays cinema offer with a quick bite to eat at PizzaExpress and you have a fun, affordable night out with staff and colleagues.”

Orange Wednesdays 2-for-1 cinema and PizzaExpress offers are open to all Orange business customers. All you need to do is simply text ‘film’ to 241 from your Orange mobile, then head to orange.co.uk/orangewednesdays to download your PizzaExpress 2-for-1 meal deal voucher – including a choice of either free garlic bread or dough balls.

ORANGE UNVEILS NEW CINEMA ADVERTISING WITH LAUNCH OF ORANGE FILM STUDIOS

ORANGE UNVEILS NEW CINEMA ADVERTISING WITH LAUNCH OF ORANGE FILM STUDIOS

• The first new cinema ad features Emilio Estevez in a ‘re-envisioned’ version of Hollywood war epic, Saving Private Ryan made by the fictitious ‘Orange Film Studios’
• Digital campaign to support new adverts goes live

London, 26th March 2009: Orange today announces a new era for its prestigious cinema advertising known as the ‘Gold Spot’ with the launch of Orange Film Studios.

After years of hearing celebrity pitches for movie ideas Orange is now moving into the production business – ‘re-envisioning’ Hollywood blockbusters with Orange mobile phones at the centre of the action. Orange Film Studios is led by the much loved characters Mr Dresden and Elliott.

Emilio Estevez will star in the first of a series of cinema adverts created by Fallon. The cinema adverts will continue to remind people to turn off their phones whilst retaining the well loved key characters, Mr Dresden & Elliott.

Set at night time in L.A, the first ad features Emilio Estevez, Elliott and Mr Dresden at the red carpet premiere of their re-envisioned movie “Saving Private Ryan’s Number”. In the film, Estevez plays Captain Parker who forgets to save Ryan’s number to his mobile phone and so he and his men embark on a mission to find him. Estevez does not realise the mobile phone has been inserted into the movie and is horrified when he finds out.

On the red carpet, Estevez stops dead in his tracks when he sees a clip of the movie. On screen, he is dressed as a WW2 sergeant. Explosions, shrapnel and machine-gun fire blaze around him but he pays it no attention. He can only stare at his mobile phone and weep.

Titles appear over the action: “ORANGE FILMS PRESENTS…”, and Estevez is horrified as he reads out “Saving Private Ryan’s – Number!?”. He seizes Mr Dresden’s arm and continues, “But in that scene I was holding a photograph!”. Dresden responds, “Come February that’ll be an Oscar.”

The ad reaches a climax when the reporters on the red carpet question Estevez about the historical accuracy of the movie. Suddenly it all gets too much and Estevez bolts down the red carpet, shoving past those in his way.

For the first time, Orange has extended the cinema advertising to include a digital campaign by creative agency Poke. The online campaign spoofs how movies are promoted on the web as if Orange Film Studios’ ‘new movie’ was real. A dedicated website http://www.orange.co.uk/orangefilmstudios will feature promotional materials about the movie in the cinema adverts, such as ring tones, games and even wallpaper. Together they have also created a movie trailer, and a press junket with film critic Mark Kermode interviewing the producers Dresden and Elliott about their ‘new movie’.

Justin Billingsley, Brand Director at Orange UK commented: “The Gold Spots have been a tremendous brand asset to us over the last 6 years helping solidify our position as the number 1 brand associated with film in the UK. With this new approach the challenge for us was to keep what made them great, whilst evolving them from a set of quarterly great ads to a campaign with new ways to access and interact with this idea that has entertained millions of people. Now combined with the digital work we have achieved this.”

Orange has held the prestigious 65 second slot or ‘Gold Spot’ since 2000, with the original Film Funding Board creative starting in 2003 with Mother. The new ad starring Emilio Estevez will run in cinemas across the UK from 27th March. Fallon has created three other Gold Spots that will hit the screens throughout the year.

Youth Panel to Shadow Official Orange Prize Judges

Youth Panel to Shadow Official Orange Prize Judges

Six teenagers will form a youth panel to shadow the judging process of the official Orange Prize 2009 judges it was announced today. The Orange Prize for Fiction is the UK’s only annual book award for international fiction written by a woman.

The three girls and three boys, aged between 16 – 19, will read the 20 books longlisted for the 2009 Orange Prize, then meet to choose their own shortlist of six and subsequently, a winner. They will be sharing their experiences of judging a book prize publicly online via the teenage website, Spinebreakers (Spinebreakers.com).

