Nokia revamps Symbian OS for India

In the course of the next one year, Nokia plans to introduce up to 10 new Symbian-based smartphones in the country.

According to Deloitte estimates, the company commands about 49 per cent of the market share in India.

Nokia is set to launch the N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 with the new Symbian Anna software update, which includes a number of user experience improvements. Symbian Anna is an update to the existing Symbian operating system (OS), and has been driven almost entirely by consumer feedback. The update would bring a faster web browser, new icons for its main interface, an update to Ovi Maps and enhanced security features. A new split-screen view would also be introduced.
“The Symbian Anna upgrade gives users a set of new icons, a faster web browser, improved text input and enhanced maps. In other words, your phone would get a free make-over,” says Nokia India’s recently-appointed director (marketing), Viral Oza, adding by September, even existing owners of these devices would be able to download Symbian Anna. He said Symbian and Windows Phone 7 would co-exist until at least 2012. “Nokia has invested an enormous amount in Symbian, and we would continue to support Symbian devices till 2016,” he asserts.

Talking about the Symbian Anna features, Oza says, “Even business users would benefit from the improved instant messaging with Microsoft Communicator Mobile email enhancements, including full-meeting request support and business grade security, with hardware accelerated encryption. It also offers easy and secure intranet access for people who want to get on their company intranet.”

Earlier, announcing the launch of dual-SIM devices at a global event, Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop said, “Innovation is at the heart of our strategy, and today, we took important steps to demonstrate a new pace of innovation at Nokia. It's the beginning of a new era for Nokia." Elop also underlined the company’s attempt to fortify its entry-level device offerings. Nokia recently introduced the C-series devices, including dual and single SIM options, with advanced web and maps experience for Series 40 (the earlier version of Symbian operating system) phone users, as well as the choice of a touch screen or a keypad.

Oza says entry-level and feature phones would be important for Nokia in India, where value proposition is the key while buying a new device. Giving users relevant software and services along with the devices is also critical to maintaining its position. With eight million downloads a week on its Ovi Store, close to two million email activations and six million music tracks on its store, Oza insists the company is streamlining the software division to match the needs of smartphone users. The company has already announced its intention to its combine the Navteq mapping unit with its location-based services business.

Nokia going Apple's way

Nokia had experienced the big fall-down from last two years due to Android and iOS. But India was there strong source of customers at least 80% source of there company sharer is from India but new OS and new Phones have let them down even in India also. They try to get customers back by giving updates.

The Symbian Anna update has been dubbed as the one to get Symbian on par, to an extent, with other platforms. Features such as improved web browsing, a portrait QWERTY keyboard (though Nokia's standard touchscreen alphanumeric keyboard hasn't been that bad), and many others are supposed to be on board with the update. As was expected, talks of its successor have already begun. Apparently, Nokia will be launching the next iteration of Symbian known as Symbian Belle. Information regarding the Belle update is very limited, but a Nokia employee claims that this update is good enough to impress all Android lovers. Furthermore, the highly expected Windows Phone 7 Nokia smartphones are on the horizon, so this could turn out to be a good year for Nokia after all.


Speaking of WP7, Nokia has just revealed its plans for the marketing of the highly anticipated device. A Nokia employee blogged that "The iron shutters are down around development - it's 'Apple-style' secrecy right now", suggesting that their marketing strategy could be one with a lot of hype and mystery like Apple does with its iDevices. Nokia has a lot of expectations from its upcoming WP7 line of devices, and the company does not want to take any chances. All this talk about WP7 devices has rather shadowed the fact that there are still some Symbian handsets waiting to be launched. The Nokia E6, which will be the first device to come out with Symbian Anna, was announced recently and was up for pre-order on Nokia India's website. Also, the Nokia X7 with a 4" display and Symbian Anna was demonstrated a month ago.

Sometimes, we get an impression that people are expecting a lot with the Symbian Anna update, but since we haven't seen it in action yet, it would be wrong to jump to conclusions so early. Nokia is hosting the Nokia Connection 2011 event in Singapore tomorrow, where a few important announcements are to be made.

Nokia E6 pre order starts today for India

Nokia India opens pre order for its latest Symbian Anna based Qwerty business smartphone, the E6, with a retail price of Rs 17,999.

Nokia India has started taking pre order registrations for its latest and the most awaited Qwerty smartphone, the E6, which was announced earlier this year.

It features the latest SymbianAnna operating system which upgrades the present Symbian S60 ^3 operating system. It carries a price tag of Rs 17,999 but is also available for three EMIs (Equated monthly instalment).

Nokia claims that with this device, emails can be typed and sent by using even one hand.

The screen is a 2.4-inch capacitive touch display with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. It's made of Corning Gorilla Glass for scratch resistance. The device comes with 8GB of internal memory and support for Micro SD cards up to 32GB. The 1500mAH battery, as per Nokia's claim, provides a month on standby and 7.30 hours of talk-time over 3G and longer over GSM connections. Nokia E6 offers 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0 with support for stereo Bluetooth headphones through A2DP.

The device measures 115.5 x 59 x 10.5mm and weighs 133 grams. The eight megapixel full focus (EDOF) camera has a dual-LED flash, 2X digital zoom (3X in video mode) and offers HD 720p video recording at 25 frames per second.

Although the prebooking has opened for the device but there was no clarification from the handset maker on its expected delivery date.