ESPOO, FINLAND — Nokia's Windows Phone smartphone on AT&T extends the Academic Learning Environment
Orlando, FL - Nokia, AT&T, Microsoft and Seton Hall University announced today a step forward in Seton Hall's Mobile Computing Initiative, whereby all incoming freshmen will receive a Nokia Lumia 900 each for extensive use across the University. The entire class of 2016 will receive a Nokia Lumia 900 powered by the Windows Phone 7.5 operating system, to support the university's mission of providing state of the art technology tools to enhance the student experience and prepare students for success in a rapidly changing world.
Since 1997, Seton Hall has provided mobile technology to its students and faculty to support the integration of technology into the curriculum. Enhancing the University's philosophy of open-ended exploration, students discover new opportunities for learning with mobile computing, sharing ideas and collaborating with peers and faculty while learning how to utilize technology effectively in their academic professional and personal lives. Mobile technology provides a means of enhancing all aspects of university life, and encourages students to engage with each other and the university community from orientation through graduation.
"Nokia has a long history of innovation and their partnership with Microsoft allows us to extend the core academic and community resources of the University into the pocket of our students," noted David Middleton, Executive Director, Center for Mobile Research and Innovation, and Assistant Vice President of Administration at Seton Hall University. "By providing our new incoming students with the Nokia Lumia 900, Seton Hall University can expand our existing Windows services and infrastructure while providing a unique, high quality, dynamic and engaging mobile experience."
All Seton Hall students have access to SHUmobile, an app available across multiple platforms that provides access to campus news feeds, directories and maps. However, Seton Hall freshmen will have access to a custom Freshmen Experience component of this app exclusive to the Lumia 900. This personalized element adds customized social media integration and direct communication channels with their freshmen peers, peer academic advisors, housing information and roommates. Additionally, the University will leverage Nokia Data Gathering, recently made available for Windows Phone, to communicate with the incoming freshmen beginning this summer by conducting polls, providing information to help students prepare for college and to learn how the Lumia 900 and other technologies are being used.
"Mobile technology has become ubiquitous and pervasive, but we are just beginning to understand the breadth of its impact across campus. Smartphone use in higher education has tended to rely on finding a specific app to fulfill a specific curricular purpose. With the close collaboration between Nokia and Microsoft on the Lumia 900, the phone itself takes center stage" added Michael Taylor, Academic Director, Center for Mobile Research & Innovation.
Professor Taylor explains that the seamless integration of core academic tools such as Microsoft Office increases the opportunity for faculty and students to connect, collaborate, and create. The synthesis of Windows Phone features and Lumia 900 hardware are a natural enhancement to the University's commitment to teaching and learning with technology. Utilizing AT&T's 4G network, these partnerships will help foster new opportunities for learning, content creation and experimentation. Teaching and learning can now take place not just in the classroom but virtually anywhere, providing a more engaged and integrated learning experience.
Nokia provides the business market with a portfolio of compelling, high-quality devices at every price point that meets the needs of people both as consumers and business users. With business productivity tools and applications to ensure that business decision makers and employees have access to the information they need within the framework of a well-governed IT environment and an ecosystem of partners and providers, Nokia ensures the long-term viability of businesses' IT investments.
Note to Editors:
Mr. Middleton and Nokia representatives will be discussing the Nokia Lumia 900 for business at Microsoft TechEd, at 3:00 p.m. on 11 June 2012, taking place at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida, in a session open to all attendees titled, Nokia with Windows Phone: Learning How to Tile.
About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in mobile communications whose products have become an integral part of the lives of people around the world. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people use their Nokia to capture and share experiences, access information, find their way or simply to speak to one another. Nokia's technological and design innovations have made its brand one of the most recognized in the world. For more information, visit http://www.nokia.com/about-nokia.
About Seton Hall University
One of the country's leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall University has been a catalyst for leadership -- developing students in mind, heart and spirit -- since 1856. With more than 60 rigorous academic programs, and schools singled out for distinction by The Princeton Review, US News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek, Seton Hall exemplifies academic excellence. The university combines the resources of a large university with the personal attention of a small liberal arts college. Its attractive suburban campus in South Orange, New Jersey, is only 14 miles outside New York City. As the nation's oldest diocesan Catholic university, Seton Hall embraces students of all races and religions, challenging each to better the world with integrity, compassion and a commitment to serving others. For more information, visit www.shu.edu.
This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and
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Source: NOKIA via Thomson Reuters ONE [HUG#1618824]
© Marketwire 2012
Samsung Galaxy S3 pebble blue on sale at Phones 4U - PC Advisor
Phones 4U has started selling the pebble blue model of the Samsung Galaxy S3.