“Some years ago, we had a male panel shadowing the main prize, which raised all sorts of interesting issues. Since there’s a big debate at present in the book trade about teenage reading, it seemed a logical step to set up a shadow teenage panel,” commented Kate Mosse, author and Honorary Director of the Orange Prize. “We hope that it will not only engage a wider, younger audience with the Prize but also provide interesting insights into the judging process and the question of who reads what.”

“I love books and feel very proud to be part of this youth panel,” said Lily Dessau, aged 16.

“I’m really looking forward to being a member of the panel and to getting stuck into the discussions,” added Francis Gene-Rowe, aged 18.

The official Orange Prize judging panel this year includes broadcaster Fi Glover (Chair), writer and novelist Bidisha, journalist and academic Sarah Churchwell, journalist Kira Cochrane and entrepreneur Martha Lane-Fox.

The choices of the youth panel will not influence the decisions of the official panel, but will be made public after the announcement of the Orange Prize shortlist in April. Orange Prize Honorary Director, the novelist Kate Mosse, will sit in on the discussions of both sets of judges and act as facilitator of the youth panel.

The youth panel consists of:

· Lily Dessau (16), studying Art, English, History and Maths and a fan of Philip Pullman, George Orwell and Malorie Blackman

· Joe Kerridge (16), an avid reader of Jack Kerouac and Harold Pinter who also plays for the England youth cricket team

· Clarissa Pabi (18), currently studying for A-levels in English Literature, Philosophy and Maths whose favourite authors include Mary Shelley, Will Self and J.K. Rowling

· Rossana Duarte (18) also studying for A-levels who enjoys reading and writing poetry in her spare time and cites Jane Austen, Stephen Fry and Isabel Allende as her favourite authors

· Francis Gene-Rowe (18), a gap year student, whose favourite authors include Joseph Conrad, William Faulkner and F. Scott Fitzgerald

· Max Elsworth (19) an A-level student and aspiring journalist who lists Tolkien, Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, R.L Stine and J.K. Rowling as his top five authors

The Orange Prize for Fiction was set up in 1996 to celebrate and promote international fiction by women throughout the world to the widest range of readers possible and is awarded for the best novel of the year written by a woman. Any woman writing in English – whatever her nationality, country of residence, age or subject matter – is eligible.

Previous winners are Rose Tremain for The Road Home (2008), Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for Half of a Yellow Sun (2007), Zadie Smith for On Beauty (2006), Lionel Shriver for We Need to Talk About Kevin (2005), Andrea Levy for Small Island (2004), Valerie Martin for Property (2003), Ann Patchett for Bel Canto (2002), Kate Grenville for The Idea of Perfection (2001), Linda Grant for When I Lived in Modern Times (2000), Suzanne Berne for A Crime in the Neighbourhood (1999), Carol Shields for Larry’s Party (1998), Anne Michaels for Fugitive Pieces (1997), and Helen Dunmore for A Spell of Winter (1996).

http://www.orangeprize.co.uk
Notes to Editors:

The official Orange Prize for Fiction 2009 shortlist will be announced by Fi Glover on Tuesday 21 April 2009 at London Book Fair.

About Spinebreakers
Spinebreakers.co.uk is a teen online book community run by teenagers themselves.

Launched in 2007, editorial control of the site is in the hands of a core editorial team of nine teenagers aged between 13 and 18 years, supported by a large network of contributing teen editors from across the UK.

The teen team produce a wide variety of multi-media content for the website including video and audio reviews, alternative book jackets and endings, soundtracks, author interviews, podcasts, blogs, short stories and much more.

About the Youth Panel
The youth panel were recruited via the Spinebreakers website, the UK’s only online book community for teenagers run by teenagers.

Lily Dessau, 16
Lily lives in South London and is studying Art, English, History and Maths at school. She loves reading and is the longest-serving member of Spinebreakers. Also a fan of live music, Lily would like to study English Literature at University and her ambition is to become a writer or journalist. Her favourite authors include Philip Pullman, George Orwell and Malorie Blackman and she also enjoys reading murder/mystery, comedy and adventure stories.

Joe Kerridge, 16
Joe goes to school in South East London. He has loved reading since a child and cites literature and sport as his two main passions. His top five authors at the moment include Ian McEwan, Jack Kerouac, Harold Pinter, Franz Kafka and Stephen Fry. Joe also plays for the England youth cricket team.

