Nokia this morning introduced a series of ‘basic smartphones’ (Asha) and higher-end Windows Phone-powered smartphones (Lumia) at the Nokia World 2011 event in London.

The company has put up a whole bunch of videos featuring the phones on its YouTube channel, and also a few weird ads.

Below, you can find a few videos that highlight the Lumia phone(s), which I personally think actually look quite compelling, the longest video ad and the obligatory designer’s story.

The first one provides us with a general overview of the Lumia line of phones:

This one dives deeper, featuring ‘People and Messaging’ on the Lumia 800:

This one showcases ‘Marketplace and Games’ on the Lumia 800:

This one demonstrates ‘Music and Entertainment’ on the Lumia 800:

This one features ‘Office and Mail’ on the Lumia 800:

This one shows ‘Drive and Maps’ on the Lumia 800:

This one features ‘Browsing and Search’ on the Lumia 800:

This video brings you the Lumia designer’s story:

And here’s one of those peculiar “Amazing Everyday” ads:

One of the minor but noteworthy things Nokia announced today at its Nokia World event in London is the release of an updated version of its augmented reality browser Live View, previously available in early beta. You can download the app here.

Note that the app is still in beta, but the updated version brings many goodies if you’re into the whole augmented reality thing (and if you use a compatible Nokia phone).

Live View, like other augmented reality browsers like Layar, uses your phone’s camera viewfinder to spot nearby places and shows what’s around you: landmarks, ATMs, restaurants, bars, shops, public transport stations and more.

These are the new features introduced today:

• Live View is now available in several views – Camera viewfinder view, List view, Maps view. Accessible via screen navigation circles on the menu bar
• Settings to configure the distance in Miles vs. Kilometers
• Search and My Stuff – Search for a place and access previously searched items from My Stuff
• Places grouping – when many places are located at the same location they are grouped and can be accessed by expanding the group
• Browse through the Famous Places around the world
• Scrollable List view sorted by distance with places details and orientation
• A single click access to Call, View Ratings, Walk, Drive or Share the place
• Layout, UI and performance improvements

For other announcements on the apps/services side of the equation, click here.

It’s old news that Nokia bought Symbian, the software used to power many mobile phones today. The deal finally closed, and now the Symbian Foundation is officially in charge of Symbian development. There are currently ten participants in the Symbian Foundation, though membership is open to anyone with $1,500 to spare. The Symbian Foundation has big plans for the platform. Read on for a glimpse, and some thoughts on what the future might hold.

At Nokia World 2008, Matti Vänskä reminded us that the Symbian Foundation plans to release Symbian as fully open source in two years. From the Symbian Foundation Whitepaper:

The foundation will then work to an aggressive schedule to open source all the
essential software platform components for building a mobile device. It is
expected that this will be completed within the next two years, with the intent that
the platform code will be licensed under the Eclipse Public License (EPL) 1.0.

Vänskä said “ultimately [open source] is how software is going to be developed.” As a GNU/Linux user, that really caught my attention. Obviously an open source Symbian isn’t going to radically change the mobile operating system market overnight, just like Google’s Android hasn’t changed much yet. But if we look at the gradual success of open and free software in general — Apache httpd, GNU/Linux, Mozilla Firefox, et al. — I think Vänskä’s on to something.

Linux was “that hacker OS” for almost a decade before it started being taken seriously. It moved gradually from the server room to the desktop, and the principles of open and free software moved with it. Now almost everyone who uses a computer at least knows about things like Firefox and Pidgin, and many folks have at least heard of Linux.

The mobile space had a similarly lethargic uptake in open source development, but things appear to be speeding up now. The OpenMoko phones haven’t really caught anyone’s attention, nor have many of the other Linux-powered mobile devices until the G1.  With the recent growth of the Open Handset Alliance,  I have high hopes for the effect Google’s Android will have on mobile software development. It sounds like the Symbian Foundation has similar hopes for open software development.  Anyone think that Symbian and Android may some day be sittin’ in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g?

