Phone Factories

Latest word about Nokia’s touch-screen XpressMusic phone 5800 is that the unit is selling like hotcakes in most Asian countries and some part of Europe. Realizing the success of the said phone, Nokia is introducing the new 5630 XpressMusic phone. The Nokia 5630 is an ultra-slim mobile device which is geared for users looking for a nice multimedia device that can play music, videos, game, as well as share mobile contents.

Carrying the XpressMusic mobile phone features, the Nokia 5630 offers a world class music player which delivers high-quality audio, music and videos whenever and wherever you are. It is packed with a 4GB memory card that can hold up to 3000 music tracks. If that’s not enough, you can upgrade the microSD memory card up to 16GB. It also comes with a 3.5mm AV jack for a more pleasurable listening experience.

The Nokia 5630 is also loaded with Nokia’s “Say and Play” feature which lets you play a song by simply saying the artists of title of the song. The device is also compatible with Nokia Music Store, so you can browse through its music catalog and buy tracks from the store. Other lucky countries will have the Nokia 5630 with the Comes With Music feature.

Another nifty feature of the Nokia 5630 phone is the Contacts Bar which lets you access up to 20 contacts from the phone’s main screen. This also displays communications history of each of the contacts including recent emails, messages, phone logs and shared photos. In addition the phone’s homescreen also includes a shortcut bar at the bottom which lets you quickly access your most frequently used applications. For mobile gamers, the 5630 supports Nokia’s N-Gage gaming site.

Other features of the Nokia 5630 include:

• 3.2 megapixel camera with flash
• video capture
• mobile content sharing through Share on Ovi, Flickr, and Facebook

Slated for a Q2 release, the Nokia 5630 XpressMusic will retail for 199 EUR.

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CNet.com

Kent German, CNet.com’s cell-phone “guru,” says that finding the best carrier means considering a host of factors. Those include the comprehensiveness of the network, but also aspects like customer service, costs, plan options, phone selection and more. Though CNet.com does not evaluate cell-phone plans, it invites readers to do so. Reader feedback is summarized here. T-Mobile rates highest among readers for its customer service and plan selection. Other carriers have strong points as well: Verizon is liked for its network, Sprint for its features and AT&T for its phone selection. Though helpful, the ratings here are based on hundreds of reports, while the surveys we rate higher are based on feedback from thousands of subscribers.

The New York Times

Eric Taub provides a well-rounded basics course on avoiding the headaches of using a cell phone abroad by factoring in the carrier you use, the length of your trip and your destination. Taub points out that 82 percent of the world’s cell-phone subscribers use the GSM network available with AT&T and T-Mobile phones. Thus, phones that use CDMA networks — offered by Verizon and Sprint — are much more limited. Taub advocates that if you have a GSM phone, get a temporary SIM card and unlock your phone before you travel. No particular services are rated or recommended, however.

MANILA — The Philippine Embassy in Moscow reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Philippines has emerged as the leading country for investment for mobile operators in the world for the period 2008-2012, based on survey results for the first half of 2007, recently released by the telecommunications arm of one of Russia’s biggest private equity and investment companies.

The Philippines led Indonesia and Vietnam in findings of the Mobile Development Index, announced in London on 07 November by Alfa Telecom International Mobile (Altimo). The telecoms investment group of Alfa Group Consortium is one of Russia’s largest privately owned financial-industrial conglomerates.

The Company gave the Philippines an unmatched 1.04 rating in its eponymous index, an international research project undertaken in collaboration with Cambridge University, the London Business School, and the New Economic School (Moscow), to evaluate the relative investment opportunities in the world’s mobile telecom markets.

Despite a relatively low level of GDP per capita, the Philippines obtained its stature due to high EBITDA (Earnings before interest, Taxes Depreciation, and Amortization) margins of 2.32, and unusually low Average Revenue Per Customer (ARPC) of – 1,01. In comparison, Indonesia obtained 1.03 and Vietnam 1.00 in the ‘Altimo Index’.

Based on Mobile industry and macroeconomic data (such as expected growth in ARPU, EBITDA margins, GDP growth, etc) from Q3 2006 to Q2 2007, Altimo and its partners have generated an index which attributes investment ratings to 77 markets globally.

Other countries in the index were China (4th), India (7th), Russia (13th), Thailand (17th), Malaysia (22nd), US (23rd), Germany (24th), Cambodia (27th), Hongkong (28th) and Japan (49th). Chile, Uganda, and Iraq took up the last three places in the survey, only the second since its inception last year.

According to industry sources, the Moscow-based Altimo is considering buying into Philippine mobile operators.