Clarissa Pabi, 18
Clarissa is currently studying for A-levels in English Literature, Philosophy and Maths and also enjoys theatre, physics and politics. She writes for the Spinebreakers website and last year became the 2008 Roundhouse Theatre Poetry Champion. She is also part of the Barbican Young Poets. Her ambition is to become a critic and a writer and her favourite authors include Will Self, J.K Rowling and Mary Shelley.

Rossana Duarte, 18
Rossana is taking Physics, Chemistry and Biology A-levels and she hopes to go to university to study Chemistry. Her hobbies include go-karting, reading and writing poetry and astronomy and her dream is to become an astronaut. Rossana’s favourite authors include Jane Austen, Stephen Fry, Isabel Allende and F.Scott Fitzgerald.

Francis Rowe-Gene, 18
Francis is a gap year student and next year he will be going to UCL to read English. In the meantime he works as a part-time teacher and tutor. His main interests are theatre, music, film and writing and he hopes one day to work in one or more of those fields. In the past he has worked on several theatre projects both in school and out, and when he is not teaching, he can normally be found with his nose in a book.

Max Elsworth, 19
Max is currently finishing English and History A-levels at college and his ambition is to study English at Oxford. His main hobbies include reading, writing, playing the cello and guitar. An aspiring story writer, poet, song writer and journalist, Max’s top five authors are Tolkien, Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, R.L Stine and J.K. Rowling.

ORANGE ENTERS INTO A DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH BRIGHTPOINT

ORANGE ENTERS INTO A DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH BRIGHTPOINT

Agreement sees Orange enable UK network alliance for global wireless distributor

Orange UK has entered into an agreement with Brightpoint GB Limited (“Brightpoint”), a subsidiary of Brightpoint, Inc., a global leader in the distribution of wireless devices and customised logistic services. This collaboration in the UK is a direct distribution agreement that will see Brightpoint’s IT and PBX resellers target business customers with a range of solutions including Orange connectivity, Orange devices and SIM only deals. This agreement will allow Orange to leverage Brightpoint’s device agreements with Nokia and RIM as well as its exclusive agreement with HTC in the UK.

“Through this strategic alliance, Brightpoint will be able to gain access to all our products and services enabling its resellers to offer a complete mobility solution to its customers. Our excellent network coverage and product portfolio combined with Brightpoint’s expertise of working with IT resellers will give us the competitive edge to offer businesses the best possible service,” commented, Mark O’Meara, National Sales Manager for Independent Retail and Distribution, Orange UK.

Resellers will receive additional support through a number of Orange led initiatives including pre-sales training and the ability to access Orange technical support. Both companies will work together to bring hosted email for both Exchange and non-Exchange users with Orange providing additional email training courses to support resellers in this process

ORANGE SPONSORED RESEARCH SEES THE MOBILE MEDIUM ESTABLISH ITSELF FIRMLY IN THE MARKETING CHANNEL

ORANGE SPONSORED RESEARCH SEES THE MOBILE MEDIUM ESTABLISH ITSELF FIRMLY IN THE MARKETING CHANNEL

Orange announces key findings from its independent research into consumer mobile media habits across the UK – Exposure 2

• 81% of mobile media* users access mobile media once a week with strong usage in the home, as well as on public transport and around town
• Mobile media users are very much open to mobile marketing with 70% of participants attracted by interactive marketing formats
• The most popular forms of mobile marketing currently are click-through advertisements and voucher redemption codes
• Mobile is viewed as the most innovative and personal media channel compared to all other traditional and digital channels

London, 24 March 2009: Orange this week launches Exposure 2, the second Exposure research survey commissioned to reveal the role of mobile media usage within the broader media landscape. Exposure 2 consists of independent qualitative and quantitative research, following a survey of more than 2,000 mobile media users from across all UK mobile networks. The survey focuses on consumer consumption of mobile media, and attitudes towards it when used as a marketing channel – particularly in comparison to other traditional and digital media.

Steve Heald, Director of Partner Channels at Orange UK, said: “Exposure 2 shows that mobile media is now very much part of the mainstream for consumers. The public’s openness to marketing through mobile media highlights that there is a huge opportunity for marketers to engage consumers with clever executions. I hope the findings will prove to be a catalyst for a wave of inspiring and creative marketing campaigns that capitalise on mobile’s unique properties as the most personal and innovative of channels.”