Beats Samsung's launch date but stock is limited
The firm has made the announcement after Samsung said the phone would launch on 22 June. The marble white model was launched as planned in May but the pebble blue version was delayed because of its 'hyperglaze' coating.
Phones 4U said the pebble blue Galaxy S3 is: "Available now on the Vodafone network. All orders placed will be dispatched on the next working day subject to stock availability and credit check."
However, it said that orders placed on the O2 and Orange networks will have to wait between two and three weeks for delivery – confirming the model is still is short supply.
In a statement sent in May, Samsung said: "Samsung's Galaxy S III Pebble Blue version comes with a newly invented blue colour and special hyperglaze material."
"In order to meet the highest internal quality standards and to provide the best quality Galaxy S III to customers, a short supply of Pebble Blue version is expected in some regions in the next 2-3 weeks."
Phones 4U is selling the Samsung Galaxy S3 from £31 per month with the handset free. Check our Samsung Galaxy S3 UK price and release round-up for more deals.
Nokia Goes Low-Tech for Growth - Daily Finance
Finnish company Nokia (NYS: NOK) is shifting toward a different strategy this time. Instead of focusing on the high-end smartphone market, it's turning toward the low-end market with a lineup of "Asha" touch screen phones running on its old Symbian platform. These devices, which somewhat mimic smartphones, are targeted mainly at emerging markets where consumers are very price conscious. Now you must be wondering why Nokia is suddenly thinking about the low-end market after introducing the top-notch Lumia, Microsoft (NAS: MSFT) Windows-based smartphones. Well, here's why...
Pounded from all sides
Nokia is surrounded by competitors. The Finnish company has got a pummeling from all sides, be it in the high-end smartphone business or the low-end mobile and feature phone business. One very noteworthy competitor being Samsung which recently displaced Nokia to reach the No. 1 position in terms of global mobile phone shipments.
On the other hand, companies like Huawei and ZTE have also given Nokia a run for its money by selling amazingly cheap touchscreen Android devices at sub-$100 price tags. And this in turn is giving pain to Nokia's outdated line of low-end feature phones. So, it made sense for the company to boost its lower-end division with cheap, yet feature-packed phones.
But will this really help Nokia?
Well, if you take a look at data released by research firm Gartner, Android smartphones have become extremely popular, with 56.1% of worldwide smartphone sales, in contrast to Symbian's meager 8.6%. So theoretically, you can expect cheap Android-based phones to outsell Nokia's non-Droid offerings. However, with the kind of brand image Nokia has earned in emerging markets such as India and China, the devices might do reasonably well.
Moreover, Nokia's Lumia line of smartphones aren't really doing very well in the market. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), Nokia shipped 2.2 million Lumia smartphones for the quarter ending March this year. That's in contrast to shipments of 35 million Apple (NAS: AAPL) iPhones for the same period. But since Lumia is still relatively new in its product life cycle stage, you could say that such a comparison with the iPhone does not make sense. Thus, while Nokia ramps up sales of its Lumia smartphone device, it also needs to ensure that its cash cow -- the non-smartphone mobile segment -- is at the top of its game.
The Foolish bottom line
While introducing low-end phones such as the Asha might be good for Nokia, it is also a little late for the company. With almost $1.2 billion in losses in the first quarter this year, Nokia needs to speed things up before it runs out of financial resources. Hopefully, China would be a catalyst to Nokia's success now that Microsoft Windows-based smartphones are selling briskly in the region. I'll be keeping an eye on Nokia's progress, and you should too, by adding it to your free watchlist.
Nokia may not be a smart investment option right now, and that's precisely why you should take a good look at some other opportunities by getting your copy of The Motley Fool's free report: "The Next Trillion-Dollar Revolution." You can access this report for a limited period by clicking here -- it's free. Get it before it's gone!
Bloggers increasingly influence Nokia's share price - YLE
The internationally renowned Russian telecommunications analyst and blogger Eldar Murtazin has often published information about Nokia products and services ahead of their official launch. Nokia has made its displeasure clear.
”The company’s representatives have officially notified me that I am now enemy number one,” Murtazin told YLE.
Murtaz claims that leaks of confidential information have only increased.
”Nokia’s new leadership is trying to change the company’s former corporate culture, and make it more American. This has provoked opposition. The employees’ former loyalty to the company has disappeared since Stephen Elop became CEO. The leaks stem from that. People no longer believe in what they are doing, and they do not want to do what they are told.”
'Betting on a dead horse'
Murtazin is familiar with Nokia’s Windows Phone handset prototypes, which he says don’t look to be different to Windows Phone 7 models on offer from competitors.
”It’s the same inside, it’s the same speed, the display is the same. There aren’t any differences. In practice we are getting exactly the same device.”
He is surprised that Nokia is now relying solely on Microsoft.
