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Nokia Provides Key Technology in First Annual MIT Sloan Challenge
May 08, 1998
Nokia announced today it will provide 25 Nokia 9000i Communicators to serve as key communications tools for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan Challenge--an innovative business skills competition and fundraiser pitting teams of corporate business leaders and entrepreneurs from around the country.
Taking teams equipped with the latest in mobile technology to locations in the Boston and Cambridge area, the day-long event pits teams of professionals against one another in a race to launch a new product into the marketplace. The MIT Sloan Challenge is a student-initiated and organized event that benefits Jobs For Youth-Boston, Inc., Boston's largest non-profit workforce development training center for underskilled, underemployed youths and adults.
"At MIT, we understand technology and how important its application is to communications," said competition organizer, Paul Cheng. "The Nokia 9000i Communicator is a perfect tool for bridging the communication barriers companies face."
During the day-long event, teams will be given a series of challenges to solve from the following business functional areas: sales and marking, finance, vendor and supplier relations, human resources, manufacturing and logistics, product development and general management. Armed with a Nokia Communicator to receive pages, access the Internet, make phone calls and make notes to record the background data on their fictitious company, teams will attempt to solve each crisis. Teams will be scored in each category according to a set of objective criteria -- designed to test each team's ability to creatively solve problems -- under time constraints and with limited information. The scoring criteria were developed in conjunction with the faculty of the MIT Sloan School. The team scoring the highest combined points will win a Nokia 9000i Communicator.
"Tools such as fax machines, phones and mobile communications have become key elements to the success of businesses today," said Haroon Alvi, director of business development, Nokia Mobile Phones, Americas. "The Nokia 9000i Communicator combines these elements, making an essential communications device."
The Nokia 9000i Communicator combines the benefits of multiple products into a portable communications device that provides the user not only voice capabilities, but the ability to send and receive faxes, e-mail and short messages, as well as access Internet services and corporate and public databases. Other applications include an electronic calendar, address book, notepad and calculator. The communicator provides up to 3.5 hours of talk-time, fax, or data time, or up to 33 hours of standby time. If the phone is switched off, the communicator is able to standby for a week without being recharged. Data will not be lost even if the main battery runs out.
Participating corporate sponsors include Nokia Mobile Phones, Andersen Consulting, Aspen Technologies, Bell Atlantic, Dell Computer Corp., Massachusetts Financial Services, Omnipoint, Polaroid Corp., Price Waterhouse and Reflective Technologies.
Jobs for Youth-Boston, Inc. (JFY) is Boston's largest non-profit workforce development training center for underskilled, underemployed youth and adults. JFY trainees come from all city neighborhoods, range in age from 16 to over 40. Seventy-five percent are people of color. Since its founding 21 years ago, JFY has trained over 15,000 people.
Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is a broad-scope telecommunications company supplying mobile phones, mobile and fixed telecommunications networks, data communications solutions, multimedia terminals and PC monitors. With sales in 130 countries, net sales totaled FIM 52.6 billion ($9.8 billion) in 1997. Nokia, listed on NYSE (NOK.A), employs more than 38,000 people worldwide.
Further information:
Megan Matthews
Communications Manager
Nokia
Tel. (972) 257-9267
http://www.nokia9000.com
Sylvia Davis
Crescent Communications
Tel. (404) 287-2000 ex. 122
Perry Solomon
MIT Sloan Challenge News Office
Tel. (617) 354-5177
http://sloanchallenge.mit.edu/info
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