Key Findings

Mobile Media Consumption

Mobile media usage patterns differ greatly depending on a consumers location, with the strongest usage of mobile media being in the home: 67% of participants who used their mobile for email did so in their home and 56% for mobile internet browsing. Downloading, mobile content was also revealed as significantly more likely to be performed at home, with speed, convenience and alleviating boredom, cited as the key reasons for usage.

Meanwhile, high use of mobile media on public transport centred around entertainment services, such as TV, music and games, whereas services used most when out and about, such as local information and internet search, tend to facilitate movement.

Other key findings on mobile media usage included:

* The average age for mobile media users is 36, and 81% use mobile media more than once a week with 46% using it daily
* Men generally use mobile media more, although women are much more likely to use picture messaging
* The mobile internet pages viewed most often are search engines, email, news, music and film although, interestingly, a high proportion (55%) of people browse the mobile internet with no specific agenda, providing an opportunity for marketers to attract their attention

Attitudes to Mobile Media as a Marketing Channel

Research participants were asked to rate traditional and digital broadcast and print media on a number of attributes. Mobile media was overwhelmingly viewed as the most personal and innovative media, providing it with a unique place in the marketing mix.

The research revealed that people are very much open to mobile marketing and contained some important insights for brands looking to engage with consumers using the media:

* Short SMS codes remain a popular marketing mechanic, having been used by two-thirds of participants
* 70% of participants are attracted more by interactive marketing formats, such as sponsorship, coupons or picture messaging mechanics
* In general, consumers viewed marketing formats with perceived value as the most appealing, such as coupons offering discounts and sponsored games available for free download
* When clicking on adverts on the mobile internet, the next stages which are most popular are: adverts which click straight through to the brand’s website (favoured by 47%); voucher code or coupon (43%); click through to another area of the site (36%); entered in a competition (34%)
* Icons letting users know what to expect from mobile advertising were received positively by 76% of participants

* 82% of respondents have the operator’s portal as their mobile internet home page, making this page an extremely valuable piece of marketing estate

Steve Heald said: “Exposure 2 provides some terrific insights into how exactly brands can go about engaging consumers through mobile. The public is looking for campaigns that reflect their perceptions of mobile as unique and innovative and that entices and excites them with clever interaction. There’s also a clear signal that brands need to be clear on what consumers can expect from mobile campaigns.”

-Ends-
Notes to Editors:

Notes to editors
* A mobile media user for the Exposure2 study is anyone who has used their mobile handset to do one of the following:

Watch Mobile TV
Use the mobile internet
Use Bluetooth
Send & receive mobile videos / MMS
Send & receive pictures / MMS
Send & receive emails
Search the internet
Play games
Listen to the radio
Listen to music
Find local information
Download wallpapers/pictures
Download screen logos
Download ringtones
Download music
Download games

Research conducted by research house: Basis

There are 15,375,945 mobile media users in the UK. (3 month average to Jan 09 – Source M Metrics)

The Orange Advertising Network
• Orange UK’s ad sales team have adopted the new ‚Orange Advertising Network’ name in line with Orange in France, Poland and Spain
• Orange UK partner list includes ViaMichelin, MyVillage and Femalefirst

The Orange Advertising Network offers advertisers the ability to communicate across three screens: PC, TV (where available) and mobile.
In Europe, Orange has attracted advertisers such as Danone, Fox, Adidas, Nike, Gucci, ING Direct, eBay, McDonalds and Walt Disney Pictures
More information on the Orange Advertising Network can be found here.
Orange Digital Media Index
On December 22nd, 2008, Orange unveiled its fourth Digital Media Index, a detailed report offering an insight into customer consumption of digital media. Headline findings included:
• Mobile search increases by 30% – while local search increases by 100%
• Social networking takes off – with over 166 million page impressions on average per month
• Music downloads increase by 10% – with September specifically seeing a record 300,000 full tracks downloaded
The press release and full report can be downloaded here.

BIRMINGHAM TO HOST 2009 ORANGE READERS’ DAY | www.orange.co.uk

BIRMINGHAM TO HOST 2009 ORANGE READERS’ DAY

London, 23 March 2009: Fiction fans will have the opportunity to meet bestselling women writers at the 2009 Orange Readers’ Day hosted in Birmingham.

