Forum Nokia announces winners of Mobile Games University Competition 2009

Forum Nokia announces winners of Mobile Games University Competition 2009

Student developers work against the clock to submit „the mobile games of tomorrow”

GDC – San Francisco, CA – Forum Nokia, the largest mobile development community worldwide, has today revealed the winners of its global Mobile Games University Competition. Parsons The New School for Design in the US and The Upper Austria University have scooped the two prestigious top spots, being chosen above the other participating Forum Nokia PRO universities. Students were invited by Nokia to design, prototype and showcase new ideas for future mobile games. The two winning teams will receive a trip to the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, March 23rd to 27th.

Forum Nokia PRO universities participated in the competition, submitting 44 games in total. The two winning games, not ranked in order, were:

‚Weekness’: Parsons The New School for Design, US
By Drew Cogbill, Yumi Endo and Rabia Malik, ‚Weekness’ is a game built upon the concept that friends share their SMS activity, resulting in social interactions that reflect individual communication styles, extending the functionality of text messaging into a game. User generated content plays a key and innovative role in the game-play. Weekness is developed for Flash Lite 3.0 and the Adobe Flash Lite Distributable Player.
http://dave.parsons.edu/courses/course/view.php?id=5&topic=1

‚MooLan’: The Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences, Hagenberg
By Michael Holzl and Bernhard Aufreiter from the department of Mobile Computing, ‚MooLan’ is a space shuttle pilot maneouvering game which utilizes handset accelerometer and proximity sensors as well as the camera. The game concept is adapted from the classic ‚Moon Lander’ game but takes it in a new direction through the innovative use of platform functionalities and fully sensor-based control mechanics.
http://www.symbianresources.com/projects/moolan.php

„This competition reveals how the next-generation of game designers will help redefine the very essence of gaming by emphasizing the crucial role of social communication,” said David Carroll, Assistant Professor of Media Design, Parsons The New School for Design. „It signals a new era of socially intertwined games where the distinction between the producer and player are completely blurred.”

„We’re thrilled to have been picked as a winner,” said Bernhard Aufreiter, Upper Austria University. „We really wanted to maximize our use of handset features like sensors and camera technology – there are so many exciting innovations that can be applied to mobile games now. It has been great to have the opportunity to work with Nokia and be rewarded for our efforts. We’re looking forward to being able to network with other like-minded developers at GDC and pick up some real industry insights.”

„We were really impressed by the standard of entries we received, especially seeing as the students had to develop these concepts in just a few weeks,” said Dr Mark Ollila, Director of Technology and Strategy and Head of Games Publishing, Nokia. „Games were judged on criteria including entertainment value, creativity and usability. This kind of competition really showcases the raw talent of our next-generation of mobile games developers and provides an insight into the potential of our industry.”

Please visit us at GDC! The N-Gage by Nokia booth is #5605, North Hall, Moscone Center.

Riku Suomela, Nokia, will be giving a talk on the Forum Nokia Mobile Games University Competition from 11.00 – 12.00pm on Wednesday 25th March. The winning designs will be demo’d straight after.
About Forum Nokia
Nokia’s global developer program, Forum Nokia connects developers to tools, technical information, support, and distribution channels they can use to build and market applications around the globe. From offices in the U.S., Europe, India, Japan, China, and Singapore, Forum Nokia provides technical and business development support to developers and operators to assist them in achieving their goal of successfully launching applications and services to consumers and enterprises. More information is available at http://www.forum.nokia.com.

About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games, business mobility and more. Developing and growing our offering of consumer Internet services, as well as our enterprise solutions and software, is a key area of focus. We also provide equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

About Parsons The New School for Design
Parsons The New School for Design is one of the most prestigious and comprehensive schools of art and design in the nation. Parsons graduate and undergraduate Communication Design and Technology programs encompass a diversity of perspectives and practices connect by a human-centered approach to design. Experimentation, collaboration and exploratory research are central to a Parsons education, with the overriding goal of inspiring a new generation of designers to create the messages, experiences and platforms for a more sustainable and imaginative future. Areas of study include game design, animation and motion graphics, information design, publication design, advertising and persuasion design, physical computing and interation design. For more information, please visit http://www.parsons.newschool.edu/dt.