”It is limiting. Nokia discontinued the Symbian and Meego operating systems and is clinging to an outside system with a smaller market share. It is betting on a dead horse.”
Nokia: ‘rumours and speculation’
According to Murtazin, Nokia did not get any special treatment from Microsoft despite rumours of the partnership spreading since last February.
”We already know that in practice Nokia didn’t get anything at all. There is no chance of changing the display, they cannot add their own unique services. In practice Nokia’s Windows 7 phone is just Nokia’s own design. And that’s it.”
Murtazin believes Stephen Elop is leading Nokia towards a clear goal.
”He will create the conditions under which Nokia will no longer have any other option but to sell a part of the company to Microsoft.”
Nokia did not want to comment on Murtazin’s statements on Monday, claiming the comments are simply speculation and rumours. According to Nokia, Murtazin has a vivid imagination. Nokia also says that Murtazin is said to work as a consultant for competing mobile manufacturers, so cannot be said to be an independent, impartial analyst.
Vodafone paid zero UK tax last year - Hindustan Times
British government ministers and officials have been lecturing India about its move to force telecoms giant Vodafone to pay back-dated tax on its 2007 acquisition of Hutchinson’s Indian mobile phone assets. Now it turns out Vodafone avoided paying a single penny in taxes in the UK last year in an alleged deal with the UK tax department.
Vodafone saw its global corporation tax bill go up by £300m to £2.3bn last year, but none of it was paid in the UK, where Vodafone has more than 19m customers. According to The Sunday Times, the company’s British corporation tax bill fell to zero from £140m in 2010-2011, despite an increase in underlying earnings from £1.2bn to £1.3bn.
Britain is Vodafone’s home country – the reason Osborne met Pranab Mukherjee earlier this year to press his case about India’s retrospective measure. Yet the company avoided paying a single penny in taxes – a case of ‘aggressive avoidance’ if ever there was one – through what the paper described as a “series of accounting manoeuvres.”
“Vodafone reduces its taxable income in Britain by funneling loans through a subsidiary in Luxembourg. Interest payments on the loans cut its taxable profits in Britain, and allow it to benefit from lower rates in Luxembourg,” the paper reported. Indeed, it was able to reclaim £4million from the UK tax department.
Servicing debt reduces the amount of profit on which a company is taxed. In the case of Vodafone’s main British entity, it appears that the majority of debt is to other companies owned by Vodafone, creating a web of intra-company loans, The Times reported on Monday.
Vodafone is no stranger to tax controversies in the UK. It became the target of a campaign by anti-austerity campaigners UK Uncut after avoiding paying billions of pounds in taxes owed from its 2000 takeover the German telecoms firm Mannesmann. Instead of the £2.2 billion originally earmarked, in July 2010 the company hammered out a deal with the tax department that allowed it to pay £1.25 billion.
According to the Sunday Times, the 2010 deal has generated a £791 million “deferred tax asset” at an offshoot in Luxembourg which the company can use to cut its liabilities in the UK over the coming years. A note in Vodafone’s annual report says that £791 million of a “deferred tax asset has been recognised as a result of the agreement being reached with the UK tax authorities.”
Of course, everything that Vodafone has done is within the law, but the revelations are certain to renew criticism of Vodafone and fuel a larger debate around the tax avoidance by large businesses at a time of massive spending cuts. Lord Matthew Oakeshott, a former Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman, said, “Hard-pressed taxpayers and customers alike won’t believe Vodafone has managed to pay not a penny in corporation tax on profits of hundreds of millions of pounds.”
The tax department’s “cosy relationship with big business is again in the spotlight as companies continue to avoid billions in tax at a time of unprecedented public spending cuts,” UK Uncut said on Monday while condemning Vodafone. “While Vodafone paid no tax, its chief executive, Vittorio Colao, more than doubled his pay last year – from £6.6m to over £14m – including more than £12m in bonuses,” said a spokesperson for the group.
Vodafone said its corporation tax liabilities in the UK were offset by investment in improving its network, increasing from £516million to £575million over the year. It said its UK business accounts for less than 4% of group profits. “As in most countries, there are tax reliefs for capital investment and interest costs in the UK, which applied in this case,” a spokesman said. “We paid £14 billion into the public purse worldwide in 2011 if one includes payroll and sales taxes as well as fees for radio spectrum.”
In UK, the current coalition government’s approach to taxing profits by multinational giants contrasts sharply with that of the previous Labour government, which introduced laws to allow the taxman to pursue British profits transferred to tax havens. A British court upheld the measures, saying they did not contravene European law.
Angered by the 2010 tax settlement, campaigners have previously forced Vodafone stores across the country to close by blockading and picketing entrances. Later this week, UK Uncut will go to the high court seeking a judicial review of the tax department’s decision in 2010 to let Goldman Sachs avoid a £10 million payment.
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