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.
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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™).