Nokia Press Bulletin Board

In an event held today in Nanjing Nokia unveiled the Nokia 6208c, a new pen input device which caters for a number of different customers, specifically those in China. The touch screen on the 6208c is optimized to write Chinese characters and messages in the most natural way, with a pen. The design of the stylus, attached to the back of the phone, is inspired by bamboo slips and works perfectly with the large color display which is reminiscent of an ink stone, another element from traditional Chinese art and culture. All these design cues are implemented using premium materials such as the stainless steel back cover, which makes the handset both easy to use and comfortable to hold.

Added to the Chinese language support, the device features a number of different languages and characters.

With a 3.2 megapixel camera, dual LED flash and 4x digital zoom, the Nokia 6208c makes capturing memories and sharing moments simple and easy. The large input area features larger fonts for messaging and browsing as well as viewing pictures and web pages. The new handset also supports optional microSD cards up to 8GB, providing ample memory for images, videos, music and more.

The Nokia 6208c is expected to start shipping in select markets in the first half of 2009.

Nokia Growth Partners, a global venture capital management fund, today announced the debut of its China operations. Nokia Growth Partners also announced an investment in Madhouse, a leading mobile advertisement network in China. 

“China is an incredible place to witness the ongoing convergence between mobility and the Internet. We see China rising to the forefront of innovation that is equally relevant both locally and globally”, said David Tang, Vice President, Sales, Nokia China. “The expansion of Nokia’s partner ecosystem in China is all about building momentum for innovation.”

“Nokia is committed to connecting people in new and better ways, as well as maintaining and extending its leadership in the mobile and Internet space.  China is an important part of our plans to create investment vehicles to support innovation around the world.  Developing a systematic and sustainable private equity and venture capital strategy provides Nokia with a holistic approach to access the innovation and partnering opportunities in China”, says Rick Simonson, Chief Financial Officer of Nokia.

Nokia Growth Partners was established in 2004 by Nokia as a growth stage venture firm focused on mobile technology, services and media.  Nokia Growth Partners has $250 million under management for direct investments. Nokia Growth Partners invests in companies, funds and people that are changing the face of mobility, communications and the internet.  Recent investments involve promising companies developing innovative mobile applications in context aware location services, mobile payments, mobile advertising and mobile entertainment etc.

Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks today pledged to donate a total of over RMB 53 million to earthquake relief, of which approximately RMB 18 million will be used to address the immediate and acute needs of those most affected. The additional RMB 35 million will be used to start the rebuilding efforts and for other longer term needs in the affected areas.

The devastation caused by the earthquake in Sichuan, China on May 12 was catastrophic. Within 24 hours of the disaster, Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks had made an initial donation of RMB 3 million for use in search and rescue missions. Nokia also donated 5,000 phones with prepaid SIM cards in partnership with Sichuan Mobile. In addition, Nokia sent its Care Vans into the affected regions to supply power and telecommunications to survivors and rescue teams, as well as transport a 25-strong medical team. Nokia also helped in setting up an emergency medical hotline and company volunteer teams gave blood, delivered tents, food, water and medical supplies. Nokia Siemens Networks has established a 24-hour, on-site service for the local operator to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of its network, which is critical in relief and reconstruction work. And Zhiqiang Zhang, Nokia Siemens Networks head of the Greater China Region, visited Chengdu recently to assess what further practical assistance the company could provide in the relief effort for victims.

Longer term efforts will primarily focus in areas such as the offer of psychological/counseling services to school children; helping schools to strengthen knowledge about earthquakes (include providing teachers proper training); providing planning advice to schools on how to do the reconstruction; funding the building of new Hope schools; skills development for employability and re-building livelihoods; expanding the Nokia “Heart to Heart, Hand to Hand” program to ensure more resources for Sichuan; and extending Nokia’s “Touch an orphan’s Life” program to selected disaster areas.

“This disaster has changed the lives of many Chinese people and sadly ended many others. I am proud and humbled by the tremendous and spontaneous efforts and sacrifices our staff in China have made, as well as by the financial donations that have been made by our staff, not only in China, but in several other countries, such as Finland, USA, Canada and Denmark. We are matching these employee donations.” Said David Tang, Vice President, Nokia Greater China.

Nokia’s approach to dealing with disaster relief projects is to focus first on immediate disaster relief, and in the longer term to focus on collaborating with local and state governments, civil societies and NGOs to rebuild families, to offer development assistance to affected children, and to help support rebuilding efforts. This approach has been the same in a number of tragic natural disasters over the last few years, including the Thailand tsunami, hurricane Katrina in the United States and now the tragic Sichuan earthquake.

In 2007, Nokia initiated the over RMB 60 million “Heart to Heart, Hand to Hand” childhood development program in China. This long term program will continue and will now put extra emphasis on the Sichuan province.

Since the earthquake struck Sichuan, China on Monday, May 12th, it has become clear that the scope and scale of this catastrophe is indeed far worse than was considered initially.

Nokia has therefore decided to extend its commitment to help those in need in Sichuan and across China by providing an additional RMB 7 million (approximately EUR 646 000) and an additional 500 mobile devices to help the ongoing disaster relief efforts. The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation will use Nokia’s cash donations in the most affected areas. The additional mobile phones are already on the way to those parts of Sichuan province where they are most needed.

Nokia’s total donation to-date stands at RMB 10 million and 5 000 mobile devices.

When the devastating earthquake first struck Wenchuan county it became apparent that communications in the region had suffered terrible damage and that this was impairing aid efforts. Nokia immediately responded to this crisis and together with Nokia Siemens Networks donated 4 500 mobile devices and RMB 3 million.

Nokia will continue to closely monitor the situation in the affected areas and provide support as necessary to help alleviate the impact of this catastrophe.

Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks announced today they will make an initial donation of over three million RMB (around 300,000 euros) to help victims of the massive earthquake that hit China’s Sichuan Province on Monday. 

Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks said that in addition to their cash donation, they would match any donations raised by their employees.  

Nokia has earmarked over 4,000 phones for immediate use in ongoing rescue efforts, with the first batch having already arrived, and Nokia Siemens Networks has established a 24-hour, on-site service for the local operator to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of its network. 

Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks extend their condolences and sympathies to those affected by the earthquake, which to date has killed almost 15,000 people.