Is The Nokia Lumia 800 Windows Phone Headed To The US?

Nokia announced their first Windows Phone smartphones, and the one that everyone is interested in is the new Nokia Lumia 800, which shares a similar design to the Nokia N9. When Nokia announced the Lumia 800 it said it would be available in Europe next month, but Nokia didn’t mention anything specific about a US launch of the Lumia 800.

What Nokia said in the announcement was that they would bring Nokia Windows devices to the US in 2012, without mentioning any specific models. The guys over at Gizmodo spoke to Keith Nowak from Nokia and he was unable to confirm whether the Nokia Lumia 800 would land in the US. What he did say was that Nokia will launch its first Windows Phone smartphones in the US in 2012 with one mobile carrier, although details of specific models seem to be a bit thin on the ground. Could Nokia be planning to release a different Windows Phone smartphone in the US? Lets hope that Nokia decides to release the Lumia 800 in the US in 2012.

More information's:
http://gizmodo.com/5853513/are-nokias-flagship-windows-phones-even-coming-to-the-us

Nokia Lumia 800 Presentation and Hands On:

Nokia details Nokia Music: radio-based free service, no registration, no hassle

One of the biggest differentiators for Nokia in the Windows Phone world is Nokia Music. The company has had a couple of music offerings in the past, but Nokia Music really seems to nail it – it's a radio-based Mix Radio service offering you choice of 100 channels varying by genre.

Most importantly, it's hassle-free – unlike other major services, Nokia Music doesn't ask you to register somewhere, nor does it require you to pay for listening to music. In Mix Radio, each channel has 50 tracks, but you shouldn't worry about lack of variety – each week the list will be refreshed. This sounds like a great tool for discovering music and to make it easier there's also a separate channel with all the new releases.

All of this sounds like it will cover the need of most music aficionados, but what about times when you're out of network coverage? Nokia has thought about this and Music will allow caching 200 songs on your device, or 4 channels worth more than two hours of non-stop playback, for use even in times when you're offline. If you want to purchase a particular song you've liked – it's easy to do so. You go to the store and purchase it.

Nokia Music however differs from others in that it covers listening to music in all possible aspect and one of them is live gigs. The app will allow you to see when your favorite band is playing and you can go on purchase tickets and see directions to the venue.

Nokia World 2011: Live Coverage!

Welcome to our liveblog covering the opening keynote of Nokia World 2011, featuring CEO Stephen Elop. We're quite excited because the still largest phone manufacturer by volume is expected to finally unveil its first Windows Phone-based smartphones. As a matter of fact, the very first leaks prior to the beginning of the event have started, hinting that we might see a total of three new Windows Phones - the Nokia Lumia 800, Lumia 710 and 900. Whether that would be the case, remains to be seen. Who knows, there may be even more in store for us!

Stay tuned for all the details, as the event starts at 4AM eastern, 3AM central, 1 AM pacific time, or 9AM GMT. You can follow our live updates here, or via our special Twitter channel - @PhoneArenaLive.

Nokia preparing a QWERTY Series 40 handset, is it the Nokia 303?

One more thing leaked out just before the Stephen Elop's opening keynote at Nokia World – a QWERTY Series 40 device, which could be one of the more affordable devices introduced at the event. One of the pictures is pretty large and you can clearly see a red QWERTY handset advertised with “You. Me. Everyone. Let's QWERTY.”

Now, this could be the Nokia 303, which was rumored to run on Series 40 6th Edition and be of the Touch and Type variety of hybrid devices. The device also looks like it's coming with both Wi-Fi and 3G support.

If you take a closer look at the pictures below you'd also notice some other boxes, but those required more than a magnifying glass to decipher and we'd rather wait for the event to see what they contain.

Nokia Drive, Nokia Music and ESPN Sports: the attempt to bring exclusivity for Nokia Windows Phones

Nokia must have really been between the rock and the hard place when it announced it will adopt Windows Phone as its primary mobile platform. One of the justifications for the eye-popping decision back in February was pointed out as Android not offering ways for Nokia to differentiate its handsets among the sea of phones powered by the green robot.

Well, it's not that easy to differentiate in the Windows Phone ecosystem either - the chassis specs are predefined by Microsoft, and Redmond keeps a tight grip over the uniformity of the interface. Still, the Finns managed to pull ahead with some exclusive features that will be available only on Nokia Windows Phones.

To know more please click here.

Nokia Purity headsets unveiled: Monster-powered, colorful music

Nokia World is mostly about new phones, but not only about them – Nokia Purity was also announced and the colorful series of headsets caught our eye with their design first. Produced in cooperation with Monster, they also promise top notch audio quality.

"Both products provide a fresh listening experience and are the first output of the exclusive long-term partnership between Nokia and Monster, intended to introduce a range of premium audio accessories to reflect the outstanding quality and bold style of the Lumia range," Nokia said.