Will any of this have an effect on Apple’s iPhone or devices running Windows Mobile?  Microsoft has a long-standing animosity toward open and free software, and Apple’s been doing a yoeman’s job of discouraging it lately, too. Will the one-two punch of open source Symbian and Android be enough to drive the other players to change their ways?

I’ve been cogitating a lot about many of the little things I learned while at Nokia World 2008. The N97 is a neato device, but Nokia has a lot more going on that merits discussion. For example, we met with Kirsi Sormunen, head of environmental affairs at Nokia, and she had some very interesting things to say.

Ms. Sormunen claimed that as the world’s fifth leading brand, responsibility is not a choice, it’s a requirement for Nokia. They’ve spent more than a decade making environmental decision-making an integral part of the business process. Current publicity for their environmental policies are being demanded by stakeholders, and Ms. Sormunen stated emphatically “[it's] not a marketing issue.” Environmental responsibility is part of the entire supply chain, from the selection of parts used, to design considerations and consumer needs, and end-of-life recycling. The Nokia Environment Backgrounder is a good place to start if you want to know more.

Recycling was a big part of Nokia World. The USB sticks containing the press kits all say “I am made of recycled plastic”. The pens were emblazoned with “I used to be … car parts.” I don’t have any way to verify these statements, but nothing at Nokia World gave me any reason to doubt them.

Nokia’s doing a lot of seemingly little things that add up to make a big difference. In the two years since moving to compact packaging, they’ve saved several tons of paper, saved the equivalent of 12,000 trucks on the road, and saved 470 million euros. Internally they’re promoting video conferencing and telecommuting. All of the Nokia employees with which I spoke agreed that these decisions make good business sense all around.

Nokia, along with a couple of other big companies, is a member of the Eco-Patent Commons, “offering the rights to environmentally friendly technologies for free.” That’s a pretty cool move, and I think it deserves a little more attention than it’s likely to get.

So Nokia Nokia Nokia … what about you, right? What’s Nokia doing to help you directly? Check out GreenExplorer, a site in which they’re participating, along with the World Wildlife Fund and Lonely Planet. In addition to lots of green travel advice and green living suggestions, plans are in the works for community participation so that folks can coordinate and communicate with like-minded folks. Also of interest is the we:offset application for mobile phones running S60. It’s a personal carbon offset application that utilizes the phone’s GPS to automatically detect location change, calculate the amount of carbon used, and offers you the opportunity to purchase offset credits.

Ever lose your hotel keycard? Ever have it get de-magnetized? Both of these are simple to resolve – just go to the front desk – but wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t need to worry so much about the darn things? Nokia is working with VingCard to allow you to use your cellphone to open your hotel door.

As described in the video above, the goal is to allow frequent guests to bypass the front desk for check-in altogether. The guest can register online and get an SMS sent to their phone from which they install a small application. Then they simply go to their hotel room and use their phone to unlock the door! No more lost cards! When the guest checks out, the RFID-enabled lock resets to a new code, making sure that the previous occupant can no longer gain access.

The key part of this technology is the near field communication (NFC) chip, which isn’t largely deployed in cell phones yet. These locks aren’t likely to become commonplace for awhile, but I think it’ll be an extremely popular addition to hotels.

Nokia is working hard to merge mobile phones with mobile computing, making it easier to access and use of the full suite of Internet resources from a variety of devices. Annssi Vanjoki, Nokia Executive Vice President of Markets, said at the Nokia World 2008 keynote “I want to surf the entire Internet, not just some pieces of the Internet.” That’s a great idea, but the reality is that many parts of the Internet simply don’t work well on the small screens and limited input mechanisms prevalent on most mobile devices.

Nokia Research Center has been taking a look at ways to make mobile computing devices better integrated into some of the niche segments of the Internet. For example, EasyMeet provides an AJAX-powered web-based conferencing system that works great on tablets and other mobile devices. It doesn’t require the installation of plugins, ActiveX controls, or Java, so most modern Internet-connected devices can use it. It works on Symbian S60, Firefox, IE7, Opera, and Safari, so iPhone and desktop users can all join in a conference along with Nokia N800 and N810 users.

