Send More Than Just Words
One
of the most recent developments in mobile messaging is known as multimedia
messaging service (MMS). Just as the traditional short message service (SMS),
multimedia messaging provides automatic and immediate delivery of personal
messages. Unlike the SMS however, MMS allows mobile phone users to enhance
their messages by incorporating sound, images, and other rich content,
transforming it into a personalized visual and audio message.
But
MMS technology offers more than just a broadening of message content. With MMS,
it is not only possible to send your multimedia messages from one phone to
another, but also from phone to email, and vice versa. This feature
dramatically increases the possibilities of mobile communication, both for
private and corporate use.
Multimedia
messaging reshapes the landscape of mobile communication, making it more
personal, more versatile, and more expressive than ever before. That's why
we're thrilled by it, and we think you will be too. To see more of the new MMS
technology, and to have a look at the amazing new MMS-enabled mobile phones by
Nokia, Click
Here >>
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Content
Although
MMS encompasses a wide range of content types, it is a logical extension of
SMS, making it easily adoptable for today's generation of mobile users. Another
advantage of MMS is that the message is a multimedia presentation in a single
entry, not a text file with attachments, making it much simpler and
user-friendly.
Compatibility
The
MMS standard lists JPEG, GIF, text, AMR voice, and other formats as supported
media types, while unsupported formats are handled in a controlled way. Like
SMS, MMS is an open industry standard, and MMS messages can be delivered using
existing networks and protocols. MMS is also bearer-independent, which means it
is not limited to GSM or WCDMA networks.
Performance
The
speed of MMS transmission, although quick, is still dependent on the message
size and on the bearer used. However, since the receiver is not aware of the
ongoing transmission before the message has been delivered, the delay is
imperceptible, making MMS as convenient to use as SMS.
Multimedia
messaging with Nokia.
View the video >> (MOV
file, 13,3 MB)
(Interviews with Telefonica, Orange, Eurosport, Lycos)
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latest QuickTime for free from Apple's website. |
Enabling the Mobile Marketplace
Mobile
commerce is a vast area of activity comprised of transactions with monetary
value conducted via a mobile phone. These transactions may involve intangible
goods, such as applications and information delivered to the mobile device in
digital format, as well as tangible goods that are purchased using the mobile phone
but delivered separately.
Today,
a considerable proportion of mobile commerce consists of the purchase of
different types of digital content that in most cases is used in the mobile
phone. People want to personalize their mobile devices with ringing tones,
screen savers, and wallpapers and increasingly download games and other
applications. Getting used to buying digital content and services with the
mobile device makes it easier to adopt the mobile payment mechanism for
physical goods as well.
Ease-of-use and Convenience are the
Key
The
key drivers of mobile commerce service adoption are ease-of-use and
convenience, keeping the issue of security in mind. Applications and services
that are too complex and time-consuming will discourage consumers from "going
mobile."
Certain
Nokia phones have an application called wallet that enables easy and convenient
mobile commerce services. Wallet is a password-protected area in the phone
where phone users can store personal information, such as payment card details
as well as user names and passwords, and easily retrieve it to automatically
fill in required fields while browsing on a mobile site. Read more on the wallet application
and check which Nokia
phones have it.
Several
Nokia phone models also support the Wireless Identity Module (WIM), which
enables digital signatures for non-repudiated mobile transactions.
Instant
Messaging (Chat) is a service enabled by Presence.
What
is Presence?
Presence
is a dynamic profile of the user, visible to others and used to represent
oneself, share information and control services.
Presence
is in essence to make your status available to others and others’ statuses are
available to you. ”Status” may include, e.g.
This
status can then be used for multiple purposes, e.g. to control your own communication,
to share relevant information with other users and to manage your impression to
others.
Instant
Messaging (Chat)
Maybe
you already know it from the fixed Internet, Instant Messaging. When you get
home from school or work you check which of your friends are online and ready
for a quick chat. You send a message and get an instant reply. Now you don’t
have to wait until you get home, you can remain connected to the service while
on the train or in the bus, because Instant Messaging have moved to the mobile
domain.
Chat
with a group of friends on your mobile. Invite a group of friends for a chat,
where everyone instantly can follow the conversation input from all
participants. Instant Messaging/Chat enables the users to create/manage own
chat rooms.
People on the
move need services, information and entertainment that can keep up with them.
With access to mobile services, decisions and interactions happen here and now.
The value of mobile services to end-users is boosted by three separate
elements: personalization, time-sensitivity and location awareness. Combining
these three effectively adds even more value.
Wireless
application protocol (WAP) is a protocol that has successfully established a de
facto standard for the way in which wireless technology is used for Internet
access. WAP technology has been optimized for information delivery to
thin-client devices, such as mobile phones.
Mobile
services powered by Nokia and WAP have been widely accepted by users. By 2004,
the number of WAP users in Western Europe is estimated to grow to well over 200
million (source: Cahners, In-Stat Group). In part, this growth is driven by the
introduction of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), WAP 2.0, Bluetooth and
Mobile Commerce.
Mobile Video
Mobile
video services are gearing up to change the way you look at mobile life
(again!). Using current technologies, you can send and receive videos with a
Nokia phone in various ways. View, send, even create your own videos and share
them with the people that matter to you.
Get
Movin'
There
are two main types of mobile video: downloadable content vs. streaming content.
Downloadable videos are short clips stored in the memory of your phone; MMS
video messages are also saved this way. Streaming content works more like a TV
– the phone works as a display unit, but no information is stored in the
memory, making streaming great technology for longer content.
Coming
Soon to a Phone Screen Near You
What
can you expect from mobile video services?
Getting Personal Many
people have begun to personalize their mobile phones with downloadable ring
tones and screen savers. Thanks to Java™ technology, you can further enhance
your phone by downloading life management tools, travel-related applications,
information tools, and interactive games. When they are no longer needed,
removing them is as simple as saving them. Enabled
by Java technology, phone users can now not only decide what applications
they want on their phones, but also the look and feel of them. Developers can
customize the user interface (UI), giving users the freedom to download the
application versions they prefer. Applications
can be searched using the wireless application protocol (WAP) browser, and
bookmarks and push messages are provided to direct the user to sites with
Java applications. New Nokia handsets have an Applications folder where
applications can be downloaded and stored. The
possibilities are virtually limitless with Java technology, and countless
application developers are using the opportunity to put their creative skills
to work for the world of wireless communication. A
Platform to New Heights Java
technology itself consists of both a programming language and a software
platform, the latter of which can run on top of several operating systems.
Nokia supports the standardization of Java technology, driven by the Java
Community Process (JCP), to avoid the fragmentation of Java. Java
implementation is now based on JCP specifications. As
a result, applications created with the standard Java application programming
interface (API) are able to run on all Nokia and other Java-enabled phones,
while still providing an open platform for developers. The
latest Java platform to be released is known as Java 2 Platform. The version
for small consumer electronics devices - such as mobile phones,
Communicators, and personal data/digital assistants (PDAs) - is known as Java
2 Micro Edition (J2ME™). |
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