The special one day event at The Adrian Boult Hall, BCU Conservatoire on Saturday 9 May will see a stellar line up of some of the UK’s most exciting literary and cultural female figures gather to celebrate the 2009 Orange Award for New Writers.

Kate Mosse, bestselling author and Honorary Director of the Orange Prize for Fiction, will join Joanne Harris (Chocolat, Coast Liners, Five Quarters of the Orange), Sadie Jones (The Outcast), Charlotte Mendelson (When We Were Bad, Daughters of Jerusalem), Joanna Kavenna (Inglorious), Clare Allan (Poppy Shakespeare), Diana Evans (26A) and Catherine O’Flynn (What Was Lost) for an afternoon of book discussions and readings.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear authors shortlisted for the 2009 Orange Award for New Writers discuss their work. [1]

The Readers’ Day has been organised by Orange, The Reading Agency, the West Midlands Readers’ Network and the Birmingham Book Festival.

The Orange Prize for Fiction, established in 1996, celebrates excellence, originality and accessibility in international fiction written by women. Recent winners include Rose Tremain for The Road Home (2008), Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie for Half of a Yellow Sun (2007), Zadie Smith for On Beauty (2006) and Lionel Shriver for We Need to Talk About Kevin (2005).

Launched in 2005 in partnership with Arts Council England, the Orange Award for New Writers celebrates potential and emerging female writing talent.

Previous winners are Diana Evans who took the inaugural Award in 2005 for her debut novel, 26A, Naomi Alderman who won in 2006 for Disobedience, Karen Connelly who took the award in 2007 for The Lizard Cage and most recently, Joanna Kavenna who won in 2008 for her debut novel, Inglorious.

Tickets for the event are £5, £4 concessions or a special offer of £20 for six tickets, which includes interval refreshments and a book goody bag to take home. Tickets can be purchased from the Birmingham Box Office on 0121 303 2323 or at http://www.birminghamboxoffice.com. It is recommended to book early to avoid disappointment.

For more information on the Orange Prize for Fiction and Orange Award for New Writers visit http://www.orangeprize.co.uk

[1] The 2009 Orange Award for New Writers shortlist will be announced on 7th April 2009.

O2 rallies support for local causes in Reading | www.o2.co.uk

O2 rallies support for local causes in Reading

Business Sales Team raising awareness of community initiatives

A team of O2 staff have been out raising awareness about the work of community projects in local Reading businesses. The aim is create a supporting link between the projects and their surrounding environment

A team of employees including the South East business sales team have already gone into businesses and talked about projects in their local area and gathering donations.

O2 people are out to highlight the work of three community projects in particular. All of whom work with young people in the area to combat anti social activity by providing a safe place to go. At Churchend Primary School a garden development project is being undertaken to transform a former dump into an outdoor learning space, Readipop is a music initiative for young people, and My World a playgroup on Gloucester Road. The projects are all previous awardees of O2’s community outreach programme Its Your Community, where all three received a £1,000 award to help kick-start their respective initiatives.

Ann Fowler, project leader for the My World is said to be happy with the help received from O2, ““It is the Gloucester Road Playgroup’s 35th anniversary in 2009, and we have been instrumental to the social and educational development of thousands of local children over the years. It is therefore very timely to be recognized by O2.”

Helen Parker, Head of Community at O2 said, “O2 is proud to be helping to rally support for these local projects. We’ve had the pleasure of witnessing what a positive difference these projects have made in their local community and by using our resources, we can maximise local awareness to help steer the projects through this touch economic time and gain more support for the great work they do”

Nokia Messaging, now available with Windows(TM) Live Hotmail®

Nokia Messaging, now available with Windows(TM) Live Hotmail®

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will enable the Nokia Messaging push email service in May

Espoo, Finland – Windows(TM) Live Hotmail®, one of the world’s most popular web-based email solutions, is now available on Nokia Messaging, the service that enables people to access their personal email on their Nokia devices*. In May, Nokia Messaging will also be supported by the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia’s first mass-market touchscreen device, adding to the tens of millions of popular Nokia devices in the hands of consumers that already support the service.

Nokia Messaging is currently free to download and set-up, and supports the world’s most popular email accounts – Windows Live Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, AOL Mail – and accounts from thousands of other email providers. Easy to use, it enables access of up to 10 personal email accounts on a Nokia device, and through one single icon. Once Nokia Messaging is set-up, email accounts can be added to the service directly on the phone, as well as via the Nokia Messaging website (http://email.nokia.com).