The Purity HD Stereo Headset is the first, over-ear model. The headset weighs 6.35 oz (180 grams) and is specifically designed to work with Lumia handsets, but it seems that it's the matching colors between the Lumia phones and the Purity HD that this is limited to. You connect the headset via a standard 3.5mm jack.

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Nokia N9 arrives in white, MeeGo software update coming along the way

The Nokia N9 has the enchanting new all-touch MeeGo Harmattan as its platform and it's different than pretty much everything else out there on the market. In terms of usability and comfort, we'd compare it to webOS, but both are underdogs in today's smartphone world. While the webOS product department is officially dead now, though, the Nokia N9 has just launched and is doing well if we are to believe Nokia's chief executive Stephen Elop.

It even gets a new addition – a gorgeous white version making it even more irresistible. It's slightly different than the other matte versions in black, magenta and cyan. Luckily, it's coming soon – in the fourth quarter of the year with the 64GB variant being the first one available in white.

“The manufacturing process for beautiful white products is quite complex and we wanted to make sure we deliver the best possible quality for our consumers,” Nokia N9 product marketing head Frank Zillikens explained.

But what's more important is that Nokia is indeed readying a software update for MeeGo Harmattan on the Nokia N9! We wouldn't blow this out of proportion – it doesn't mean that the platform has revived chances for survival, but it's definitely welcome news for those mulling over a purchase.

This update is also coming in Q4 2011 and will improve usability including music controls in the lock screen and closing apps by swiping them down (hello, webOS!). NFC tag reading will also be included.

So, is Nokia starting to see the future in MeeGo again, what do you think?

Nokia planning US invasion in early 2012: LTE, CDMA phones expected, Verizon might be in the mix

Nokia unveiled two Windows Phone handsets today – the Nokia Lumia 800 and 710, but none of them got a specific release date for the elusive for the Finns US market. This doesn't mean, though, that the company isn't planning to widen its presence on US soil. Stephen Elop explicitly stated that there are phones planned for the huge North American market and LTE network support is in the plans. Not only that, Nokia will also release CDMA devices for carriers like Sprint and Verizon.

Sadly, that's not anytime soon and CEO Stephen Elop himself confirmed that Nokia will miss this Holiday season stateside and only arrive early 2012.

Now, this all you might have already heard if you've followed the live webcast and our liveblog, but what you might have not known is the fact that Verizon representatives were at Nokia World as well. To be more precise, Thisismynext spotted a Verizon staffer around the Nokia Lumia 800 booth. Combine LTE, CDMA and Verizon, and you arrive at a pretty tempting combination. Moreover, this confirms that Nokia has been hard at work at fixing its spotty relationship with US carriers. Will it manage to deliver an up-to-date portfolio in the dynamic American market? Chime in with your opinions in the comments below.

Nokia Drive demonstration on the Nokia Lumia 800

Not surprisingly, one of the beautiful things about owning an Android powered smartphone is that handset owners are treated to free turn-by-turn navigation with Google Maps – and it helps that the experience has been refined with each update. On the other hand, Windows Phone users have been starving for something similar on their end to perfectly round out the experience.

Thankfully, Nokia’s upcoming beauties in the Lumia 710 and 800, have something called Nokia Drive, which essentially brings that deep navigational experience that Windows Phone users desperately desire. Specific only to Nokia’s Windows Phone smartphones, the application is a full-fledged navigational app that offers free voice guidance instructions to get you to your destination. Indeed, it offers all of the essentials we typically find with other similar apps, like satellite and night views, but what’s nice is that it also combines 3D maps as well – but it’s only limited to major cities and landmarks.

Nevertheless, it’s shaping up to be a tasteful offering for Windows Phone users since you can even download maps by country or region – thus, enabling you to still get directions offline. So yeah, rather than living with the Bing Maps experience, Nokia Drive fully satisfies those navigational desires that longtime users have been demanding. Check out the demonstration of Nokia Drive we managed to see running on the recently announced Nokia Lumia 800.

First camera samples from the Nokia Lumia 710 and 800

After getting the chance to play around with Nokia’s upcoming Windows Phone devices, the Lumia 710 and 800, we’re naturally curious to see how the two fare when it comes to snapping some photos.

Of course, the Nokia Lumia 800 is undoubtedly the more camera specific device, thanks to its larger 8-megapixel auto-focus camera, which features an impressive Carl Zeiss f/2.2 lens. With that in tow, it’s expected to excel in lower lighting conditions since it’s able to snag more light than your typical smartphone camera. Conversely, the 5-megapixel auto-focus camera on the Nokia Lumia 710 might not seem as demanding on paper, but nevertheless, it should appease those with the itch to snap some candid photos.