About The Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences, Campus Hagenberg
The Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences offers an internationally recognized, well-established, practice-oriented education at four locations for over 4000 students. With its unique combination of education, research, and business, the Campus Hagenberg has established itself as a dynamic center of computing and software development with an international reputation. It offers a wide range of degree programs in the field of Information Technology, including Mobile Computing. Modern infrastructure and equipment, strong ties to the IT industry and a dedicated teaching staff ensure a focused education with excellent career opportunities. For more information please visit http://www.fh-ooe.at/en/hagenberg-campus/

Nokia in 2008

Nokia in 2008

Espoo, Finland – Nokia has today published „Nokia in 2008” that includes Nokia 2008 Annual Accounts and the Review by the Board of Directors. The document is available in pdf-format on Nokia’s Internet pages at http://www.nokia.com/financials. Shareholders may also request a hard copy of the document free of charge through Nokia’s Internet pages.

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 cancels treasury shares

Nokia cancels treasury shares

Nokia has decided to cancel 56,000,000 shares held by the company. The cancellation of shares does not have an effect on the amount of share capital of the company.

Following the cancellation the number of shares in the Company will be 3,744,948,552.

Nokia Developer Summit features latest in mobile application development and distribution through Ovi Store

Nokia Developer Summit features latest in mobile application development and distribution through Ovi Store

Two-day summit will explore global application distribution through Nokia channels, web runtime and browser optimization, plus cross-platform development using latest Nokia technologies

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced the 2009 Nokia Developer Summit to be held in Monte Carlo, Monaco from April 28-29, 2009. Tero Ojanperä, Executive Vice President, Nokia Services, will deliver the opening keynote, addressing leading software developers, network operators and content partners about Nokia business and development opportunities.

Registration is now open at http://www.developersummit2009.com. Attendees from around the world will learn, share and explore the latest in application and content development, integration and distribution opportunities for Nokia devices and services.

At the event, Ojanperä will deliver „Developing for the Era of Social Location,” affirming the exciting possibilities available to software developers interested in the convergence of social networking, physical location and mobility using Nokia platforms.

Additional keynote speakers include Lee Williams, Executive Director of the Symbian Foundation, who will address the „Evolution of Open Mobile Platforms”; and Michael Halbherr, Vice President of Nokia Location Based Services, who will discuss „Unleashing Innovation for the World with Maps.”

The latest Nokia Developer Summit agenda includes experts from the world of mobile technology and is available at http://www.developersummit2009.com/agenda.

Attendees at the Nokia Developer Summit will receive the latest updates about publishing to the Ovi Store through http://www.publish.ovi.com, a self-service publishing tool that provides developers with an easy way to distribute and monetize their applications and content to millions of consumers using Nokia devices.

„The 2009 Nokia Developer Summit will gather developers from around the world to learn about the latest technologies and business opportunities that only Nokia can offer,” said Rob Taylor, Head of Forum Nokia. „The Summit brings developers, global network operators, business partners and Nokia experts together in a truly collaborative learning environment that explores how Nokia can help developers improve their business and tap into the growth in mobile application development opportunities worldwide.”

In addition, software developers attending the 2009 Nokia Developer Summit will learn about:

– Advanced technical information about Nokia technologies and development platforms, including Ovi, Flash Lite, Web Runtime, Qt, maemo and Nokia touch-screen interfaces;

– Partnership opportunities with Nokia, as well as funding opportunities for developers through Nokia’s venture capital arm, Nokia Growth Partners; and

– Marketing and promotional opportunites through Forum Nokia plus revenue sharing and pricing strategies for Ovi Store.

Developer attendees can also schedule one-on-one meetings at the Summit with Nokia technology and business experts to answer open questions. In addtion, attendees can participate in special hands-on lab exercises in the latest mobile technologies and platforms that promise to substantially broaden the software development and business horizons of mobile developers who attend the event.

On Day Two of the Summit, attendees will have the opportunity to watch an elite group of developers selected by Forum Nokia, as they go face-to-face in a 24-hour „Hackathon” competition to complete Web Runtime widgets for the home screen of the new Nokia N97. The ideas for the „Hackathon” build upon the best widget ideas selected from more than 1,000 concepts submitted by consumers around the world for the Nokia N97 Widget Design Competition. The winning widgets created during the „Hackathon” will be distributed through the Ovi Store. Additional details about this contest are available at http://2009.nseries.com.

