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SINGAPORE : Nokia has vowed to defend its top position in the lucrative but competitive smartphone market.
One way is to push the development of its mobile applications and services. This includes a new integrated Web TV service and roping in companies to provide localised content.
Nokia believes applications and services will drive future sales of smartphones. And it is putting the competition on notice with its new N8 smartphone, which will integrate a Web TV service into the mobile device.
Nokia wants to improve its web TV offerings by getting more providers for its content. It has roped in a number of content providers, including Channel NewsAsia, 8TV and TV3 of Malaysia, as well as food review site Makansutra.
The Nokia N8 also offers access to global channels such as CNN, National Geographic, E! Entertainment and Paramount directly on the home screen.
Vlasta Berka, general manager of Singapore, Malaysia & Brunei, Nokia, said: "Content, as people always say, is king. We are engaging developers directly to help them with the development keys, with the development tool kit.
"We are looking at areas (such as) helping them with consumer segmentation to understand what are the behaviours - what it is that customers are using mobile devices (like) smart phones for.
"That obviously comes also with financial incentives, where we help developers together with 3rd parties co-invest, to make sure that the eco-system can thrive."
Nokia is also counting on the Symbian operating system for competitive advantage. It believes the open-source nature and dominance of the platform will allow it to reach the mass market more effectively and affordably.
According to research firm Gartner, Symbian OS has a leading market share of 44.3 per cent in the first quarter of this year.
Jo Harlow, senior VP, Smartphones, Nokia, said: "The thing is that Symbian operating system ... (gives) us the ability to really democratise the smartphone experience.
"And what I mean by that is ... we're able to really address the mass market with the Symbian platform. And if we can deliver a consistent consumer experience across those mass markets, price points, I think that has real appeal and is a real competitive advantage versus other smart phones out there."
In April, Nokia's market share for smartphones rose marginally to 41 per cent in the first quarter, from an estimated 40 per cent in the last quarter of 2009. This translates to 21.5 million of the 52.6 million smartphones sold globally during the first quarter.
Nokia's latest smartphone offering comes just a week after the launch of the upgraded version of the iPhone by its major rival Apple.
- CNA/al
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