The Nokia 500 has just been announced as Nokia latest Symbian Anna smartphone. The new phone is based on the Nokia C5-03 specs-wise but refreshes some of the key features, retaining the reportedly affordable price tag.

The Nokia 500 has a 3.2-inch capacitive screen with 640 x 360 pixel resolution and there's a 5 megapixel camera on the back. Connectivity is covered by 14.4Mbps HSDPA and 5.8Mbps HSUPA speeds, Wi-Fi (no N support here), GPS, a charging microUSB port and a 3.5mm standard audio jack. There's 2GB of internal memory and a microSD slot for adding more storage.

The Nokia 500 comes with exchangeable back covers in different colors (two extra supplied with the phone). Much like with the Nokia N79 back in the day, the Nokia 500 changes its wallpaper automatically to match the color of the back cover you put on it.

The Nokia 500 will launch in black in Q3 with a white version coming in Q4 too. There will be six differently colored back panels at the launch in Q3. It's supposed to cost ˆ150 before taxes and subsidies. Sounds affordable for a smartphone alright.

source: GsmArena

United Mobile presents Pakistan's First Electric Canopy to Karachi Traffic Police

Facebook has started its figthback against Google and its Google+ project. The company has just released a Java-based version of its mobile application, which should extend its reach to just about every mobile platform out there.

The app is compatible with 2,500 Java-enabled phones and gives you access to the most popular features of the social network such as News Feed, Inbox, and Photos and it also enables you to upload photos and find friends from your phone’s contacts. The app should work on just about any platform that didn't have an app already.

source: GsmArena

We bet many of you are curious what the MeeGo-based Nokia N9 camera is capable of. Well, you can stop searching for leaked camera samples right now, Nokia has just released untouched official ones.

                              Nokia N9 camera samples (widescreen)

As it turns out the N9 camera produces really nice shots with lots of resolved detail and nice lively colors. The effects of the large aperture (f/2.2) lens are easy to spot in the shallow depth of field. This makes it easier (as far as easy is at all applicable to cameraphones) to separate the focused objects from the background.

The Nokia N9 processing seems really mature, though it cannot completely make up for the smaller (compared to the N8) sensor. For example the N9 doesn't render out-of-focus areas as attractively as its Symbian sibling.

Still the published N9 camera samples are pretty good even though they are taken with pre-release hardware and software. So the MeeGo smartphone will probably be end up a viable option for all cameraphone lovers.

3.2" nHD AMOLED screen, which points to this being a Nokia C6-01 replacement. The Nokia 700 is also reportedly quite light (a bit over 80g) and measures 110 x 51 x 10mm, which doesn’t quite mesh with the "thinnest smartphone ever" claim, but those measurements can change as its design is still being developed.

From the photo, you can see that the camera is a 5MP unit and has a LED flash. We can't guess at whether or not it has autofocus though. Also, the Nokia 700 has NFC connectivity, which Nokia seems to be warming up to following the Nokia N9 announcement.

Other specs that the tipster managed to get out of the Nokia 700 (which as we speculated might be called N7) is that it runs Symbian Belle (an update to Anna) and packs Wi-Fi b/g/n. There's also fast HSPA speeds (10.2Mbps or 14.4Mbps downlink and 5.76Mbps downlink). The battery was a 1080mAh unit.

That's all we've got for now. We're not quite sure what the differences between the Nokia 700 and the N5 are yet or the other devices from the leaked specs sheets.

The N5 will be available in black and white colored versions, with the white colored model having a lime green rear. On the front you can see the touchscreen display, which looks like it could be around 3.2-inch in size and call, end and menu buttons below it. The right side has the volume control and camera shutter buttons while the left side is left blank. On the back is a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and a loudspeaker below.

The source has confirmed that the N5 will be followed by N6 and N7, possibly with larger displays and higher resolution cameras. These phones will quite possibly replace Nokia’s current low-end Symbian touchscreen smartphones, which are still running on the archaic Symbian S60 5th Edition

source: GsmArena

• There is currently no way to create folders in the main application menu although it may be added later.

• You can close applications instead of just minimizing them if you swipe from the top of the display instead of the side, although this function has to be enabled first from the settings menu.

• N9 can play Flash videos in the video player, along with other formats such as MKV up to 720p resolution but it cannot play Flash videos in the web browser due to a lack of Adobe Flash player plugin.

• The N9 has hardware support for an FM radio but currently there is no software for it, although it can be added later. This is similar to the N900, which too shipped without an FM radio application.

