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Nokia and KPN co-operate to create home of the future
February 10, 2000
Nokia Home Communications signs pioneering home network agreement with major European telecoms operator KPN
Home Communications becomes a part of Nokia's Global IP Mobility Strategy
First home network products announced
Nokia has started a new co-operation with major European telecoms operator, KPN. Under the agreement Nokia will be working closely with KPN to develop and trial pioneering communications products for the home environment.
The development of wireless LAN (Local Area Network) based home networking solutions is key to the agreement and commercial trials of the first home network concept are planned to take place in the Dutch market during quarter three 2000.
The alliance sees Nokia delivering on its promise to lead the development of the growing home communications market based on its strong position in mobile telephony, IP technologies and digital broadcasting.
Nokia's strength across the full range of digital technologies has enabled Nokia to develop unrivalled expertise in all major parts of the distribution chain for home communications (broadband access, fast internet access solutions, wireless local networks, next generation media terminals and mobile display devices). This gives Nokia a unique starting point in the home communications market.
Nokia Home Communications
The home environment has joined the office and personal environments as an essential part of Nokia's aim to create the Mobile Information Society based on Nokia's Global IP mobility strategy - Internet regardless of time and place.
Nokia has therefore created a new unit - Nokia Home Communications - whose key mission is to enable all types of entertainment and media content (video, audio or multimedia) to be distributed via the fast broadband Internet structure which will soon be a part of millions of households. High speed and shared access to Internet services, media delivery and local networks provide endless possibilities for consumers. They also create new revenue streams for operators, media companies and service providers such as multiplied use of access networks, branded media portals, interactive advertising and endless e-commerce possibilities.
Heikki Koskinen, Vice President and General Manager, Nokia Home Communications, commented: "Nokia Home Communications is an important part of Nokia's Global IP Mobility strategy, given that the home is increasingly integrated with the office and personal environments. Nokia will be at the forefront of developing the necessary gateways and terminals to bring high-quality multimedia services into the home. This complements Nokia's Global IP Mobility Strategy and is in line with our vision of enabling people to communicate smoothly, independently of time or place."
Nokia Home Communications to develop networks and communication solutions for the home environment
Nokia Home Communications is creating three major product lines:
1. Home Gateways: Home servers that play the role of a communication centre for the home providing a link between the broadband delivery of Internet and media content to different devices in the home, as well as providing local storage for data and multimedia, accessible from any remote location.
2. Media terminals: Next generation digital terminals that enable full convergence of digital TV and Internet and create a platform for totally new services like fully interactive magazines and time independent TV. The Nokia Mediascreen product concept is an example of such a media terminal.
3. Applications: Software and services developed especially for the home environment. The first product, Navibars, is a navigation tool that has already been launched and sold to several customers.
Home Communications' products will be easy to use, wireless and optimised for the home environment. In other words, these products have been designed specifically with home use in mind, which will allow end users to take full advantage of wireless access in the home environment.
Examples of future services and applications
The Home Gateway is a hub for the home network with WAP enabled. It provides high-speed access (via an xDSL line for example) for multiple users to the Internet and a variety of related services: e-mail, shopping lists, family calendars and digital photo albums. Using a mobile device such as a WAP phone or a mobile internet display with Wireless LAN, the consumer can access the home network easily and download digital photos, make additions to common shopping lists and monitor the security system.
The Media Terminal enables full convergence of digital TV and Internet services, featuring a new kind of Media Portals. Media portals will offer interactive magazines with high-speed and perfect quality video clips, networked gaming and instant Internet access. It will also enable interactive advertising and shopping (Click & Buy); movies on demand (downloaded on local hard disc). The Media Terminal is the point in the home where all entertainment and information will meet and create new services as well as push these service to the point where they are enjoyed the best (TVs, stereos, home cinemas).
About Nokia
Nokia Home Communications is part of Nokia Ventures Organization (NVO). NVO explores new business areas facilitating future growth and boosting Nokia's product and long term business development. To date, Nokia Ventures Organization includes Nokia Internet Communications, Nokia Home Communications, Nokia Mobile Display Appliances, Nokia Ventures Fund and the Venturing Unit.
Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. Nokia is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks, related services as well as multimedia terminals. In 1999, net sales totaled EUR 19.8 billion (USD 19.9 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 55 000 people.
Contact information:
Katarina Hägg, Communications Manager, Nokia Home Communications
Tel. +46 709 938 357
Hanno Narjus, Director, Market Creation, Nokia Home Communications
Tel. +358 405 288 218
Jyrki Rosenberg, Communications Manager, Nokia Ventures Organization
Tel. +358 9 511 62127
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