Currently EasyMeet supports the shared presentation of Microsoft PowerPoint files, but work is underway to support PDF and Apple iWork files. You can share files on the local device, but as explained in the video above it’s also possible to use Nokia’s Ovi service to access files from other locations.

When you sign up, you get an EasyMeet URL which you can use for all of your meetings. Attendees don’t need to remember complicated room and access codes. All the chat, meeting minutes, and whiteboard changes are stored (at Nokia) and are available for later search and retrieval.

EasyMeet is in beta, and will likely remain a Nokia hosted service, though there are nascent plans to support custom branding. No pricing is available, but it’s currently free to use. This obviously isn’t something most folks will have a need for every day, but it’s nice to see some innovation in the online conferencing space. It’s also nice to see a pure browser-based alternative to services like WebEx.

I’ve just left the Nokia World 2008 keynote, in which the new products and services were announced, like the Nokia N97, Nokia Maps, and Nokia Messaging. The presentation was interesting, and highlights Nokia’s vision for mobile communications. Read on for a quick summary and some thoughts.

Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo — President and CEO of Nokia — said that the goal is to “transforming the way we connect.” It was stated that 75% of world’s people haven’t even used email yet.  Nokia’s expectation is that for these folks, their first email experience will be on a mobile device. To that end, Mail on Ovi provides an easy to use email service for millions of people using series 40 devices.  Mail on Ovi provides an internet identity for folks who don’t otherwise have one.  In addition to MS Exchange and major mail services, it supports “thousands of ISPs” (presumably via good ol’ POP3 and IMAP). Mobile email + instant messaging “in one simple package”. “Email for everyone” is the catchphrase that embodies Nokia’s vision of “Connecting People” by removing barriers between web, PC, and mobile devices,

Of the 6+ billion people on the planet, an estimated 4 billion will be using mobile devices by Q1 2009 (and currently, 1 billion are using Nokia phones). This is the largest consumer base for any consumer durable good. Nokia seeks to give the power of the Internet to more people in more places, and to “transform the internet into your internet.”

Annssi Vanjoki — EVP of Markets — introduced the Nokia N97 itself. He opened by talking about the N95, which he described as the “state of the art” mobile computer. It’s sold more than 15 million to date, and is one of the fastest selling Nokia products.

The N97 evolves upon the N95.  It has a  bigger screen (3.5″) with 640×360 pixels, 16 million colors, a real camera (“not a toy”), and seeks to “sense context” to make it a real mobile computer: AGPS, digital compass, accelerometers. Widgets on home screen allow you to personalize the device to be useful to your workflow.

One of the things that really piqued my interest was the claim that mobilizing social networks will change the way people communicate. To this end, mobile computers need continuous internet access. “I want to surf the ENTIRE internet, not just some pieces of the internet,” which is a statement I absolutely agree with. It was said that mobile computers need to support all forms of web pages, especially video. The N97 aims to be as capable of an Internet-connected computer as any desktop or laptop.

The other big thrust of the N97 announcement is that It’s not just a consumption device, but also a creation device. It needs input mechanisms, and while a touch screen is nice, it’s not sufficient according to Nokia (a clear dig against Apple’s iPhone here). “Nothing replaces the feel and accuracy of a real keyboard.”  The 35 degree tilt screen provides better ergonomics for real computing use.

At 550 euros, the big question becomes “why would I buy this as opposed to a netbook?”  Indeed, this question was asked several times of various Nokia employees at the blogger dinner last night. At twice the price of most netbooks, the N97 superficially doesn’t offer too much new functionality, especially for casual and budget-minded consumers.  When you look a bit deeper, though, you begin to see a pretty big distinction by way of the mobile services Nokia is ramping up. I think it’ll be interesting to keep an eye on these applications and services as the N97 gets closer to market.

