30 June 2008

Nokia to Develop
Internet Based Service For India!

In today's mobile data industry, services are more important than ever. Internet and location based services are major revenue generators for carriers and manufacturers alike.

Nokia has taken heed, and is leading the way in the industry. Nokia's Maps service is arguably the best mobile service so far, and is probably the best location based service available today.

It provides real time map updates, navigation, traffic data, and points of interest, all in Symbian's most powerful S60 software environment to boot!

Some users would disagree, especially those in India. They've complained about scarce or, in some areas, nonexistent map data for the most part. Nokia's service many times just leaves the Indian market out in the cold and largely underserved, until today. India's fortunes may soon change, however, and in a big way.

IT Examiner's Jayant Mishra reports Nokia has announced a renewed focus on India, and its rural areas in particular. In a press conference, Nokia President and CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo announced the planned launch of an initially India-specific internet based service. The focus will be providing India with microfinance, agricultural, and distribution services.

The Indian market is diverse, and the rural market is a large, as yet untapped portion of that market. With mobile carriers having penetrated these remote areas, a big population is available to seek as customers. Nokia has pinpointed the area's specific needs, and has begun work to make it come to fruition. The service will be deployed on midrange devices, according to Mishra's article.

No service release date has been announced as of yet.