Mobile

Nokia's new handset factory in Romania has reached the milestone of producing its first millionth mobile phone, report the local Business Standard newspaper. The factory, situated in the village of Jucu just outside Cluj started production in February and currently has some 700 staff. Plans exist to ramp this up to around 3,500 as the factory reaches full production capacity later this year.

“The start of our production in Romania was a fruitful one, and Nokia clients throughout Europe are pleased. We managed to recruit energetic and dedicated employees, and I am certain that the Cluj factory will become a model of performance in terms of quality products,” said the factory’s General Manager, John Guerry.

Nokia, which controversially moved production from Germany is not the only company in the Romanian city of Cluj. It has courted Vodafone and Orange and Romanian software developers too. The boom is putting pressure on the city though - as the population has jumped from some 300,000 to over 500,000 in just a few years as technology companies flood into the city. While the city still has capacity for employers, there could be a crunch within a few years if infrastructure is not improved to make commuting easier.

According to the American magazine InformationWeek, Cluj-Napoca is quickly becoming Romania's technopolis.

will now offer Google search on mobile phones, for all its users throughout China.

Google will allow the Chinese firm to enable mobile search on China Mobile's Monternet WAP portal, so users may access content such as sports and entertainment news, ringtones, games, images, videos and novels. Users will also be able to access the service via a search box or search link on Monternet's homepage, or through a dedicated mobile search homepage on Monternet. The first phase of the service has been partially tested in December, 2006 but will be officially launched soon.

Wang Jianzhou, chairman of China Mobile, said, "We are delighted to be providing China Mobile users with mobile and internet search services via our cooperation with Google. Mobile search will help users access the information they need more easily and quickly. This is an important move for China Mobile's transformation into a mobile information expert.

"China Mobile will unite the industry chain, rapidly enhancing the whole industry's value. Our cooperation will not only satisfy our users' diverse communication needs but also build a new mobile world for Chinese users to communicate freely and live comfortably. As the leader of global internet search services, Google has a strong innovative capability. China Mobile and Google are working hand-in-hand and combining our strengths to improve the development of wireless, value-added services in China."

Eric Schmidt, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Executive Officer of Google, said that Google is currently focusing on an enhanced mobile experience for Chinese users and this initiative is a pathway to that goal.

ESPOO,Finland, June 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MOSH (http://mosh.nokia.com), a mobile and online content consumption, creation and sharing service, has joined the Nokia Media Network, and now offers advertisers the opportunity to reach customers around the globe who are downloading original mobile content. The Nokia Media Network provides reach to more than 100 million consumers around the globe through advertising on blue-chip mobile publishers, operator partners and Nokia properties.
"We are committed to expanding the Nokia Media Network, which is growing rapidly in both reach and quality, so we can drive greater results for our brand advertisers," said Mike Baker, vice president and head of Nokia Interactive Advertising. "The MOSH audience, comprised of the heaviest users of mobile content around the world, is particularly desirable to many of our top advertisers."
MOSH has launched its "Spotlight" program, a 'paid placement' advertising initiative, where advertisements are Spotlight-branded and placed above all organic browse, search and contextual placements. Spotlight gives brands and mobile content companies the opportunity for promotion with highlighted placements for their content. Spotlight content is always front and center for all MOSH users to see, and, as MOSH is seamlessly integrated between Web and mobile, so too are the Spotlight campaigns, including banner ads for both the mobile and traditional Internet.
The feature has already proven to be a great success for its initial customers. Vringo, a U.S.-based video sharing community that allows consumers to find, create and share video ringtones, was a launch partner in the Spotlight program. Since signing up as a Spotlight partner in early May, Vringo's downloads have increased by over 100 percent.
"Vringo is thrilled with the way the MOSH user community has embraced our application," said Andrew Perlman, Vringo general manager and SVP of content and community. "The additional visibility the Spotlight program provides has helped us gain additional exposure and users on a scale that has exceeded our expectations."
BLUE LION mobile, aGermany-based developer of interactive mobile applications, was both an early uploader to MOSH as well as partner in the Spotlight Program with BLUE LION's mobile software, "qeep." Qeep is a Java-based multilayered mobile social networking application that includes free messaging, photo blogging and multiplayer gaming. Since signing up as a Spotlight partner in early May, downloads of qeep have increased by over 95 percent.
"We are very happy that qeep has been a pioneer of the Spotlight Program," said Christian Schulte, co-founder and managing director of BLUE LION mobile. "Thanks to MOSH, downloads of Qeep have escalated significantly. We will therefore be expanding our participation in the Spotlight program."
Additionally, Universal Pictures will be launching a Spotlight campaign in promotion of the studio's new film, "Wanted."
A completely open platform, MOSH connects content creators ready to upload and showcase original content (applications, games, graphics and themes) with a global community of consumers who are looking for it. For more information: http://mosh.nokia.com or http://mosh.nokia.com/spotlight.
Nokia Interactive Advertising provides brands with all they need to connect with and engage the mobile consumer, including the following: - The Nokia Media Network, which provides reach to millions of mobile
Internet users through advertising on blue-chip mobile publishers,
operator partners and Nokia services.
- Nokia Interactive Solutions, which creates end-to-end, high-performance
mobile experiences for brands and their customers.
About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games, business mobility and more. Developing and growing our offering of consumer Internet services, as well as our enterprise solutions and software, is a key area of focus. We also provide equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.
SOURCE Nokia Corporation