Going Forward I am going to post all my new blogs posts at http://mobileconnections.blogspot.com

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Happy New Year

 

In November Avaya announced an iPhone version of its one-X Mobile client which allows iPhone to connect to Avaya IP PBX as a node. Once the iPhone becomes a node it gains access to PBX functions like conferencing, abbreviated dialing (3, 4-digit) and corporate voicemail. Through one-X Mobile client the iPhone essentially assumes the personality of the desktop phone including its Caller ID. Therefore, any call placed from the iPhone once it is connected to the PBX will display the caller ID of the desktop phone to the person being called and the iPhone can receive calls placed to the desk extension.

One-X Mobile client is already available for Palm Treos, Java WAP-based feature phones. Avaya also announced the client for RIM’s Blackberry devices and plans to have clients available for Symbian and Windows Mobile devices in 2008. For the Nokia E-series phones there is also a Dual-Mode client allows the Wi-Fi interface for voice connection while inside the corporate network and provides a handover between GSM and Wi-Fi.  This capability is not available for other devices.

With this offering Avaya provide a very nice Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) story.  By bridging mobile devices to a desktop phone provides a better single-number vision and bring another key device into the folds of the Unified Communications. I think it is time for speak up if it wants to be a player in Unified Communication especially after the recent announced from Microsoft’s OCS 2007.

Also this week Nokia further mapped out the plans for Ovi. Ovie, meaning 'door' in Finnish. It started as a service to provide navigation, music, and games  through a WAP portal on mobile devices. Going forward, Ovi deliver an integrated experience to users by providing easily access to all their content; social networks, synchronised contact lists through a dashboard from mobiles, PC, and web. The goal is to provide a common user interface that provides consistency and simplicity. These services will be available through 2008 and no specific dates are available yet. This is further clarifies Nokia's intention to compete with Apple and possibly others, who are seeking to be the comsumer's default personal information and entertainment portal.

 

 The implications from Nokia's success can be significant, today Nokia has approxmately 1 billion customers. This can create a significant barrier for others to cross. Nokia is talking about partnering with operators and OEMS to deliver the proposition of Ovi. Nokia certianly has the global reach and financial backing to make this a success story and take market leadership.

 

This week Nokia announed that by mid 2008 when people buy a Nokia mobile device they will recieve unlimited access to millions of songs and music free for 12 months. This new service is called "Nokia Comes With Music". Nokia's is partnering with Universal Music International, who will offer access to their entire catalogue to Nokia customers outside of the US. Users will be able to download and store as many tracks as they want from the catalogue during the 12 month initial service period. After twelve months the user can continue to gain access to the service, but will have to pay a subscription. However, the tracks they have downloaded during the initial trials period of 12 months will remain theirs.

This is an acknowledgment of the success of Apple tying music to iPhone is success. Nokia is clearly aiming to provide an alternative to iTunes. It smells like Nokia is planning to go head-to-head with Apple. Lets see what else gets announced at Nokia World 2007.