With the addition of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia Messaging will be available on 20 different device models worldwide, including the recently announced Nokia E75 which is the first device to come preloaded with Nokia Messaging, Nokia E71 – the world’s slimmest qwerty device, Nokia E63, Nokia E66 and Nokia N79**. More Nokia device models, including the Nokia E55, Nokia N97 and Nokia N86 8MP, will support Nokia Messaging when they begin shipping.

„We’ve come to understand that a key barrier for mass email adoption is not the lack of features, but the usability. Nokia Messaging was designed for ease of use and mobility. While offering people a full feature set, Nokia Messaging still minimizes user actions and simplifies the complex, such as eliminating the need to know technical information. This reduces confusion and the amount of time taken to set up and start using the service on the phone. By prioritizing common actions and needs, we bring the most relevant and frequently used actions upfront,” said Atif Hussein, Vice President, Products, Nokia Messaging. „With Nokia Messaging on the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, we bring the service to people no matter what their input preference – touch, qwerty or monoblock.”

* To begin using Windows Live Hotmail, existing users will have to download the latest Nokia Messaging software. Instructions can be found at http://email.nokia.com.

** To see the full list of devices that support Nokia Messaging, visit http://email.nokia.com.

About Nokia
Nokia is the world’s number one manufacturer of mobile devices by market share and a leader in the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of devices for all major consumer segments and offer Internet services that enable people to experience music, maps, media, messaging and games. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

HEROES creator to launch new project through Nokia’s Ovi Store

HEROES creator to launch new project through Nokia’s Ovi Store

More than just applications available through global media distribution channel

Thousands of content providers and developers sign up to Ovi Store by Nokia

San Francisco, CA, USA – As content providers and developers continue to sign up to publish content on the Ovi Store, Nokia has begun working with Tim Kring, creator and executive producer of HEROES, one of the most watched shows internationally, to develop innovative, new content for the Ovi Store. When it opens globally in May, the Ovi Store will offer consumers relevant, targeted media across a broad portfolio of Nokia devices.

For its maiden venture with Kring, Nokia has signed on as a strategic partner and technology enabler for a project created by Kring, Code named TEVA. The multi platform narrative will be an immersive experience with elements of individual action and group participation.

In recognizing the increasing importance of mobility, Kring will be utilizing Nokia’s Ovi Store as an initial channel to bring the project to an engaged audience while developing it across other mediums. Kring shares Nokia’s vision for connecting people through the experiences that matter to them. Nokia and Kring will launch the first mobile phase of the project in the Summer of ’09 and rolled out regionally.

„Tim Kring is a Hollywood visionary and masterful storyteller who truly understands that the reach of the Ovi Store is a powerful way for millions of people around the world to experience the new forms of entertainment he is seeking to create,” said Tero Ojanperä, executive vice president, Nokia Services. „The Ovi Store will rely on great content partners, a compelling, relevant consumer experience and access to millions of Nokia devices to become an important new entertainment distribution platform.”

Once open, the Ovi Store will be a scalable media distribution network unrivaled in size and opportunity, with advanced content targeting capabilities and monetization options that allow content providers and application developers to leverage the power of Nokia’s global scale in devices and services’ technology.

„The ability to extend storytelling past traditional audiences and reach millions of Nokia consumers through the Ovi Store is very exciting,” said Kring. „Mobile has reached a state of maturity where it is now a creative platform to tell, share and consume multi platform content and I intend to take full advantage of the infinite possiblities using technology and narrative.”

Ojanperä and Kring will take the stage at Web 2.0 in San Francisco on April 1 to talk with web and mobile application developers about what Ovi Store means for content providers as a distribution opportunity. In addition, Niklas Savander, executive vice president, Nokia Services, will address the entertainment industy at MIPTV in Cannes, France on April 1 to deliver additional details about the working relationship. Simultaneously, George Linardos, vice president, Nokia Services will attend CTIA in Las Vegas to speak with the wireless industry about Kring and the Ovi Store.

In early March, content providers, developers and the existing Forum Nokia developer ecosystem began uploading their content to publish.ovi.com to become the first to distribute their media through the Ovi Store. To date, thousands of content providers and developers from around the world have signed up with majority coming from the US, UK, China and India.