For more information and to register in advance for the 2009 Nokia Developer Summit, visit: http://www.developersummit2009.com.

Forum Nokia
Nokia’s global developer program, Forum Nokia connects developers to tools, technical information, support, and distribution channels they can use to build and market applications around the globe. From offices in the U.S., Europe, India, Japan, China, and Singapore, Forum Nokia provides technical and business development support to developers and operators to assist them in achieving their goal of successfully launching applications and services to consumers and enterprises. More information is available at http://www.forum.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.

Nokia latest releases set to hit the top of the charts

Nokia latest releases set to hit the top of the charts
March 11, 2009

Three new music devices to complement Nokia’s music service

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced the arrival of new Nokia Music Stores, more Comes With Music launches and three new music devices. The Nokia 5730 XpressMusic, Nokia 5330 XpressMusic and Nokia 5030 bring people’s music to life with features that give music lovers around the world easy access to the music they love. By expanding the music range to different price points, introducing more markets with Comes With Music service and the Nokia Music Store as well as making the integration of these elements as easy as possible, on both on the mobile device and the PC, Nokia is changing the way music is enjoyed. The digital music player that rings in your pocket is also the library, the shop and the platform to manage all your music.

„We’ve sold more than 425 million devices with a digital music player and more than 700 million devices with an FM radio, which clearly shows that the mobile phone is the natural device for listening to the music and carrying it with you,” said Jo Harlow, Devices, Nokia. „Combining a connected digital music player like the Nokia 5730 XpressMusic with unlimited access to millions of tracks via Comes With Music means that in addition to their favourite tracks, music lovers can discover, experiment, and keep the new music they find.”

Currently available in 15 markets across three continents, the Nokia Music Store lets people browse or purchase music, get recommendations or search for their favorite artists, songs or albums directly from their device. Nokia Music for PC software makes it easy to organise and transfer the music between a PC and compatible device, rip and burn CDs, as well as discover, stream and download directly from the Nokia Music Store. Today, Mexico was the latest country to launch a Nokia Music Store with additional markets such as Portugal, Norway and South Africa joining the fold in the coming months.

Comes With Music gives people unlimited music downloads from the Nokia Music Store for a year or 18 months. People can choose from millions of tracks to download and keep them, even once the year is over. Currently available in the United Kingdom and Singapore, Comes With Music will launch in Australia later this month. Additional launches, including Italy, Sweden and Mexico, are planned for the coming several months. The newest additions to the Nokia XpressMusic range – the Nokia 5730 XpressMusic and Nokia 5330 XpressMusic – will be offered as Comes With Music compatible devices in selected markets.

Nokia 5730 XpressMusic

The Nokia 5730 XpressMusic is Nokia’s first music-optimized device to offer a full QWERTY keyboard – ideal for quick messaging. The heart of this music device is the Homescreen for XpressMusic, providing access and dynamic information on music, people, games, email and calendar.The Homescreen features an improved contacts bar with up to 20 friends and family members and provides direct access to music, N-Gage and other applications, like Facebook, Photos, Ovi Contacts, Maps, messaging and more. With Ovi Contacts, people see which friends are online, chat and even view what music they are listening to.

The Music shortcut offers a quick access to the music stored on the device as well as to the Nokia Music Store where they can find for information on artists, music and over-the-air downloads, directly on the device.

With the dedicated gaming keys the Nokia 5730 XpressMusic is a true N-Gage gadget. Direct access to the N-Gage Arena community and the preloaded N-Gage games invite to connect and compete and check high scores with online friends.

Nokia also launched the Nokia Mobile Holder CR-110 to keep the Nokia 5730 XpressMusic firmly in place.

The Nokia 5730 XpressMusic is expected to begin shipping in the third quarter of 2009 for an estimated retail price of 280 EUR before subsidies and taxes.

Nokia 5330 XpressMusic

With its edgy, top-sliced design and illumination effects, Nokia 5330 XpressMusic is ideal for music and keeping in touch with your social network. XpressMusic touch keys on the side of the display provide instant access to music. The standard 3.5mm jack offers crystal clear sound for any headphones, and the extended battery life gives more than 26 hours of playback time. Of course, the Nokia 5330 XpressMusic provides access to sites that specialize in online sharing, including Ovi, Facebook, and MySpace.