• There is a possibility that the homescreen will be open-sourced so that its functionality can be increased by adding widgets and stuff.

• Colin Guiles, Executive VP of Sales for Nokia, said in a meeting with Malaysian journalists that the N9 will be retailing for $600 and $749 for the 16GB and 64GB respectively, although the prices could change later.

• Games can include the ability to disable the swipe feature to prevent accidentally minimizing the game while playing.

• The camera architecture is open on the N9, so third-party camera applications and RAW access is possible later on.

Nokia's first WP7 device codenamed Sea Ray breaks loose

As you can see the device is very similar to the recently announced Nokia N9, but has a dedicated hardware camera key, different LED placement and, of course, it is running on Windows Phone 7 with the Mango update.

Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the first Nokia WP7 device. Introduced by no other than the company CEO, Stephen Elop in what he thought was a camera-free environment. Despite his confidentiality plea someone couldn't resist the temptation and shared a few photos and a quick video with us.

And here it comes - Nokia's first WP7 device codenamed Sea Ray

As you can see the device is very similar to the recently announced Nokia N9, but has a dedicated hardware camera key, different LED placement and, of course, it is running on Windows Phone 7 with the Mango update.

So, there you have it - Nokia has at least one sweet-looking Windows Phone 7 smartphone in the pipeline. We'll have to wait more for the official announcement and see if there will be another device to join it.

Source: GSMARENA

The first Nokia century began with Fredrik Idestam's paper mill on the banks of the Nokianvirta river. Between 1865 and 1967, the company would become a major industrial force; but it took a merger with a cable company and a rubber firm to set the new Nokia Corporation on the path to electronics...

1865: The birth of Nokia

Fredrik Idestam establishes a paper mill at the Tammerkoski Rapids in south-western Finland, where the Nokia story begins.

1898: Finnish Rubber Works founded

Eduard Polón founds Finnish Rubber Works, which will later become Nokia's rubber business.

1912: Finnish Cable Works founded

Arvid Wickström starts Finnish Cable Works, the foundation of Nokia's cable and electronics businesses.

1937: Verner Weckman, industry heavyweight

Former Olympic wrestler Verner Weckman becomes President of Finnish Cable Works.

1960: First electronics department

Cable Works establishes its first electronics department, selling and operating computers.

1962: First in-house electrical device

The Cable Works electronics department produces its first in-house electrical device - a pulse analyzer for nuclear power plants.

1967: The merger

Nokia Ab, Finnish Rubber Works and Finnish Cable works formally merge to create Nokia Corporation.

The newly formed Nokia Corporation was ideally positioned for a pioneering role in the early evolution of mobile communications. As European telecommunications markets were deregulated and mobile networks became global, Nokia led the way with some iconic products...

1979: Mobira Oy, early phone maker

Radio telephone company Mobira Oy begins life as a joint venture between Nokia and leading Finnish television maker Salora.

1981: The mobile era begins

Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT), the first international mobile phone network, is built.

1982: Nokia makes its first digital telephone switch

The Nokia DX200, the company’s first digital telephone switch, goes into operation.

1984: Mobira Talkman launched

Nokia launches the Mobira Talkman portable phone.

1987: Mobira Cityman – birth of a classic

Nokia launches the Mobira Cityman, the first handheld NMT phone.

1991: GSM – a new mobile standard opens up

Nokia equipment is used to make the world’s first GSM call.

In 1992, Nokia decided to focus on its telecommunications business. This was probably the most important strategic decision in its history.

As adoption of the GSM standard grew, new CEO Jorma Ollila put Nokia at the head of the mobile telephone industry’s global boom – and made it the world leader before the end of the decade...

1992: Jorma Ollila becomes President and CEO

Jorma Ollila becomes President and CEO of Nokia, focusing the company on telecommunications.

1992: Nokia’s first GSM handset Nokia launches its first GSM handset, the Nokia 1011.

1994: Nokia Tune is launched

Nokia launches the 2100, the first phone to feature the Nokia Tune.

1994: World’s first satellite call

The world’s first satellite call is made, using a Nokia GSM handset.

1997: Snake – a classic mobile game

The Nokia 6110 is the first phone to feature Nokia’s Snake game.

1998: Nokia leads the world

Nokia becomes the world leader in mobile phones.

1999: The Internet goes mobile

Nokia launches the world's first WAP handset, the Nokia 7110.

