What's up with Nokia?

Nokia has been on overdrive this past week with announcements in a variety of different sectors.

The company released information on September 28th including its deal with Intel to include its cellular data transfer technology, HSPDA, in the next version of the Centrino processor. This means that all new Centrino laptops (beginning in spring 2007) would not only have built in WiFi hotspot access, but also cellular access for people who have internet via their mobile provider.

The same day, the company introduced a new dual slider phone with W-CDMA technology in it's N-line of phones. These phones are multimedia heavy with portable media players, >1 megapixel cameras, and web capabilities. The n95 model even has a 5 megapixel camera, wifi access, GPS, and can access networks in 5 bands - allowing it to be used across most of the globe.

As if these announcements weren't enough the company announced today its own version of bluetooth, called Wibree. This short-range wireless connection is smaller and uses less energy than traditional Bluetooth. The technology will be commercially available 2Q'07.

Just for good measure they also spoke about the ability to download podcasts to your mobile phone in the latest edition of Wired using one of their N-line phones. All this convergence begs the question... What other types of ideas is Nokia cooking up? Look for big things from them over the next 2 years as we see the computer, the cell phone, and the Internet become more integrated.

Nokia reveals Bluetooth competition Yahoo!/Reuters
Listening to podcasts via mobile phone? Wired
New Intel laptops to come with Nokia 3G technology Silicon.com
New Nokia line introduces dual slider, W-CDMA technology TWICE