The Nokia 5330 XpressMusic is expected to be available in the third quarter of 2009 for an estimated retail price of 160 EUR.

To enhance your music listening experience on the go, Nokia offers a variety of accessories. Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-504 – that has recently started shipping – has high quality audio with powerful speakers, echo cancellation and noise reduction. Nokia Stereo Headset WH-500 is also great for both music and calls and compatible with a broad range of devices. Both headsets are easy to fold up and store in the carrying pouch. The small-size Nokia Mini Speakers MD-8 with extra long playtime are ideal for sharing favorite songs with friends.

Nokia 5030

Nokia 5030 is the company’s first phone with an internal FM radio antenna, which eliminates the need for a headset or external speakers. The one touch FM radio and channel selection keys on the side of the device ensure the product lives up to its XpressRadio name. Placed sideways on the table, the Nokia 5030 doubles as a portable FM radio and is ideal for emerging markets, where people rely on a radio as their main source of entertainment and news. The Nokia 5030 has up to a day of listening time and 10 hours of talk time, which comes to life with the powerful loudspeaker, and is available in two colors – graphite and red.

One of Nokia’s most affordable devices to offer an FM radio, the Nokia 5030 is expected to begin shipping in the second quarter of 2009 with an estimated retail price of less than 40 EUR, before taxes or subsidies.

Additional press materials and photos can be found at http://www.nokia.com/press/

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 has filed Form 20-F for 2008 with the US Securities and Exchange Commission

Nokia has filed Form 20-F for 2008 with the US Securities and Exchange Commission
Nokia Corporation
Stock exchange release
March 5, 2009 at 18.00 (CET+1)

Espoo, Finland – Nokia has today filed its annual report on Form 20-F for 2008 with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The report is available in pdf-format at http://www.nokia.com/financials.

Shareholders may request a hard copy of the report free of charge through Nokia’s Internet pages.

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 releases new Qt developer offerings to increase productivity and performance

Nokia releases new Qt developer offerings to increase productivity and performance

New offerings include Qt 4.5, Qt Creator IDE version 1.0, and the new Qt SDK

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced the availability of version 4.5 of the Qt cross-platform application and UI framework. It also introduced Qt Creator, a new lightweight cross-platform Integrated Development Environment (IDE), Qt 4.5 and Qt Creator combined comprises the Qt SDK, an easy to install package that will let developers create applications quickly and easily.

„Qt 4.5 is setting the benchmark for application development,” said Benoit Schillings, Chief Technologist, Qt Software, Nokia. „With the performance improvements in Qt, the introduction of Qt Creator, and the release of the Qt SDK, developers looking for a native or a hybrid native/web application framework now have the power and flexibility they need.”

The release of Qt 4.5 also marks an important milestone for the open source community. For the first time Qt will include the LGPL licensing option to go along with the Commercial License and GPL licensing options currently available. By adding the LGPL license for Qt, developers can now add their proprietary applications on top of Qt without paying a licensing fee.

In addition to the new product releases and licensing changes, Qt Software is also introducing a new flexible technical support package for LGPL and GPL license users. Developers using these licenses will now be able to purchase technical support from Qt Software.

Qt 4.5
Qt 4.5 includes several new features, but sees the greatest improvement via a concerted effort to increase performance across the entire framework. Significant performance enhancements were made to the graphics system, data handling, and the web engine. These improvements result in an appreciable performance increase in Qt-based applications.

Qt 4.5 also improves integration with the WebKit web rendering engine which will blend web and native content into a richer user experience. This includes:
– Netscape Plugin API support; allowing Qt applications to load Flash (such as the YouTube player)
– More advanced web UI effects, including animations, transformations and zooming
– New JavaScript engine for better performance

Qt 4.5 has also been ported to Apple’s Cocoa framework. Previously Qt supported only the Carbon framework, but with Qt 4.5, Qt can now support both. This means developers can create applications that support 32 or 64 bit, Intel or PowerPC Mac binaries from a single source.