On a totally personal note, Nokia did a great job on the keynote.  It was well paced, interesting, and informative, which says a lot since I knew going in what the big announcement was going to be. I’ve been to too many keynotes that were dry, laborious, and downright boring. Kudos to Nokia for doing it right.

Nokia is pushing hard for consolidation, looking to make their smartphones the go-to device for communication. One of the major announcements at Nokia World 2008 this year is about their Nokia Messaging solution. It is essentially a multi-platform messaging solution that enables email considerably more gracefully than the original Symbian interface.

• Experience mobile email as a standard part of the Nokia device experience
• Create and access Ovi email accounts as well as cross-access to other Ovi services with just one sign-on account
• 1GB of storage space and spam filters to block spam emails
• Full access to built-in push email and IM access
• Email delivery of Yahoo! Mail accounts to Nokia devices
• Access Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! Messenger on the majority of Nokia devices
• Access Yahoo! Mail directly from the homescreen, giving one touch access to your inbox
• Set your status and customize status messages, see which of your contacts are online or offline, send and receive instant messages, and use emoticons to enhance your messages

Nokia Messaging comes to Nokia devices with support for Mail on Ovi and the world’s
most popular email and IM solutions
New service for consumer email and instant messaging on Nokia devices, along with Ovi email address for email and cross access to other Ovi services from a mobile phone or a PC
Barcelona, Spain – Nokia today announced the launch of Nokia Messaging, which mobilizes consumer email and consumer instant messaging (IM) solutions on Nokia devices. Nokia Messaging will give millions of consumers access to email and IM accounts from Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Hotmail, Gmail and Google Talk, and AOL Mail as well as email solutions from thousands of ISPs around the world on the majority of Nokia devices. Nokia also introduced the online portal for Mail on Ovi, which will enable PC users to create and access Ovi email accounts as well as gain cross access to other Ovi services with just a
single sign-on account.
”We believe everybody should have mobile messaging – it’s not a privilege service that’s meant only for a certain segment of the market. With Nokia Messaging, our customers can simply and affordably gain mobile access to the world’s most popular email and IM accounts. We are making mobile messaging an affordable experience for everyone, not just for those with specialized phones designed for messaging, but for everyone with a Nokia device. In response to overwhelming consumer feedback that messaging is a critical, must-have feature, Nokia has responded with solutions to bring messaging to the broadest range of devices and to ensure the service works with the most popular messaging services in the market. Windows Live Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, email accounts provided by thousands of ISPs around the world, and even brand new Nokia-provided email accounts, can now be accessed from mobile phones with a few simple clicks, directly from the home-screen,” said Tom Furlong, Senior Vice President, Consumer Messaging, Services & Software, Nokia.

Mail on Ovi
Nokia announced the introduction of web access to Mail on Ovi, which gives users 1GB of storage space and spam filters to block unwanted emails. Creating a Mail on Ovi account will give users access to their email, as well as cross access to other Ovi services, both on the mobile phone and on the PC. The beta version of Mail on Ovi will roll out globally in December 2008 in 12 languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Hindi, Bengali, Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malaysia on all currently shipping Nokia Series 40 devices, with many more languages to be added later. The web access version will launch in February 2009.

Nokia Messaging
Nokia Messaging will launch commercially in the first quarter of 2009 in Australia, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and Venezuela, and in select countries later in the year. Agreements with key operators will establish Nokia Messaging as an operator supported service so that users who purchase a data plan that includes Nokia Messaging will be able to take full access of the built-in push email and IM access without additional service charges.

The Nokia Messaging push email service is available today for free as a limited-period beta trial. Owners of popular Nokia S60 devices such as Nokia E71 and Nokia N95 can immediately go to email.nokia.com and install the service on their devices. Nokia Messaging is an email application that’s been designed from the ground up to support mobile email. The application makes it simple to set-up the email account – all users have to enter are their email address and password, and emails are seamlessly pushed to their mobile device. Nokia Messaging also makes it simple to read, send, forward and reply to emails, download and read
attachments, and attach files to emails directly on the Nokia device.