At Mobile World Congress, brands like EA, Facebook, Fox Mobile, Glu, MySpace and Qik all provided support for the Ovi Store announcement. Since then, additional top content providers including The Associated Press, Netflix, Paramount Pictures and Shazam to name a few will be supporting Ovi Store to reach millions of Nokia consumers.

In early May, tens of millions of existing Nokia Series 40 and S60 users will be capable of enjoying the new service. In addition, the Nokia N97, available globally in June, will be the first device to feature the simple and easy-to-use storefront.

As Nokia moves towards cross-platform frameworks across its device portfolio, mobile application developers will be able to take advantage of standard web technologies, like HTML, Java Script and CSS, plus advanced environments like Qt, to develop and deploy applications more quickly and create compelling experiences for consumers using Nokia devices.

In addition to providing developers a wide range of easy-to-use tools for the completion of mobile applications, Nokia offers developers the simplest way to distribute and monetize their content to millions of people around the world via the new Ovi Store.

About Nokia
Nokia is the world’s number one manufacturer of mobile devices by market share and a leader in the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of devices for all major consumer segments and offer Internet services that enable people to experience music, maps, media, messaging and games. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

Nokia introduces Nokia Point & Find, a new way to connect with information and services on the go

Nokia introduces Nokia Point & Find, a new way to connect with information and services on the go

New platform enables businesses to engage with consumers in real time with relevant content

San Francisco, CA, USA – Nokia introduces an innovative service concept that enables people on the move to access relevant information and services on the internet, simply by pointing their mobile phone camera at real-life objects. A beta version of Nokia Point & Find, focusing on movies, is now available in the UK and US. Capabilities will later expand into other services and countries.

„With Nokia Point & Find, businesses are able to target engaging experiences and calls-to-action to consumers. We believe that this first Nokia Point & Find-based service for movies will add something special to the cinema experience. Simply by pointing their camera phone at a poster for a new movie, people can watch the trailer, read reviews, and find the closest cinema where it is playing,” said Philipp Schloter, General Manager, Nokia Point & Find.

Nokia Point & Find is an open service platform on which other companies can build innovative customized experiences to drive better engagement with potential customers. Nokia is inviting businesses, content providers and agencies to discuss how the Nokia Point & Find service could help them with specific applications, campaigns or promotional activities. Unique experiences can be created through the self-service Nokia Point & Find Management Portal, or by working with the Nokia Point & Find professional service team.

Businesses have already recognized the potential for Nokia Point & Find in their campaigns.

Casey Harwood, Senior Vice President, Digital Media at Turner Europe said: „Nokia Point & Find is an innovative new service which will enable users to point their camera phone at various Cartoon Network related objects and receive relevant show or product information direct to their handset. In an on-demand world, this technology represents an exciting development for both content providers and consumers.”

„BODY WORLDS appeals to adventurous and curious people of all ages. We see Nokia Point & Find as an intriguing new way for people to find out about BODY WORLDS & The Mirror of Time at the O2. By integrating this technology with our outdoor advertising in London we have created not just another special promotion, but also a chance to experiment with something quite innovative,” said Nicky Hewgill, Marketing Manager, BODY WORLDS London.

„The Nokia Point & Find service marries the digital world with the physical world in a way that actually has meaning for brands and consumers. Not only does it allow consumers to engage with brands in an innovative way but provides brands ‚point and purchase’ opportunities with an on-the-go audience,” said Julian Pate, Client Partner, AKQA.

Nokia Point & Find uses advanced real time image processing and recognition technologies to link the user to digital content and services. It also recognizes bar codes, integrates GPS positioning technology, and supports category-specific text-entry search. When the phone is pointed at an object, Nokia Point & Find uses a variety of the phone’s capabilities including the camera, internet connectivity, and GPS positioning to evaluate the object. Then, by rapidly searching through a database of virtually tagged items, the system identifies the object and returns a set of links to associated content and services.

Companies interested in using Nokia Point & Find for their own campaigns can visit http://pointandfind.nokia.com to request further information. Nokia Point & Find’s beta release is available for download into select mobile devices in the UK and US at http://pointandfind.nokia.com as well.

About Nokia
Nokia is the world’s number one manufacturer of mobile devices by market share and a leader in the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of devices for all major consumer segments and offer Internet services that enable people to experience music, maps, media, messaging and games. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.