With some time on our hands, we were able to snap a few photos with each device to see what they’re capable of producing. We’re obviously not going to pass final judgment right now, especially when the units are nothing more than prototypes, but it provides us with some insights as to what to expect in the near future. So tell us what you think of them.

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Nokia World 2011 kicks off tomorrow: what to expect

Nokia’s big two days are right around the corner - after probably the lengthiest and most turbulent wait in the industry, the world’s biggest smartphone maker is expected to make its equally big Windows Phone statement. What should we expect?

First of all, let’s say that Nokia World is the company’s single biggest yearly event. It’s held in London and this year it opens with CEO Stephen Elop’s keynote scheduled for 9:30 am GMT | 4:30 am EST | 1:30 am PST on Wednesday, October 26th. It will be a long night for those who want to follow it live from the States, but Elop promises it will be worthit.

Most importantly, there are a couple of devices to be announced and that’s what everyone is looking for.

The first one has leaked on numerous occasions, so it will almost be a surprise for us if we don’t actually see it. Yes, we’re talking about that Nokia Sea Ray prototype, which Elop hismelf showed around the N9 announcement in a supposedly leaked video. The Nokia Sea Ray, also referred to as the Nokia 800, doesn’t look new - actually it’s an almost exact copy of the Nokia N9 with its pillow-shaped convex screen and polycarbonate body. What’s under the hood, though, might differ and also the screen on the Sea Ray is projected to be a smaller, 3.7” AMOLED.

Secondly, the Nokia Sabre has also appeared in rumors and it seems to be a slightly smaller device, while the Nokia Ace is the third and possibly most well specced Nokia Windows Phone. The Ace is expected with a 4.3” display, while everything else seems to have remained a secret.

In addition, there will be a huge Microsoft presence at Nokia World this year. Expect Office-related news as Redmond's corporate VP of Office Communications, William Kennedy, has an on-stage appearance. Joe Belfiore, the corporate VP of Windows Phone, is also listed, as are WP engineering head Terry Myerson and WP Marketing VP Achim Berg.

The agenda of the event is public, so you can check it out in full detail when you hit the source link below, but we'd also mention that Nokia will pay special attention to how it can attract the next billion phone users, how development under WP will be handled and finally what it can offer in the entertainment department. Is there something else you expect to see at Nokia World? Feel free to share it with us in the comments below.

Nokia Sea Ray was once a MeeGo device for Verizon

If you aren’t yet over Nokia’s abrupt decision to put an end to the MeeGo project then you might not like knowing that the smartphone codenamed the Sea Ray was once a CDMA device bound for Verizon with MeeGo on-board.

The Nokia Sea Ray is a device rumored to be heading to AT&T and will be one of the Finnish manufacturer’s first handsets to feature the Windows Phone operating system. Recently some press photos surfaced of the Sea Ray which is also known as the Nokia 800. The hardware looks very similar to the MeeGo powered N9 that unfortunately won’t see the light of day in most countries.

It is unclear if the Sea Ray for Verizon was a variation of the N9 or not. It is possible that it was an entirely different device from the N9 and the Windows Phone version of the Sea Ray. If in fact it was the same Sea Ray that will likely be announced at the Nokia World event, then it would have featured a 3-7-inch or a 3.9-inch display and could have possibly been powered by a single-core 1.4GHz processor. The processor in the N9 was clocked at 1GHz.

Knowing that there were plans for MeeGo devices in the states is kind of depressing. There was a lot of potential with MeeGo that most of us will never get to see. Sure, it is getting replaced by Tizen which is backed by both Samsung and Intel, but it just isn’t the same. Had a MeeGo device arrived on Verizon would any of you considered picking one up instead of the iPhone 4S or one of the many worthy Android smartphones? Tell us what you think.

Nokia Sabre Windows Phone Prototype Leaked?

Next week at the 2011 Nokia World, which starts on the 25th of October and takes place in London, we will finally get our first look at Nokia’s new Windows Phone 7 smartphones.

Yesterday we saw some leaked photos of the new Nokia 800 and today we have another photo which is reported to be of the Nokia Sabre Windows Phone, and from the looks of the photo below it is a prototype version of the device. According to the guys over at Pocket Now, the Nokia Sabre will feature a single core 1.4GHz processor, 1GB of RA, a 3.5 inch WVGA display and a 5 megapixel camera, and of course Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, I guess we will find out some more details next week.

More information's:
http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/nokia-sabre-windows-phone-spotted-in-the-wild-photo

Nokia 5233 Aplicativos, Light Sabre:

Nokia seeks to market its new Windows Phone powered handsets to the youth of the world

With a brand name that no longer has the cache in cell phones that it used to have, Nokia says it plans on focusing the marketing of its new Windows Phone powered smartphones, at the youth of the world. John Nichols, head of Nokia's marketing in the U.K. and Ireland said that while the Finnish based firm already has a huge following among the young, it needs to make sure it has the partnerships and content that would appeal to teenagers.