Nokia Messaging is immediately available on a wide range of Nokia S60 devices to mobilize consumer email. Instant messaging and support for Nokia Series 40 devices will be enabled in the second half of 2009.

With Nokia Messaging and Mail on Ovi together, Nokia will enable consumers with and without email accounts to experience mobile email as a standard part of the Nokia device experience. To date, Nokia has shipped about 200 million devices that immediately enable the launch of its messaging solutions, including Nokia Messaging, Mail on Ovi and corporate mobile email (Microsoft Exchange Activesync).

For more information and materials on Nokia World 2008 event and announcements, please visit:

http://events.nokia.com/nokiaworld

www.nokia.com/press/nokiaworld08

At Nokia World 2008, Nokia announced their new Nokia Maps product.  The most compelling feature is the ability to plan your trip on your PC, and then sync the route to your Nokia phone. Also included are 3D landmarks for 216 cities, to help users visually identify where they are! Camera locations are included for select cities, so folks can avoid those pesky speeding tickets. Neat stuff.

• High-resolution aerial images
• 3D landmarks for 216 cities and terrain maps
• New route overview during routing and during Drive
• Purchasable turn-by-turn car navigation guidance
• Instant access to real time information such as camera alerts, safety spots and traffic information for selected countries
• Access to Wcities event guides, giving real-time information for events and movies in over 450 destinations
• Straight-line guidance allows you to walk the shortest distance between point A and point B
• View multiple entrances to the same underground metro station

The Nokia Maps story unfolds with new integrated web services and other upgrades
New version with Ovi integration offers 3D landmarks and other enhancements including online planning on the web
Barcelona, Spain – Nokia has released the latest version of its award-winning mobile mapping and navigation service, Nokia Maps, as well as its personalized online mapping experience on Ovi by Nokia. This combination of Nokia Maps plus Ovi is the first free service that allows people to pre-plan their journey at home on their PC and synchronize with their mobile, giving access to pre-planned routes and favorite destinations while on the move.
In addition, Nokia Maps has been updated to include a number of new features such as high-resolution aerial images, 3D landmarks for 216 cities and terrain maps, as well as a new route overview during routing and during Drive, the purchasable turn-by-turn car navigation guidance.

“Nokia has clearly increased the usability of Maps, and now with the integration of Ovi services, the functionality of this service can also be seen online,” says Michael Halbherr, vice-president, Nokia location based experiences. “Enabling Nokia Maps the ability to synchronize my favorite places between my mobile and PC. becomes the main reason for anyone to switch from other personal navigation devices to Nokia Maps.”
Maps on Ovi is becoming more than just a mapping tool. Over the coming months, Maps will become a destination for people to save and organize places, pre-plan trips and post-edit them. People can share their location and all their personally and socially meaningful content with friends, inviting them to join in activities and share experiences.
Other new options for Nokia Maps include instant access to real time information such as camera alerts, safety spots and traffic information for selected countries, as well as Wcities event guides that give real-time information for events and movies in over 450 destinations.

Walk, pedestrian navigation, improves from where the last version left off, by adding straight-line guidance, which allows you to walk the shortest distance between point A and point B. Should your journeys be more urban, beeps and vibrations during Walk navigation alert you when you need to make a turn along your route. The level of detail in the maps has increased to the point that you can view multiple entrances to the same underground metro station.
The higher map quality is a direct result of the relationship that now exists between Nokia and NAVTEQ. The close working relationship allows Nokia to better utilize the map data that NAVTEQ supplies, which provides a higher quality and extensive coverage that enables more effective location based experiences.
The new version of the Nokia Maps application for selected devices is available on the Nokia Beta Labs website: http://www.nokia.com/betalabs. The online version will be accessible from http://maps.ovi.com. As both versions are released as a Beta, some product features may not be available in the Beta release, but instead, will be added into future releases.