Qt Creator
Developers can now download version 1.0 of Qt Creator, a lightweight cross-platform IDE for Qt development. Qt Creator has been designed to deliver two key benefits: it provides the first IDE designed specifically for cross-platform development; and it enables developers that are new to the Qt framework to get up and running more quickly.

Qt Creator includes an efficient tool set for creating and testing Qt-based applications, including:
– An advanced C++ code editor
– Context sensitive help system
– Visual debugger
– Source code management
– Project and build management tools

Qt Creator will be available under the terms of the LGPL version 2.1 license and will be open for contributions. Currently Qt Creator only supports desktop platforms for Qt development (Windows, Linux, and Mac OS), however support for embedded platforms will be added in the coming months.

The Qt SDK
The new Qt SDK, downloadable from http://www.qtsoftware.com, is a comprehensive package designed to provide developers everything they need to begin cross-platform Qt development from a simple-to-install binary package.

The Qt SDK includes the Qt libraries, the Qt Creator IDE, and the Qt tools, all integrated into one easy-to-install package. It has been tailored to the needs of cross-platform developers and is designed to make new Qt developers more productive, more quickly.

Contribute to Qt
In the coming weeks, Qt Software will be launching the Qt Contribution website where developers will be able to see the Qt code repository and also be able to contribute to Qt, Qt Creator and other Qt-related development projects. More details will be announced soon.

About Qt
Qt is a cross-platform application framework. Using Qt, you can develop applications and user interfaces once, and deploy them across many desktop and embedded operating systems without rewriting the source code. Qt Software, formerly Trolltech, was acquired by Nokia in June 2008. For more details about Qt Software, please visit http://www.qtsoftware.com.

About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games, business mobility and more. Developing and growing our offering of consumer Internet services, as well as our enterprise solutions and software, is a key area of focus. We also provide equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic hits shelves in the United States

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic hits shelves in the United States

Ever-popular device now available optimized for North American market

White Plains, NY, USA – Nokia announced today that the highly anticipated Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is now available in the United States. The latest in Nokia’s XpressMusic range, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic delivers an affordable music device with a touch screen interface to the mass market.

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic offers all the music essentials including a graphic equalizer, 8GB memory for up to 6000 tracks and support for all main digital music formats, and a 3.5mm jack. Built-in surround sound stereo speakers offer a powerful sound.

„When it comes to music phones, people all over the world want a device that is a great music experience and still works really well as a mobile phone, without sacrificing features,” said Ian Laing, Vice President, North America Sales, Nokia. „The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic delivers on this and has clearly proven to be a device that consumers are clamoring for – selling more than one million worldwide since its introduction a few months ago.”

Making the most of touch screen technology, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic delivers easy and fast access to all music, video and photos through a one-touch ‚Media Bar’ drop down menu. The Media Bar also offers a direct link to the Web and to online sharing. Because the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic supports Flash content, individuals can surf even more of the web.

The innovative ‚Contacts Bar’ lets people highlight four favorite contacts on their home-screen and, through a single touch, track a digital history of recent text messages, emails, phone logs, photos and blog updates.

Among the highest screen resolution available on a mobile phone, the 3.2″ widescreen display brings photos, video clips and web content to life in vibrant color and true clarity. With a 16 by 9 aspect ratio and 30 frames-per-second playback and recording, the device is ideal for VGA quality video recording and playback. The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic also features a 3.2 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens. With a single touch, images or videos can be shared via a favorite online community, such as Ovi Share, Flickr, or Facebook.

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic offers a variety of input methods including a virtual alphanumeric keypad, a virtual computer-style QWERTY keyboard, a pen stylus — and for true music enthusiasts, you can even use a guitar pick.

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will be available for approximately 399 USD before taxes and subsidies in the U.S. through Nokia Flagship stores in New York and Chicago, nokiausa.com and independent retailers and e-tailers. For a limited time, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will also come with a 50 USD voucher for Amazon Video on Demand which allows you to download thousands of movies or TV titles as well as one month of free turn-by-turn voice guided navigation through Ovi Maps.

* Capacity based on 3 minutes, 45 seconds per song with 48 Kbps eAAC+ (M4A) encoding on the Nokia Music Manager.

Photos of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic are available at http://www.nokia.com/press