Nokia initiates industry cooperation on mobile computing

NEW DELHI, September 1: Nokia Pvt. Ltd. is planning to bring together

content developers and software developers as part of its initiative to

push mobile computing in the country. Called "Value Added Services

Phone", the initiative aims to make the cellphone a personal

accessory that allows not only voice transmission but also data in both

text and interactive mode. Nokia expects these services to take off in the

country by 2002.

According to Nokia Telecommunications General Manager Sales &

Marketing, South Asia Sanjay Bhasin, "Already there are roughly 1.1

million cell phone subscribers (COAI estimates). Therefore, the issue is

not that of enough users but enough content to pull the users. Mobile

computing in India can succeed only if localized applications are

available." With this in mind, the company has already initiated

discussions with operators in Delhi and Mumbai, who have responded well to

the idea of coming together with the content developers.

In October-November, the company also plans to formally bring together

content developers such as airlines and banks and software developers with

Nokia as the enabler. "We believe in creating markets and believe

that this will push the content part of it to ensure the availability of

the right applications," he explained. The airlines and banks will

provide the information and Nokia the technology. The software developers

will develop interfaces between the content provider and Nokia since the

platforms would be different.