Nichols hints that Nokia is going to go all out to force its way into the teen market. The executive said, "As a teenager, the brands I loved had an opinion and told me whether to engage with them or not. The trick is to remember to not just wade in; otherwise our personality could look like the drunken uncle dancing at the wedding." And with an 80 million GBP ($126 million USD) budget to work with in the U.K. and Ireland, it certainly sounds like Nokia is going all in to reach what Nichols calls the next generation of mobile phone buyers.

Nokia recently shook hands with U.K. X-Factor boy band One Direction to create a phone personalized by the group with added screensavers and ringtones. And instead of using the usual media to advertise, Nokia plans on making use of social media which it considers as a great way to reach the youth market. Nokia's new marketing strategy will be revealed on October 26th at Nokia World. In the U.K., Nokia trails only Apple in smartphone marketshare with an 18.6% slice of the market compared to Apple's 26.2%.

Besides trying to gain marketshare, Nokia needs to rid itself of the red ink that it spilled in the second quarter, the last period for which earnings are available. During that period, Nokia had a net loss of $521 USD as the company relied too much on sales of lower priced featurephones which carry a lower margin than smartphones.

Nokia launches NFC Hub microsite

Nokia has announced the launch of its new NFC (near field communications) microsite as part of its drive to help the mass adoption of the contactless technology.

The manufacturer hopes that the new NFC Hub will enable businesses to develop NFC campaigns that help ‘drive engagement with customers’.

Nokia will offer NFC enabled marketing materials in an attempt to persuade consumers to interact with their brand or business in a more innovative way.

Businesses can also use the NFC Hub back office tools to re-programme and update web links whenever necessary to support multiple campaigns.

The firm hopes to benefit from brand tie ups by running out-of-home campaigns, giving away NFC-enabled smart business cards, stickers, posters. It will also provide full back-end management capability and statistics on overall usage, cost free.

Nokia UK and Ireland head of services sales and marketing Rupert Englander said: ‘Nokia is making it quick and easy for businesses to adopt NFC, helping them develop consumer experiences that allow them to get ahead of the curve. NFC Hub makes it simple for companies of any size to bring NFC into their business without the need for any technical knowledge.’

The service has already been adopted by Huddlebuy, which offers group deals for small businesses. Huddlebuy.co.uk co-founder Chieu Cao said: ‘We want to provide our community of small businesses and start-ups with great products and services to help them save money and grow. The NFC stickers from Nokia and Fuelmywebsite have been really popular. Our users can see the value in connecting with their customers in this new way.’

Nokia N9 launches with no buttons, but plenty of MeeGo swiping

Nokia has announced the next flagship smartphone in its venerated N-series line, the N9. The N9 features an all-new design and interface that eschews the button-heavy designs of past Nokia devices. Nokia is calling the design of the N9 an "all-screen" affair, and that description seems to be quite accurate. The slab-style phone is dominated by a 3.9-inch, AMOLED(INFO) display with Nokia's ClearBlack technology that offers FWVGA (480x854 pixel) resolution. The body of the phone itself is a single piece of polycarbonate, not the usual metal materials that we are used to seeing with Nokia's N-Series of phones. Nokia says that the body of the phone flows seamlessly into the slightly curved display. There is a volume rocker and shortcut key on the right-hand side of the phone and a power/unlock key on top, but other than that, there don't appear to be any buttons on the N9, not even a camera shutter key, which is a shocking departure for Nokia.

The rear of the N9 sports an 8 megapixel, autofocus camera that's complete with a Carl Zeiss lens and LED flash. It can record HD video at 720p (1280 x 720 pixel) resolution and 30 frames per second. The camera has a wide-aperture (f2.2) lens that Nokia claims will provide better shots in low-light conditions. There is also a front-facing camera for video calling.

The Nokia N9 really looks great, with striking industrial design and what appears to be a beautiful and elegant UI. The only question to remain is, what will happen to it (and its MeeGo operating system) when Nokia launches its Windows Phone powered smartphones, due by the end of this year? With as much R&D as the N9 has obviously had, why didn't Nokia just pursue this MeeGo platform instead of switching to Windows Phone in the near future? Oh, and will it have a competitive assortment of apps available to users? We will have to wait and see. The Nokia N9 is due to hit stores "later this year", and will arrive in three colors: black, cyan, and magenta. In the meantime, take a look at a couple of videos Nokia has put together highlighting the N9 and its new interface.

Nokia N9 - The Big Introduction - Swipe with Nokia's Beautiful New Smartphone:


Nokia N9 Design Story: