FINANCIAL SERVICES, mini-laptops and services are all part of Nokia’s new agenda to keep it on top of the global mobile market, according to senior executives.
Speaking at the Nokia World event in Stuttgart, Germany, Nokia chief executive Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo said change was no longer optional in the current economic climate and with increased competition, and a new Nokia was being built, piece by piece.
Part of its strategy is to open up and broaden its technologies.
“We will make it possible for more people and more companies to be part of the development of our services platform,” said Mr Kallasvuo.
“It should be clear by now that Nokia did not embrace the services business because we thought it would be an interesting side business.
“We consider it critical to our future. It is a huge change for us. I have told our employees there is no turning back and we will not fail.”
The phone-maker is hoping that its latest venture, Nokia Money, will appeal to those who currently do not, or cannot, take advantage of financial services.
“On a global perspective, there are about four billion phones and just 1.6 billion bank accounts,” said Nokia’s strategic alliances and partnerships director Gerhard Romen.
“For most people in the world, the mobile phone is also their first internet access.”
Nokia Money, which allows people to send money to others using a mobile phone number, is aimed at those who Nokia classes as “under-banked” or those without a bank account.
“We’re trying to enable these consumers with access to the financial services,” said Mr Romen.
Those who do not have bank accounts will be able to get access to the money sent to them through a network of Nokia Money agents that the company is establishing.
Nokia will make the service available to selected countries early next year.
The company is also expanding into new markets with the launch of its mini-laptop, the Booklet 3G, and several new handsets.
Announcing the new N97 Mini smartphone, the company said it expected the phone would broaden the device’s appeal.
