Nokia Targets US with CDMA Phones (Who makes the chips??????)
Nokia Targets US with CDMA Phones
1 hour, 23 minutes ago Business - NewsFactor
Jay Wrolstad, www.cio-today.com
Expanding its portfolio of phones for the highly competitive U.S. market, Nokia (news - web sites) (NYSE: NOK - news) has unveiled a trio of mass-market handsets based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA (news - web sites)) -- or spread spectrum -- technology.
The new handhelds include the entry-level 2115i model, featuring voice dialing and voice commands, a built-in speakerphone and optional color covers.
The fold-up 3155 phone has dual displays, 12 MB of memory for images and PC synchronization for PDA data.
At the top end is the 6155 camera handset with multimedia capabilities. An optional mapping, routing and navigation system provides users with maps and directions via text, voice and graphics.
Counting on US Sales
While much of the world's wireless carriers operate on the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks, two of the top three U.S. service providers -- Verizon and Sprint (NYSE: FON - news) -- use CDMA technology, noted Nokia spokesperson Keith Nowak.
In contrast, Cingular Wireless, the number-one U.S. operator, and T-Mobile USA both use the GSM system, which is the prevailing alternative to CDMA technology.
"The U.S. represents our biggest market, so it's important to deliver the solid, affordable phones that will extend our portfolio for those customers," Nowak told CIO Today.
Virgin Agreement Set
In a related development, Nokia announced an agreement with Virgin Mobile USA in which Virgin will sell the 2115i handset, also known as "Shorty," for about US$60. The move targets Virgin's youthful customer base and offers a chance to penetrate a new mobile phone coverage area, Nowak said.
Nokia certainly has not lost sight of the European market. Earlier this month, the company introduced three midrange, voice-centric mobile phones for those customers.
After a sluggish start to the year, Nokia rebounded with a fourth quarter 2004 market share of 33 percent, according to research from Gartner.
The Finnish company maintained a 30 percent share for the full year, followed by Motorola (NYSE: MOT - news) at 15 percent and Samsung at 12 percent.
0 "Nokia has a broad portfolio of devices and did especially well with high-volume, low-tier phones in emerging regions," said Gartner analyst Hugues de la Vergne. |