Nokia’s story continues with 3G, mobile multiplayer gaming, multimedia devices and a look to the future...

2002: First 3G phone

Nokia launches its first 3G phone, the Nokia 6650.

2003: Nokia launches the N-Gage

Mobile gaming goes multiplayer with the N-Gage.

2005: The Nokia Nseries is born Nokia introduces the next generation of multimedia devices, the Nokia Nseries.

2005: The billionth Nokia phone is sold

Nokia sells its billionth phone – a Nokia 1100 – in Nigeria. Global mobile phone subscriptions pass 2 billion.

2006: A new President and CEO – Nokia today

Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo becomes Nokia’s President and CEO; Jorma Ollila becomes Chairman of Nokia’s board. Nokia and Siemens announce plans for Nokia Siemens Networks.

2007

Nokia recognized as 5th most valued brand in the world. Nokia Siemens Networks commences operations. Nokia launches Ovi, its new internet services brand.

2008

Nokia's three mobile device business groups and the supporting horizontal groups are replaced by an integrated business segment, Devices & Services.

source: http://www.nokia.com

At the Nokia Connection event in Singapore today, Nokia introduced the Nokia N9, the first-ever pure touch smartphone that is all about making things simpler. Nokia N9 focuses on the most important things that people do: use apps, get notifications and switch between different activities. Navigating the UI is done with a simple gesture, a swipe of a finger. Let’s have a closer look at what the Nokia N9 is bringing to the game. 

SWIPE

The team behind the MeeGo-based Nokia N9 brought together elements of industrial design, software development and user interface advancements, as well as a developer platform to create a better way to use a phone. All that’s needed to use the Nokia N9 is a simple gesture, a swipe of the finger. It is an intuitive way to use all the different features and functions. Whenever you are in an application, you just swipe from the edge of the screen to go back home.

UNIBODY DESIGN

The Nokia N9 has a beautiful one-piece, unibody design where the hardware and software fit together seamlessly. The large, 3.9 inch curved glass AMOLED display lets the applications shine and take full benefit of the user interface. Thanks to the innovative laminated display technology, it looks like applications are literally floating on top of the screen. The body of the Nokia N9 is made from the best in polycarbonate material engineering today, enabling superior antenna performance over most other competitors’ smartphones. This means better reception, better voice quality and fewer dropped calls. The Nokia N9 comes in three colours: black, cyan and magenta and with large storage capacities of 16GB and 64GB on the two variants to be made available.

NO BUTTONS

The Nokia N9 is the world’s first pure touch screen phone without any front-facing buttons at all. You unlock the phone by just double-tapping the screen.

THREE HOME VIEWS

The user interface in Nokia N9 is designed around the things people typically use the most. This is why there are three recognizable home views arranged in a carousel: 1) Applications for launching and organizing your apps. 2) Events for social networking feeds and notifications for calls, texts, calendar events, etc. 3) Open applications for switching between all live apps you have used recently. You can pinch and zoom the screen to see either four or nine open app icons. In fact, the Nokia N9 delivers the best multitasking experience on any phone!

POWERFUL CAMERA

The 8MP auto focus camera with Carl Zeiss optics, dual LED flash and super wide 28mm lens works faster from start to capture than any other manufacturer’s smartphone camera in the market. HD video and true 16:9 resolution photos are supported. You can share your photos via MMS, email, NFC and many online services including Flickr and Facebook.

FAST WEB BROWSER

The fast web browser is built on the latest Webkit 2 technology. Even while loading a web page, the screen remains responsive. You can have several browser windows open in the open applications view and switching between them is, again, fast and easy. Favourite websites are shown as visual thumbnails, supported by a full browsing history. Wide HTML5 support offers access to rich web applications and fast video playback.

LATEST MAPS

The Nokia N9 has the latest Nokia Maps with free, voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation for walking and driving. There is also a dedicated Drive app for in-car navigation, which lets you start navigating to your destination instantly after entering your destination. Public transport routing in 85 cities means you can find the quickest route on foot or by tram, metro or train. You can also discover nearby places with cafés, shops, hotels and more, all marked along the way.

DOLBY SOUND

Dolby Headphone and Dolby Digital Plus support on the Nokia N9 turns regular stereo audio into personal surround sound on any headphones – first on any mobile phone.

NFC-ENABLED

Pairing between NFC-enabled accessories is easier than ever before – you do Bluetooth pairing only once and after that you can connect to them just by touching. You can also share content like photos or business cards via NFC.