Telefonica Celular Orders CDMA Phones From Nokia
Nokia (Helsinki, Finland) has won an US$165 million order of code division multiple access-based (CDMA) handsets from Brazil's Telefonica Celular. The agreement calls for Nokia to supply Telefonica Celular with Nokia 6180 and Nokia 5180 dual-mode handsets. Deliveries will begin in June.
The 6180 includes an internal modem for data and fax connections, an in-built vibrating alert and performance times of up to five hours of talk time and more than seven days standby time. The phone has a directory that stores up to 200 names and numbers, a calendar, alarm clock, calculator, four electronic games, 32 ringing tones, and supports seven languages.
Every consumer can personalize the 5180 phone. Weighing only 166 grams (with a standard nickel metal hydride battery) the Nokia 5180 phone can store up to 100 names and numbers, and supports five languages, including Portuguese.
The phones will be manufactured in Manaus, Brazil, at Nokia's manufacturing joint venture, NGI. The facility, owned by Nokia and Gradiente Electronica S.A. was established in January 1998 and manufactures handsets for the Brazilian market using Nokia technology.
Nokia also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the supply of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) equipment. Sonofon will be the first mobile network operator in Denmark deploy GPRS integrated with its existing GSM network. The installation is scheduled to take place this October and the commercial launch is expected to be take place during the first half of 2000.
The Nokia GPRS solution brings packet transmission technology for personal mobile communications. It will bring IP-based services to the mobile mass market, thus paving the way to the Third Generation mobile networks. GPRS is a key element of Nokia's vision for Global IP Mobility, with which end users will have the capability to communicate and securely access the Internet and intranet services, independent of time or place.
Sonofon is Denmark's second largest telecommunications company