The study also concluded that South and Southeast Asia are the key regions for short-term investment mainly due to expanding economies, growth in mobile spending, and rising market penetration.

Eastern Europe, Western Europe and North America are flagged as areas of low return for mobile investment, owing to high penetration levels, stable earnings streams, and modest growth prospects, while Africa and Latin America are in a similar situation owing to poor economic growth prospects.

According to the study, the world’s overall cellphone penetration rate is still low (approximately 45 % at present) and the mobile industry’s growth is set to continue at least until 2010-2011.

Altimo is the primary vehicle used by Alfa Group for making investment into telecommunications assets in Russia, the CIS, and other promising emerging markets. Its first survey, released in April this year covering the second half of 2006, ranked rapidly growing markets for mobile telephony in Asia and the former Soviet Union, with their relatively low mobile penetration levels.

Altimo currently has significant investment in cellular communications providers VimpelCom (traded on NYSE, symbol: VIP) and MegaFon – Russia’s second and third biggest operators – as well as Kylvstar, a leading cellular provider in Ukraine.

Moreover, Altimo invests into fixed-line and internet provider Golden Telecom (traded on NASDAQ, symbol: GLDN). Also, Altimo manages Alfa Group Consortium’s investment in Turkcell, a leading GSM operator in Turkey (traded on NYSE and Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB).

The Alfa Group, co-founded by Russian businessman Mikhail Fridman, one of the most influential business leaders in Russia, has interests in oil and gas, commercial and investment banking, asset management, insurance, retail trade, telecommunications, media, technology, as well as other industrial-trade and special-situation investments

The mobile phone ring tones industry is extremely volatile and the variety of ring tones that can be downloaded seems almost infinite. With a strong desire to make a statement through the ring tone that plays out on one’s cell phone, there is a constant latent want that must be satisfied. The want to know which is the most popular and ‘cool’ ring tone and the urge to outrace the pack in scouring and downloading the ‘coolest’ mobile phone ring tone.

Although people have different tastes and personal preferences, there is always a mass favourite. Probably, that is how the concept of a ‘Top 10 Chartbusters List’ came about for songs. And no reason is strong enough to deny mobile phone ring tones their own list of ‘Top 10 All Time Favourites’.

Almost every website dedicated to mobile phone ring tones today has its own ‘favourites’ list, and time and again several industry related professionals and experts have published reports outlining the most popular ring tones of all times, based on extensive research carried out by them. A review of these reports and trade articles highlights some of the hot favourites across genres, demographics, and geographics, which recur in most of the lists. Another important aspect that needs to be understood here is the lack of ability to chronologically rate the popularity of these mobile phone ring tones because of the absence of a universal governing body dedicated to rating their popularity. However, the world’s 10 most popular mobile phone ring tones would have to include these:

Within a few months of its foray in 2005, the Crazy Frog ring tone became a hot favourite with the masses. The unmistakable, uncanny voice makes for a perfect ring tone to break through the clutter of any kind of noise.

50 Cent’s first number 1 hit, In Da Club, has a bass line built for making heads turn. The introductory strings section lends the suspense element whilst putting high notes on top of the gutter bass line. A must download for a party animal.

Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven is probably one of those few songs of which any portion can be used as a ring tone, although the song’s introduction is more often than not used as a ring tone. The slow plucking of strings on the guitar and the serene woodwind make for an ideal ring tone composition.

All you have to be is a music fan to love this ring tone. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s southern rock classic, Sweet Home Alabama, can completely turn around a party’s atmosphere with its country and classic feel.

And here’s one for the game freaks. Super Mario Brothers’ Game Theme. Originally composed as a polyphonic ring tone, this one is now available in the MP3 format as well and is an exact replication of the track from 16 – bit Nintendo. Are we surprised?

‘Ring’ in the festive season with the Halloween Movie Theme. Popular with movie buffs and those that wish to delve in the festive spirit.

The Next Episode’s pulsating G – funk guitar and thumping bass outscores other poorly composed hip – hop ring tones. Dr. Dre sure has scored well with this one.

This movie has had its sequels, but the OST’s are still raging strong. Mission Impossible’s Theme Song, is like wine. With age it just keeps getting better. An ideal one for your excruciatingly demanding boss at your workplace!

Techno fans here’s one exclusively for you. Da Rude’s Sandstorm has always been a chartbuster; and the polyphonic and MP3 ring tone compositions are nothing short of party – starter tones.

The Jetsons were extremely futuristic and hence it’s only apt for their theme song to have become popular for a technologically advanced gadget such as a mobile phone enabled with a MP3 ring tone player.

Author: Grigoriy Anoshenko