Nokia 2005 Annual Report Download - page 39

Key focus areas include software platforms, chipset platforms, technology access, creation of
intellectual property rights and the user experience. Technology Platforms’ work encompasses
multiradio technologies such as GSM, EDGE, CDMA, WCDMA, WLAN, Bluetooth, Near Field
Communications, or NFC, and mobile DVB-H. To ensure early access to state-of-the-art technologies
in areas such as displays, audio and memory, Technology Platforms also works with leading
external developers, suppliers and partners.
Technology Platforms is responsible for the development of S60, the market-leading smartphone
software platform that Nokia uses in its own devices and also licenses to other handset
manufacturers. Nokia’s global mobile device software developer support operation, Forum Nokia, is
also part of Technology Platforms. Forum Nokia includes Preminet, a platform for operators,
developers and content providers to use in launching and managing services and applications for
Symbian OS and Java-based mobile devices.
Technology Platforms develops technology architecture for converging digital industries in
co-operation with leading industry players and alliances. This includes the creation of intellectual
property rights, standards-based interfaces, high performance mobile computing and usability
innovations. Technology Platforms also coordinates Nokia’s participation in more than 100
specification-making and industry cooperation organizations across the globe, including the Open
Mobile Alliance, or OMA; the 3GPP, or Third Generation Partnership Project; the Third Generation
Partnership Project 2, or 3GPP2; the Internet Engineering Task Force, or IETF; and the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers, or IEEE.
Nokia sees open source development as a way to extend its R&D and foster innovation. In 2005,
Nokia Technology Platforms unveiled the first significant projects based on open source
development, including a new browser for S60 software and the Carbide developer tools family. In
addition, Nokia has introduced a new Internet portal that consolidates the company’s open source
activities and provides access to its projects.
Business Groups
Design and technology go hand-in-hand at Nokia. The company’s mobile device design team brings
the user experience perspective to the product creation process, combining technology with form,
size, functionality and product packaging. Each of Nokia’s mobile device business groups takes into
account its own customer needs in product-focused R&D. They integrate technologies from their
own research, from Technology Platforms and from external vendors into their products and
solutions.
The Networks business group’s R&D work focuses on GSM, EDGE and 3G/WCDMA radio technologies,
wireless broadband technologies, circuit-switched and IP-based core networks, and network
management. With these investments, Nokia aims to support the development of existing network
infrastructure solutions as well as implement new solutions to support future end-user services.
Further, we focus on creating open hardware and software architecture, which results in research
and development costs being spread among industry players.
Our business groups improve R&D efficiency and speed time to market by often basing their
products on the same technologies. For example, Mobile Phones, Multimedia and Enterprise
Solutions all develop devices based on the S60 software platform, on top of which they can install
applications specific to their business. Multimedia has developed mobile imaging and video
applications for S60, while the Enterprise Solutions business group offers a variety of e-mail
solutions that run on the platform. In addition, all Nokia’s mobile device business groups use a
common chipset platform in their devices. This brings economies of scale and allows flexibility
both in R&D and in the management of demand and supply networks.
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